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Earth : Africa
The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands that lie off the coast of Queensland, Australia and form part of the Great Barrier Reef. The islands are one of the most popular Australian tourist destinations. The vast majority of islands are designated national parks and major attractions include access to coral reefs for snorkeling and diving, pristine beaches, especially Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island and clear aquamarine warm waters. They are well connected by two major airports on Hamilton Island and the mainland town of Proserpine. Over half a million visitors come to the Whitsundays each year.
Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach is by far the most recognized of all the Whitsundays landmarks. Stretching about 4.5km and consisting of fine, brilliant white sand, it presents the image that is used more often in tourism brochures and regularly on TV advertising in Australia. The view from the lookout across Hill inlet is remarkable and on a sunny day (Like most days are), it is nothing short of spectacular.
The sand at Whitehaven Beach is 98% pure silica. The water lapping along the beach which is usually sheltered during the south easterly trade winds (Most of the year) and so the water where the sea meets the beach is often crystal clear and makes for perfect swimming.
Hamilton Islands
Hamilton Island is the most developed and populated Whitsunday island and has its own airport, post office and bank. It boasts some of the most valuable real estate in Australia, and has many options for accommodation, which range from standard hotel room to your own house! The most cost effective way of staying on the island is a house or apartment, especially for larger groups eg for weddings. There are many developments including unit complexes, the new Great Barrier Reef Yacht Club, the newest resort, the 6 star Qualia (on the island's northern tip) and the golf course and accommodations planned for Dent Island. High rise is on the island - the Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Apartments and Yacht Harbour Towers are iconic. A bit 70's/80's in style from the outside, they are nevertheless testaments to the island founder Keith Williams' genius as the views from the upper rooms are stunning.
Hamilton Island and Dent Island are privately owned by the Oatley family, founders of Rosemount Wines in Australia. The island is owned on a perpetual lease from the Commonwealth Government. Bob Oately bought the island from previous owners Banker's Trust, a publicly listed company. The island was founded in 1984 by Keith Williams, who also started Sea World, on the Gold Coast. In the 90's Keith went bankrupt due to complications with a pilot's strike and banking problems and the island was briefly taken over by Holiday Inn.
Despite development, the island remains a haven for options in getting out to reef areas and Whitehaven Beach (about 1/2 hr by boat, Great Barrier Reef about 2 hours), fine accommodation, plenty of restaurant options, good walking around largely untouched island (Passage Peak hike is a tough effort but being the highest point on the island the views are very well worth it, it takes about an hour hard walking from the back of Reef View to the summit or allow 3 hours round trip if you want to stroll. Some brave souls run it or take their mountain bikes!), and nice beaches. There is certainly plenty to do on Hamilton (or Hammo to the locals) or you can definitely just relax by one of the pools.
There are regular ferry services from the mainland and other islands, but even though it isn't that far of the Queensland coast, access by private boat isn't as simlpe as you may first think. Hamilton Island has many coral reefs near it and the tidal range is 5.9m. There is a marina but prices start at about $17 per hour or $60 per day (5 June 2011). It makes stopping by for lunch at one of the many restruants a bit less attractive.
Don't expect a deserted tropical island though - it can get very busy during peak times (September/October and Christmas period). The feel is more small town, down to the community atmosphere, stopping for chats along the street and friendly helpful locals. Quite a few locals have been on island for years but there is also a huge number of young "transients" who only stay a few months. Due to the developments there are also many who regularly holiday on the island, whether they rent an apartment or own their own.
The island's populated areas are loosely divided into three main areas - Marina Village (or Front Street) - this is where most of the shops and restaurants, the bank, the post office, the general store and the newsagency are located; Resort side - Catseye Beach, the main pools and the resort accommodations - Reef View Hotel, Whitsunday Apartments, Palm Terraces/Bungalows and the Beach Club are here; and the "northern end" where most of the apartments and houses are as well as the newest resort Qualia on the island's northern tip. None of these areas are more than 5-10 minutes by golf buggy (the main mode of transport) away from each other.
Dent Island
Dent Island is west of Hamilton Island and is owned by the same owner as Hamilton under the same lease from the Commonwealth Government. It has been known in the past as Hamilton Island West. Currently mostly uninhabited, Hamilton Island owner Bob Oatley has completed building a Championship level 18 hole golf course on the island that also houses club house and restaurant. Day trips for lunch only are possible as are golf/dinner combinations. A shuttle boat runs to Dent Island from Hamilton Island marina approximately 10 times per day. Villa accommodation (private and resort sponsored) will be built there next.
Whitsunday Island
Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the archipelago, and home to the famous Whitehaven Beach. Most day boat trips come here and it is on most people's "must see" list of things while here. Whitehaven beach faces east towards the open sea, making some boat journeys there very choppy. The size of the island also means there are dozens and dozens of little coves and inlets where people with yachts or boats can pull in away from it all. Many boats also go to Tongue Point, which has a well trodden trail up to a built lookout over Whitehaven. Some of the boat packages on offer for first time visitors can have the feeling of a troop march for one camera shoot place to the next, so if doing daytripping, choose your boat company wisely.
Whitehaven beach's main attraction is the pure white silica sand, along a seven kilometre (four or five mile) stretch. Sun glasses are essential (seriously!). Different theories about the sand exist, one of the more interesting that Australia's tectonic plates rubbed together and the silica oozed up from the Earth's, before being washed up here. Because of the sand's purity, it was almost mined by the American government in the 1960s for military uses. The substance can be used for satellite dishes. Luckily that did not come to pass, and the beach is now protected under the national park. Well over a hundred people dock here daily on tours, and it is always being voted one of the best beaches in the world, by the people who vote for these things. But between about 4PM and 10AM it is entirely deserted, for the intrepid few that camp overnight (or people who own yachts). There is a pit toilet behind the beach and no running water.
Hook Island
Hook island is the second largest in the archipelago. The first maps of the area were drawn incorrectly, and depicted Hook island in the shape of... yes you guessed correct! In fact, Hook is shaped something like the Peloponnese in Greece, looking like three downward pointing fingers. Hook was home to a small resort on the very tip of the third finger, as well as an underwater observatory, leaving 95% of the island as national park but this resort closed in 2011.
There is snorkeling in the bay in front of this closed resort, and a couple of different boat companies use this place as one to let the tourists see some coral. It is not the best, but there is also coral at neighbouring "Pebble beach" (which isn't pebbles but boulders) that is more extensive. One must however get the tides correct, so as not to be stranded when the tide drops, with the prospect of a very painful walk across the coral bed back to shore. Stinger suits (for poisonous jellyfish) should be used during the stinger season. The actual risk of a sting, and what the worn out stinger suit boat companies and resorts provide would do to protect you, is questionable. So if you bring a rash top you can minimise your worries (and look like less of a goof).
Hayman Island
Hayman Island [1] is beautiful and by far the most exclusive resort, the whole island privately owned. People without pre booked accommodation may not dock. Some of the most beautiful coral reefs are just off shore from here on the north west side of Hook Island.
Daydream Island
Daydream Island is a small single resort, with paths connecting the resort activity centers with the accommodation rooms. The Island is quite family friendly, and includes a range of activities for guests.
Long Island
Long Island is mostly undeveloped save for three resorts. One is largish - the Mantra Resort in Happy Bay. The other two are smaller, more intimate "eco" style resorts - Palm Bay Hideaway and the very private (& expensive) Paradise Bay Wilderness Lodge.
South Molle Island
South Molle is a small resort island. The company also operates Koala Resort backpackers in Airlie Beach as well as three backpacker boats that are run out of Airlie.
Lindeman Island
Lindeman Island is currently closed but undergoing a $250m renovation. The resorts should reopen sometime during 2016.
Outrigger Cup. During June or July each year is the Outrigger Cup. Outrigging is a Hawaian sport using canoes with one "outrigger ama" to balance the boat on the ocean. During this week the action is mostly centred on Catseye Beach (on the resort side of the island) with 1, 2 and 6 person canoes competing over days in various events including short sprints and longer marathons, the most difficult being the Hamilton Cup marathon where the paddlers go right around Hamilton Island. For the fitter crews (Hawaii mens are particularly strong) this takes about 3 hours - that's hard paddling! The atmosphere is festive, the competition fierce and well known Australian Iron Woman Lisa Curry-Kenny is a regular competitor. Her Noosa team is a very strong competitor in the women's divisions.
Hamilton Island Race Week. August sees the famous Race Week, started by Keith Williams in the 80's. This sees hundreds of yachts from 30 foot boats rented for the week to billion dollar super yachts finely tuned for serious racing. Famous yachts that regularly compete include Skandia, Alfa Romeo and one of the Wild Oats yachts - owned by the island's now owner Bob Oatley. Various classes of racing range from cruising division (despite the name some crews in this division are very competitive!) to IRC divisions for the yachting professionals. Race Week is when the island really comes alive with hundreds of sailors filling the marina and hotels, from the serious bustle of the mornings getting ready to race, the colourful spinnaker starts (on the last day various tourist boat operators take their vessels out with guests to watch the starts), to the sunburnt yachties straggling one and two boats at a time into the marina after a days racing to crack open a beer, put some music on and then head to the Marina Tavern for some hard "relaxing" after a day of hard racing. The night life is almost as important as the day's racing! Many Australian entertainers such as Jimmy Barnes have regularly perfomed at Race Weeks and there is live music every night from various performers. By far the most anticipated highlight is the Whitehaven Beach party - no-one wants to miss it! Only two divisions race over to Whitehaven but all the yachts go, along with the tour boats and ferries and barges. Bars and barbeques are set up on the beach and everyone plays beach cricket (during the 80's famous Australian cricketers would play on the beach. Famous Australians such as Elton Flatley and Lachlan Murdoch attend in recent times), throws a frisbee or a footy, plays volleyball and generally mucks around. Footwear not required, bikini or boardshorts, hat and sunnies essential.. Some island local girls plan their bikini outfit well in advance!
There is a superb variety of choices for campsites on the Whitsunday islands for people who want to get away from all the pre-packaged tourism. Most of the Whitsunday Islands are protected National Parks but there are over 50 camp sites on the Whitsunday Islands that can easily be reached by private boat and are relatively inexpensive. To book a campsite online visit: ["Queensland National Parks"]. Those without their own boat can also participate by using the Whitsunday "scamper" service to take them to these camp sites: ["Whitsunday Scamper"].
You just need a pack for some food, some water and a tent and you are away. Or you can see more at Camping Whitsundays [2].
The national parks of the Whitsundays also fall under the regulatory oversight of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [3] (or GBRMPA for "short"). As detailed in the online brochure, campers are required to have sufficient water. The recommendation is five litres per person per day, and three days more for emergencies. In practice three or four litres a day will last people who are careful. So as not to be overcharged purchase the water or big containers to carry some at a petrol station or supermarket in Airlie. Another regulation, from the collective wisdom of the two authorities, is that boat companies need special permits in order to drop campers off on an island (even though someone with their own boat would need no permission!).
Hayman Island is the most upmarket of the Whitsunday resorts. Hayman Island is one of the world's most acclaimed resort destinations and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Prices start around $500/night. [4]
Qualia on Hamilton island and Paradise Bay Eco Resort on Long Island will cost you as much, if not more than Hayman and all are unique experiences.
Hamilton Island Beach Club resort offers a more relaxing 5 star atmosphere with views of the Coral Sea. Prices start around $400/night.[5]
Cruise Whitsundays Reefsleep accommodation is situated on their pontoon at Hardy Reef, a floating pontoon on the Great Barrier Reef, 40 nautical miles from land. It provides one of the most unique accommodation experiences available in the country in swags under the stars. Overnight, only the staff are on location to look after you as all other guests have departed to the mainland, leaving you with exclusive use of the pontoon and its underwater viewing chamber. Overnight guests also get an alfresco dinner including wine, full breakfast, buffet lunches, sunset beverages, and two scuba dives or a guided snorkeling safari.
Get out
There are many daytripper boats out to the Whitsunday Islands, but you can also take a day or two trip to Airlie Beach on the mainland if you like.
Africa has 54 sovereign countries—the most on any continent—and is the second largest continent in terms of both land area and population. Africa is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, by the Red Sea to the northeast, and by the Indian Ocean to the southeast. Africa is a vast continent spanning over 8,000km (5,000 mi) north to south and 7,500km (4,800 mi) east to west (not including islands) and contains a wide array of peoples, skin colours, religions, and cultures. Africa contains the world's longest river—the 6,650km long (4,100 mi) Nile River running from Burundi to Egypt—while the Congo River in the DRC is the second largest in terms of discharge as well as the deepest with a depth of over 230m (750 ft) in some spots. Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest free-standing mountain at 5,890m (19,340 ft). Djibouti's Lake Assal is the second lowest point on Earth, the saltiest lake outside Antarctica, and one of the hottest places on Earth.
While the first activity most people associate with Africa is safaris, there are endless possibilities for adventure. You can purchase crafts in markets, venture into the Sahara with a Tuareg caravan, visit pygmy villages, hike through jungle to watch gorillas, relax on tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, experience arguably the world's best wildlife safaris, snack on exotic treats, travel down a river in a dugout "pirogue", travel across savannah on a colonial-era railway, and much more.
Africa is a very diverse continent, with each country, or even each part of a country having its own unique culture. While some people in the West refer to Africa as if it were a single country, one should remember the sheer size of the continent, and that Africa is not one country but 54 different countries, meaning that it is impossible to make generalisations of Africa as a whole.
Africa today is a vast continent with many bustling metropolises, some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet, and amazingly diverse and beautiful landscapes. While there are places resembling the stereotypical Africa of war, famine, and poverty, most of the continent is peaceful.
Other territories
Atlantic Ocean Islands: Canary Islands (Spain), Madeira Islands (Portugal), Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (UK)
Spanish Exclaves: Ceuta, Melilla
Indian Ocean Islands: Mayotte (France), Reunion (France), Socotra (Yemen)
Other destinations
See also: African National Parks
Modern humans, homo sapiens, are believed to have originated in East Africa somewhere between Ethiopia and Kenya. Despite this long history of habitation, there is very little (or little known about) African history prior to the second millennium AD outside of North Africa, Sudan & Ethiopia, as most were hunter-gatherers similar to some cultures still found today on the continent, with no writing systems nor lasting structures, arts, or crafts (aside from some cave paintings). North Africa, on the other hand, has a recorded history dating back several millennia with bountiful structures, writings, arts, and crafts which have survived to this day. The ancient Pharonic civilization centred in modern-day Egypt is recognized as the longest-lasting and one of the, if not the, greatest ancient civilizations lasting from around 3300BC until the invasion of Persians in 525BC. Today, their legacy lives with many of their cities well-preserved and now popular tourist attractions along with a few museums hosting their artefacts. Modern Jews believe themselves to be descendants of slaves in ancient Egypt and much of the Hebrew Bible, religious texts for both Jews and Christians, was based and written in the region. The other great early civilizations on the continent were the Nubians in northern Sudan and southern Egypt, who were very similar to the ancient Egyptians, leaving behind the city of Meroe in Sudan, and the Aksumite Empire from the 4th century BC until the 7st century AD in modern-day Ethiopia and eastern Sudan which was important to trade between India and the Roman Empire and an important centre of early Christianity.
Meanwhile, the 300s BC brought about the first (and less famous) invasions of Europeans to the continent. In 332 BC, Alexander the Great invaded Persian-occupied Egypt, establishing the famous city of Alexandria which would go on to serve as an important centre of scholarship and Greek culture for many centuries. Meanwhile, the Romans conquered much of the Mediterranean coastline to the west, leaving behind such ruins as Carthage and Leptis Magna. In the first century AD, Christianity spread through much of the region, first to Egypt, then Nubia, Ethiopia, and on to the Roman Empire.
The Muslim invasion changed the cultural landscape of Northern Africa and large parts of Eastern and Western Africa. The newly-formed Arab caliphate invaded North Africa and the Horn of Africa within a few decades. In the west, Berbers would intermarry with the Arab invaders to become the Moorish population that would later invade the Iberian peninsula. When Damascus was invaded in the early eighth century, the Islamic religious and political centre of the Mediterranean shifted to Kairouan in Tunisia. Their progress was limited only by the dense forests of West and Central Africa and to coastal areas in the East. The last region to come under Muslim influence was that of Nubia (moden-day northern Sudan) in the 14th century.
The 7th-9th centuries would be a time contributing significant changes to the history of sub-Saharan Africa. In the west, there was a rise of large and powerful inland kingdoms, such as the Ghana (in Mali & Mauritania, no relation to modern Ghana), Dahomey (which lasted until French capture in 1894, now Benin), Za/Gao (in Mali and Niger), Kanem (in Chad), and Bornu (in Nigeria). As many of these kingdoms converted to Islam, trans-Saharan trade grew as salt and gold were transported to Libya and Egypt in large caravans—a trade made possible by the introduction of camels from Arabia in the 10th century and would support much of the area from northern Nigeria west to Mali and Mauritania until the 19th century. During the 13th-16th centuries, many of these early kingdoms were replaced with new empires, chief among them the Mali (in Mali, Guinea, and Senegal) and later Soghay (in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger) and a plethora of small, single-tribe kingdoms and city-states sprouted. Many of Mali's popular tourist destinations, including Timbuktu, Djenne, and Gao, rose to prominence during this period as they became centers of trade and Islamic scholarship during this period. The Hausa tribes in northern Nigeria began organizing in walled city states, of which remnants remain in Kano. Coastal, forested West Africa remained largely unorganised, with the exceptions of a few Yoruba city-states of Benin, Ife, & Oyo along with small Dahomey and Igbo empires all in modern-day Benin and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, East Africa saw a rise of Islamic influence and prosperity from Indian Ocean trade as ships from Arabia, Persia, India, and as far as Southeast Asia dropped anchor in major ports from Somalia down to Mozambique bringing spices and in return for slaves and ivory. Between the 7th and 19th centuries, over 18 million people were taken from the region as part of the Arab slave trade—roughly twice as many as the Atlantic slave trade would take to the Americas. Today, that influence remains in the culture and gastronomy of many places, most notably on the Indian Ocean islands such as Zanzibar, Comoros, the Seychelles, and Mauritius.
Southern Africa remained undeveloped, with primarily nomadic hunter-gatherers such as the San people and some small kingdoms. The Kingdom of Zimbabwe (namesake of today's state) was one of the most notable, constructing the greatest stone structures in pre-colonial sub-Saharan Africa at their capital Great Zimbabwe. The Kingdom of Mapungubwe in modern eastern South Africa also left smaller stone ruins. Both profited from the trade in gold and ivory with Arab and Asian merchants.
While a few Genoese, Castillian, and French explorers managed to reach parts of West Africa in the Middle Ages, European exploration of the continent truly began when Prince "Henry the Navigator" set out to acquire African territory for Portugal in the mid-15th century. The Portuguese reached Cape Verde in 1445, and by 1480, had charted the course to and began trade with the entire Guinea coast (modern Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria). In 1482, Diogo Cão reached the mouth of the Congo River, in 1488 Bartolomeu Dias reached the Cape of Good Hope (the southern tip of Africa), and in 1498 Vasco da Gama sailed up the eastern coast, where in Kenya his expedition set up a trading post at Malindi before finding a guide to take them to India. The Portuguese set up numerous forts along the African coast and established a highly profitable trade, (initially) held good relations with locals, and remained the dominant European power in the region until the 17th century while Spain, France, and Britain began exploring the Americas.
The lucrative trade and large amounts of gold obtained by the Portuguese lured other nations to the continent. As the demands for labour in the Americas grew, Portuguese sailors began taking shiploads of slaves to the Americas, beginning the Atlantic slave trade. In the early 17th century, the Dutch fought the Portuguese to win control of most of their West and Central African ports, some (like Luanda) would be retaken later, and established a couple dozen forts of their own, notably at Goree Island in Dakar and at the Cape of Good Hope—a port they hoped to use for trade routes to East Asia and which has become modern-day Cape Town. In 1642, the French built their first fort on Madagascar (which they claimed in 1667) and in 1663, the British built their first fort on the continent in the Gambia. Swedish merchants established a fort on Cape Coast, which later was overpowered by the Danish nearby at modern Accra.
In the 19th century, European attention shifted from establishing coastal ports for trade to fighting one another to colonize the continent and explore its uncharted interior. With slavery abolished by Britain and their strong efforts to thwart slavery around the world, Europe began to look for other sources of wealth on the continent. The most successful European colony, the Dutch Cape Colony, was seized by the British in 1795. Napoleonic France conquered Egypt in 1798, notably discovering the Rosetta Stone, only to be forced out by the British and then the Turks. France invaded a significant amount of coastal West Africa and the Barbary states in Algeria, cutting rampant piracy in the region. Accounts of brave adventurers travelling inland to find places such as Mount Kilimanjaro and rumored "inland sea" (the Great Lakes) and city of gold on the Nile sparked a wave of exploration in the mid-century primarily by Catholic and Jesuit missionaries in the Southern, Eastern, & Great Lakes regions of Africa. Chief among explorers was the British national hero David Livingstone, who as a poor missionary with few porters explored much of Southern and Eastern Africa, flowed down the Congo River from its sources, and sought the source of the Nile. In West & Central Africa, French, Belgian, & Spanish explorers ventured into the Sahara to find the legendary Timbuktu and Malian gold mines and the Congo in search of the Pygmies and hairy, large peoples (gorillas) of Greek legend.
As accounts of Africa's interior reached Europe, nations and merchants began to view the continent as a major source of commerce and wealth, similar to their Asian exploits, while the philanthropic and missionary class saw a great opportunity to "Christianize" and "civilize" the savage people of Africa. With social Darwinism introduced, many countries saw Africa as a great opportunity to establish colonial empires and establish their pre-eminence among other European nations, chiefly Germany to catch up with other European nations and France, to regain glories lost in North America and under Napoleon. Britain and Portugal joined this Scramble for Africa when they saw their interests threatened. In 1885, the Berlin Conference brought together European colonial powers to carve up the continent into defined colonial territories with many straight lines and no input from any African kingdom or settlement.
At the turn of the 20th century, Britain began a series of deadly South African Wars from their Cape Colony into surrounding African and Boer (white descendants of the Dutch) lands in modern South Africa, which brought Cecil Rhodes to fame for his vision to conquer and bring unite Africa from Cairo to Cape Town. The dense jungles of Central Africa lured Joseph Conrad, who wrote the novel Heart of Darkness from his experience. World War I saw one battle in German East Africa (Tanzania) which the British lost, although post-war, German possessions were divided amongst France, Belgium, & the UK. The Union of South Africa was granted independence from the UK in 1930. World War Two saw Ethiopia invaded by Italy along with major fighting in North Africa in which the Nazis were eventually evicted by the Allies. It was the social changes stemming from the war, in which tens of thousands of Africans fought for their colonial power, along with the Atlantic Charter which led to the spread of nationalistic movements post-war.
The decolonization of Africa began with Libyan independence from Italy in 1951. Colonial powers employed varying means of control over their colonies, some granting natives representation in the government and cultivating a select few civil servants while others maintained a firm grip with an all-European government. In some countries, nationalist movements were quashed and their leaders killed or jailed while others were able to peacefully achieve independence. In the 1950s, Guinea, Ghana, & North African nations gained independence non-violently with the exception of Algeria, where France violently fought independence movements until 1963. With the establishment and new constitution of France's Fifth Republic in 1958, French West Africa & French Equatorial Africa ceased to exist and, after a brief "community" with France, the countries of these regions gained independence in 1960. By 1970, all but a handful of African nations were independent. The Portuguese bitterly fought to maintain their African possessions until 1975, all but one of whom gained independence through war. Zimbabwe was the last major colony to gain independence, in 1980. In 1990, semi-autonomous Namibia gained independence from South Africa and in 1993, Eritrea separated from Ethiopia following a protracted war. South Africa remained under firm control by its white minority, suppressing its black population under a system called apartheid until 1994. Morocco maintains control over Western Sahara, despite an established independence movement and remains a point of contention between Morocco and Algeria. South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in 2011.
Europe divided Africa with complete disregard for the cultures and ethnic groups in Africa, often dividing a peoples between 2 or more countries and forcing peoples with a history of fighting or differing religions into one country. Additionally, a lack of training in civil service before and even after independence left most countries with dysfunctional governments and leaders tended to reward their own ethnic groups with jobs and money and in many cases suppressed ethnic minorities. This has been a cause of much strife post-independence across most of sub-Saharan Africa and has led to dozens of prolonged civil wars (notably in Sudan, Angola, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Nigeria), countless coups, and a countless number of inept, corrupt leaders. The discovery of valuable natural resources such as oil, uranium, diamonds, and coltan, has produced numerous independence movements post-independence citing the taking value of resources from their land to benefit the entire country (notably tiny, oil-rich Cabinda in Angola). Fortunately, there are numerous examples in Africa where past conflict has made way for functional governments, offering some hope for the future of African self-government.
As the second largest continent, there is a wide range of climates to be found. However, since the continent is nearly centred on the equator, much of the continent is quite warm/temperate with very few, small areas on the continent experiencing any temperatures that can be considered "cold". In the temperate regions (parts of northern Morocco & the Mediterranean coast as well as South Africa), temperatures generally range from the 10s C to the mid-30s°C (40s-90s°F) year round. Closer to the equator and on islands like Cape Verde or Mauritius, temperatures may only vary less than 20 degrees Celsius (15-35°C/65-95°F) throughout the year. In the deserts and arid regions like the Sahel and Horn of Africa, temperatures routinely hit 40°C+ (and even 50°C+ in the heart of the Sahara) but because sand does not retain heat like most soil does, those same places can easily fall down to 15°C at night. There are a few bastions of cooler weather, however. Higher elevations, such as the Atlas Mountains in Morocco & Algeria or in Lesotho, are quite cold and snowy during winter and Mount Kilimanjaro, almost on the equator, is cold year-round (cold enough to support glaciers!). Peaks on islands such as Reunion, the Canary Islands, Mount Cameroon and more are cool enough to necessitate a jacket much of the year.
A far more important factor to consider when travelling to Africa is when the rain/monsoon season occurs. Timing varies a bit even in neighbouring countries, so check the page of the country you are visiting for more info. In West Africa the season starts in March around Cameroon, but not until June in Senegal or the Sahel and ends around September. While rain may not be a huge factor when travelling to southern or East Africa, it is very problematic in West Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean. In West Africa, rains will often flood and make many roads and railways impassable and, due to poor drainage, can literally result in rivers of water flowing down streets and sewage lines to overflow. In the Sahel, it can result in flash floods in low-lying areas.
The largest weather-related dangers for travellers to Africa are lightning and tropical cyclones. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has more lighting strikes each year than any other country on earth, especially in the eastern part of the country near Goma. Lightning risk is highest from western Kenya/Tanzania and Ethiopia west to Senegal and south to Angola and Zambia. Tropical cyclones affect the islands of the Indian Ocean, with the season running from 15 Nov-30 Apr (15 May in the Seychelles and Mauritius). Tropical cyclones also infrequently affect the horn of Africa near Djibouti & Somalia, but when they do, the arid land results in major flooding. Tropical cyclones often form off the coast of western West Africa (Guinea/Senegal) during the early part of the Atlantic Hurricane Season (June-August) and will rarely impact Cape Verde, for which these particular storms are called "Cape Verde-type hurricanes".
Get in
By plane
Air fares to Africa can be very expensive, but there are ways to save. The best way to get great airfare to the continent is fly directly to an African country from its former colonial rulers. For example, it can easily cost hundreds of euros/dollars more to fly from London to a former French colony, or conversely from Paris to a former British colony. About the only exceptions are Egypt, which has plentiful, cheap connections with the Middle East & Europe and a handful of West African destinations (e.g. Cape Verde, Morocco) popular with British tourists and accessible with cheap holiday flights.
Airline consolidators can also be used for discounted air fares. If you have additional travel time, check to see how your total fare quote to Africa compares with a round-the-world fare. Don't forget to add in the extra costs of additional visas, departure taxes, ground transportation, etc. for all those places outside of Africa.
See your destination's article for more specific information on flights. Bear in mind that many African countries only offer a few international flights each day, or in some cases, each week. While it isn't hard to reach South Africa or Egypt, getting to Malawi or Togo can be quite a challenge.
From Europe
There are more flights to Africa from Europe than from any other continent. Popular holiday destinations such as Egypt, Morocco, Cape Verde, & South Africa are well-served from Europe's major cities, even with discount and charter airlines. Royal Air Maroc, Ethiopian Airlines, South Africa Airways & EgyptAir have a good selection of European destinations and Ethiopian, Kenyan, South African, Arik Air, Air Algérie and Tunisair serve a few major cities (London, Paris, etc.). The cheapest flights to African cities are often through the African country's former colonial power. Cities with large immigrant populations such as London, Marseilles, & Paris have a good number of flights to Africa.
Chief among European airlines flying to Africa are:
Many European discount airlines serve major tourist destination in Africa (especially Morocco, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Egypt, & the Gambia), including Jetairfly, EasyJet, & Corsairfly.
From North America
The following routes are operated from North America as of August 2017:
In addition, there may be charter flights from Houston to certain countries in the west of Africa, catering mainly for the oil industry in Texas.
Outside the peak travel times to Europe (e.g. summer) you might be able to get a good deal to London or Paris and book a fare from there to Africa separately on a European travel website. But don't book the United States to Europe portion until you get confirmed on the Europe to Africa portion first. Through fares to Africa from the United States can be quite expensive, so avoiding peak travel times to Europe can sometimes save a lot. However, since new non-stop flights to Africa have recently been added, and Europe is much more expensive than it used to be, try getting a direct quote first, then see if you can do better. Another growing option is flying through the Middle East on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar or Turkish Airlines, all of which serve a reasonable selection of African & American cities.
From South America
The following routes are operated from South America:
From Asia & the Middle East
If you're flying to a small African country, Africa's major airlines all have extensive coverage in Africa and fly to a handful of Asian destinations:
Nearly all North African countries along with Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, & Somalia have extensive connections with the Middle East. And similarly, countries with large Muslim populations are likely to have a connection to Jedda/Mecca either year-round or seasonal (e.g. during hajj). North African destinations aside, connections with the Middle East include:
Other flights from East and South Asia include the following: Cathay Pacific flights to Hong Kong. Furthermore, due to increased Chinese investment many cities have service from Beijing, cities with direct flights to Beijing-Capital include Luanda, Algiers, Lagos, Khartoum, Addis Ababa, & Harare. Malaysian Airlines serves Johannesburg from Kuala Lumpor. Korean Air serves Cairo from Seoul. Air Austral flies to Bangkok seasonally from Reunion. Air Seychelles flies to Singapore and Male from Mahe. Air Madagascar flies from Antananarivo to Bangkok & Guangzhou.Air Mauritius flies from Mauritius to Bangalore, Chennai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, & Singapore. Singapore Airlines flies to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The best option to fly from East or South Asia is likely on Emirates or Qatar, both of which have a decent selection of destinations in Asia & Africa, or via Europe on airlines such as British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa which all offer an extensive number of destinations across Africa.
From Australia
There are only a handful of connections to Australia:
Qantas' flight is one of only two commercial routes that pass over sea ice near Antarctica (the other is Qantas between Buenos Aires [Santiago after March 2012]& Sydney). International aviation rules require polar gear that takes up several rows of seats to fly over Antarctica (specifically, south of 72 degrees), so there are no commercial routes over the continent. The 747 flies close on the westward journey, Sydney-Jo'burg, because there are very strong tailwinds near Antarctica (flight-time is 11.5 hours westward vs. 14 eastward). With a clear sky and a window seat—especially on the left—you should be able to see a vast expanse of sea ice and perhaps even continental Antarctica near the horizon! Other airlines fly further north because their 2-engine planes must remain closer to diversion airports in Western Australia/the Mascarene Islands, in case of engine failure. A New Zealand-South Africa flight would be only route where the Great Circle (shortest) route would pass over continental Antarctica, but no airline has ever flown this route.
By road/ferry
The only land connection to another continent is the 163km-wide Isthmus of Suez, which is found in Egypt (although the Sinai peninsula is sometimes considered a part of Africa for geopolitical reasons). Thus the only way to drive into Africa is to drive through Egypt. Most people driving from the Middle East to Africa travel through Jordan and take a short car ferry to Egypt to avoid transiting Israel, since Egypt's two African neighbours (Sudan & Libya) deny entry for persons with Israeli stamps or Egyptian/Jordanian stamps indicating travel to Israel.
Despite there being just one, narrow land crossing into the continent, there are other ways to bring vehicles into Africa by short car ferries. The short crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco is crossed by several ferries daily and relatively inexpensive. Other car ferries include:
Several overland trucks make journeys which cross between Europe or the Middle East and Africa, these companies are listed below under "Get around/Overland trucks".
By ship
Many Mediterranean cruises stop in North African countries such Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, the Canary Islands, & Cape Verde. Some ocean liners will stop in the Canary or Cape Verde Islands on trans-Atlantic crossings or in South Africa, Madagascar, Zanzibar, the Seychelles, or Mauritius on round-the-world trips.
Elsewhere is Africa, cruises are limited to luxury or 'boutique' cruise lines often aboard small vessels and quite expensive or "freighter cruises" which do not offer much to "passengers" but may spend a few days in a handful of ports. Grimaldi Freighter Cruises, [7], has weekly departures to West Africa making the round-trip from Amsterdam in 38 days.
The Seychelles, Reunion, & Mauritius are popular destinations for yachts and private vessels, but piracy around the Horn of Africa has kept a lot of the European vessels away.
For a truly unique experience, take the RMS St Helena [8] from the UK to Cape Town via St Helena-one of the world's most remote islands!
Get around
Africa is plagued by visa bureaucracy and policies that differ widely from country to country. However, there are currently four customs unions in effect in Africa:
By plane
There are a number of reliable airlines that ply the African Continent. Chief among them are:
There are also many airlines which are noteworthy in particular regions, such as TAAG Angola Airlines (South/Central Africa), Arik Air (Nigeria), Air Burkina (West Africa), Air Austral (Indian Ocean), Air Mauritius (Indian Ocean), Tunisair (North Africa), Air Algérie (North Africa and West Africa), Mauritania Airlines International (West Africa) and more.
Consider airline safety when flying in Africa. Although SAA, Ethiopian Airlines, & Kenya Airways all meet EU & FAA safety standards, the same isn't true for all airlines, especially smaller domestic carriers in countries where political stability may be lacking, tenuous or only recently reintroduced. Check with the EU Commision on Air Safety [14] for a list of airlines that do not meet their safety standards.
Discount airlines
Low cost carriers (LCCs) are also present in Africa, but in a much smaller scale when comparing with other regions of the world.
By car
If you want to drive your own car around Africa, see also Carnet de Passage.
Driving in Africa can be a hair-raising adventure. It should not be undertaken personally unless you are already comfortable driving in developing countries.
The best roads, the best rental cars, and the (relatively) least insane driving can be found in South Africa and Botswana, but even then, driving in those countries is still a far cry from what visitors from First World countries are accustomed to.
For sightseeing trips, it may be less expensive to hire a taxi than to rent a car, but be sure to negotiate taxi fares beforehand. Travel on rural roads can be slow and difficult in the dry season and disrupted by floods in the rainy season. If you plan on travelling in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, avoid the rainy months of May through October above the equator and the rainy months of November through April below the equator. Some roads may be flooded or washed out during these months.
Travel by car outside large towns can be dangerous. Major roads are generally well maintained but there are few divided highways in Africa. In addition, rural auto accidents are fairly common because of high speed limits and the presence of wildlife in these areas. Night driving, especially in rural areas, is not recommended. Visitors are encouraged to hire reputable tour operators for safaris or other game viewing expeditions. Although self-drive expeditions in national parks sound like a great way to save money, you will change your mind quickly if an elephant overturns your car or sits on it with you inside.
By bus
Bus service is extensive in Africa and in almost all countries it is the main means of transportation for locals and tourists alike. Styles of buses and minibuses vary across the continent, refer to country pages for more info.
By thumb
Many locals hitchhike in countries throughout Africa, often paying a small fee to the driver. It is best to check the political and social climate of each region before travelling.
In the whole of Africa it is possible to flag down cars and pay them a required fee and get a lift in return. That is just the way public transport works in this part of the world - he who has a means of transportation, that is a car or minibus, is automatically expected to give lifts to others and of course charge them a small amount of money for the favour. The idea of it has nothing to do with the Western idea of hitchhiking.
Overland trucks
Some people with limited amounts of time or who would prefer not to make their own arrangements opt for the "overlander" experience. Many operators run tours in large trucks that are comfortable and equipped with facilities for around 8-30 persons. They're generally run on a pretty tight schedule and cover a lot of distance, such as "Nairobi to Johannesburg in six weeks". These tours are run throughout the whole continent but East and Southern Africa are by far the most popular destinations. Accommodation is mostly camping with tents provided. Most meals are arranged and many are prepared by those on the trip (cooking duties rotated throughout the trip), and free time (like everything else) is scheduled. However, there is plenty of time to participate in the adventure activities that certain areas of Africa are famous for such as Victoria Falls, Swakopmund, Zanzibar, and Serengeti National Park. Some people really enjoy these tours, especially when they do not have enough time to organize all travel arrangements themselves. Others loathe the very thought of travelling in a group and think that they keep you way out of touch with the "real" Africa. Whatever the case, they're a very different way to travel through Africa. The people that go on these tours tend to be young at heart and slightly adventurous; these tours are not luxury trips.
By train
Passenger railways in Africa are sparse and the majority are short and within one country. South Africa and Egypt are the two countries with significant passenger railway services. There is also a handful of interconnected railways running from Botswana through Zimbabwe & Zambia to Tanzania (which will connect to Rwanda by 2012). Morocco has two modern, fast train lines connecting most major cities. In Kenya, there is a Mombasa-Nairobi-Kisumu line which is popular for wildlife spotting. Namibia has a line running from Swakopmund to Windhoek and south to near the South African border. In South Africa the five star Blue Train ranks amongst the best luxury trains in the world. The Blue Train travels from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. The Gautrain is a modern fast train connecting major areas of Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport and the administrative capital city of South Africa, Pretoria.
There are also a handful of very old, slow trains in Africa: Wadi Halfa-Khartoum, Sudan (with a short ferry on Lake Aswan, you can continue north to Cairo); Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso-Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; Dakar, Senegal-Bamako, Mali (stopped running summer 2009); a couple trains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and short lines in Cameroon & Gabon. The Chinese are currently building railway lines in Angola which should open in the next few years.
For a unique experience, you can ride the longest train in the world in Mauritania in either the guard's van or atop open iron ore carriages.
By boat
Where there is water, there are usually boat services to some extent. In the DRC, boats are the primary means of transportation due to the extensive network of rivers and both the lack of any roads at all and the extreme ruttedness of those that do exist. Some noteworthy river travels in Africa are:
Along the Niger River small, wooden pirogues varying in design from a 2 person canoe to wider craft carrying about passengers with a canopy and rudimentary toilet. Travelling by pirogue is slow, but the Sahelian scenery and people you meet on the boat and during stops make this a memorable African experience. Due to cataracts, pirogues on the Niger only operate in Mali and Niger bordering Benin and then again in Nigeria after Gaya (Niger). If you can blend in with the locals, you may avoid border formalities this way.
Along the Congo River large, old and often overcrowded ferries connect cities along the river in the Congo, DRC, & Central African Republic. Small boats from villages come out and moor themselves to these ferries to sell food and merchandise and the boat is a bustling marketplace of hundreds of people much of the time. Conditions aboard these ferries are poor and bearable only by the most seasoned of travellers. Talk to the captain to see if you can use one of the handful of rooms to sleep.
There is no dominant language in Africa, but if you are travelling in West or Central Africa, French will be the most useful across these nations and regions apart from English. Arabic is the dominant language in North Africa, though French is also widely spoken. English is also useful in many countries. Swahili is the most useful language in East Africa. In Ethiopia, most people speak Amharic, which is indigenous to the nation. Even if you know a blanket language like French, it is always a good idea to bring phrasebooks for the native languages. In Senegal, for example, despite being part of Francophone Africa, visitors are likely to find Wolof very useful and sometimes necessary when dealing with residents. The more you wish to interact with locals or go out of the cities, the more important it will be for you to have resources to communicate in the local African language.
Flora & Fauna
Many visitors are attracted by the African flora and fauna and several countries benefit from Safari tourism to African National Parks.
Natural Wonders
Africa is home to many famous natural wonders, from the Nile River, the world's longest river, to Victoria Falls. The continent is home to two of the world's four volcanoes with permanent lava lakes—the dramatic Mount Nyiragongo which rises hundreds of metres above Goma, DRC and Erta Ale in Ethiopia's stark Danakil Depression (the others are Mt.Erebus in Antarctica & Kilauea in Hawaii). Both volcanoes can be climbed by the adventurous tourist to stand at the rim gazing in awe at the bubbling lava below, an especially incredible sight at night!
Historical civilizations
While the continent's diverse and unique wildlife is often all that is mentioned in regards to African travel, as home to the oldest civilizations on the planet, Africa has equally impressive cultures and history. The most famous civilization on the continent, and arguably in the world, is that of ancient Egypt. From the southern city of Abu Simbel to Luxor and all the way north to Alexandria and Cairo, including the Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving of the original Seven Wonders of the World and the most iconic symbols of this ancient kingdom. Sites from the Nubian-Kushite Kingdom that broke away from Egypt can be found in Sudan, such as Gebel Barkal and many other pyramids in Meroe.
Ethiopia offers many ruins from the ancient Axumite Kingdom where the Queen of Sheba ruled. The obelisks and Dungur ruins in Axum were built prior to the kingdom's conversion to Christianity, while many other great monuments, such as the Ezana Stone and the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, where the Arc of the Covenant is said to be stored, were built after the conversion as religious sites. Other famous Christian structures built later by the kingdom's successor, the Abyssinian Empire, especially during the 12th and 13th centuries, can also be found in Lalibela.
In West Africa, structures from the ancient Mali Empire can be found in Timbuktu and Djenne. Although there are Islamic influences, the architectural style of the Malian Kingdom's mosques are still quite unique and recognizably African. The cliff dwellings in Mali's Dogon Country, built by the Dogon people, are also impressive ancient structures in Mali. Often overshadowed by Africa's other monuments, Sungbo's Eredo in Ijebu Ode, Nigeria, built by the Yoruba people, is actually the largest pre-colonial structure remaining on the continent. Today it towers over the city, covered in vegetation.
Ruins from the ancient Swahili culture can be found in the coastal areas of East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania. The Swahili structures combines elements of African architecture with Islamic architecture, which was quite prominent around the 14th century. Some of the most famous Swahili structures include the Gedi Ruins and Pillar Tombs around Malindi and Kilwa Kisiwani. Zanzibar's Stone Town features Swahili structures spanning hundreds of years from its early days to the 18th century.
In Southern Africa, the ruins of Great Zimbabwe have fascinated visitors ever since Europeans discovered them. No one had believed that the inhabitants of black Africa were capable of creating any great monuments on their own until the ruins of this ancient culture were discovered.
Roman structures are scattered throughout North Africa, with the ancient city of Carthage being the most well-known abroad. Many cities, such as Leptis Magna, Timgad, and Dougga feature Roman ruins as impressive as those in Europe itself. Many other European structures can be found throughout the continent, dating back to the earliest days of imperialism.
Safari is the swahili word meaning to travel , however many outsiders interpret "safari" to mean a visit a game area to interact with African wildlife. The most common types of safari are "hunting safaris " where game is mainly hunted for trophy , and "photographic safaris" where wildlife is primarily watched and photographed, and the goal is often to see the Big Five.
Photographic safaris can be in the form of dry or wet safaris ; dry being driving safaris and walking safaris ; wet being safaris from various types of water vessels. The best place for safari is on the African continent in the countries of Kenya, Tanzania , Zambia , Zimbabwe , Botswana ,Namibia , and South Africa , where there are dozens of parks , reserves , sanctuaries , etc , set aside for safari. Discerning safari enthusiasts will arrange their safari around the safari jurisdiction , the time of year , the type of safari vehicles, the proficiency of the guides , the camps and food , the size of the travel party, etc. A good resource for African safaris is Lion Dog African Safaris based in North America , and the African Travel Resource based in Europe .
Africa does not have tall, jagged mountain ranges comparable to the Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, or Alps and there are very few mountains requiring technical gear. The Atlas Mountains across Morocco, Algeria, & Tunisia; the Drakensberg in South Africa & Lesotho; the Semian Mountains in Ethiopia; and the Rwenzori Mountains between Uganda & the DRC are the only considerable mountain ranges on the continent, all with numerous peaks which can be easily climbed. Additionally, there are some tall volcanoes along the Great Rift Valley, on the Indian Ocean islands, & in Cameroon. Some of the continent's most climbed or unique mountains are:
Abseiling and rock climbing can be done in many parts of Africa, with many opportunities in South Africa.
Trekking & hiking
Most of Africa's mountain ranges and highlands are suitable for trekking. The Drakensberg in South Africa & Lesotho, Ethiopian Highlands, and Mali's Dogon Country are the most popular trekking destinations in Africa and most guidebooks to these countries describe the most popular routes. In the dense jungles of the CAR & DRC treks, almost always organized, to pygmy settlements are available. Established trekking routes exist in the forests of Guinea's Fouta Djallon highlands and Cameroon.
The Aïr Massif in Niger is popular for hiking around its sand scraped rock formations and oases, usually short distances from your camel or vehicle transport. Hiking can also be done in many forests with established paths. In Uganda, Rwanda, & the adjacent DRC, hiking to see the endangered mountain gorilla is a major tourism draw, although permits are US$500 to spend hours hiking through tropical forests to spend 1 hour in close proximity to the gorillas.
Sport fishing
There are a good number of great scuba diving sites across Africa. The Red Sea off Egypt offers clear, tranquil waters. Diving in the Indian Ocean is common off all islands and on the continent from Kenya south. Diving in South Africa is most famous for "shark dives", where divers are lowered in cages to watch sharks feed on bait, although other diving opportunities exist. Few locations inland are popular with divers; Lake Malawi—which is clear, deep and filled with unique species—is the only lake with a significant number of dive operators.
Relax on a beach
Africa has a very long coastal line with thousands of beautiful beaches as it is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Football is the most widespread and popular sporting event with games between countries usually drawing tens of thousands of patriotic, cheering fans filling basic stadiums. Watching a football match in Africa is a must; try to dress in the colours of the home team and join the cheering celebration with your neighbours! The quadrennial African Cup of Nations (Angola in 2010) is the continent's premier championship. South Africa played host to the first African FIFA World Cup in 2010.
Rugby is played by several former British colonies in Southern and Eastern Africa.
The three easiest currencies to exchange within Africa are the euro, US dollar, and pound sterling. In some countries with a large tourism sector Australian and Canadian dollars and Japanese yen may be exchanged at large banks and some currency exchanges, but you will receive a poor exchange rate as these currencies are uncommon and more troublesome for the banks in turn to exchange. The continent is roughly split between a blocks where the US dollar is easiest to exchange and use and where the euro is.
Due to concerns about counterfeiting, money exchangers, banks, and most likely even merchants will not accept US dollar banknotes that are worn or older than 2001. As strange as that sounds, it seems to be a steadfast rule amongst anyone dealing much in dollars and you will find it difficult or even impossible to dispose of worn or pre-2001 dollar banknotes. The same does not seem to hold true for euros, but may for other non-African currencies.
With few exceptions, African currencies are generally not accepted by banks or money changers outside their native territory, or at least not at a decent exchange rate. The currencies of some smaller countries are non-exchangeable and become worthless abroad, with some countries prohibiting export of their currencies and confiscating and even fining people leaving the country with currency (most notably the Angolan kwanza).
There are three currency unions in Africa:
Despite sharing the same name and same exchange rate (655.957 CFA francs = €1), the two "CFA franc" currencies are issued by different banks and are NOT interchangeable. A 1000 CFA franc banknote from Gabon will not be accepted by a merchant in Benin, and vice versa. Indeed, even with banks and money changers it will likely be easier (and you'll receive a better exchange rate) to exchange euros or even US dollars. Given the fixed exchange, if visiting any of these countries, euros will receive a more favourable exchange rate.
The Mauritanian ouguiya & Malagasy ariary are the only two non-decimal currencies currently in use in the world, divided into 1/5th fractions known as khoums & iraimbilanja, respectively.
US dollar
The US dollar has been the de facto currency of Zimbabwe since the collapse of the Zimbabean dollar and allowance of foreign currency as tender in January 2009. The Djiboutian franc (117.721=USD1) and Eritrean nakfa (16.5=USD1) are pegged to the dollar.
The US dollar is the easiest currency to exchange (and may receive a better exchange rate compared to the euro) in Southern Africa and East Africa, as well as the DRC, Nigeria, & Liberia. Many tour operators, tourist attractions, and hotels in these regions set their prices in dollars, some even going as far as to offer poor exchange rates for or even refuse local currency. Also, many countries in these regions set their visa prices in dollars and will only accept dollars (or perhaps pound sterling).
The euro is the official currency of France's Mayotte & Reunion territories and Spain's Canary Islands. The West & Central African CFA francs are pegged to the euro at 655.975 (formerly, simply 100 to the French franc). The Moroccan dirham is pegged (with a fluctuation band) to the euro at roughly 10 dirhams to one euro. The Cape Verdean escudo is pegged at 110.265 to one euro and the Comoran franc is pegged at 491.9678 to one euro. The Sao Tome and Principe dobra was fixed at 24500 to 1 euro in 2010 to guarantee stability—it was worth just 12000 per euro in 2004.
The Euro is the easiest currency to exchange and receives the best exchange rate in countries whose currencies are fixed to the euro, with strong European ties, and/or where the majority of tourists are European. This generally corresponds with North Africa, the Sahel, West Africa, & Central Africa with the exceptions of Egypt, Sudan, & Ghana, neither the euro nor dollar is better, and Nigeria, the DRC, & Liberia. Due to the relevantly recent creation of the Euro and long-standing status of the dollar, beware that there are some regions of Africa where people either have never heard of the euro or will see it as worthless.
South African rand
The South African rand is an official currency and widely circulated in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, & Namibia. Although the latter three issue their own currencies, they are pegged 1:1 with the rand and are not legal tender in the other countries as is the SA rand. The rand has also been accepted in Zimbabwe since the Zimbabwean dollar's demise, but not as widely as the U.S. dollar. It is also readily exchanged (and sometimes accepted for payment) in Botswana and Mozambique as well as most of the tourist spots in Botswana and Zambia.
Durban South Africa boost of markets, visit Warwick Junction precinct which houses a bustling market area. Here you will find the Bovine Head Cookers, the Early Morning Market, Herbalists' Bridge, Music Market, Clay Market and the Hazrath Badshaw Peer Market/Brook Street Market as well as the Victoria Street Market and the Brook Street Bead Sellers Market. The streets and pavements are lined with traders of all kinds and the Berea Station offers more shops.for more tours around Durban contact Durban City Tour Guides
Prohibited items
Trade in ivory is prohibited by nearly all countries in the world, with hefty penalties and even jail time for offenders. Many animal products (some commonly found in fetish markets) are also banned by western countries, such as tortoise shells, tusks of any animal, or any part of or item made with an endangered species. Some African countries keen on conservation will prosecute all violators to the fullest extent of the law...so be careful when purchasing animal products unless you want to spend years in an African prison. Keep in mind that even if an item may be exported from an African country it may be illegal to import into a Western country; both the EU and US have strict laws on importing animal products in the name of conservation.
Some medications which may be purchased without a prescription in Western countries or parts of Africa may contain ingredients considered illegal narcotics or controlled substances in some countries. In particular, diphenhydramine is a "controlled substance" in Zambia and several Americans have been fined and jailed on drug-trafficking charges for possession the over-the-counter allergy medicine Benadryl (elsewhere called Dimedrol) and the pain reliever Advil PM whose main active ingredient is diphenhydramine.
Drug trafficking is as common an offense as in most Western countries. The list of what substances are considered drugs varies from country to country. Beware khat which is readily grown and consumed in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa is considered a drug in most other African countries. Organized drug trafficking is a major problem in Guinea, & Guinea-Bissau en route from South America to Europe.
As with most countries, check local laws concerning antiquities before trying to leave the country with anything that appears to be over 100 years old.
Hotels in Africa range from world-class luxury hotels to small lodges with only a few rooms. The Best hotels can be found in capital cities while remote areas have limited options.
Stay safe
Although Africa previously dealt with ruthless dictators, more recently the continent has seen a rise in militant Salafi groups. Nonetheless, most of Africa is safe for travel and nearly all tourist attractions on the continent are far from conflict. There are also jihadists and radical Islamists operating in various countries. Some jihadi groups cooperate.
Somalia, where warlords have fought for control since the collapse of the central government in 1993, and the Central African Republic, where general lawlessness and rebels exist throughout most of the country, should only be visited by experienced travellers who are very competent regarding the dangers that exist. Otherwise, these areas should be considered no-go regions. Exceptions are Somaliland which is de facto independent and quite safe and the CAR's isolated Dzanga Sangha National Reserve.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to the second largest jungle after the Amazon and most of the country is impassable by land. The eastern and northeastern regions are home to rebels and general lawlessness and have recently been home to the bloodiest conflict since World War 2. Safe regions are the west (incl. Kinshasa), south (near Zambia border, incl. Lubumbashi), and a few spots on the border, such as Goma, Bukavu, & Virunga National Park.
The Central Sahara is host to numerous problems, notably that a growing presence (or at least impact) of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in much of Saharan Algeria, northern Mali (north of Timbuktu, east of Gao, and near the Nigerian border), and far eastern Mauritania has resulted in several kidnappings (incl. one Briton beheaded, kidnapped near the Mali-Niger border) and a couple of suicide bombings in Nouakchott. A Tuareg uprising has left much of the area around Agadez, once a popular tourist destination, off-limits and unsafe. Several borders in the Sahara are closed or very unsafe as a result of banditry: Libya-Sudan (closed), Libya-Chad (closed), Chad-Sudan (unsafe due to Darfur conflict), Chad-Niger (banditry), Libya-Niger (banditry), Mali-Algeria (no road crossings, AQIM), Algeria-Mauritania (AQIM), & Algeria-Morocco (closed).
Portions of Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Chad are home to rebels and it is important to obtain up-to-date information on which parts of these countries are safe to visit (see warnings on those pages). Nigeria has a poor reputation for conflict largely based on events 20+ years ago and, at present, only a small region around the Niger Delta is unsafe to visit. Similarly, in Sudan, only the western Darfur regions and south-central "boundary" between the conflicting North-South are dangerous.
As of February 2010, the authoritarian governments of Eritrea & Guinea have been hostile to the West following harsh condemnations of authoritarianism, massacres of civilians, & refusal of food aid. Niger had a coup in February 18 2010 and instability (especially in the capital) is possible in coming months. While it is physically safe & possible to visit these countries, beware of political unrest.
As of 2011, the states of North Africa have been swept by a wave of popular unrest, with Egypt and Tunisia experiencing revolutions and Libya descending into a civil war, and all other countries going through some sort of unrest. While travel to much the region is perfectly safe now, protests still sometimes turn violent, and travel to Libya should be avoided.
Africa can certainly be a dangerous continent just like others. Check the "stay safe" areas of the individual countries you are going to.
In most parts of Africa dangerous wildlife should be of only very minor, if any, concern at all. In some parts of East Africa and South Africa large abundances of potentially dangerous animals can be found, but the majority of the time any traveler would most likely be perfectly safe in a vehicle with their tour guide. Nonetheless, attacks and deaths do occur (rarely with foreigners, but commonly with locals) and it is best to be well-informed. Nile crocodiles can be extremely dangerous and swimming is not an option in most low-lying portions of East Africa. Lions and leopards can be dangerous, but you are unlikely to encounter them on foot unless you are being extremely foolish. Large herbivores such as elephants and rhinos can also be very dangerous if aggravated, even while in a vehicle. Venomous snakes exist and are plentiful, but are very shy and you are unlikely to even see one let alone be bitten by one. Most insects in the country are no more dangerous than what you would find in any other country, and the spiders are mostly harmless to humans. Despite all of this, easily the most dangerous non-human animal in the entire African continent is the mosquito.
Many countries are authoritarian regimes, so exercise caution in what you say. Freedom of speech and assembly are not necessarily guaranteed.
LGBT Travellers
LGBT travellers should exercise extreme caution when travelling to Africa as many African countries outlaw homosexual activity and same-sex marriage. Places such as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya and Sudan have strict laws against homosexuality and same-sex marriage, Penalties can range from small fines to the death sentence.
Stay healthy
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of HIV and AIDS infection on Earth. A 2005 UN Report says over 25 million infected, over 7% of adults, for the continent as a whole. Be extremely cautious about any sexual activity in Africa. Especially note that the rates of HIV infection among sex workers is phenomenally high.
Bushmeat from gorillas, monkeys, chimpanzees, & mandrills should be avoided. Due to their similarity to humans, a number of diseases (including yet-undiscovered or poorly-studied ones) can be spread by consuming their flesh, especially if not heated hot enough. HIV is undoubtedly the most famous disease transmitted from primates, but others include ebola, anthrax, yellow fever, and more. [15]
See also Tropical diseases and Tips for travel in developing countries.
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He is straight.He works alongside with Gou on missions. He frequently points his gun or uses any other weapon when Gou tries to get close to him. He was an orphan and was adopted by 2 guys whose professions were assassins.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Ruth and Langton, staring down on this portent, did not witness the end; for a dense cloud of dust, on this upper side dun-coloured against the sunlight, interposed itself between them and the city, over which it made a total darkness. Into that darkness the great wave passed and broke; and almost in the moment of its breaking a second tremor shook the hillside. Then, indeed, wave and earthquake together made universal roar, drowning the last cry of thousands; for before it died away earthquake and wave together had turned the harbour quay of Lisbon bottom up, and engulfed it. Of all the population huddled there to escape from death in the falling streets, not a corpse ever rose to the surface of Tagus.
But Ruth saw nothing of this. She clung to Langton, and his arm was about her. She believed, with so much of her mind as was not paralysed, that the end of the world was come.
As the infernal hubbub died away on the dropping wind, she glanced back over her shoulder at the house. The poor little criada-moga was no longer there, peering over the edge she dared not leap. Nay, the house was no longer there—only three gaunt walls, and between them a heap where rooms, floors, roof had collapsed together.
Of a sudden complete silence fell about them. As her eyes travelled along the edge of the terrace where the balustrade had run, but ran no longer, she had a sensation of standing on the last brink of the world, high over nothingness. Langton's arm still supported her.
"As safe here as anywhere," she heard him saying. "For the chance that led you here, thank whatever Gods may be."
"But I must find him!" she cried.
"Eh? Noll?—find Noll? Dear lady, small chance of that!"
"I must find him."
"He was to attend High Mass in the Cathedral—"
"Yes . . . with that woman. What help could such an one bring to him if—if—Oh, I must find him, I say!"
"The Cathedral," he repeated. "You are brave; let your own eyes look for it." He had withdrawn his arm.
"Yet I must search, and you shall search with me. You were his friend, I think?"
"Indeed, I even believed so. . . . I was thinking of you. . . . It is almost certain death. Do you say that he is worth it?"
"Do you fear death?" she asked.
"Moderately," he answered. "Yet if you command me, I come; if you go, I go with you."
Chapter IV.
They set out hand in hand. The small dog ran with them.
Even the beginning of the descent was far from easy, for the high walls that had protected the villa-gardens of Buenos Ayres lay in heaps, cumbering the roadway, and in places obliterating it.
About a hundred and fifty yards down the road, by what had been the walled entrance to the Hakes' garden, they sighted two forlorn small figures—the six and five year old Hake children, Sophie and Miriam, who recognised Ruth and, running, clung to her skirts.


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Arkansas Ozarks Fishing-White River-Bull Shoals-Norfork Lake-Buffalo-North Fork
get lodging & fishing information
Spring River
Spring River is unique among Arkansas trout streams; its cold water comes naturally from a spring rather than artificially from deep within a man-made lake. Every hour, Mammoth Spring releases 9 million gallons of 58-62°F water, and the river stays cold enough to support a good population of trout for 10 miles downstream. Trout were first stocked here around the turn of the century. The first 10 miles also supports good fisheries for walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, redear sunfish, and channel catflsh. In 1989, tiger muskies (a hybrid of muskellunge and northern pike) were experimentally stocked into the small Spring River Lake, a mainstem impoundment about 2.5 miles below the spring. Some were pushed into the river below by a 50-year flood. They grew well in the cool, forage rich water. The current Arkansas State Record tiger muskie (23 Ibs. 12 oz.) was caught in 1995 in the river and was only 6 years old. They and the walleye inhabit the deeper pools. A 22-pound tiger muskie was caught from the river in February 1997.
The Spring River provides a lot of fishing diversity. The 2.5 mile stretch from Mammoth Spring to Dam 3 (an old hydropower structure) contains ideal fly fishing water in a large riffle area that can be reached from AG&FC's Lasseter Access Area. In that section of the river you may catch rainbows, browns, cutthroats, or brooks. Spring River Lake extends about a mile above Dam 3. This 55-acre lake has a maximum depth of about 25 feet. The river channel averages about 12 feet deep. The shoreline is characterized by beds of emergent vegetation, dense stands of Brazilian elodea (a rooted aquatic macrophyte), steep dirt banks, riprap banks, backwater sloughs, silty flats, and lawns. All the species mentioned above are presently caught in the lake. Walleye in the 12- to 14-pound range have been caught in the lake but most are in the 3- to 5-pound range. Channel cattish and rainbow trout are stocked in the lake. There is a boatramp at Cold Springs Access Area (AG&FC).
The AG&FC's Spring River State Fish Hatchery is situated on an island directly below Dam 3 (that's dam 3 in the photo). It was donated to AG&FC by the Kroger Company in 1985 and employs a unique system of 36 in-ground silos (16'/, feet across and 13 feet deep) for raising trout. Water from Spring River Lake is piped to the bottom of the silos and pours out the top of them to continuously exchange the water and flush the fish culture by-products. The hatchery is authorized to use up to 50,000 gallons per minute for the purpose of raising trout. Annually it produces 500,000 trout (mostly rainbows and cutthroats) that weigh around 385,000 pounds. According to Melissa Jones, Spring River State Fish Hatchery Manager (501-625-7521), the hatchery is open Mon.-Fri., 7 AM to 3:30 PM, and tours are available for groups of 10 or more. Smaller groups or individuals may take self-guided tours during business hours.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service operates the Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery (501-625-3912) in Mammoth Spring near the spring itself. This is a coolwater /warmwater hatchery that produces a variety of species including walleye, gulf coast striped bass (a threatened species), bluegill and redear sunfish, and smallmouth bass. The hatchery has a large aquarium display of native species for visitors.
Below Dam 3 the river returns to its natural state and is a very popular float stream for canoeists. It has some semi-challenging rapids, shoots, and falls. This section also has excellent trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye fishing. The I pound 5 ounce State Record Shadow bass (a close of the Ozark bass) was caught in this section. It is also in this portion of the river that the tiger muskies have become established and where many unsuspecting trout anglers have had their light tackle stolen by the big, voracious tiger. AG&FC maintains a number of access areas along the Spring River to accommodate various floats and wade fishermen.


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The internationally renowned theatre for youth PhD program at ASU features distinguished faculty, excellent facilities and comprehensive coursework, research guidance and practical experiences in all areas of theatre, educational theatre, community cultural development and theatre for youth. Faculty provide students individualized attention and focused mentorship amid a challenging and supportive atmosphere designed to educate future leaders and researchers in the field. The program's doctoral students complete their course of study equipped to be engaged, thoughtful and innovative leaders in artistry, scholarship, education and research.
Graduates of the theatre for youth program are prepared for careers that include teacher of artistry, directing and education directing; specialist in arts and civic organizations; member of university and college faculty; career in social profit organizations; and careers in arts entrepreneurship, research and publishing programming.
Theatre for Youth, PhD
Design & the Arts, Herberger Institute for
The Plan of Study is the required curriculum to complete the program.
Theatre for Youth Ph.D. Handbook
2017-18 Theatre for Youth Annual Report


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Go ahead, click on them.
Do you have boys? And are irked at how the "girl stuff" always looks so.much.better than the boys'? I find (because I have two boys and a girl) that I get lost in the girls department of a store. While the boys' department is just a varying arrangement of stripes and dogs. Pants are brown or blue. Jeans. And honestly, my 6 yr old boy couldn't care about what he wears. (You know, red shirt matches red pants kind of thing.) So this month, is Celebrate the Boy at Made and Made by Rae. If you don't know these bloggers, they are ones to aspire to be! These gals could sew circles around me! For the next month they are showcasing all.kinds.of.boy.things- to make, to wear, to play with, to buy, to win. I didn't realize how excited I was for this year's Celebrate the Boy! Last year they teamed up and you can even see all the tutorials on their blogs from last year. It might be boy overload month. But I don't care. I am going to be reading those blogs twice a day. Yes.


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Select your current week of pregnancy to find out how you and your baby are progressing:
You And Your Body
The second trimester is probably the best time in your pregnancy when you experience the mid-pregnancy bloom and feel good about everything. Your sex life may return if it had been lying dormant for the past three months.
Your Baby
* Your baby is about 9cm long and weighs approx 60g/2oz
* The chin, forehead and nose become more clearly defined on your baby's face.
* Eyes come closer together and are no longer wide apart on either side of the head.
* Your baby's body begins to grow fine body hair called lanugo. Lanugo is thought to have a protective function and is also used to hold the greasy skin covering secreted by the baby in the later months.
* Your baby can now respond to external stimulus by actually moving away when the midwife or doctor feels your abdomen.
* The heartbeat is strong and can be picked up using a special listening device - sonicaid.
You And Your Body
* It is time now to think about maternity clothes. Click here for some handy tips
* Your uterus (which is your baby's home) can be felt about 3 inches below your navel.
* As there is an increased amount of blood circulating in your body, the heart enlarges to cope with this.
* The heart also needs to accomodate for your baby's need of oxygen and has hence increased its output by 20 per cent.
* You may feel a lot energetic than before.
* Its time to make plans for holiday between weeks 20-27.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 12 cm long and weighs about 100g/3.5oz
* The legs are now longer than the arms.
* Eyelashes and eyebrows are present.
* Hair on your baby's head is thicker.
* Your baby has started to hear now although all sounds reach him through the amniotic fluid and appear to be muffled.
You And Your Body
* A dark line (called Linea nigra) starts to appear down the centre of your abdomen.
* You will find an increase in your appetite as the baby grows.
* Blood samples for serum screening are usually taken around this time.
Your Baby
* Your baby is now approx 16cm long and weighs about 135g/5oz
* Your baby is able to squint, open his mouth and even frown.
* The skin is very transparent and blood vessels can be seen underneath it.
* Sex organs have developed and can be seen on an ultrasound scan to determine the baby's sex.
* If you are carrying a baby girl, her ovaries have now descended from her abdomen into the pelvis.
* Lanugo or the body hair is quite noticeable on your baby's body now.
You And Your Body
* You may notice stretchmarks especially around the abdomen and the breasts.
* Waistline will have disappeared completely.
* You may experience minor nosebleeds and nasal congestion.
* Bleeding gums (or 'pink toothbrush') may be a problem, so it is a good idea to make an appointment with the dentist for your free dental check-up.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 18cm long and weighs about 185g/6.5oz
* All the limbs are fully formed now.
* Your baby's taste buds are now beginning to develop.
* The placenta is well established with a dense network of blood vessels and is exchanging nutrients and waste.
* Your baby shows deposition of brown fat, which plays a role in heat generation after birth.
You And Your Body
* You may be able to feel your baby move for the first time (it may be later in first time mums).
* The baby's movement feels like fluttering of butterflies or even like rumbling of the stomach (similar to a feeling of indigestion).
* Increase in vaginal discharge.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 21cm long and weighs about 235g/8oz
* Your baby has become more aware of the world around her and can hear sounds outside the uterus
* You may feel her jump at unexpected noises.
* Wrinkled skin due to absence of fat.
You And Your Body
* You may notice that you are gaining weight in specific areas like hips, thighs and abdomen.
* Difficulty in finding a comfortable position to sleep due to the extra weight and bigger uterus.
* Tiny veins may appear on your face (these will disappear after birth).
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 23cm long and weighs about 285g/10oz
* Ears now stand out from the sides of the head.
* Buds for your baby's permanent teeth appear, behind the ones for the milk teeth.
You And Your Body
* You definitely look pregnant now.
* Your waistline is no longer visible.
* The top of uterus uterus is just below the navel.
* Your navel may be flattened or pushed out and remain this way until after the birth.
* You may experience breathlessness upon exertion.
* Indigestion and heartburn as the uterus starts to push against your stomach.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 25.5cm long and weighs about 340g/12oz
* Vernix (waxy substance to protect your baby's skin from the amniotic fluid) is starting to form.
You And Your Body
* Increase in appetite.
* You may develop a craving for something unusual
* You will probably be feeling energetic.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 28cm long and weighs about 390g/14oz
* Your baby already has a high number of red blood cells.
* White blood cells (responsible for fighting infection) are beginning to be manufactured in your baby's body.
You And Your Body
* Your growing baby and the expanding uterus push on your ribcage, which may cause you pain.
* It may be a good idea to check with your doctor that you are having enough iron as it reaches its lowest level this week. See anaemia
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 29.5cm long and weighs about 410g
* Your baby is learning about her body and surroundings through touch.
* Fingernails are fully grown by now. They will probably need to be trimmed when born!
* Your baby will frequently touch and stroke her own face.
You And Your Body
* You may start to feel Braxton-Hicks contractions.
* Your baby can be felt through your abdominal wall now.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 31cm long and weighs about 440g/15.5oz
* Your baby still looks red and wrinkled because although fat is being produced, skin is being produced at a much higher rate, causing it to hang loosely.
* Your baby continues to swallow amniotic fluid and passing it back as urine.
* Swallowing the amniotic fluid may give your baby hiccups, which you may be able to feel.
* If your baby is a male, his scrotum is now well-developed.
* If your baby is a female, her ovaries already contain millions of eggs (which continue to decrease in number until puberty).
You And Your Body
* You may be putting on weight at the rate of about 1 lb per week.
* Weight gain will start taking its toll
* Backache, aching feet and general tiredness may be a problem.
* Try to rest as much as possible with your feet up (above the level of the heart, if possible).
* Wear comfortable shoes. Click here for tips
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 33cm long and weighs about 0.5 kg/1 lb
* Eyes (although still closed) are close together on the front of the face.
* Ears move into their final position on the sides of the head.
* Your baby continues to grow hair on her scalp.
* Your baby develops her own pattern of waking and resting periods.
* Heartbeat can now be heard with an ordinary sthethoscope.
* Your voice can be heard clearly by your baby.
You And Your Body
* Your uterus is now the size of a soccer ball.
* Your uterus along with your growing baby puts increased pressure on your bladder causing you to make frequent trips to urinate.
* Heartburn will be quite common now, especially after heavy meals.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 34cm long and weighs about 0.6 kg/1lb 4oz
* If your baby is male, testes start to descend into his scrotum.
* If your baby is a female, her vagina hollows out.
* Your baby's own unique fingerprints begin to form.
You And Your Body
* Try gentle exercise regularly as this will prepare your body for labour.
* You may feel pressure on and around your pelvis.
* Your baby's movements may cause you pain under the ribs.
* Try to raise your hands up or lie on your side to ease the discomfort.
Your Baby
* Your baby is approx 35cm long and weighs about 0.7kg/1lb 8oz
* Your baby finally opens his eyelids.
* Your baby's eyes will be blue in the womb, irrespective of the eye colour he/she develops after birth.
* Fat begins to be laid down under the skin.


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If you are eagerly awaiting Hot Tub Time Machine 2 then you will be happy to know they have released a new trailer online. The gang is reunited, well minis John Cusack, and it looks awesome.
The sequel begins several years after the events of the first installment were our heroes have used the time-machine to earn themselves loads of money, who wouldn't? Everything seems great until Rob Corddrys's character is the subject of an assassination attempt. This then leads to the gang using the hot tub to try save him and as you can imagine hilarious moments follow.
Check out the trailer below…..
Obviously loosing Cusack is a blow but it looks like the sequel works well with replacement Adam Scott. He seems to fit the role and the chemistry between the group works and I for one can't wait till next year to see this.
Let me know what you think of the trailer.
Ryan Oneill
Latest posts by Ryan Oneill (see all)
- My Gaming Setup – November 12, 2017
- Win Some Cooler Master Swag (International) – July 6, 2016
- Corsair Lapdog Review – Lounge Gaming At It's Best – July 1, 2016


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2011 Nissan Leaf gearing up for launch
The beat of the electric car goes on with the 2011 Nissan Leaf gearing up for launch. According to CEO Carlos Ghosn 2010 production is already sold out! With a suggested cost of $25,000 after U.S. federal and state incentives for clean car purchases the Nissan Leaf finds itself in the sweet spot of many U.S. and overseas car buyers.
From the Detroit News:
Nissan Motor Co. has collected nearly 20,000 pre-orders for an all-electric Leaf car that it plans to start selling in the United States and Japan in December.
"The production for 2010 is already sold out," said Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Nissan and its French partner and shareholder Renault SA.
Nissan has gathered 13,000 pre-orders from prospective American buyers who paid a $100 refundable deposit, and 6,000 pre-orders in Japan, Ghosn said. The automaker will start taking firm orders in August.
Read the full article here.


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Where Kate Brown makes her first post at WHB by introducing herself:
It will be of no surprise to regular readers of this blog that Miland Brown's wife endures exposure to history—particularly Roman history. The exposure occurs through various History Channel programs and one of Miland's favorite shows, the HBO series Rome. As for me, I'd much prefer to read a Jane Austen novel or learn about the nineteenth-century. (By the way, to be fair, Miland endured listening to my viewings of Pride and Prejudice, the mini series and the 2005 film version).
Despite the differences in our preferences, Miland does his best to interest me in Rome by pointing out the racy bits and talking about Caesar Augustus—the man who inspired our second son's middle name. I have to admit, I am intrigued by the man Miland calls the "most influential in history." Augustus is a central figure in the series. However, I doubt I'll ever be a fan of Rome. There is too much violence and political intrigue for me. Despite my indifference, I know more about Roman emperors than I would have had I not married this man. I can name quite a few emperors and even have a few favorites. I love the story of Claudius, the heir apparent everyone overlooked because of a disability that ultimately saved his life. My knowledge of Claudius expanded because Miland joyfully bought the I Claudius miniseries for $1 (in VHS format) at a used book sale. Anyway, thanks to Miland, I also like Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and yes, Augustus.
I plan to make one more post again soon. However, after that, I'll probably disappear from this blog for awhile. Thank you, Miland, for the chance to blog here.
Blog of Dr. Miland Brown that features different aspects of world history. Not everything can be covered but sites dealing with any historical issue or topic are possible future posts. Also includes sites which discuss teaching history. Dr. Brown is an academic in North America.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Kate Brown Makes a Debut on World History Blog
Posted by Julie L. at 5:31 PM
Labels: HBO Rome, Roman History
1 comment:
- Poplar Reader said...
I'd recommend the original two books by Robert Graves "I, Claudius" and "Claudius the God" as being far more illuminating than historical fiction normally is, and far better than the BBC series!
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Video: How does Valet Parking work?
Video: How does Valet Parking work?
Why Should You Choose Centralparking?
- Quality and Diligence
- Changes and cancellations are free of charge
- No-fuss, safe and personal
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- Let Charles park your car
Charles parks your car
Centralparking Driver
Official partner Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
Centralparking is an official partner of the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam. Parking facilities in the vicinity of this cruise terminal are quite extensive as it is located in the city centre of Amsterdam. More and more cruise travellers are discovering the benefits of using valet parking while on a cruise holiday. You simply drive to the Passenger Terminal in Amsterdam and your driver Charles will drive your car to our secure parking facilities. When you retu from your cruise, your car is waiting for you in the same place you left it.
Centralparking cruise valet parking
It makes no difference if you are going on a cruise for weeks or just a couple of days; Centralparking is always a smart, reliable choice. In the past, cruise passengers parked their car in the parking garages near the Passenger Terminal. Now, more and more travellers are opting for valet parking. One reason to choose valet parking is the exorbitant rates charged by parking garages near the cruise terminal. In addition, the comfort and ease of unloading and loading your luggage kerbside at the cruise terminal makes passengers choose for the solution valet parking. It is also worth noting that parking in parking garages is done at your own risk and damage to cars is not uncommon.
About the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam welcomes over 300,000 cruise passengers per year. The undulating curve of the roof symbolically embraces this hospitality and the huge wooden beams inside are a nod to the shipbuilding tradition. The extensive use of glass provides a spectacular view across the IJ harbour and the city. The PTA or Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is situated just 20 minutes' drive from Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol) and a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station.