THE ORIGINAL OF SOUTH AFRICA

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

AFRICA'S TRUE NAME

 Have you ever stopped to wonder: what is in a name?

If words’ sound power, and there is knowledge in power, then it stands to reason that by gaining knowledge of the origin and perceived meaning of a word, one surely garners more knowledge about that particular word; right?

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Well, that is the stance I undertook when pondering the name of our beautifully majestic continent. The cradle of civilization; presently referred to as the continent of ‘Africa’ – but is this the name our ancestors of old used when referring to our motherland? Or have we as descendents of this magnificent continent not only been robbed of our inherent way of life (thanks to colonization) but been robbed of the knowledge of our motherlands’ true name too?


My quest to answer these questions was not an ardious one (all thanks due to the wonders of technology and 'Google'!!) ...
I simply typed in the phrase: ‘Africa’s true name’; low and behold, my inherent feelings that this ‘Africa’ is not the true name of my beloved homeland struck!

The name ‘Africa’ stems from the time when the Roman Empire took occupation of the majority of the continent. As is the practice in these type war times, the “Romans sought to completely disconnect the indigenous Africans with their culture, deities, and knowledge. This could only be successfully done by renaming the all archetypical icons, thereby disconnecting the significance, meaning, and sacredness from any specific archetype."

Read more about the Greek and Roman influence on Africa's etymology.

As I stumbled across quite a few forums and discussions about this very matter, it became clear that there is a very present and real debate on the go about the origin of our continent’s name, and what I found is that our motherland’s true name is: Alkebulan.

According to the following resource: Kemetic History of Afrika; the definition of Alkebulan is as follows:
“The ancient name of Africa was Alkebulan.
Alkebu-lan "mother of mankind" or "garden of eden".
Alkebulan is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin. It was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Khart-Haddans (Carthagenians), and Ethiopians.
Africa, the current misnomer adopted by almost everyone today , was given to this continent by the ancient Greeks and Romans. "


Perhaps in line with this new found knowledge, we should boldly go forward as ‘Alkebulanites’; true and sincere, moving to the beat of our own ancient drums.

Should you wish to discover Alkebulan at your own pace, contact us for affordbale rates on car hire and accommodation surrounds.

BIG FOREST IN AFRICA

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

About 22 percent of Africa is forest and woodland, and only a small percentage of this acreage is protected. Incredibly important from a human standpoint because of their timber and water resources, these tree-dominated ecological landscapes are also reservoirs of outstanding biological diversity. From the sprawling, steaming rainforests of the Congo Basin to the sizzling, sepia-toned woodlands of the Tanzania-Zimbabwe frontier, these are some of the most game-rich forests in the world.

Congolese Forest

The Congo Basin is Africa’s largest contiguous forest and the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. Covering about 695,000 square miles, this swamp-struck tropical forest covers portions of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Exceeded in size only by the Amazon, the Congo Basin rainforest supports some 10,000 kinds of plants and a huge variety of animals, including big mammals like African forest elephants, forest buffalo, chimpanzees, bonobos and a number of subspecies of gorilla. It also shelters more than 100 different human cultures. Gravely maligned by wide-scale logging and the bushmeat trade, these great, waterlogged forests remain a bastion for African wilderness. Important reserves include the Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas in southwestern Central African Republic and Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in Gabon.

Other Big Forests

The Upper Guinea Forests of southern Guinea, eastern Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and western Toga represent the other major tract of lowland rainforest in Africa. BirdLife International quotes a 1991 report listing their remaining extent at less than 31,000 square miles. Half the ecosystem’s plants and nearly a third of its animals are found nowhere else on the planet. The most extensive protected area in the Upper Guinea Forests is Côte d’Ivoire’s 1,275-square-mile Tai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From its towering old-growth stands rear massive isolated rock domes called inselbergs. Another major swath of timber in Africa is the Nyungwe Forest of Rwanda, which the Wildlife Conservation Society calls “the largest block of high-altitude montane forest in East and Central Africa.” Sprawling along the divide between the Congo and Nile basins, the 378-square-mile Nyungwe Forest conceals a diverse assemblage of primates and close to 300 species of birds. Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and Kibira National Park in Burundi form a critical international reserve in this area.

Dry Forests

Collectively, dry forests account for the majority of Africa’s timbered acreage; African dry forests are some of the most extensive in the world. Open woodlands and savannas cover vast swaths of the continent, as sun-filled and sprawling as the tropical rainforests are shadowy and hemmed-in. The miombo woodland, dominated by Brachystegia trees, blankets over a million square miles of the Central and East African plateaus, commencing south of the Congolese forests and the East African acacia savannas. A particularly biologically diverse form of miombo woodland covers much of the 19,300-square-mile Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania, one of Africa’s wildernesses and among the world’s biggest wildlife preserves. Visitors here glimpse a fairly intact wild landscape of rugged woods, grasslands and riverine forests, a complex protecting a huge variety of ungulates – including major herds of elephant, buffalo and hippopotamus – as well as an impressive suite of carnivores, such as painted hunting dogs and lions.

Mangrove Forests

It’s easy to overlook the mangrove swamps of tropical Africa’s coastlines when considering the continent’s forests, but these communities – founded by a number of species of mangrove, which are shrub-trees uniquely adapted to brackish estuaries and nearshore margins – are hugely important from an ecological perspective, functioning as nurseries and foraging grounds for numerous marine creatures. The most extensive mangrove forest on the continent is along the Niger Delta. More biologically diverse mangrove swamps lie along the Indian Ocean coast, most significantly in the Rufiji and Zambezi river deltas.

TIPS TO KNOW IN TANZANIA

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Tanzania is the largest country in east Africa. It lies between the great lakes of victoria, Tanganyika  and Nyasa and the Indian Ocean .Tanzania is just below the Equator bounded on the northern by Kenya  and Uganda while on the west by democratic republic of Congo (DRC),Rwanda and Burundi. Zambia lies to the southwest while Mozambique lies to the south. The country lies between longitude 1 degree and 11 degrees south and between longitude 30 degrees 40 degrees east. Its area is 939,701 square kilometers.

Physical features

Tanzania is a country of striking differences in geographical, historical and cultural sites. The coastal plain way to the eastern plateaus, southern highland and finally the Great Rift Valley.it is among these features that the country harbours the highest mountain include-Kilimanjaro (5895m).the other mountains include Meru (4572m),Usambara, Uliguru, Uzudungwa, Rungwe, livingstone, Rubeho, and Oldonyo lengai.Tanzania has alaso several rivers and lakes .

The rivers include Ruvuma,panagni,malagarasi,Greate ruaha, kagera and wami.major lakes are Victoria ,Tanganyika ,nyasa,rukwa,Natron,Eyasi and manyara .Other centres of attraction include savannah grasslands, miombo woodland and mountain forest.

Climate

A large part of the country is subjected to the influence of the monsoon winds; that is Northeast monsoon in October/November to January/February and southern east monsoon for the great part of the year.

Tanzania is divided into three zone named: north coast belt 160km wide extending from dar es saalm northward to the Kenyan border; lakes area which is approximately 80km of the lakes Victoria. Thirdly is the interior plateau which constitutes the remainder of the country.

Temperatures vary from 15 degrees centigrade in south highland and Kilimanjaro Region to 30 degrees centigrade on the coast.Dar es salaam and coastal plains are hot but pleasant while evening is cool especially may-October when from when the climate is superb .short rains are experienced from November and long rains from march to may

Capital city-Dodoma lies 500km west of Dar es salaam which is the commercial capital of Tanzania

Language-Kiswahili is the National language, whereas English is the only foreign language.

Mineral- diamond, gold ,uranium, tanzanite, tin, Iron coal, natural gas and coloured gemstones.

Tourist attractions-Tanzania is endowed with a number of attractions  ranging from national park, mount Kilimanjaro, lakes, rivers to cultural, historical and ecologicalsites.

TIPS TO KNOW IN TANZANIA

Tanzania is the largest country in east Africa. It lies between the great lakes of victoria, Tanganyika  and Nyasa and the Indian Ocean .Tanzania is just below the Equator bounded on the northern by Kenya  and Uganda while on the west by democratic republic of Congo (DRC),Rwanda and Burundi. Zambia lies to the southwest while Mozambique lies to the south. The country lies between longitude 1 degree and 11 degrees south and between longitude 30 degrees 40 degrees east. Its area is 939,701 square kilometers.

Physical features

Tanzania is a country of striking differences in geographical, historical and cultural sites. The coastal plain way to the eastern plateaus, southern highland and finally the Great Rift Valley.it is among these features that the country harbours the highest mountain include-Kilimanjaro (5895m).the other mountains include Meru (4572m),Usambara, Uliguru, Uzudungwa, Rungwe, livingstone, Rubeho, and Oldonyo lengai.Tanzania has alaso several rivers and lakes .

The rivers include Ruvuma,panagni,malagarasi,Greate ruaha, kagera and wami.major lakes are Victoria ,Tanganyika ,nyasa,rukwa,Natron,Eyasi and manyara .Other centres of attraction include savannah grasslands, miombo woodland and mountain forest.

Climate

A large part of the country is subjected to the influence of the monsoon winds; that is Northeast monsoon in October/November to January/February and southern east monsoon for the great part of the year.

Tanzania is divided into three zone named: north coast belt 160km wide extending from dar es saalm northward to the Kenyan border; lakes area which is approximately 80km of the lakes Victoria. Thirdly is the interior plateau which constitutes the remainder of the country.

Temperatures vary from 15 degrees centigrade in south highland and Kilimanjaro Region to 30 degrees centigrade on the coast.Dar es salaam and coastal plains are hot but pleasant while evening is cool especially may-October when from when the climate is superb .short rains are experienced from November and long rains from march to may

Capital city-Dodoma lies 500km west of Dar es salaam which is the commercial capital of Tanzania

Language-Kiswahili is the National language, whereas English is the only foreign language.

Mineral- diamond, gold ,uranium, tanzanite, tin, Iron coal, natural gas and coloured gemstones.

Tourist attractions-Tanzania is endowed with a number of attractions  ranging from national park, mount Kilimanjaro, lakes, rivers to cultural, historical and ecologicalsites.

KNOW ABOUT THE BEAUTIFULLY OF NIGERIA

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Nigeria is a beautiful country endowed with many awe- inspiring natural attractions. The eyes of the eye settlers in Nigeria (our fore fathers) have gazed on them, just like our own eyes are now viewing them; and yet, after all these centuries, these natural wonders has not diminished their picturesque splendour in any way.

These natural jewels are spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Here are the 12 most amazing natural wonders in Nigeria

Ikogosi Warm and Cold Springs

The Ikogosi warm and cold springs is located in Ekiti West Local Government of Ekiti State of Nigeria. This natural wonder is sited in a valley where the warm spring rises from a valley while the cold spring flows down from another source side by side but separate from the warm spring. They connect in pool but each springs its thermal identity. The warm spring has a temperature of about 700c at the source and 370c after joining the cold spring. The spring water is believed to have healing effect on disease like guinea-worm and rheumatism. The traditional belief of the people about the origin of the springs and the undulating hills is another interesting aspect of a visit to this sight. Ikogosi Warm and Cold Springs has many recreational facilities like warm water swimming pool, chalets, beautifully manicured garden, reception building and 1000 capacity amphitheatre, arts and crafts centre.

Ogbunike Cave

Ogbunike Cave is located in Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government of Anambra State. This wonder of creation is divided into sections and there are different stories about each section that the native tour guides are delighted to share with tourists. The entrance to the five tunnels of the cave is a wide and tapering hemispherical vault of rock. Spring cool water drips from the corners and the top, the inside of the vault is serene and feels like a wonderland. The naturally-carved network of tunnels and chambers has two levels. The lower level is 100m long, which leads to an underground river. The upper level is twice as long and dry, and a bat colony and a waterfall sit at the north-western end.

Mambilla Plateau (Gashaka Gumti Park)

The Mambilla plateau is located in the highland region of Taraba State of Nigeria, it hosts the Chappal Waddi mountain which is the highest point in Nigeria with a height of 2,419 metres. It has an undulating landscape and is without insects. The plateau at the basement complex rocks is about 96km along its curved length and 40km wide, it is circumscribed by an escarpment reaching 900m high in some points. Some of the rare species of animals and birds are housed in Gashaka-Gumti National Park within the landscape of Mambilla Plateau.

Owu Falls 

Owu Falls situated in Ifelodun Local Government area of Kwara State is the most amazing natural water fall in Nigeria. The water fall is about 120 metre above water level and flow 330 feets down to a pool of ice cold water below. The water falls is encircled by hills, natural vegetation and a beautiful natural ambience that makes it an amazing sightseeing destination. Imagine a place with fall of ice cold water, spectacular rock path enveloped in evergreen vegetation, it’s so beautiful.

KNOW ABOUT THE GREAT LAKE IN EAST AFRICA

Thursday, April 14, 2016

group of lakes located in East Africa. The majority of the East African lakes lie within the East African Rift System, which forms a part of a series of massive fissures in the Earth’s crust extending northward from the Zambezi River valley through eastern and northeastern Africa and the Red Sea to the Jordan River valley in southwestern Asia. In East Africa itself the southern, eastern, and western branches of the system can be discerned.

Occupying the Southern Rift Valley is Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi), which drains into the Zambezi River. Marking the course of the Western Rift Valley are LakesTanganyika, Kivu, Edward, and Albert—the first two of which are situated within thedrainage basin of the Congo River, while the other two constitute part of the Nile River drainage system. With the exception of Lake Rudolf (Lake Turkana), the lakes found in the Eastern (Great) Rift Valley are smaller than those of the Western Rift and constitute several independent inland drainage basins.

Located in a shallow downwarping between the Eastern and Western Rift highlands is Lake Victoria, which among the freshwater lakes of the world has a surface area that is second only to that of Lake Superior in North America. On a smaller scale, East Africa also includes some fine examples of crater lakes, and on Mount Kenya and in the Ruwenzori (Rwenzori) Range are found glacial tarns, small lakes each of which occupies a basin, or cirque, scraped out by a mountain glacier.

Of the eight largest lakes—Victoria (26,828 square miles [69,485 square km] in area), Tanganyika (about 12,700 square miles [32,900 square km]), Nyasa (11,430 square miles [29,600 square km]), Rudolf (2,473 square miles [6,405 square km]), Albert (2,160 square miles [5,594 square km]), Kivu (1,040 square miles [2,693 square km]),Rukwa (1,000 square miles [2,590 square km]), and Edward (830 square miles [2,150 square km])—only one, Rukwa, in Tanzania, lies wholly within a single political entity. The northern shore of Kenya’s Lake Rudolf is in Ethiopia; Lake Victoria is divided among Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. In the west the international boundary between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo runs through the centre of Lake Albert; the same boundary places two-thirds of Lake Edward in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the remainder in Uganda. Lake Kivu lies between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the waters of Lake Tanganyika are shared by Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia. Malawi and Mozambique have territorial waters on Lake Nyasa, and since its independence Tanzania has also advanced claims to its territorial waters because it also occupies a part of the lakeshore.

Madagascar – a beautiful island country in the Indian Ocean – Africa

Monday, April 11, 2016

If you are adventurous enough to explore all possible landforms on one island then Madagascar is the place to be. Alongside the mainland there are a couple of small peripheral islands as well which together form the Republic of Madagascar. There are hardly any places on the face of Earth with so much variety of landforms and wildlife in one place. Starting from beaches to forests to desert, this fourth largest island has everything you can dream of. The highlight of the area is that amongst all its plant and animal life there is 5% which is found only and only on Madagascar.

The island of Madagascar exists on the Indian Ocean and lies to the south east of Africa. It got separated from the Indian sub continent long ago and then formed its population with various tribes which came mainly from Africa across the Ocean. This is the reason behind the presence of the eighteen different tribes making the Republic of Madagascar. Out of all of them, the one which is known to be the largest is called Merina.

Madagascar has a massive area covered by rainforests which are home to a major biodiversity. There are about 14,885 types of plants wherein some species only exist here. Some of the varieties belong to palm, baobab, orchid, and also drugs which are useful for treating diseases like cancers, Hodgkin’s disease and so on. Amongst animals found in the region are wide varieties of lemurs and other mammals like fossa and a variety of reptiles and invertebrates. Much of these are seen in the national parks which fall on the driving roads of Madagascar and only receive a scarce number of visitors in the year. They serve as perfect adventure destinations.

Within a distance of 300 km from the rainforests is the desert of Madagascar and then there is the vast coastline which has a number of barrier reefs which are ideal locations for divers and snorkelers who can see things underwater starting from shipwrecks to a variety of sharks, turtles, whale, corals, and colourful fishes. The beaches of Madagascar are amazing where people can spend hours on their hammocks or go for interesting expeditions with local fishermen.

Like the varied landforms, flora and fauna of Madagascar, there are also myriad cultures which exist in the region because of its dwellers who came from different places.  Parallely as it also has been a French colony therefore the influence of colonial rulers is also seen in Madagascar and so it can be termed as a melting pot of cultures. This varied nature of the land is also visible in some of the tourist spots of Madagascar like the 12 sacred hills of Antananarivo and the pirate cemetery of Ile Sainte Marie.  The best month of visiting Madagascar is known to be May as at that time there is less or no rainfall.

The best way of exploring Madagascar is through tours which take care of accommodation and places to visit. Going to Madagascar needs a visa and most international flights land in the Ivato airport near to Antananarivo.