South Africa
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A Child’s Dream Come True: Up Close and Personal With the Lions, Scorpions, and Elephants of South Africa
January 29, 2012 by Rich Laburn
“As a child I had always wanted to visit Africa and go on Safari. To see firsthand the natural bushveld, get up close and personal with the animals and experience the call of the wild. At the end of 2011 a lifelong dream came true when I had the opportunity of going on safari to Londolozi Game Reserve. Prior to the trip, images of ‘Out of Africa’ danced in my head.”
My objectives were simple, I wanted to see the animals. Lots of them. Emphasis was on the iconic leopards and lions. Armed with a new camera and not really having the time to investigate its attributes, taking pictures became a process of catch as you can. I got lucky. The ‘Big Five’ PLUS, did not disappoint. Mesmerized, excited, my adrenalin pumping, a male leopard simply going about his business, strolled up close and SO personal that I could actually pet his spots.
The Male Leopard who came right past our vehicle
When our ranger got wind that a pride of lions were close by, resting on the bank of the Sand River, we raced out to see…
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Wheely, Wheely Good Art
January 20, 2012 by Green Thing
(Image: Slee)
Tires might not instantly scream ‘beautiful artwork!’ but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Just take a look at the work of Roche Van Den Berg who has made rubber lighting, jewelry, mirrors and furniture out of discarded tires. In her most recent exhibition called Rubber, Recycle, Relove Roche showcased her wonderful talent, including an epic 3 meter tall rubber tree! In South Africa alone, where the artist is from, 11 million used tires are simply thrown away each year. Roche shows that artists can make unique and beautiful pieces from unusual materials. So the next time you are out Walking the Walk and see a car go by why not think about the endless creative possibilities the tires can provide!
(Spotted on Inhabitat)
Walk The Walk For Clean Water
January 17, 2012 by Green Thing
(Image: Water Run)
Easy to get, clean tap water and walking just for fun aren’t luxuries that we all enjoy. Many people around the world have to walk for 5km or more just to get some water.
Water Run is a charity that is encouraging those of us in the Western world to Walk The Walk and donate money to help them build 30 wells in Sub-Saharan Africa, costing £10,000 altogether. These wells will dramatically improve the lives of those nearby. Cleaner, healthier and so, so much closer, these wells will be a lifeline to the villagers.
With all that holiday weight hidden under our woolly jumpers, walking to work, the pub, the shops or to our mates house is the perfect way to burn off those mince pies and start the year in good health. And the money that you save on public transport, petrol and parking can all be donated to Water Run. If walking just really isn’t your thing you can still donate and stay sat on the sofa. Log your walks and donate your cash here.
So far they have raised enough for 2 wells, so they need all the…
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South Africans Combat Unemployment By Way of Recycling
January 15, 2012 by Green Thing
(Image: Touch)
TOUCH is a program in South Africa making upcycled rugby balls. Using materials such as plastic bags and old billboards, these balls are made by unemployed women who have been specially trained to make them. This All Consuming project effectively kills two birds with one stone – it helps reduce waste and raise awareness about waste while providing employment opportunities within the community.
The outer part of the try-tastic rugby ball is made from billboards and they are stuffed with 25-30 plastic bags rescued from the streets. And what makes TOUCH rugby balls even better is that 60% of their retail price goes back into the community and covering the costs of the program. So the next time you find yourself in a scrum, make sure you’ve got one of these rugby balls knocking about!
(Spotted on Springwise)
What It Means When An African Elephant Shows Up In Your Life
January 13, 2012 by Adam Bannister
Some of you may be aware of Dr. Steven Farmer, the shamanic practitioner, psychotherapist and professional healer. Through his numerous texts and talks he aims to facilitate and inspire a deeper awareness and appreciation for our relationship with Spirit and the natural world.
Soulful eyes protected by long eyelashes – Adam Bannister
He speaks a lot about the use of Animal Spirit Guides. They show up in our dreams, meditations, or ordinary reality. When they do they’re attempting to give you a message. Now, whether or not you believe in this kind of thing is up to you but I can tell you that out in the bush certain animals do have a knack of arriving at certain times.
Even if it’s not your cup of tea, it is fascinating to read some of his thoughts on certain animals and what they mean. Here is an extract taken from his book Animal Spirit Guides. I have chosen the Elephant as they seem to have popped up a lot in my life in the last week. I also know that a lot of people who drive with me are transfixed by the…
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A Once-in-a-Lifetime Sighting in South Africa
January 12, 2012 by James Tyrrell
Many people have a bucket list. Things to do and see or places to go before they die. Our sighting last week was something so rarely witnessed in the bush that nobody would sensibly put it on their list, knowing how remote their chances of seeing it to be: a lioness ferrying her newborn cubs from one den-site to another, carrying them each in her mouth, before returning for the next one.
The Sparta lioness carries one of her cubs across a clearing on her way to her new den site
A brilliant spot by Candy, one of my guests, revealed the lioness to us, walking about 50 meters to our right in a dense thicket. Reversing quickly, I managed to get a brief view of her back as she crossed a gap in the bushes, but we failed to find her again after we took the vehicle in after her. We guessed that she was one of the Sparta lionesses, most likely returning to the pride from a den-site, as we were fairly certain that her 10-day absence from the other four females meant she had given birth…
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Wonderbag: Saving The Planet, One Stew at a Time
January 8, 2012 by Green Thing
(Image: Wonderbag)
The Wonderbag is quite simply the best kitchen invention for third world countries we’ve seen in a long time. Designed by South African women Sarah Collins and Moshy Mathe, the Wonderbag is an insulated bag that enables food to keep on cooking when off the stove. Stuffed with recycled polystyrene and covered in African textiles, the lidded bag is oh-so simple to use. You bring your food to the boil on a stove, place your pan inside the Wonderbag and then just leave it to keep on cooking. It dramatically reduces fuel needed for cooking, which saves families money, it means less time cooking with unsafe fuels making homes healthier and with no need to sit around stirring and watching your food cook, families have more time to play, work, learn and well, just about anything else that you do when you have free time.
This bag is so simple and so genius and is already being used by 150,000 families across South Africa, saving CO2, water, time and money. We can’t wait to see it be used by many more.
(Spotted on Telegraph)
Can Art Truly Imitate Life? How About Some Murmuration?
December 21, 2011 by Fred Hatman
This blog post is dedicated to all of those people who tut-tut darkly about starlings nesting in their rooves. I wager that they will never look at starlings in quite the same way again.
Just one more thing. Can art truly imitate life?
I think not. That little bit of avian showing-off, dear Hatpeople, is known as starlings doing a spot of murmuration. Murmuration? I’d love to murmurate with all of you. If only.
Nature’s got talent, hey?
* A big, murmurating, hat-tip to Jennifer Kestis Ferguson for the heads-up on wildlife cameraman Dylan Winter’s majestic footage.
