The African Lion (Panthera leo krugeri) is quite possibly the most popular among the four “Big Cats”. However, unlike the tiger, the jaguar, and the leopard, the lion does not have any colour pattern on its fur. The body markings on these cats are apparently ideal for the habitats they generally reside in. In other words, the tiger needs his stripes to hide in the forest, while the lion’s tan-coloured fur is just right for blending in with the grass of the African plains.

Lions are the only cats that live together in groups called prides. Prides may consist of as many as 30 lions; adult males, females and cubs. You can easily tell them apart – it is a well known fact that the males are the ones with the manes. These manes serve other purposes than just visual appeal. While the male lion rarely joins the females in a hunt, his primary responsibility is to protect the pride. The manes make them look bigger, serving as intimidation against anything that dares to pose a threat. Also, as a male lion reaches sexual maturity, his mane grows and becomes darker. This would make the male more attractive to the female lions.

As previously mentioned, the female lion does most of the hunting. Their targets include zebras, wildebeest, and Cape buffalo, among other ungulates. The intelligence of these beasts is overwhelming. They rely on stealth, creeping closer and closer to a herd. When the lionesses are within around 100 ft, they charge with surprising speeds (up to 80 km/h or 50mph over short distances). They would then knock their prey down with bites to the neck and throat.

But if sneaking close and suddenly pouncing on the prey is not effective, these wily beasts make use of more advanced tactics to gain the upper hand. Female lions usually work in groups of four. Let’s say they have a herd of impala in their sights. Two of them would openly approach the herd to scare them. The sight of these lions, won’t take much for them to panic and run away. However, it’s all part of their strategy: These two lions have scared the herd to run in a direction leading to where the other two females are hiding and waiting. They can easily pick out a laggard and take it down.

Regardless of how these lionesses catch dinner for the pride, there is always a certain order as to who goes first in eating. The dominant males are always first. The lionesses follow, and the cubs eventually get the leftovers. The males would eat first so they can watch for scavengers (Spotted Hyenas are definitely notorious for freeloading) while the tired females and young cubs have their share.

When the lions are not hunting or eating, they usually spend the other 20-21 hours in the day doing nothing. However, things get a little bit dangerous in the pride during mating season. The males turn quite aggressive. Younger and less dominant male lions will usually leave during these times, to fight for supremacy over other prides. What usually happens is a confrontation between these younger males and the elder male of a pride. If the elder male wins, the younger male leaves to try his luck elsewhere. If it is the other way around, the elder male leaves, and the younger male eliminates all of his offspring. This way only the younger male’s offspring would rule the pride, if ever he defends it long enough for this to happen.

Over history many have been amazed with the actions of the beautiful and deadly African lion. But there are also some which find these creatures a threat. All African lions regardless of age do not necessarily have predators above them in the food chain. When a pride is in the vicinity of a human settlement, and if there are no other options, lions may resort to attacking the humans’ domestic livestock, or even the humans themselves.

African lions have not only been targets for hunting, but many have been captured for other reasons since ancient history. Assyrian kings took, kept and bred lions as pets as early as 850 BC. Monarchs and other people in power have also used lions as pets. Many Roman authorities have also utilized African lions in the Coliseum, pitting them against gladiators or using them as executioners.

As early as the 1300’s, African lions were features of exhibit for the elite in menageries, now known as zoos. As time passed by, menageries ceased to be exclusive displays for the rich and became more a public attraction, and in turn the demand for more enclosures for public animals were needed.

African lions were one of those species which were not spared from the curiosity of the world. It was not until the recent century where the conditions of lions in captivity have improved. Certain details were gradually implemented to ensure that the environment of the areas where they were detained were close to if not identical to the habitat where they originally lived in.

Though it is true that the African lion may live longer in captivity, it does not necessarily have the freedom to move around as much as it did before. The African countries are joining with the rest of the world in the effort of conservation of this mighty creature.

The Western Cape of South Africa Cape Town Beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. There are beaches that are great for couples, individuals, and some that are best for families. The Western Cape of South Africa beaches are popular destinations for residents and tourists alike. The False Bay beaches along the coast of the Western Cape of South Africa are family friendly and warmer than the beaches along the Atlantic Coast. The Atlantic Coast beaches have a multitude of shops and restaurants while the False Bay beaches are more sparsely populated.

Atlantic Ocean Beaches on the Western Cape of South Africa

Along the Western Cape of South Africa are the beaches that have made the area known as the Cape Town Riviera. Te area is positioned along the Atlantic Cost on the western side of the Cape Peninsula. The beaches are more protected from the strong winds and have more time in the summer sun. However, the water does tend to be cooler on these beaches than on the beaches of False Bay.

North of the Atlantic Seaboard are the Table Bay Beaches of the Western Cape of South Africa. These beaches are near Robbin Island and Table Mountain and are perfect for surfing, paddle skiing, wind surfing, and swimming. Some of these breath taking beaches are Milnerton, Big and Little Bay, Blouberg’s, Table View, and Dolphin.

The Western Cape of South Africa beaches people visit if they want to be seen and to people watch are located on the Atlantic Seaboard. While people watching is one of the main activities you can also enjoy a game of volleyball, swim, and bathe in the sun. Some of the favorites in this area are the beaches of Sandy Bay, Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Three Anchor Bay, Seapoint, and Clifton.

False Bay Beaches on the Western Cape of South Africa

The beaches of False Bay are located off the coast of the Indian Ocean on the Western Cape of South Africa. Visitors are drawn to these beaches every year in because of the low key and relaxed atmosphere. These beaches are more family friendly than those on the Atlantic side, yet they can get almost as busy.

The beaches of False Bay on the Western Cape of South Africa are found between Cape Point on the western end of the bay and the Helderberg beaches along the eastern end of the bay. A few of the Helderberg Beaches are Kogel Bay, Strand, Gordon’s Bay, and Bikini Beach. All of these beaches are only about a forty-five minute drive from the city of Cape Town. These beaches are perfect for families who want to enjoy fishing, sun bathing, walks along the beach, surfing, and swimming.

The Western Cape of South Africa Cape Point Beaches are made up of Smitswinkelbaai, Boulders, Diaz Beach, St. James, Glencairn, Muizenberg, and Fish Hoek. These beaches are great for families to swim, surf, body board, and play in the sun.

All of the beaches along the coastline of the Western Cape of South Africa have something unique to offer visitors. The variety of activities ensures that all beach goers will have a fantastic time. If the beach you visit doesn’t have exactly what you are looking for or is too crowded for you, dozens of other beaches are only minutes away. The beaches along the coast of the Western Cape of South Africa are great for all ages.

Cape Town, usually referred to by locals as ‘the mother city’ is the largest city in the Western Cape of South Africa. With a population of 3,500,000, this bustling metropolis is also the center for business, a major port, and headquarters for some of the largest corporations in the region. Its beauty and landscape make it one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the world and its diverse population gives it a unique culture. Situated at the base of the majestic Table Mountain, Cape Town is truly the premiere city of the Western Cape of South Africa.

The landscape of Cape Town is unforgettable. The most outstanding feature of Cape Town is the constant and unavoidable presence of Table Mountain. Rising over 3,300 feet above the city bowl of Cape Town, it dominates the city and much of the Western Cape of South Africa. Riding the cable cars through the clouds to the top affords both a view of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans as well as the cliffs and coastline of the Cape. The weather of the Western Cape is generally mild year round, which makes Cape Town a pleasant place to live and work.

There are many suburbs of Cape Town, each with its own personality. This is the result of the diverse heritage of the Western Cape of South Africa, which includes Indonesian, French, Dutch, British, and German settlers as well as the native Afrikaners who inhabit the region. This makes for an eclectic collection of shops, restaurants, and the largest collection of Cape Dutch style architecture in the world.

There are an endless amount of attractions in Cape Town including whale watching, diamond emporiums, and the beaches of the Western Cape ‘Riviera,’ but perhaps the most important sites to see are the historical ones. The Western Cape of South Africa is home to news-making places like Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner for his protests of apartheid.

These landmarks are important reminders of a time when Cape Town was forcefully segregated into restricted districts. In 1948, when apartheid was introduced, the Western Cape of South Africa experienced extreme unrest, with little economic growth. As the popularity of apartheid declined and prisoners were released, Cape Town was finally able to take its place as a world class venue.

Cape Town industries include tourism, manufacturing, mining, drilling for oil, and the importing and exporting of goods. Many major companies have headquarters in Cape Town and the real estate market in the Western Cape of South Africa is booming.

The educational system of the Western Cape of South Africa is also centered in Cape Town. This is thanks to the generous local donations that help fund both the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, which are the leading universities in South Africa.

Cape Town has survived an incredible amount of adversity to become a city that the Western Cape of South Africa can be proud to call its most well-known city. In fact, this extremely diverse city on the Western Cape of South Africa is a model for all world class destinations to take a look at for their own inspiration.

Top Five Cities to Visit on a Holiday in North Africa

North Africa is a veritable treasure trove of amazing sights, sounds and situations for you to explore. From the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert to the crowded city streets of the area’s Kasbahs, there is no end to the wonders and excitement that you can discover. However, most people don’t have the time to spend experiencing the whole of the region (which would take a lifetime!), so how do you decide where to go? Well, to help narrow it down we’ve put together a list of the top five cities in that you can visit on your holidays to North Africa.

5.Marrakech

Marrakech is a hub of culture and tourism in Morocco. It also gives you a real taste of the region, offering the chance to barter in the largest souk (traditional market) in all of Morocco, and arguably the whole of North Africa. Holidays to the city are exotic, exciting and varied; you can spend your time there taking in the amazing monuments and buildings or relaxing in the gardens and courtyards. The city also has some amazing views of the desert and offers trips, treks and tours into and through the vast expanse of sand.

4. Tunis

Tunis has had an adventurous history through the ages – many armies have fought over the city, it has been a haven for pirates and buccaneers and has been bombarded by the British navy! There’s a real sense of excitement in the city, of barely contained possibility and adventure that any visitor on a North African holiday can’t fail to be caught up in. As the capital of Tunisia, the city is an administrative and cultural centre that offers a range of different experiences to suit all tastes; from Mediterranean cruises to Moorish treks, the city has something for every adventurer.

3. Alexandria

People searching for holidays to North Africa with a literary and historical bent should look no further than Alexandria. The city was home to the most advanced light house and one of the most wide ranging libraries in history – two of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Though these amazing structures were sadly lost to antiquity, the city continues to house some of the lesser wonders of the ancient world which are well worth a visit; Roman, Greek and Egyptian ruins mingle in an incredible city that is almost an open air museum in and of itself.

2. Casablanca

Casablanca is our second North Africa holiday destination that is in Morocco, and has a very interesting history. People may only know the glitzy, exotic Hollywood film idea of the city, but it’s actually not far off. You can wander down to Rick’s Café (a replica of the film’s café that’s popular with tourists), and walk in the city’s alleyways and streets surrounded by vendors. However, after independence the city has grown to accommodate both old and new influences, with top class hotels nestled comfortably in ancient streets. Spend even a little time on holiday in this North African city and you’ll feel the beginning of a beautiful friendship that will bloom over many such trips.

1. Cairo

Number one on our list has to be Cairo. The capital of Egypt provides everything you could want from a holiday in North Africa. Modern shopping complexes exist in harmony with traditional stalls; rustic rented rooms are available in the same city that has luxury five star suites; you can eat from local stalls or purchase the most exquisite cuisine money can by. The city has it all and caters to all tastes, but where it stands out is its surroundings. The Nile River, the endless desert and the towering monuments of the Pyramids at Giza make Cairo a city in its own league.

Baboons Face Attack In Battle Formation

Baboons are common in most parts of Africa. One of the greatest enemies of the baboons is the leopard. These is because they hunt them in stealth , and often spring out from cover in an attempt to make a quick snatch from the troop before drawing of battle lines. When the African baboons find themselves face to face with a snarling leopard on open ground, they are not too proud to run away if there is an opportunity to. In the case whereby there is no chance to escape, the baboons create a ‘retreat’ formation of sorts.

Dominant male baboons of which are almost the size of dogs bear their fangs in a threatening grimace and take positions between the predator and females and the young. Surprisingly even powerful predators such as the leopard will be threatened by the muscular, flailing arms of a mature male baboon.

When baboons are crossing exposed terrain, they will usually move in a pattern, with the females and the young ones at the centre of the party and the strongest males around them while the lower-ranking males walk in front bringing up the rear.

Climate change robs African lions of their manes

Kenya’s king of the beasts, the lion is losing its mane, a phenomenon that scientics are linking to the effects of climate change.

The length and shade of a lion’s mane have been key indicators that serving to explain the lion’s success to sire offspring and therfore ensure posterity and survival prospects of the species.

The darker a lion’s mane, the higher the level of the male hormone testosterone, a factor which is likely to have a number of relevant consequences.

Lions with a darker mane usually enjoy longer reproductive life-span and a higher offspring survival in the wild. These lions also enjoy the lion’s share of female choice, out-competing the others.

Lions with dark manes have also been known to have a greater dominance capability over others with manes of a lighter shade. This is due to the fact that the lions display greater success in feeding during kills.

Chimps Know How To Take Their Medicine

Animals,like most humans resort to some form of medicine when feeling ill. Chimpanzees have been linked to eating of certain plants with relief of sickness.

Occasionally,chimpanzees eat a few leaves of Aspilia plants, which are rather like sunflowers, in the early morning. Unlike their usual mode of eating, they do not gulp them down but carefully massage the leaves in their mouth for about 15 seconds without chewing, then swallowing them whole.

The Deadly Sting Of The Scorpion

Scorpions having lobster-like pincers and a curved tail bearing a sting that can render one a paralyzed heart and respiratory muscles too. Some of the scorpion species are hostile enough to kill humans. Examples of the very dangerous species are long inhabitant of Mexico and the Arizona desert. There is a North African species’ venom that kills humans in less than eight hours. Humans threaten scorpions and end up being attacked.

During mating, scorpions are hostile to one another.

The male pulls the female towards it with the help of pincers as he drops some sperms. He then pulls the female over the dropped sperms when the genital is opening right above them. Insemination is finally complete and therefore the female heads to lay eggs.

The Dark Continent of Africa probably does not Jump to mind as the first destination you would choose when planning a holiday at the beach, but there are many great reasons to give it a try.

The Cape in South Africa has up until very recently always been “the” location to visit if you felt like going to Africa to enjoy the beach as well as all the other great things that only this great continent has to offer.

There are now new kids in town and places like Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania, Mombasa in Kenya and the stunning beaches in The Gambia have really come in to their own each offering their own unique perspective of Africa but all wonderful beach holiday locations.

Winter Sun Holiday Destination

An obvious reason to pick somewhere on the African continent is to enjoy the beach during the European winter, breaking up your winter and escaping the summer holiday rush. How often these days do we hear of long delays at airports during the summer peak holiday period, delaying thousands of people going on holiday and destroying their few weeks away from the daily grind of work? So escape the rush and go on holiday out of the peak season.

South Africa and Cape Town as a beach holiday Location

Cape Town, right on the bottom tip of Africa is still the most sophisticated beach vacation location in Africa, with the incredible backdrop of Table Mountain, excellent accommodation options and some of the finest places to eat in the world it would be an excellent place to visit even without the beautiful beaches. On top of that you can also enjoy the finest wines and scenery of South Africa on the Garden Route, which stretches from Mossel Bay to the Storms River in the Western Cape. There are ten nature reserves in the area as well as unique marine reserves, home to soft coral reefs, dolphins, seals and a host of other marine life.

Including a round of Golf with your beach holiday has always been popular in places like Spain and The USA, South Africa and the Cape Region have some of the finest Golf courses in the world, now you can combine a beach, golf and safari holiday all in one location, there is nowhere in Europe that can boast that!

So what are the beaches like?

Cape Town has some excellent beaches, False Bay with the long sandy beach which extends from Gordon’s Bay to Muizenberg and includes Boulders Beach and Simon’s Town. The Atlantic Seaboard along the West (Atlantic) side of the Cape Peninsula with well known beaches including Sandy Bay, Clifton Camps Bay, Scarborough and Kommetjie. The West Coast, running Northwards from Cape Town with the windy conditions make these beaches popular for surfing and kite-surfing.

An important point to note is the sea in False Bay is about 6 degrees warmer than the Atlantic Seaboard and the West Coast!

on the negative side, Cape Town is the furthest point in Africa you can travel to from Europe, so expect a long flight around ten hours). Also mentioned above the water can be a little chilly and then it is probably one of the more expensive locations in Africa.

Beach Holiday in Mombasa, Kenya

Kenya is probably mostly thought of for it’s African wildlife safaris on the Masai Mara but also has plenty to offer in the way of beach holidays on the coastline near Mombasa. The city of Mombasa is a typical African city and there is in stark contrast to the sophistication of Cape Town. There are however many excellent restaurants to eat enabling you to sample some more traditional African food as well as those catering to western palates. The old part of Mombasa is also well worth visiting and Fort Jesus, a Portuguese fort built in 1593 by order of King Philip II of Spain, to guard the Old Port of Mombasa, Kenya. It was built in the shape of a man and was given the name of Jesus as a religious reference.

On the coast there are many of places to stay with some of the most luxurious hotels you’ll find anywhere in Africa as well as some fantastic beach huts and cottages as well as basic beach side camp-sites, all in all there is something for everyone.

The scuba diving and snorkelling in Mombasa and the surrounding areas is also excellent and makes a great place to learn to dive with the prices here are much cheaper than many other well know diving locations. Bamburi beach is a great location to base your beach holiday in East Africa, about half an hour from Nairobi, there are some great hotels and beach cottages as well as an excellent PADI dive center located at the well know Travelers Beach Hotel.

Beach and Safari Holiday in Kenya

Obviously no trip to Kenya would be complete without some sort of wildlife safari and they can be organized from Mombasa with a popular destination being the Tsavo National Park, which not as well known as the Masai Mara, but at just over 21,000km sq, Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya and one of the largest in the world with large herds of Elephant and plenty of lions, it is definitely worth visiting if you want to take a break from relaxing on the beach!

With these two very different African beach holiday options, I hope to have given you a just a flavour of what Africa can offer you in the way of your next seaside holiday.

While there are numerous wine regions in and around Cape Town, two of the best are definitely Paarl and Franschhoek. If you are a fan of French wine regions, you will definitely want to take a tour of Franschhoek. In fact, the area has been aptly nicknamed the French Corner due to the fact that it is just a bit like visiting Provence, with the exception that you are in South Africa. Even the names of the farms and the streets have a bit of a French twist to them. This is because beginning around 1688 French Huguenots began to arrive in South Africa in large numbers and settled in the region. You can even find a museum and monument that celebrates the arrival of the Huguenots in South Africa. While the Huguenots were trying to escape religious persecution they brought with them their knowledge and experience in viticulture and rapidly began to establish wine farms in the local area. Today, these farms and the wine industry is flourishing in the local area.

Of course, wine is not the only reason to visit this lovely region. You will also find some of the best restaurants in all of South Africa in Franschhoek. The local cheeses and produce are absolutely spectacular and well complimented by the locally produced wines. The idyllic scenery along with the wonderful wines and foods makes this region an area that should not be missed while in the Cape Town region.

While you won’t find much in the way of traditional shopping, there is a fabulous chocolate shop as well as a local cheese shop where you can purchase items to take back with you. The chocolate shop even allows you to try your own hand at creating delicious confections.

Paarl is yet another area well worth visiting; known for its fabulous wines, eccentric art and plethora of monuments. In addition you will also find a number of antique stores that are well worth browsing as well as fabulous restaurants.

One of the best wine farms to explore is Seidelberg Wine Estate. Not only will you be able to tour the wine farm, but there is also an art studio located here known as Bronze Age and is home to functional pieces of art and metal sculptures. A sumptuous restaurant is located on the same estate along with a cellar that features a working glass blowing studio. If you have never had the opportunity to watch glass being created from sand, it is definitely an experience that should not be missed. You can also purchase glassware at the shop that ranges from perfume bottles to vases to sculpture.

At wine Valley Horse Trails there are stables right on site that provide you with the opportunity to see the best of the region while enjoying a relaxing horse back ride. This is truly a breathtaking way of seeing the beauty of the local area and should not be missed if you happen to be in the region.

At the beginning of 2008, almost as soon as most South Africans returned to their everyday lives, having enjoyed a relaxing summer holiday, the perfect storm erupted. In quick succession there has been the unanimous unseating of the country’s President as leader of the ANC in December 2007, followed by a nationwide power crisis with regular “load shedding” which started in January 2008 and which we are told this will continue until after 2010. In addition South Africans are dealing with the perceived high level of crime (perception is reality), increasingly high levels of inflation (9.4% in February 2008), petrol at the highest levels ever and according to the popular media and dinner talk, more people than ever are considering immigrating to greener pastures.

I believe that part of the reason South Africa is going through such a great deal of mass negativity at present is because South Africans are constantly bombarded with bad news. I believe that if everyone in South Africa keeps reading, talking, thinking, and worrying about the bad stuff all the time, it will end up happening because everyone is attracting it.

After the last few months one may ask “Is there any good news about South Africa?” Yes!! After digging around on the internet, I have found plenty of good news about South Africa, which I would like to share with you to help put the constant bad news in perspective:

Cheap Petrol

Although the price of petrol in South Africa has increased dramatically it is still amongst the cheapest in the world. The highest price in South Africa is the Gauteng (inland) price for 95 octane unleaded petrol which as at 2 April 2008 is R8.91 per litre. In contrast according to a survey of 9 700 petrol stations in the UK, for unleaded petrol, the minimum price in the UK is £1.03, the average price is £1.07 and the highest price £1.19 per litre. Using an exchange rate of £1=R15, this means that the average price per litre in the UK is over R16 per litre, nearly double South Africa’s price.

Cheap Housing

Housing in South Africa is still amongst the cheapest in the world. According to the April ABSA housing index the average price for middle segment housing (Residential houses nationwide between 80m2 and 400m2 ) is just R929 000. In contrast according to the BBC News Survey of UK house prices (which fell 3.6% in the last year) as at February 2008 the nationwide average is currently (Rand figures are conservatively calculated at £1=R15):

*Detached (A house not joined to any other) £342 800 (R5 142 000)

*Semi-Detached (A house which is joined to another house on one side) £200 037 (R3 000 555)

*Terraced (Streets of houses joined together in long rows) £176 732 (R2 650 980)

*Flat (A flat is part of a bigger building where all the flats share a front door) £200 967 (R3 014 505)

Lower Unemployment

According to Statistics South Africa the unemployment rate fell fractionally to 23% in September 2007—the lowest since records began in 2001. The government’s target is to cut the rate to 14% by 2014

Winning the War on Crime

The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute have conducted research on the victims of crime which shows the picture of South African crime as more typical of a developing country. These statistics show that South Africa has lower rates of violent crime than many African and South American countries.

According to the South African Police Service Statistics, the incidence of most types of crime has reduced since 2001. Their latest report for the 6 month period April to September each year since 2001 reveals the following rates of incidence per 100 000 of the population:

*The incidence of murder, although still unacceptably high is clearly decreasing 2001=22.7, 2002=22.9, 2003=21.0, 2004=19.7, 2005=19.6, 2006=20.0, 2007=18.7

*The incidence of rape, is also still unacceptably high but has clearly decreased in the past 2 years 2001=55.1, 2002=52.3, 2003=51.1, 2004=53.7, 2005=55.6, 2006=49.6, 2007=47.8

*The incidence of common assault has decreased dramatically in the past few years 2001=260.1, 2002=275.2, 2003=279.1, 2004=269.4, 2005=229.5, 2006=201.6, 2007=191.4

Stock Exchange Growth

*South Africa’s stock exchange (the JSE Limited), ranks 18th in the world in terms of total market capitalisation

*South Africa’s stock exchange ALSI (All Share Index) has risen from 7510.4 on 30 April 2003 to over 30 000 in April 2008, an increase of nearly 400% in 5 years

Sporting Successes

*South Africa are the Rugby World Cup champions

*South Africa is the number 1 ranked rugby team according to the IRB as at 31 March 2008

*South Africa is the number 1 ranked cricket team according to the ICC for One Day Internationals as at 22 March 2008

*South Africa are hosts of 2010 world cup

*South Africa has 2 golfers ranked in the top 10 in the world according to the Official World Golf Ranking for Week 13 – March 30th – 2008

Competitive Nation

*South Africa ranked 44th out of 131 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2007/8

*South Africa has been ranked 28th among 108 countries measured for responsible competitiveness, according to the global think tank AccountAbility.

*South Africa ranks 52nd out of 157 countries in the world in terms of economic freedom, ahead of Italy (60th), Brazil (70th), the United Arab Emirates (74th), Greece (94th), India (104th) and China (119th), according to the Index of Economic Freedom 2007 (The 2008 Index of Economic Freedom covers 162 countries across 10 specific freedoms such as trade freedom, business freedom, investment freedom, and property rights)

Rich in Resources

*South Africa is one of the world leaders in mining and minerals, with a significant share of the world’s reserves and production.

*South Africa has, according to the SA Department of Minerals and Energy, nearly 90% of the world’s platinum, 80% of the world’s manganese, 73% of the world’s chrome, 45% of the world’s vanadium and 41% of the world’s gold.

*South Africa still has huge potential for the discovery of other world-class deposits in areas yet to be exhaustively explored.

Infrastructure Development

Since 1994, the South African government has channelled substantial resources into social programs and services, with varying degrees of success.

*Households with access to clean water: 85% in 2001, 80% in 1996

*Households using electricity for lighting: 69.7% in 2001, 57.6% in 1996

*Households in formal housing: 63.8% in 2001, 57.5% in 1996

*Households with chemical or flush toilets: 51.9% in 2001, 50.5% in 1996

*Pupil-teacher ratio: 38:1 in 2003, 43:1 in 1994

*People who have completed grade 12 schooling: 20.4% in 2001, 16.3% in 1996

*People with access to electricity: 70% in 2003, 32% in 1994

Lower Cost of Living

Despite recent inflation and price increases, South Africa still has one of the lowest cost of living levels in the world. According to the latest Xpatulator (website address below) cost of living survey of 228 global locations covering every country in the world, Johannesburg is the 71st, Pretoria is 58th, Cape Town is 51st, and Durban is the 36th cheapest place in the world to live. This means that 192 of the 228 global locations are more expensive places to live compared to Durban, while 157 locations are more expensive than Johannesburg. A detailed cost of living comparison of Johannesburg and London reveals that overall London is 74.5% more expensive than Johannesburg:

*Alcohol & Tobacco (alcoholic beverages and tobacco products) is 56.7% more expensive in London

*Clothing (clothing and footwear products) is 85.3% more expensive in London

*Communication (fixed line, internet, and mobile) is 16.18% less expensive in London

*Education (school & tertiary) is 55.6% more expensive in London

*Furniture (furniture, household equipment and household appliances ) is 51.8% more expensive in London

*Groceries (food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material) is 46.7% more expensive in London

*Healthcare (general healthcare, medical and medical insurance) is 92.9% more expensive in London

*Household (housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes) is 104.3% more expensive in London

*Miscellaneous (stationary, linen and general goods and services) is 180.7% more expensive in London

*Personal (personal care products and services) is 145.2% more expensive in London

*Recreation & Culture is 4.8% more expensive in London

*Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels is 219.26% more expensive in London

*Transport (public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance) is 89.80% more expensive in London

Higher Purchasing Power

The lower cost of living in South African means that your salary goes much further in Johannesburg compared to London and most other places. Using the cost of living difference, hardship difference, and exchange rate, Xpatulator calculates that if you earn R500 000 Rand in South Africa, you would need to earn £54 182 in London in order to have a similar standard of living, much more than the £33 333 the (£1=R15) exchange rate indicates. The good news is that if you move the other way (i.e. from London to Johannesburg) and you earn £60 000 currently, you would not have to find a job paying R900 000 the (£1=R15) that exchange rate indicates. Taking into account the vastly lower cost of living in Johannesburg, you would in fact only require a salary of R552 302 to have the same buying power as £60 000 in London.

In conclusion, yes 2008 will mostly be a tough year, given the short term difficulties, but the power problems and current high inflation are short term issues which will eventually be in the past.

The main reason so many people are negative is because bad news sells newspapers and attracts more listeners and viewers. Good news does not often make the front page!!

Where to go on a weekend in South Africa? Botswana

Southern Africa is becoming a new long-weekend destination for the British. There’s no time difference, the flights are overnight (both ways), and you waste no precious daylight hours travelling.

The good news is that the aeroplanes depart around 8pm, so dinner; sleeping and breakfast are at the right time in the right order. The pleasure in travelling or sleeping overnight on a plane to South Africa however is that you wake-up to a different and dramatic landscape; fresh air and smiling warm faces and if you are lucky, some snarling animals as well.

BEFORE YOUR GO

The best way to travel on your weekend is to pack light and travel easy. The out-going flight is on Thursday, so carry a bag, small enough to smuggle in and out of your office:

Hand luggage can include your binoculars, camera and travel books you’ll need on safari

Arrive at the airport well before time to have a glass of champagne and some smoked salmon at the Caviar House.

Travel in the loose chinos or combat trousers you’ll wear for game drives, plus the baggy cotton or fleece jumper

Take a pure down baby pillow: it squashes up small, you can cosy up to it on the plane and it’s invaluable in the camps where pillows are hard.

JOHANNESBURG – MAUN

Your wake-up call is a few thousand meters above Johannesburg. You have the choice to eat on the aircraft or at the airport café that is decent and above the excellent book- shop. Buy Sasol’s illustrated guide to the birds of southern Africa and the Sasol mammal book. This is the old Africa hand’s library; your guide will be dead impressed.

From Johannesburg, there’s a comfortable connection to Maun in Botswana. The two hour flight allows another opportunity for a nap or a quick introductory lesson from your book. At Botswana, we change into another plane for the last hop to adventure. The time to go to Botswana is in our summer when the Okavango Delta swells with water from Angola.

OKAVANGO DELTA

There is mystery and romance of the Okavango’s waters. Much of the fun in viewing wildlife here is by a boat. Some prefer the big boat but the sound of silence is so potent that I prefer the traditional makoro. As we glide slowly above water, Hippos pop up on each side. We paddled to a far island where birds chatter volubly in the reeds. On ground, there is a herd of buffalo munching the water meadows and there are tracks of lion and elephant.

I spent my afternoon watching a fluffy, magnificent prince among raptors – the rarest, Pel’s fishing owl. He stood there contemplating us as I looked at him through my binoculars and hurriedly reading notes in my bird book. In the sunset, that was one of the most spectacular, we could see a lion pride feeding on a zebra.

En route to the tent we met the mamba, rampant, while I was withering along behind the camp manager. But when someone freezes in the bush, you shut up and freeze. The mamba dropped from its striking position and slithered off. I saw the swish of the most scary tail in Africa. Quite as bracing as my pre-lunch shower.

MOREMI WILDLIFE RESERVE

The next day, I flew to Khwai River Lodge in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve that has a drier, harsher environment. Moremi lies in the centre of the Okavango Delta. It is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful wilderness areas. Moremi is a place of lily-covered wetlands, grass plains and forests, where even at the busiest time of year you’re likely to be the only spectators at even the most dramatic animal sighting.

The lion were at Khwai. Actually, the whole drama of life and death was at Khwai. Wild dogs are back here — a rare treat — and a pack drove a baby water buck into the river. The baby made piteous juvenile water-buck noises, its mother was frantic, the wild dog hovered at the river’s edge. And the inevitable happened: the arrow-like ripple in the river, the black little eyes (nature’s periscopes), the snap, the squeal, the thrashing hooves, the closing of the waters and Mr Crocodile had served himself dinner.

The next morning, while on a drive with our guide, we breakfasted with the lion. We were watching birth of a water buck in the reeds by the river’s edge when our guide heard the roar of a lion in the distance. Just as lechwe began its precarious journey in the wild, we drove into the wilderness.

The pride sat at their table without knife and fork but tidily eating their breakfast, a zebra. A few feet away and in our Land Rover, we opened our packed sandwiches. The lionesses regarded the vehicles with a lack of interest bordering on contempt; were one to get out, however, the time span between touching the ground and becoming a second course would be minimal.

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

Our next flight hop was to Chobe, often described as one of, if not the best, wildlife-viewing area in Africa today. Savuti boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife left on the African continent. Animals are present during all seasons, and at certain times of the year their numbers can be staggering. Its uniqueness in the abundance of wildlife and the true African nature of the region, offers a safari experience of a lifetime.

The most remarkable feature of the Chobe National Park is its huge concentration of elephants. But it’s not just the elephants that make this special park worth visiting. It’s so wild, a leopard made a kill in the Car park just before I. arrived and blood stains from a wild dog kill were still visible nearby.

Savuti Channel, a strange waterway that seems to have a mind of its own, bisects the park. The channel was dry for one hundred years, then flooded abruptly in the 1950s and remained flooded till the 1980s, when shiftings of the subterranean tectonic plates caused it to dry up again.

The journey home is a sleepy crash- out, arriving back in good time in the morning. Jet lag? Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. There’s nothing but buzz, excitement and a heightened sense of living; about going so far and seeing so much.

More About Hoodia Gordonii

Losing weight is hugely frustrating with so many different products all promising you that they are the Holy Grail to instant or fast weight loss? If you have ever been down to the local pharmacy then no doubt you have almost had information overload from just looking at the racks and racks of weight loss supplements. Then to top it all there may be a saleslady promoting the newest and best new weight loss supplement ever discovered. You may even decide to buy it because you are desperate to lose weight fast for the oncoming summer!

Being overweight is not the end of the world though you may not be able to fit into last summers outfit. Obesity however is dangerous for heart health and already labeled a disease worldwide. The fact is if you over eat, you are going to put on weight. It is not really what you eat but actually how much of it! When food is so delicious we gorge ourselves on it. The late night snacks in front of the TV also add the extra pounds. The craving for something sweet like a piece of that yummy chocolate cake in the fridge cannot be shut off.

What is the real solution to Weight Loss?

There is a simple answer and that is to eat less and stop eating when you are full. Perhaps the most sensible way to lose weight is by means of a weight loss suppressant. If you are not hungry the simple answer is you are not going to reach for a snack! Now there are a number of weight loss suppressants on the market but there is really only one that really does work and has been clinically proven to work as well. This is pure Hoodia Gordonii from the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. The Bushmen tribes have already been using this appetite and thirst suppressant for years without any side effects when going on extended hunting trips when they would be without food for days on end.

Hoodia Gordonii did not work for me

There are many media articles on the internet that will show you Hoodia Gordonii has been highly acclaimed to be the weight loss supplement of the century. There have even been shows on 60 Minutes and one done by the world famous Oprah Winfrey. Many people will lament that they have previously bought Hoodia Gordonii and it did not work. Well let us explain what the real problem was. The real Hoodia Gordonii works so well that hundreds of fake products were introduced onto the market and of course eager weight watchers grabbed these. The very same people quickly labeled it as just another scam or fad diet but this is certainly untrue in the biggest sense of the word.

It is vital to purchase pure CERTIFIED Hoodia Gordonii and nothing else. You also need to make sure that it comes from South Africa as well. After all; this is where it was discovered and this is where it still grows.

The cactus Plant Miracle.

Real Hoodia Gordonii comes from a succulent or cactus as people fondly call it, which grows in the Kalahari Desert. It also takes so long to grow that it makes the Real Hoodia Gordonii rather expensive. Why would it not be after all, because it works so well? If you are one of the unfortunate people that bought a counterfeit product with no results do not despair. Choose our certified pure Hoodia Gordonii and then see the difference.

Authentic Hoodia Gordonii