Africa gains a country as the Republic of South Sudan is officially born today, Saturday 9 July, 2011. The labor has been painful but hopefully the infant country will grow into a strong toddler and not get bullied by its neighbors. Lots of dignitaries are expected to be in Juba (the new capital) to celebrate. Africa's newest country has been busy preparing. It has had to come up with a national anthem, currency, flag, stamps, and of course an internet domain name. More on South Sudan...
And other news that caught my eye this week ...
A severe drought and a rise in world food prices has led to a crisis in the Horn of Africa affecting millions of people. Thousands of refugees are flooding into Eastern Kenya desperate for food. Children are always the ones to suffer the most, so please check out the latest news from "Save the Children Foundation" and donate if you can.
Singita Grumeti Reserves, located along the Western corridor of Tanzania's legendary Serengeti National Park, is ranked No. 1 on the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2011 list of Top 100 Hotels Overall. In fact Six of the year's Top 10 hotels overall are safari lodges in Africa. See feature ...
A proposed Serengeti highway that would severely affect the great annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra, has been stopped in its tracks. Conservationists led the protest and other organizations and governments (even the US) soon followed, pressurizing the Tanzanian government to re-think and change their original plan. The road will still be built, but will now go around the national park instead. More on this story...