Africa’s Cup of Nations is one of the continent’s biggest sporting events. The tournament is scheduled to start on Sunday, January 10th in Angola. Four brand new stadiums at significant cost have been built and are ready for action. But some shocking tidings is trickling in. Togo’s national soccer team has been ambushed on the border of Angola and the Republic of Congo. Togo was scheduled to kick of the tournament in the northern Angolan town of Cabinda. The team had been training just across the border in the Republic of Congo, and today their bus was making its way to Cabinda when armed men started shooting at it. Thomas Dossevi, who plays for Togo and FC Nantes, told the BBC that they had been “machine-gunned, like dogs” .
The Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) was behind the have a fling at. They’ve kept up a low level of insurgency for a number of years and have targeted foreigners in particular. Cabinda is an oil-rich enclave and the FLEC wants independence from Angola.
Togo’s national teams includes Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor one of Africa’s superlatively good soccer stars. He is apparently unhurt but shaken.
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I’ve read about Addo Elephant Park, had to prick up the ears to friends enthuse about their visits, studied numerous awe-inspiring pictures taken at Addo Elephant Park, but never visited. It just seemed that much too far away from our base in Cape Town. But our recent road trip to Hogsback put paid to that assumption. Addo made its way onto our itinerary with little trouble, given my passion for elephants and the thrill at my son being able to see these beasts of the land up close.
The major plus of the park is its proximity to Port Elizabeth. Literally, the passage there takes an hour. It’s an interesting journey too, in the sense that the road is pretty desolate, not in an ideal condition, and exits PE along the R335 littered with strategically placed government houses and fences decorated with plastic bags …
One is never quite prepared for the impact of seeing an elephant in the flesh, almost infront of you.
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I ♥ Sabie
Hi, I’m Janet Wills from Porcupine Ridge Guest House in Sabie, Mpumalanga.
SABIE IS BEST KNOWN FOR it’s glorious setting in the mountains, as the gateway to the magnificent Panorama Route, being of the class who a centre for Mountain Biking, Trout Fishing and adventure activities and of course for it’s close proximity to the Kruger National Park.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT God’s Window with the backdrop of the Lowveld all the way to Kruger Park and Mozambique.
THE BEST WATERFALL PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN from the bottom of Lone Creek and Bridal Veil Falls or looking down from the top of Lisbon and Berlin Falls.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT the Three Rondawels overlooking the awesome Blyde River Canyon and at the fascinating formations at Bourke’s Luck Potholes …
I ♥ Sabie
WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO take in the beauty of the Panorama Route and miracle at the clear crisp views, walk in the mountains and remind myself how lucky I am to live here.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO visit Kruger Park, where the animals are more active, we often see nocturnal animals on dull days and the rainy bear brings out the tortoises.
I THINK THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SABIE is all year round, because our Winter days are violent and sunny with chilly nights when we tenderness to snuggle up by a crackling log fire.
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Food, glorious food! No holiday is complete without the guilty pleasure of eating until one’s stomach aches. South Africa boasts fantastic food and diverse menus that even the most stringent dieter could not resist.
Take for instance the spacious variety of fine quality meat available in South Africa. Top grade beef, tender lamb, juicy chicken, fresh fish and seafood and not forgetting, the selection of game meat. With such an rich garments. to choose from, it’s no wonder that South Africans have come up with more fantastic meaty dishes.
Bobotie – a popular choice – is the South African rendering of Shepherd’s Pie. It is a hearty meaty dish consisting mainly of ground beef or lamb. Other ingredients such as bread, raisins, eggs and milk likewise contribute to the tasty flavour of the dish.
Potjiekos, is a beefy stew enjoyed throughout South Africa. Hours of stewing meat in a cast iron pot set over burning hot coals gives this dish its flavour and appeal.
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South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, is marrying his third wife today. It’s his 5th wedding. His two current wives will be involved with the ceremony and attend along by various distinguished guests and dignitaries. Mr Zuma is a Zulu and polygamy has throughout been a cultural tradition. In fact, it’s rumored that a 6th wedding will not be far off. I’m curious about how these first ladies decide to divide their authoritative duties. I bet there are some other first ladies out there who wouldn’t mind a break or two from attending events.
Like first ladies the world over, Africa’s first ladies are a smart and motivated clump of women. There are first ladies who work hard to improve the situation in their country — others seem to spend a lot of time shopping for shoes in Europe. Sia Nyama Koroma, Sierra Leone’s first lady, has a Masters degree in organic chemistry, is a mother of 5 children and works to reduce infant and maternal mortality. Senegal’s first lady, Viviane Wade, is an elegant French woman who has spent 40 years moving on health and woman’s issues in Senegal. Mrs Ana Paula Dos Santos of Angola is a former fashion model and flight attendant, with a healthy interest in her country’s diamond mines.
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I’ve come thwart some really wonderful blogs this year and wanted to share my favorites as 2009 draws to a close.
- AfriGadget – a blog about “Solving everyday problems with African solutions”. Read about individuals using their creative imaginations and a dash of technical know-how to travel over things work. From solar-paneled vests worn by cyclists that can then charge cell phones, to second hand car batteries wired to race radios.
- Wildlife Direct – a non-profit that hosts a collection of blogs that brings supporters and conservationists together. It enables anyone anywhere to participate, while providing real time transparency and accountability. The blogs are also invaluable for anyone interested in working in the field of conservation.
- Border Jumpers – Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg started their blog and travels in October, 2009. It’s not just a travel blog, although their tips on vegetarian survival and transport options in East Africa are invaluable. The couple interviews farmers, medical workers, common organizers, labor activists and many more as they go.
- Listen to Africa – An ambitious project led by two adventurous spirits, Huw and Bex.
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I ♥ Franschhoek
Hi, I’m Chris von Ulmenstein from Whale Cottage Franschhoek in Franschhoek, in the Cape Winelands of South Africa.
FRANSCHHOEK IS BEST KNOWN FOR being the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, having an extra-ordinary selection of excellent restaurants disproportional to the small size of the village. At least one of its restaurants, and as many as three, have been in the Eat Out Top 10 restaurant list every year, including Le Quartier Francais, Grande Provence, Reubens, Monneaux and Bijoux.
Franschhoek is also known as the Wedding Capital of South Africa, with weekend after weekend booked out when a wedding or two takes place on a wine estate in the beautiful valley …
I ♥ Franschhoek
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the Huguenot Monument, at the end of the main road, as it symbolises and recognises the hard work the French Huguenots put into developing this beautiful winelands domain, called the “French Corner”, giving Franschhoek its name (originally it was called Oliphantshoek, when the elephants roamed over the mountains).
THE BEST VIEW PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN from the Franschhoek Pass, La Petite Ferme and Dieu Donne, with fantastic views over the valley.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS CAN BE TAKEN in the vineyards, especially in autumn, at the time that the leaves turn a beautiful shade of red and yellow.
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