tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68308320321752508652024-09-04T21:28:08.185-07:00Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-76811870206460035842012-08-10T08:49:00.001-07:002012-08-10T08:49:19.701-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-68678758670108296462012-08-10T08:48:00.003-07:002012-08-10T08:48:38.495-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-68530061224845152422012-08-10T08:48:00.001-07:002012-08-10T08:48:08.695-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-82442795281511185392012-08-10T08:47:00.001-07:002012-08-10T08:47:27.626-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-65491388697630089272012-08-10T08:46:00.000-07:002012-08-10T08:47:00.062-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-64944616598399358392012-08-04T19:18:00.003-07:002012-08-04T19:18:10.388-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-8735974541741495412012-08-04T19:18:00.001-07:002012-08-04T19:18:03.181-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/2/V/westnight.jpg" alt="West with the Night, favorite book set in Africa" />I have spent the past three months immersed in the colonial lives of the first white settlers in Kenya (or "Keenya" as they liked to call it). It started off with a re-read of Beryl Markham's excellent <em>West with the Night</em>, and I just got carried away with the genre. If you loved watching "<em>Out of Africa</em>" or "<em>White Mischief</em>" and have become enchanted with the Edwardian drama <em>Downton Abbey</em>, you may enjoy reading the list of books below. They are ranked in order of my personal preference.</p><ul> <li>Beryl Markham -- <em>West with the Night</em> (beautifully written autobiography) </li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>The Flame Trees of Thika</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Bror Blixen -- African Hunter (autobiography) </li> <li> Mary Lovell -- <em>Straight On Till Morning</em> (life and times of Beryl Markham)</li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>Out in the Midday Sun</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Isak Dinesen -- <em>Out of Africa</em> (autobiography, made into the famous movie of the same name) </li> <li>Sara Wheeler -- <em>Too Close to the Sun</em> (life and times of Denys Finch Hatton) </li> <li>Mark Seal -- <em>Wildflower</em> (life and times of conservationist Joan Root - set a bit later in the century) </li> <li>Frances Osborne -- <em>The Bolter</em> (life and times of socialite Idina Sackville) </li></ul><p>I have now had more than enough of the "upstairs", it's time to check back into the "downstairs" crew. I have just ordered Tsitsi Dangaremba's 1988 novel <em>Nervous Conditions</em>. I can't wait to start it.</p><p><strong>More About: Best Movies Set in Africa l Best Books About Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-80324020500452232962012-08-04T19:17:00.019-07:002012-08-04T19:17:56.773-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/5/U/10153363.jpg" alt="Maasai on Cell Phone" />One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive in Africa is that nearly everyone has a cell phone. And I really mean <em>everyone</em>. That includes the Maasai warrior dressed in a traditional red <em>shuka </em>blanket, complete with rubber tire sandals on his feet. While tending cattle on the shimmering northern Tanzanian plains, he'll have a stick in one hand and a Nokia phone in the other. In Ghana people love their phones so much, they can actually be buried in a cell phone coffin.</p><p>The cell phone industry has revolutionized communications on the continent, and in some key areas, Africa has revolutionized the use of cell phones. This is all fantastic news. However, you may find that your own beloved iPhone is quite useless when you arrive in Africa. Your San Bushman tracker can text his wife to ask if dinner is ready, but you are likely to be stuck with no signal at all. So how do you make sure your phone will work while traveling in Africa? <strong>Read on...</strong></p><p><strong>More About: Calling Home From Africa l Africa Calling Codes l Time in Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-45144856933634160792012-08-04T19:17:00.017-07:002012-08-04T19:17:53.422-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/4/V/babyzebra.jpg" alt="Baby Zebra, Zambia" />It's zany zebra Monday and I'll start with a question. Are zebras white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Turns out that in the womb, teeny tiny zebra embryos are in fact brown. Their white stripes develop a little later on and their brown stripes turn black as they mature after birth. Another big zebra question is - Why? Why the stripes? Scientists have been puzzling over this one for many decades. A recent scientific breakthrough shows that it could be a way to ward off biting insects. Does this mean that our safari khakis should really be a more racy black and white outfit? Because I've had plenty of tsetse fly bites ruin a game drive, and a simple striped solution would suit me just fine. I'd also love to see game rangers sport some stripey shorts.</p><p>Without further ado, here are ten fun facts about zebras to help chase away the Monday blues.</p><p><strong>Zany Zebra Facts</strong></p><ol> <li>Zebras are black with white stripes </li> <li>A zebra's stripes help ward off biting insects (source) </li> <li>Zebra's sleep standing up </li> <li>Zebras live in harems (usually one male with up to six females) </li> <li>Zebras can kick hard, they've been known to kill hyenas </li> <li>Zebra belong to the Equus genus (along with horses and donkeys) </li> <li>There are 3 species of zebra: Grevy's, Burchell's, and Mountain zebra </li> <li>Zebras live up to 25 years </li> <li>No two zebras are alike, their stripe patterns are unique like our finger prints </li> <li>Zebras always look healthy (a personal and completely unscientific observation) </li></ol><p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/H/s/O/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="Zebra resting, Tanzania" /></p><p><strong>More About Zebras: Witness the Great Migration l Visit Serengeti National Park l Zebra and Wildebeest - BFF's</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-35565644110958797652012-08-04T19:17:00.015-07:002012-08-04T19:17:44.470-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-43980546687914500892012-08-04T19:17:00.013-07:002012-08-04T19:17:37.262-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/2/V/westnight.jpg" alt="West with the Night, favorite book set in Africa" />I have spent the past three months immersed in the colonial lives of the first white settlers in Kenya (or "Keenya" as they liked to call it). It started off with a re-read of Beryl Markham's excellent <em>West with the Night</em>, and I just got carried away with the genre. If you loved watching "<em>Out of Africa</em>" or "<em>White Mischief</em>" and have become enchanted with the Edwardian drama <em>Downton Abbey</em>, you may enjoy reading the list of books below. They are ranked in order of my personal preference.</p><ul> <li>Beryl Markham -- <em>West with the Night</em> (beautifully written autobiography) </li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>The Flame Trees of Thika</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Bror Blixen -- African Hunter (autobiography) </li> <li> Mary Lovell -- <em>Straight On Till Morning</em> (life and times of Beryl Markham)</li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>Out in the Midday Sun</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Isak Dinesen -- <em>Out of Africa</em> (autobiography, made into the famous movie of the same name) </li> <li>Sara Wheeler -- <em>Too Close to the Sun</em> (life and times of Denys Finch Hatton) </li> <li>Mark Seal -- <em>Wildflower</em> (life and times of conservationist Joan Root - set a bit later in the century) </li> <li>Frances Osborne -- <em>The Bolter</em> (life and times of socialite Idina Sackville) </li></ul><p>I have now had more than enough of the "upstairs", it's time to check back into the "downstairs" crew. I have just ordered Tsitsi Dangaremba's 1988 novel <em>Nervous Conditions</em>. I can't wait to start it.</p><p><strong>More About: Best Movies Set in Africa l Best Books About Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-73320981135441268142012-08-04T19:17:00.011-07:002012-08-04T19:17:29.657-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/5/U/10153363.jpg" alt="Maasai on Cell Phone" />One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive in Africa is that nearly everyone has a cell phone. And I really mean <em>everyone</em>. That includes the Maasai warrior dressed in a traditional red <em>shuka </em>blanket, complete with rubber tire sandals on his feet. While tending cattle on the shimmering northern Tanzanian plains, he'll have a stick in one hand and a Nokia phone in the other. In Ghana people love their phones so much, they can actually be buried in a cell phone coffin.</p><p>The cell phone industry has revolutionized communications on the continent, and in some key areas, Africa has revolutionized the use of cell phones. This is all fantastic news. However, you may find that your own beloved iPhone is quite useless when you arrive in Africa. Your San Bushman tracker can text his wife to ask if dinner is ready, but you are likely to be stuck with no signal at all. So how do you make sure your phone will work while traveling in Africa? <strong>Read on...</strong></p><p><strong>More About: Calling Home From Africa l Africa Calling Codes l Time in Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-21696482861734646352012-08-04T19:17:00.009-07:002012-08-04T19:17:26.331-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/4/V/babyzebra.jpg" alt="Baby Zebra, Zambia" />It's zany zebra Monday and I'll start with a question. Are zebras white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Turns out that in the womb, teeny tiny zebra embryos are in fact brown. Their white stripes develop a little later on and their brown stripes turn black as they mature after birth. Another big zebra question is - Why? Why the stripes? Scientists have been puzzling over this one for many decades. A recent scientific breakthrough shows that it could be a way to ward off biting insects. Does this mean that our safari khakis should really be a more racy black and white outfit? Because I've had plenty of tsetse fly bites ruin a game drive, and a simple striped solution would suit me just fine. I'd also love to see game rangers sport some stripey shorts.</p><p>Without further ado, here are ten fun facts about zebras to help chase away the Monday blues.</p><p><strong>Zany Zebra Facts</strong></p><ol> <li>Zebras are black with white stripes </li> <li>A zebra's stripes help ward off biting insects (source) </li> <li>Zebra's sleep standing up </li> <li>Zebras live in harems (usually one male with up to six females) </li> <li>Zebras can kick hard, they've been known to kill hyenas </li> <li>Zebra belong to the Equus genus (along with horses and donkeys) </li> <li>There are 3 species of zebra: Grevy's, Burchell's, and Mountain zebra </li> <li>Zebras live up to 25 years </li> <li>No two zebras are alike, their stripe patterns are unique like our finger prints </li> <li>Zebras always look healthy (a personal and completely unscientific observation) </li></ol><p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/H/s/O/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="Zebra resting, Tanzania" /></p><p><strong>More About Zebras: Witness the Great Migration l Visit Serengeti National Park l Zebra and Wildebeest - BFF's</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-17807581090480078102012-08-04T19:17:00.007-07:002012-08-04T19:17:18.900-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-23497675281999095102012-08-04T19:17:00.005-07:002012-08-04T19:17:12.503-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/2/V/westnight.jpg" alt="West with the Night, favorite book set in Africa" />I have spent the past three months immersed in the colonial lives of the first white settlers in Kenya (or "Keenya" as they liked to call it). It started off with a re-read of Beryl Markham's excellent <em>West with the Night</em>, and I just got carried away with the genre. If you loved watching "<em>Out of Africa</em>" or "<em>White Mischief</em>" and have become enchanted with the Edwardian drama <em>Downton Abbey</em>, you may enjoy reading the list of books below. They are ranked in order of my personal preference.</p><ul> <li>Beryl Markham -- <em>West with the Night</em> (beautifully written autobiography) </li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>The Flame Trees of Thika</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Bror Blixen -- African Hunter (autobiography) </li> <li> Mary Lovell -- <em>Straight On Till Morning</em> (life and times of Beryl Markham)</li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>Out in the Midday Sun</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Isak Dinesen -- <em>Out of Africa</em> (autobiography, made into the famous movie of the same name) </li> <li>Sara Wheeler -- <em>Too Close to the Sun</em> (life and times of Denys Finch Hatton) </li> <li>Mark Seal -- <em>Wildflower</em> (life and times of conservationist Joan Root - set a bit later in the century) </li> <li>Frances Osborne -- <em>The Bolter</em> (life and times of socialite Idina Sackville) </li></ul><p>I have now had more than enough of the "upstairs", it's time to check back into the "downstairs" crew. I have just ordered Tsitsi Dangaremba's 1988 novel <em>Nervous Conditions</em>. I can't wait to start it.</p><p><strong>More About: Best Movies Set in Africa l Best Books About Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-58257713957905906702012-08-04T19:17:00.003-07:002012-08-04T19:17:06.077-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/5/U/10153363.jpg" alt="Maasai on Cell Phone" />One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive in Africa is that nearly everyone has a cell phone. And I really mean <em>everyone</em>. That includes the Maasai warrior dressed in a traditional red <em>shuka </em>blanket, complete with rubber tire sandals on his feet. While tending cattle on the shimmering northern Tanzanian plains, he'll have a stick in one hand and a Nokia phone in the other. In Ghana people love their phones so much, they can actually be buried in a cell phone coffin.</p><p>The cell phone industry has revolutionized communications on the continent, and in some key areas, Africa has revolutionized the use of cell phones. This is all fantastic news. However, you may find that your own beloved iPhone is quite useless when you arrive in Africa. Your San Bushman tracker can text his wife to ask if dinner is ready, but you are likely to be stuck with no signal at all. So how do you make sure your phone will work while traveling in Africa? <strong>Read on...</strong></p><p><strong>More About: Calling Home From Africa l Africa Calling Codes l Time in Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-27848512823972788002012-08-04T19:17:00.001-07:002012-08-04T19:17:03.598-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/4/V/babyzebra.jpg" alt="Baby Zebra, Zambia" />It's zany zebra Monday and I'll start with a question. Are zebras white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Turns out that in the womb, teeny tiny zebra embryos are in fact brown. Their white stripes develop a little later on and their brown stripes turn black as they mature after birth. Another big zebra question is - Why? Why the stripes? Scientists have been puzzling over this one for many decades. A recent scientific breakthrough shows that it could be a way to ward off biting insects. Does this mean that our safari khakis should really be a more racy black and white outfit? Because I've had plenty of tsetse fly bites ruin a game drive, and a simple striped solution would suit me just fine. I'd also love to see game rangers sport some stripey shorts.</p><p>Without further ado, here are ten fun facts about zebras to help chase away the Monday blues.</p><p><strong>Zany Zebra Facts</strong></p><ol> <li>Zebras are black with white stripes </li> <li>A zebra's stripes help ward off biting insects (source) </li> <li>Zebra's sleep standing up </li> <li>Zebras live in harems (usually one male with up to six females) </li> <li>Zebras can kick hard, they've been known to kill hyenas </li> <li>Zebra belong to the Equus genus (along with horses and donkeys) </li> <li>There are 3 species of zebra: Grevy's, Burchell's, and Mountain zebra </li> <li>Zebras live up to 25 years </li> <li>No two zebras are alike, their stripe patterns are unique like our finger prints </li> <li>Zebras always look healthy (a personal and completely unscientific observation) </li></ol><p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/H/s/O/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="Zebra resting, Tanzania" /></p><p><strong>More About Zebras: Witness the Great Migration l Visit Serengeti National Park l Zebra and Wildebeest - BFF's</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-17217999135980635552012-08-04T19:16:00.007-07:002012-08-04T19:16:56.994-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-48745279020325022112012-08-04T19:16:00.005-07:002012-08-04T19:16:48.485-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/2/V/westnight.jpg" alt="West with the Night, favorite book set in Africa" />I have spent the past three months immersed in the colonial lives of the first white settlers in Kenya (or "Keenya" as they liked to call it). It started off with a re-read of Beryl Markham's excellent <em>West with the Night</em>, and I just got carried away with the genre. If you loved watching "<em>Out of Africa</em>" or "<em>White Mischief</em>" and have become enchanted with the Edwardian drama <em>Downton Abbey</em>, you may enjoy reading the list of books below. They are ranked in order of my personal preference.</p><ul> <li>Beryl Markham -- <em>West with the Night</em> (beautifully written autobiography) </li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>The Flame Trees of Thika</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Bror Blixen -- African Hunter (autobiography) </li> <li> Mary Lovell -- <em>Straight On Till Morning</em> (life and times of Beryl Markham)</li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>Out in the Midday Sun</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Isak Dinesen -- <em>Out of Africa</em> (autobiography, made into the famous movie of the same name) </li> <li>Sara Wheeler -- <em>Too Close to the Sun</em> (life and times of Denys Finch Hatton) </li> <li>Mark Seal -- <em>Wildflower</em> (life and times of conservationist Joan Root - set a bit later in the century) </li> <li>Frances Osborne -- <em>The Bolter</em> (life and times of socialite Idina Sackville) </li></ul><p>I have now had more than enough of the "upstairs", it's time to check back into the "downstairs" crew. I have just ordered Tsitsi Dangaremba's 1988 novel <em>Nervous Conditions</em>. I can't wait to start it.</p><p><strong>More About: Best Movies Set in Africa l Best Books About Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-85727192482043454172012-08-04T19:16:00.003-07:002012-08-04T19:16:41.609-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/5/U/10153363.jpg" alt="Maasai on Cell Phone" />One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive in Africa is that nearly everyone has a cell phone. And I really mean <em>everyone</em>. That includes the Maasai warrior dressed in a traditional red <em>shuka </em>blanket, complete with rubber tire sandals on his feet. While tending cattle on the shimmering northern Tanzanian plains, he'll have a stick in one hand and a Nokia phone in the other. In Ghana people love their phones so much, they can actually be buried in a cell phone coffin.</p><p>The cell phone industry has revolutionized communications on the continent, and in some key areas, Africa has revolutionized the use of cell phones. This is all fantastic news. However, you may find that your own beloved iPhone is quite useless when you arrive in Africa. Your San Bushman tracker can text his wife to ask if dinner is ready, but you are likely to be stuck with no signal at all. So how do you make sure your phone will work while traveling in Africa? <strong>Read on...</strong></p><p><strong>More About: Calling Home From Africa l Africa Calling Codes l Time in Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-22957910986893882122012-08-04T19:16:00.001-07:002012-08-04T19:16:38.662-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/4/V/babyzebra.jpg" alt="Baby Zebra, Zambia" />It's zany zebra Monday and I'll start with a question. Are zebras white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Turns out that in the womb, teeny tiny zebra embryos are in fact brown. Their white stripes develop a little later on and their brown stripes turn black as they mature after birth. Another big zebra question is - Why? Why the stripes? Scientists have been puzzling over this one for many decades. A recent scientific breakthrough shows that it could be a way to ward off biting insects. Does this mean that our safari khakis should really be a more racy black and white outfit? Because I've had plenty of tsetse fly bites ruin a game drive, and a simple striped solution would suit me just fine. I'd also love to see game rangers sport some stripey shorts.</p><p>Without further ado, here are ten fun facts about zebras to help chase away the Monday blues.</p><p><strong>Zany Zebra Facts</strong></p><ol> <li>Zebras are black with white stripes </li> <li>A zebra's stripes help ward off biting insects (source) </li> <li>Zebra's sleep standing up </li> <li>Zebras live in harems (usually one male with up to six females) </li> <li>Zebras can kick hard, they've been known to kill hyenas </li> <li>Zebra belong to the Equus genus (along with horses and donkeys) </li> <li>There are 3 species of zebra: Grevy's, Burchell's, and Mountain zebra </li> <li>Zebras live up to 25 years </li> <li>No two zebras are alike, their stripe patterns are unique like our finger prints </li> <li>Zebras always look healthy (a personal and completely unscientific observation) </li></ol><p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/H/s/O/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="Zebra resting, Tanzania" /></p><p><strong>More About Zebras: Witness the Great Migration l Visit Serengeti National Park l Zebra and Wildebeest - BFF's</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-77237189671546669632012-08-03T15:27:00.009-07:002012-08-03T15:27:30.481-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/m/V/petercapegoodhope.jpg" alt="Peter Gostelow, end of his journey cycling through africa" />Peter Gostelow has just completed his epic cycling trip from London to Cape Town. He pedaled through 24 African countries, each one bringing new terrain to conquer, languages to dispel, and challenges to meet. Along the way he has raised money for the Against Malaria Foundation, and taken time to distribute mosquito nets to remote communities.</p><p>Despite the inevitable ups and downs of a trip like this, Peter only thought about giving up once, after being physically attacked in Dakar. An unfortunate experience, but after much thought he decided to power on through. In his two years of cycling after the Dakar incident, he did not experience anything similar. Peter jumped on his bike in August, 2009 and pedaled out of his home village in Dorset. It took him just shy of 3 years to bike 34,000 km's (21127 miles). Here are some excerpts from his final trip blog:</p><blockquote><p><em>For me, arriving in Cape Town was just like another day on the road, and when you've been going so long, taking detours and moving slowly with no real rush to finish, there is no sudden sense of 'this is the end and I did it'. It kind of sinks in slowly.</p><p>Once the skies brightened up it was time to cycle out to Cape Point. I had company from another South African, who also recently cycled from the UK-Cape Town, but in less than six months. The ride was spectacular, and it is easy to see why so many Capetonians get out on their bicycles, and others are drawn to the city with its inspiring coastal location.</p><p>The late afternoon sun shone down as I wheeled my bike up for a customary photo at the Cape of Good Hope. This had more of an end-to-an-epic-journey-feel to it as I popped open a bottle of bubbly and revelled in the delight of finally making it, before a tour bus arrived and I found myself surrounded by Japanese tourists.</p></em></blockquote><p>Read all about Peter's "Big Africa Cycle".<br /> <br /> Inspired to jump on a bike and ride through Africa? Here are some resources to get you started - <strong>Tips About Cycling in Africa</strong>.</div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-6470952452703644032012-08-03T15:27:00.007-07:002012-08-03T15:27:23.016-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/2/V/westnight.jpg" alt="West with the Night, favorite book set in Africa" />I have spent the past three months immersed in the colonial lives of the first white settlers in Kenya (or "Keenya" as they liked to call it). It started off with a re-read of Beryl Markham's excellent <em>West with the Night</em>, and I just got carried away with the genre. If you loved watching "<em>Out of Africa</em>" or "<em>White Mischief</em>" and have become enchanted with the Edwardian drama <em>Downton Abbey</em>, you may enjoy reading the list of books below. They are ranked in order of my personal preference.</p><ul> <li>Beryl Markham -- <em>West with the Night</em> (beautifully written autobiography) </li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>The Flame Trees of Thika</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Bror Blixen -- African Hunter (autobiography) </li> <li> Mary Lovell -- <em>Straight On Till Morning</em> (life and times of Beryl Markham)</li> <li>Elspeth Huxley -- <em>Out in the Midday Sun</em> (autobiography)</li> <li>Isak Dinesen -- <em>Out of Africa</em> (autobiography, made into the famous movie of the same name) </li> <li>Sara Wheeler -- <em>Too Close to the Sun</em> (life and times of Denys Finch Hatton) </li> <li>Mark Seal -- <em>Wildflower</em> (life and times of conservationist Joan Root - set a bit later in the century) </li> <li>Frances Osborne -- <em>The Bolter</em> (life and times of socialite Idina Sackville) </li></ul><p>I have now had more than enough of the "upstairs", it's time to check back into the "downstairs" crew. I have just ordered Tsitsi Dangaremba's 1988 novel <em>Nervous Conditions</em>. I can't wait to start it.</p><p><strong>More About: Best Movies Set in Africa l Best Books About Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-49105388339678833112012-08-03T15:27:00.005-07:002012-08-03T15:27:15.786-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/3/5/U/10153363.jpg" alt="Maasai on Cell Phone" />One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive in Africa is that nearly everyone has a cell phone. And I really mean <em>everyone</em>. That includes the Maasai warrior dressed in a traditional red <em>shuka </em>blanket, complete with rubber tire sandals on his feet. While tending cattle on the shimmering northern Tanzanian plains, he'll have a stick in one hand and a Nokia phone in the other. In Ghana people love their phones so much, they can actually be buried in a cell phone coffin.</p><p>The cell phone industry has revolutionized communications on the continent, and in some key areas, Africa has revolutionized the use of cell phones. This is all fantastic news. However, you may find that your own beloved iPhone is quite useless when you arrive in Africa. Your San Bushman tracker can text his wife to ask if dinner is ready, but you are likely to be stuck with no signal at all. So how do you make sure your phone will work while traveling in Africa? <strong>Read on...</strong></p><p><strong>More About: Calling Home From Africa l Africa Calling Codes l Time in Africa</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6830832032175250865.post-43240386259908371752012-08-03T15:27:00.003-07:002012-08-03T15:27:10.560-07:00<div><p><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/9/4/V/babyzebra.jpg" alt="Baby Zebra, Zambia" />It's zany zebra Monday and I'll start with a question. Are zebras white with black stripes, or black with white stripes? Turns out that in the womb, teeny tiny zebra embryos are in fact brown. Their white stripes develop a little later on and their brown stripes turn black as they mature after birth. Another big zebra question is - Why? Why the stripes? Scientists have been puzzling over this one for many decades. A recent scientific breakthrough shows that it could be a way to ward off biting insects. Does this mean that our safari khakis should really be a more racy black and white outfit? Because I've had plenty of tsetse fly bites ruin a game drive, and a simple striped solution would suit me just fine. I'd also love to see game rangers sport some stripey shorts.</p><p>Without further ado, here are ten fun facts about zebras to help chase away the Monday blues.</p><p><strong>Zany Zebra Facts</strong></p><ol> <li>Zebras are black with white stripes </li> <li>A zebra's stripes help ward off biting insects (source) </li> <li>Zebra's sleep standing up </li> <li>Zebras live in harems (usually one male with up to six females) </li> <li>Zebras can kick hard, they've been known to kill hyenas </li> <li>Zebra belong to the Equus genus (along with horses and donkeys) </li> <li>There are 3 species of zebra: Grevy's, Burchell's, and Mountain zebra </li> <li>Zebras live up to 25 years </li> <li>No two zebras are alike, their stripe patterns are unique like our finger prints </li> <li>Zebras always look healthy (a personal and completely unscientific observation) </li></ol><p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/goafrica/1/H/s/O/IMG_1400.JPG" alt="Zebra resting, Tanzania" /></p><p><strong>More About Zebras: Witness the Great Migration l Visit Serengeti National Park l Zebra and Wildebeest - BFF's</strong></p></div><br />Luck be Damnedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03012019735519659817noreply@blogger.com0