I'd say you haven't truly experienced Namibia unless you have been to one of the amazingly remote places where you can gaze at the stars in the sky at night without any artificial lights around you (incl. city lights etc.!). It is stunning, mind-blowing and somehow probably impossible to describe. Neverteless, watch the video (filmed in Central Namibia) below for a glimpse of what you might look at in Namibia:
southern stars from Till Credner on Vimeo.
The three time lapse clips show the night sky from Namibia in southern Africa. The sun sets in the west and is followed by a broad and diffuse display of Zodiacal light, i.e. interplanetary dust illuminated by the sun. The center of our milky way is rising in the opposite direction. The third view shows the apparent rotation of our sky around the south celestial pole. There is no bright pole star in the southern hemisphere.
04 February 2011
03 February 2011
"The Last Lions" (2011)
Filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert (also see TEDtalk: Beverly & Dereck Joubert - Life lessons from big cats) follow the epic journey of the lioness named Ma di Tau (“Mother of Lions”) in the wetlands of Botswana’s Okavango Delta as she battles to protect her cubs against the daunting onslaught of enemies to ensure their survival.
This gripping real-life saga "The Last Lions" unfolds inside a stark reality: lions are vanishing from the wild. In the last 50 years, lion populations have plummeted from 450,00 to as few as 20,000. Dereck and Beverly Joubert weave their dramatic storytelling and breathtaking, up-close footage around a resonating question: are Ma di Tau and her young to be among the last lions? Or will we as humans, having seen how tough, courageous and poignant their lives in the wild are, be moved to make a difference?
Watch The Last Lions trailer - and make a difference for lions!
For every trailer viewing on YouTube (watching the one above also counts in!), starting February 1, 2011, National Geographic will contribute $.10* to lion conservation in Botswana. Watch as many times as you want, and share with your friends and family. Let's get to 1 million views together!
*Contribution maximum is $100,000. For more details on this program, visit www.thelastlions.com
To learn more about there the movie was filmed and see exclusive footage and photos from The Last Lions, visit http://www.facebook.com/BotswanaTourism.
This gripping real-life saga "The Last Lions" unfolds inside a stark reality: lions are vanishing from the wild. In the last 50 years, lion populations have plummeted from 450,00 to as few as 20,000. Dereck and Beverly Joubert weave their dramatic storytelling and breathtaking, up-close footage around a resonating question: are Ma di Tau and her young to be among the last lions? Or will we as humans, having seen how tough, courageous and poignant their lives in the wild are, be moved to make a difference?
Watch The Last Lions trailer - and make a difference for lions!
For every trailer viewing on YouTube (watching the one above also counts in!), starting February 1, 2011, National Geographic will contribute $.10* to lion conservation in Botswana. Watch as many times as you want, and share with your friends and family. Let's get to 1 million views together!
*Contribution maximum is $100,000. For more details on this program, visit www.thelastlions.com
To learn more about there the movie was filmed and see exclusive footage and photos from The Last Lions, visit http://www.facebook.com/BotswanaTourism.
SAA to fly non-stop from Johannesburg to New York from 01 May 2011
South African Airways (SAA) passengers will soon be able to fly non-stop from South Africa to New York. Currently, flight SA203 from Johannesburg to New York makes a 1-hour passenger and refueling stop in Dakar, Senegal. But starting 01 May, flight SA203 will depart Johannesburg for a non-stop journey to New York. This comes after SAA released an enhanced flight schedule on 26 January 2011. Passengers will also have more seats to choose from on the New York route thanks to a bigger aircraft (Airbus A340-600), as well as more seats on flights to destinations in Africa. The non-stop flight will depart from OR Tambo International in Johannesburg at 8:35pm local time and arrive at JFK International Airport in New York at 6:40am, local time, the following day. The return flight from JFK departs at 11:15am, New York time, and arrives in Johannesburg at 8:40am.
02 February 2011
"The Last Resort", a new documentary about Zimbabwe
I read Douglas Roger's book "The Last Resort" back in 2009, I wrote about "The Last Resort" in this blog back in December 2009 and now I saw on vimeo that Capetonian filmmaker Isa-Lee Jacobson is currently making a documentary acting as a sequel to Douglas' book.
The Last Resort from Isa Jacobson on Vimeo.
Description:
Douglas Rogers returns to Zimbabwe to find his parents in a precarious position: their backpackers lodge, Drifters, is as wrecked as the country. The tourists gone, it is now home to a colourful assortment of local characters, making their way through the turmoil, doing their best to improve their lives and land. Success depends on political change, still uncertain, or perhaps on the efforts of outsiders like Doug, who has his own plans to bring tourists back to Zimbabwe and resurrect Drifters.
"The Last Resort" is a film about belonging in Africa, about people brought together by their need to survive, but fortified by their determination to build a better life, no matter what the challenges. As we follow Doug on his journey home to Drifters, we hope desperately to see Tendai, Pishai, Fatso and his parents rewarded for their sheer staying power and unflagging optimism.
This is a film about hope for the future - a future that could hold a true democracy for Zimbabwe and a new start for Drifters. The film will chart this process.
The filmmakers are currently raising funds to complete this important film, which you can donate to. If you want to do so, pls visit the website of the documentary at http://thelastresortdocumentary.com/
The Last Resort from Isa Jacobson on Vimeo.
Description:
Douglas Rogers returns to Zimbabwe to find his parents in a precarious position: their backpackers lodge, Drifters, is as wrecked as the country. The tourists gone, it is now home to a colourful assortment of local characters, making their way through the turmoil, doing their best to improve their lives and land. Success depends on political change, still uncertain, or perhaps on the efforts of outsiders like Doug, who has his own plans to bring tourists back to Zimbabwe and resurrect Drifters.
"The Last Resort" is a film about belonging in Africa, about people brought together by their need to survive, but fortified by their determination to build a better life, no matter what the challenges. As we follow Doug on his journey home to Drifters, we hope desperately to see Tendai, Pishai, Fatso and his parents rewarded for their sheer staying power and unflagging optimism.
This is a film about hope for the future - a future that could hold a true democracy for Zimbabwe and a new start for Drifters. The film will chart this process.
The filmmakers are currently raising funds to complete this important film, which you can donate to. If you want to do so, pls visit the website of the documentary at http://thelastresortdocumentary.com/
Zanzibar: Yellow fever vaccination certificate now required from all travellers
Due to an outbreak of yellow fever in Uganda, which caused 53 deaths and 226 infections in 10 districts since late 2010, travellers planning to visit the island of Zanzibar must now have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate in order to enter the island.
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Before the outbreak, travellers needed to have the yellow fever jab if they were travelling to Zanzibar from a yellow fever endemic zone. Now the Zanzibar Ministry of Health have announced all visitors entering Zanzibar will need to have the yellow fever vaccination and a certificate to prove it.
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Before the outbreak, travellers needed to have the yellow fever jab if they were travelling to Zanzibar from a yellow fever endemic zone. Now the Zanzibar Ministry of Health have announced all visitors entering Zanzibar will need to have the yellow fever vaccination and a certificate to prove it.
01 February 2011
Dassen Island, the penguins and a young woman who spend two years alone with them...
Dassen Island is an uninhabited island in the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated about 10km west of Yzerfontein and 55km north of Cape Town, about halfway between Table Bay and Saldanha Bay. With an area of 273ha, it is the second largest of the South African offshore islands. It is generally flat and sandy, apart from patches of exposed bedrock, and some areas strewn with huge granite boulders. At the turn of the century there were some 1,500,000 African penguins living on the island, while today only 26,000 breeding pairs remain. Dassen Island, managed by Cape Nature, is home to most of these remaining birds. It is a proclaimed Nature Reserve and not open to the public.
Animal Week - Penguins from Humanwire on Vimeo.
The video shows the work & life of Tribute "Birdie" Mboweni, a passionate young woman who lived alone on Dassen Island Nature Reserve for about 2 years. Tribute is back from the island and now a full-time student at Tshwane University of Technology. Kudos for your passionate work, Tribute!
Animal Week - Penguins from Humanwire on Vimeo.
The video shows the work & life of Tribute "Birdie" Mboweni, a passionate young woman who lived alone on Dassen Island Nature Reserve for about 2 years. Tribute is back from the island and now a full-time student at Tshwane University of Technology. Kudos for your passionate work, Tribute!
Statement by Acting President Kgalema Motlanthe on the update regarding health of Former President Nelson Mandela
31 January 2011
The medical team looking after former President Mandela led by the Surgeon General Veejay Ramlakan has reported that he had a restful and peaceful night. President Mandela is said to be responding to medication and treatment. The close monitoring and 24 hour care from the team of specialist continues.
The South African National Defence Force has established communication with the traditional leaders of Madiba's clan to inform them of his condition and the support he continues to receive.
The doctors who are taking care of President Mandela remain concerned about the number of people visiting. Once again we want to appeal to all that we accord the former President and his family the space to support him in privacy and dignity which he deserves. Doctors must also be allowed to do their work without any undue pressure and in an atmosphere that allows them to carry on with their duties without any disturbance.
We will continue to keep the country, our people and friends throughout the world informed of the developments. The South African National Defence Force which reports to the President on a regular basis on this matter has arranged itself to take enquiries and prepare responses on this matter
We wish to take this opportunity to thank all our people and friends around the world for their continued support to President Mandela and his family and want to assure them that we are doing all we can to ensure that he recovers fully. We appreciate all the prayers and love shown to Madiba.
Issued by the Presidency (31 January 2011) via buanews
Enquiries: South African National Defence Force | Cell: 083 645 4294/082 8031782
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