ARGENTINA: Rio Negro Is A Worldwide Famous Destination Due To Its Spectacular Panoramic Views And Pure Natural Spaces

Rio Negro or Black River is a province of Argentina, located at the northern edge of Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquen, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.

Its capital is Viedma. Other important cities include the ski resort town of Bariloche, Cipolletti and General Roca.

Rio Negro is one of the six provinces that make up Argentine Patagonia. It is bounded to the north by the Colorado River which separates it from La Pampa Province, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by the Andes and the Limay River.

The 42nd parallel south marks the southern limit of the province. With an area of 203,013 square kilometres (78,383.8 sq mi), it is the 4th largest province by area.

The main water source at the arid plains that cover most of the province is the Rio Negro, in whose valley most of the settlements and farms are located.

The over 600 km of the Rio Negro's valley are divided in Alto Valle (West), Valle Medio (center) and Valle Inferior (East).

The central part of the province is dominated by a series of plateaus and isolated hills, with altitudes ranging from 600 meters (2000 ft) above sea level to 1000 meters (3300 ft).

Especially noteworthy is the plateau called Meseta de Somuncura in the central-eastern part of the province, with altitudes generally above 1000 meters (3300 ft) and some spots reaching 1300 meters (4200 ft).

Moving further west, the foothills of the Andes are dominated by a series of low valleys discharging either towards the Atlantic through the Limay river, or to the Pacific through the Manso and Puelo rivers.

Deep blue-water lakes form in the Andean valleys, with some regions reaching very low altitudes under 400 meters, or 1300 ft, in the Pacific basin, and 750 meters, or 2500 ft, in the Atlantic basin.

The Andes are here deeply cut by glacial valleys, and the altitude of the peaks is moderate for most, it ranges between 1,700 meters and 2,200 meters (5600 to 7200 ft), with only a handful of peaks surpassing 2,400 meters (7800 ft).

Especially noteworthy is the Cerro Tronador, a heavily glaciated peak of 3,405 meters (11,100 ft) which dominates the surrounding landscape.

The climate of the province is temperate at low elevations, and very cold in the higher Andean peaks.

The mean annual temperatures in the province are relatively cold for its latitude owing to the cold Malvinas Current to the east and higher altitude to the west.

Mean annual temperatures in the province can vary, depending on altitude and distance from the sea. The northern parts of the province are the warmest, with a mean annual temperature of more than 15 °C (59.0 °F) while the coldest areas are found in the Andean region where the mean annual temperatures are less than 10 °C (50.0 °F).

At the highest peaks, the mean annual temperature is less than freezing.[ Summers are hot throughout the province with the exception of the Andean region with mean January temperatures ranging from 20 to 24 °C (68.0 to 75.2 °F).

Occasionally, temperatures can exceed 40 °C (104.0 °F) during heat waves in all areas except for the Andean region.

In contrast, the Andean region has milder summers with mean January temperatures of 15 °C (59.0 °F) or less, depending on the altitude.

Winters are cool to cold. In July, mean temperatures range from 7 to 8 °C (44.6 to 46.4 °F) on the coast in the north to around 2 to 3 °C (35.6 to 37.4 °F) in the central plateau area and the Andean region.

The central plateau area can be extremely cold during the winter in which temperatures can fall to −25 °C (−13.0 °F) while the coastal areas are milder with temperatures that can fall to −15 °C (5.0 °F).

Relative humidity is lower in the central plateau where they average 50%. Along the coastal regions, humidity is higher with a mean annual humidity of 60% while the Andean region has the highest humidity with an average annual humidity exceeding 65% due to the lower temperatures there.

In all locations, humidity is lower in the summer and higher in the winter owing to the higher temperatures in the summer.

The Andes block most of the moisture from the Pacific Ocean from coming in, causing it to release most of the precipitation on its western slopes and as such, most of the province is dry, with a mean annual precipitation around 200 millimetres (8 in).

Coastal areas and northern parts of the province receive a slightly higher precipitation, where it can average above 300 millimetres (12 in) a year.

The Andean region receives the most precipitation with areas receiving a mean annual precipitation of 200 to 1,000 millimetres (8 to 39 in) in which the precipitation gradient is very strong and increases westwards.

In some places, precipitation can exceed 3,000 millimetres (118 in) a year. Most of the Andean region has a rainfall pattern that is Mediterranean like, similar to Central Chile in which most of the precipitation falls during the winter months and summers are dry.

One dominant characteristic of the climate is the strong winds that are observed throughout the province. Summers tend to be windier than winters.

Winds coming from the west, southwest and northwest are common, occurring 50% of the time, 60% if calm winds are not included.

There is some tendency for the winds to come from the east, particularly on the coastal regions when sea breezes from the east can occur when westerly winds are weak, which can be felt up to 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the coast.

The mean wind speed throughout the province varies with the northern parts having the lowest wind speeds while the highest altitude areas being the windiest. Except for the northern parts of the province, mean annual wind speeds exceed 4 metres per second (13 ft/s).

Cloud cover varies throughout the province, ranging from more than 60% in the Andean region to about 40% in the coastal areas. The central plateaus have intermediate amounts of cloud cover between these 2 regions.

As such, the Andean region is more cloudier than the rest of the province. Sunshine ranges from 10–11 hours of sunshine/day in January to about 5 hours of sunshine/day, less cloudier areas to less than 3 hours of sunshine/day more cloudier areas in July.

According to the results from the 2010 census INDEC, the province has a population of 638,645 with 316,774 males and 321,871 females. It constitutes 1.6% of the total population in Argentina.

This represented a 15.5% increase in the population compared to 2001 census INDEC which had 552,822 inhabitants. Amongst of all the provinces in Patagonia, it is the most populous, containing 30.4% of the total population in Patagonia.

Argentina's ninth-largest, Rio Negro's economy is a diversified service-based one with vigorous agricultural and light manufacturing sectors.

Its 2006 output was an estimated US$5.420 billion, or a per capita income of US$9,805. In 2013, its output increased to $43.349 billon Pesos about US$7.939 billion at current market prices.

There is a gold mine located at Calcatreu, near Ingeniero Jacobacci, that is owned by Pan American Silver. In December 2011 the provincial government repealed a law banning the use of cyanide in mineral processing, and the mine's owners regarded this as a positive development which is likely to bring increased investment.

There are two main areas of tourism in the province; the Andes and the Atlantic coast.

The Province of Rio Negro occupies an ample corridor in southern Argentina. It stands between the Andes Mountain Range, located on the West, and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, lying on the East.

Both ends feature different geographical traits. However, they are extremely popular due to their relevant tourist destinations.

The mountain range area comprises a lake zone framed by mountains and forests of native species boasting spectacular scenes.

As a result of its location in the Andean zone, but also as a consequence of the vision of its first settlers, who turned their town into a tourist center par excellence, San Carlos de Bariloche is a leading city.

Tourists activities boom both in the summer and the winter. Each of them has its followers, no matter the age or social condition. Likewise, popular festivals such as those celebrating snow, chocolate, curanto, communities, Adventure Week, and the like, provide a special glow to this metropolis.

The coast of Rio Negro is bathed by the Atlantic and becomes alive every Summer when the sun lures visitors to its huge beaches to also enjoy nautical activities and fishing.

Small beaches stand next to one another and they all welcome more and more visitors year after year, who are tempted by their warm waters. Las Grutas is famous for its typical characteristics as well as for its connective road network.

To the north, the province borders on the Limay, Neuquen and Colorado Rivers. The latter runs parallel to the Negro River across the valleys upper, medium and lower. This is a highly important area for local economy as its fruit products are exported to the world.

Last but not least, the contrasting central region of the steppe presents interesting ravines amidst volcanoes and hills, creeks and temporary ponds. Its paleontological and archeological heritage stands out.

The Andean Area - The most visited area is that of the lake district near San Carlos de Bariloche inside the Nahuel Huapi National Park, and neighbouring Neuquen Province.

This includes the Isla Victoria, Camino de los Siete Lagos, Los Arrayanes National Park, and many trekking paths among lakes.

Atlantic Coast - Returns of Southern Right Whales are possibly the biggest of tourism attractions.They swim and rest very close to shore, and the San Matias Gulf is the only place in the world where swimming with this kind is commercially permitted.

Wineries Region is known for its white varietals Semillon and Sauvignon blanc, and its red varietals Merlot, Pinot noir and Malbec.

The Valley

When it comes to the best pears and apples in Argentina, reference is made to the excellent weather conditions in the Valley, the fruit producing area in the provincia de Rio Negro, from the city of Cipolleti onwards.

The venues located in the three stretches of the Valley of Roo Negro Upper, Medium and Inferior open their gates to tourists interested in seeing the tasks carried out there.

Some of them offer the chance to take part in those tasks, seeing how the fruit is packed, touring around the cider factories and tasting fresh fruit and their byproducts.

Due to the high export demand, all of them involve modern highly safe processes as far as quality and health are concerned.

The City of General Roca is the seat of the National Apple Festival and Allen hosts the National Pear Festival. In both cases, the attendance of the public changes the typical labor hours for days and nights of celebration.

Small wineries, homemade wine producers, make up a route in Northern Patagonia. Visits to their facilities, as well as to the venues producing fruit, give life to the fertile Valley of Río Negro.

Hundred-Year-Old Winery in Rio Negro

A visit to Humberto Canale Winery, a wine-growing pioneer in Patagonia, unveils its modern processes of wine-making for export.

Apples National Festival

Like every year, the cities in the Río Negro Valley having General Roca as a venue, dress in full regalia to honor one of the most perfect fruits created by nature: the apple.

Vintter Museum

Vintter Museum, as all the museums in the region, gives evidence of the life periods of the peoples with jealously kept facts and circumstances.

Rich Valley

Alto Valle is known for its export-quality fruit production. A tour around the farms shows us this important component of the economy of the region.

San Martín Square and its Artisans

Every weekend afternoon, the main square at General Roca welcomes local artisans who occupy colorful stands where their goods are offered for sale.

Saint Rita's Sanctuary in Ferri

The simplicity of Saint Rita's Chapel has become a space for faith, visited by those who acknowledge her miracles and pay worship.

Allen’s Municipal Museum

This place is beautiful, not only for the history it houses but also for the great deal of cultural activities held in it. A space specially recovered for visitors to enjoy.

Mountain Range

The western area of the Province of Rio Negro is a worldwide famous destination due to its spectacular panoramic views and its pure natural spaces.

The City of San Carlos de Bariloche is the oldest in this zone and it offers tourist resources recognized by everyone.

The presence of the majestic Lake Nahuel Huapi, surrounded by forests and mountains, enables visitors to enjoy hiking, salmon fishing and mountaineering in the summer.

In the winter, Cerro Catedral ski resort gets all the attention as a result of the wide array of snow sports available at the venue.

Bariloche is known for its busy nightlife, especially among the young, who usually stay up until sunset to see how the first sunbeams are reflected upon the surface of the lake.

Going southwards along the mountain range, the City of El Bolson boasts mountain features and farms producing hop and fine fruit. It is legendary for its relaxed pace and a population mostly devoted to handcraft making.

Incredible trails across ancient forests join nearby settlements and invite visitors to camp and test their physical conditions. Hikers will find their challenge at Huella Andina, the Andean Track.

Angling is one of the most popular activities, especially fly-casting, which is becoming highly praised when it comes to preserving species and the environment.

Horseback Tour to Cajon del Azul, El Bolson

We recommend a horseback tour to the Azul River gorge, one of the most fascinating sceneries close to El Bolson.

Mount Otto 360-Degree View

From a panoramic balcony, we caught the best glimpses of the mountains and the lake as we grabbed a tasty bite in a unique coffee-shop.

Beer in Bariloche

Ideal to drink beer, Bariloche has its own beer road, where scenes co-exist with a tradition brought along by immigrants who made the city grow.

Curanto in Colonia Suiza

Tasting curanto prepared with enough time and professionalism in Colonia Suiza is a unique experience.

Carved Forest

A carved forest was born from a burnt down site. At a few kilometers from the center of El Bolson, visitors can appreciate an artistic exhibition of carved wood.

Mount Piltriquitron

For some people, Mount Piltriquitron is a center of energy. Others just enjoy its woods without searching for any further explanation. The truth is that the Piltri encloses an enigmatic charm.

Chocolate Makes History in Bariloche

As exquisite as it is energetic, chocolate is highly coveted by visitors to Bariloche. Fenoglio Chocolate Museum shows how the idea.

Campanario Hill Viewpoint

Visitors may behold one of the most impressive sceneries in the area after a tour in the comfortable chairlifts of Cerro Campanario.

Elegant Hotel Llao Llao

Hotel Llao Llao appears in the most famous first-class international hotel directories. We visited the venue, toured around each section and confirmed its well-deserved prestige.

Isla Victoria and Arrayanes Forest

This trip begins at Puerto Panuelo, a site nestled on the Llao Llao Peninsula. There are several options to reach this place: by car, following Ezequiel Bustillo’s Avenue.

The Handcraft Fair

One of the most exciting things to do in El Bolson is to enjoy an intense shopping day in one of the most important handcraft fairs in South America.

River Rafting on the Manso

Unlike its name in Spanish, the Manso River rapids offer an excellent proposal for river rafting.

Recipes from the Shire

At El Bolson, gourmet proposals set the typical style of Patagonian cuisine. Here we present an excellent choice to enjoy a good table in two very special venues in the Andean shire.

The Coast

The entire sea costaline of the Province of Rio Negro is bathed by warmer waters than the rest of the Argentinian littoral zone.

This has given origin to a sequence of populations offering ample and solitary beaches as well as the chance to mix a life of rest and beholding of sea fauna with the adrenaline of some water sports.

The sea road starts at the City of Viedma, capital of the province, and borders Gulf San Matias. Las Grutas is probably the village that has exploited tourism best.

Its waters, its cliffs and the chance of enjoying SCUBA diving, fishing and nautical sports are luring.

Other populations on the shore of Río Negro are Playas Doradas, El Cóndor, Playa Bonita and La Loberia, where scenes follow one another and every place is unique.

SCUBA Diving in Viedma – Carmen de Patagones

SCUBA diving is one of the ways man has discovered in order to enjoy the secrets of the sea. The Gulf of San Matias, close to Viedma and Carmen de Patagones, is ideal to practice this sport.

Curious Formations on the Seashore

El Sotano and Las Ostras Ravine are two of the geographical features that cut out the seashore and invite adventurers to see them from a close distance.

El Condor, a Fabulous Beach

Just twenty minutes away from Viedma, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Province of Rio Negro, El Condor, is the site where holidaymakers meet.

ATV Ride on the Dunes

The beaches and dunes of Las Grutas are ideal environments to go on an amusing ATV ride.

Tracks on the Patagonian Steppe

Close to Las Grutas, two tours around inhospitable nooks are excellent adventure proposals available on almost inexistent paths.

Municipal Historic Museum

On the ocean drive at San Antonio Oeste, a museum gives account of the cultural heritage of this city which developed in the early 1900s and marked the history of the area.

A Tour around the City of Viedma

Viedma is a modern city where every detail deserves attention. Almost the site for the new capital city of the Argentine Republic in the 1980s, it features vestiges of those times.

Cerro Catedral

Speaking about San Carlos de Bariloche means speaking about Cerro Catedral, which stands for Mount Cathedral in Spanish due to the resemblance of its summits to the towers of a medieval temple. Its majesty is well-known by skiers from all round the world.

Cerro Catedral, lying just 20 kilometers from the City of Bariloche, opens its gates with the first snowfalls for visitors eager to experience the adventure promised by ski and winter sports.

Reaching 1,030 meters above sea level, Mount Catedral seems to have the intention to join the ground and the sky.

A pioneer in South America, today it is the most complete ski resort in the country and it continues updating its facilities in order to offer visitors the most advanced infrastructure.

The unification of its sectors offers 600 hectares of skiable surface divided into 53 well sign-posted trails of various difficulties, which reach 2.000 meters over sea level.

With options for all ski disciplines, including off-piste, are available, those who practice freestyle and snowboarding will also enjoy an area specially designed with bumps and rails to show off their abilities.

Catedral has been the stage for the most important international competitions and snow festivals for years. The downhill torch parade, a night show that is gaining more and more fans, stands out.

Lift updating programs are constant and specially thought to improve the resort’s total lift capacity and quality.

Catedral also has a cutting-edge snow-making system which creates real flakes that cover a skiable surface of about 10 hectares.

Visitors just need to come along. In mythical San Carlos de Bariloche, Cerro Catedral has everything to please skiers and their families. Snow is guaranteed.

How to Get There: From Bariloche, along Bustillo Av. to kilometer No. 8 (Catedral intersection). Then, turn left into the paved road till you reach the ski resort access, with its free parking space for 960 vehicles.

There is also a regular bus service every 30 minutes. You can also go up by taxi or on a tourist excursion transfer vehicle.

Season: From June 18 to October 10, divided into high, low and mid season.

Timetable: From 9am to 5pm.

Activities: Alpine, Nordic, randonée and off-piste skiing, snowboarding, sleds, paragliding, hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking.

Services: Refuges, first-class restaurants, lockers, garment and souvenir stores, photo development, medical service at the base, public phones and access to the Internet at the base and at the 1,600 station, ski rental, large parking space, information center, kids nursery, ski school, shopping mall, discos, transfers to the mountain, press room, quad vehicles and snow cats.

To crown a day at the resort, the refuges offer the widest gastronomic variety.

This season, in addition to the 9 refuges on the northern area of Barrilete, Punta Nevada, Refugio Lynch, El Cabo, Parador Intermedia, Plataforma 1200, Cabana 1600, Rodeo y Viento Cero 8 restaurants, pastry-shops and refuges conexion, La Roca, La Cueva, Punta Princesa, Plaza Oertle, Q-White, Soul Point y Oso Point will be available.

All of them have been conditioned by the new managers in order to please the needs of the ever increasing and more demanding visitors.

From exquisite soups and delicious snacks, to the best fondues and typical dishes of the area, everything is part of the varied range of dishes to be tasted in the company of an excellent wine selection.

Catedral offers a different landscape in each one of its restaurants, with a unique and privileged environment.

At the restaurants located by the mount ski runs, international and regional cuisines mingle with the best view of the mountain. The best-known chefs in our country excel at Catedral.

El Rodeo outstands due to its barbecues, all kinds of meat and trout; there is also live music and activities. The terraces of Plataforma 1200, Punta Princesa, Conexión and Refugio Lynch offer a spectacular sight as you enjoy typical mountain dishes.

At Punta Nevada , Viento Cero and Parador Intermedia, you can enjoy traditional dishes, such as goulash. El Cabo serves Mexican food and, for good pizza, El Barrilete is the best choice.

For those who do not wish to miss even one minute of action in the runs, Q-White, La Roca , Soul Point and Plaza Oertle offer fast food service.

When it comes to a good cup of coffee or hot chocolate accompanied by some delicacy, Cabana 1600 also provides Internet access free of charge.

Having dinner at La Cueva is an interesting choice to appreciate a night perspective of the mountain.

Museums of Rio Negro

Paraje Confluencia

When it comes to learning about the great history of Patagonia, and in particular its present culture, a visit to Paraje Confluencia Museum, located in downtown Neuquén, is the answer.

Allen’s Municipal Museum

This place is beautiful, not only for the history it houses but also for the great deal of cultural activities held in it. A space specially recovered for visitors to enjoy.

Francisco P. Moreno Museum of Patagonia

Visit the Francisco P. Moreno Museum of Patagonia and obtain a global vision of the various historical and cultural periods Patagonia went through.

Asociacion Paleontologica Bariloche Museum

At the corner of Av. 12 de Octubre and Sarmiento, on the coast of Lake Nahuel Huapi, you will find the Paleontology Museum of Bariloche, which has numerous fossils from this region.

Ameghino Museum and Peuser Library

Cipolletti's cultural environment consists of two entities whose activities and materials are housed by significant buildings.

Vintter Museum

Vintter Museum, as all the museums in the region, gives evidence of the life periods of the peoples with jealously kept facts and circumstances.

Municipal Historic Museum

On the ocean drive at San Antonio Oeste, a museum gives account of the cultural heritage of this city which developed in the early 1900s and marked the history of the area.

Constantino Vicci's Private Museum

The pieces treasured by this museum were found, classified and turned into a highly valuable exhibition resulting from the personal work done by its owner.

Mount Tronador

Bariloche awakes in a beautiful mood as usual and we set out on four wheels in an emblematic tour: Mount Tronador and its ancient glaciers. We meet Omar, the driver, once we occupy our seats.

“Our job is a pleasure both for my partner and for me. We have been trained professionally and we love dealing with tourists, whether from our country or from abroad.

Let me introduce myself: my name is Omar and my job is to drive this comfortable vehicle towards our destination. Ayelen, my partner, will be the guide of this tour and will provide information to all of you today.

We were born in this land and we love it as much as we love our job. Tourists will surely appreciate that, Omar concludes and after hearing that introduction, we feel we are taking the right tour.

Ayelen occupies one of the first seats in the vehicle and carries countless books, posters, photographs and research material that she will lend visitors at all times.

Everyone gets on board and the journey along a 36-kilometer-long paved stretch to the Southwest begins. Afterwards, we get deep into a mountain gravel road and make several stops to behold nature.

Lakes and rivers change color as we advance towards the mountain range. We are amazed by Lake Gutierrez, Mount Catedral and the residential villas around them.

A great diversity of natural environments: the dry shrubby steppe vegetation and the humid Valdivian rainforest. According to Ayelen, this is the result of heavy rainfall from the West.

800 Meters above Sea Level

We border Lake Mascardi for a while and bid farewell to its turquoise waters until our return. That is how we enter the territory of the Nahuel Huapi National Park.

The impressive figure of perito or expert Francisco Pascasio Moreno soon appears in Ayelen’s speech. A visionary, explorer, scientist, statesman, philanthropist and educator, he worked in the layout of the borders between Argentina and Chile in the late 1800s and was acknowledged by the Argentinian government of the time.

The regulations started by him have remained until our days. He deserves our respect for having taught us how to take care of the environment.

Ayelen’s voice is constant and talks about wildlife and expressions in the Mapuche tongue. We participate in each story told by the confines of these rivers, lakes and woodlands.

This tour is available all year round. It is convenient to wear comfortable footwear for the hiking tours. The travel agencies will give information about how far visitors can get during the winter.

The assistance provided by the guides and the drivers is very good. The sites where lunch is served as well as the restrooms are very well conditioned.



Tourism Observer

Cycling The World To Combat HIV/AIDS

It all started when, Somen Debnath, a 33-year-old of Indian origin, saw an article in a local newspaper titled “AIDS is Deadlier than Cancer”. This triggered an idea, which by 2004 had turned into an epic mission: travel around the world on his bicycle creating awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Twelve years later, he has now cycled some 138,000kms through 126 countries, met 120 Indian ambassadors, six kings, 30 presidents, and 62 prime ministers.

During his journey he was kidnapped by Taliban in Afghanistan and was held captive for 24 days. He has also been robbed half a dozen times and beaten eight times by skinheads.

Undeterred by occasional setbacks, Debnath plans to complete 191 countries by 2020, before returning build a Global Village in his hometown.

Now, he is in Argentina and biking from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia, then after crossing the Strait of Magellan will continue to Ushuaia, the southernmost part of Argentina. After that, Antarctica.

Before he left on this 3,000km leg down Argentina’s coastline, The Indy caught up with Debnath to talk about what he has learned on his mission, where he finds inner strength, and how his cooking skills may have saved his life.

From reading an article titled AIDS is deadlier than Cancer to visiting 126 countries in a bicycle. What do you think you have achieved so far in terms of your original goal?

It all started with a simple thought: if by spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS, one person can be saved or can benefit from the message, I have succeeded. I have just two messages to spread.

First, don’t isolate those people afflicted with HIV/AIDS, they have the power to change this world. Secondly, be aware of the risks involved and keep away from them. This is a change that you should bring from within.

I get many e-mails saying that they have benefitted from my messages and that is the only thing that keeps me going.

Have you been able to get the answers that you were searching for in the initial days?

The answer was the message. I then realised if this message stays just with me it is of no use, so I started working to spread it in my village, then moved on to a small town, then I worked with the provincial organisations and today I have travelled 126 countries. I want to go to 191 countries by the end of 2020, spreading the message.

After travelling to many countries and meeting many people what are the lessons you have learnt?

Learning is very simple. Simple in the sense that I tried a different way of life. Try to live a positive and optimistic life and it is very infectious. Positive thinking can clear obstacles and make a path.

The travel must require a lot of physical and mental strength. Where do you get your strength?

I like to quote Indian philosopher and thinker, Swami Vivekananda. He said: “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.” His words have always been an inspiration and support. There is also a saying that “All the power within you, you can do anything and believe in the power of you, don’t be let down just stand up and express yourself.” As Swami Vivekananda has inspired many Indians, I want everybody in this world also to be inspired by his words.

Apart from HIV/AIDS Awareness, you are also lecturing in your travel on Indian culture, Can you tell us a little bit about that?

For almost two and a half years I travelled across India and I have been to all the states and provinces. I wanted to share all that I observed, from food, costumes and traditions of all the places in India. This became an integral part of my journey to teach the values that our ancestors have bestowed upon us. I also give lectures on the traditions followed in Medieval India on literature & performing arts. I have given these lectures in more than 3,000 institutions and I make it interactive. I believe if I can plant the seeds of good values in the mind of one student, which can tomorrow grow into a big tree, it is beyond diplomacy.

You are one of the very few people who have seen the Jarawas the indigenous tribes of Anadaman nicobar Islands in India. What was your experience with them?

It was by chance through various diplomatic contacts and help I finally reached the Jarawas. After initial skepticism of me being there, they warmed to my presence as I started listening to them and became a part of their lives. I stayed with them for 15 days, observing them.

They are the most sophisticated people. Though they have no idea of modern science, but their medical methods were extremely effective. They are very connected with nature, and they are far more developed and forward thinking than the modern society.

By accident I ate a poisonous fruit and was almost unconscious, but they gave me the extract of another fruit and that saved me. There are certain things that can only be experienced. This is one such experience, which remains just a memory and never documented, as I didn’t have a camera at that time.

Can you tell us also about your experience creating awareness among commercial sex workers?

While travelling in India, I visited 30-40 places where commercial sex workers operate. My main focus of visiting them is to create the awareness about safe sex. Only two women amongst the 10,000 odd women I met were willingly in this profession – I feel most of these women have been forced into prostitution and are illiterate. The best way they can live a dignified life is to be safe and be away from deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS. I always respect them and love them. I just want them to live a dignified life.

What other interesting stories do you have from your journey?

The first incident was in Afghanistan, where I was held captive for 24 days by Taliban forces. My cooking skills helped me as I was able to maintain a relationship with them. One of them, who knew English, explained my mission to the others and they released me.

Another one is while I was travelling in Central Asia in sub-zero degree temperatures. There was no one around and I knew I had to cycle a long way to reach a point where I can rest. Then a truck passed by and offered me help – they said I go with them I could stay in their home. I was pleased and agreed. After a few kilometres of driving they told me to get down and give them all that I had. I felt so helpless, but could not do anything.

What have you been doing in Buenos Aires?

I visited three international schools and gave lectures. I also did some cultural exchange programmes by sharing and cooking Indian food for people in Buenos Aires. Usually I try to connect with the people through NGO’s in different countries. Even though I wont be able to meet everyone at least I make sure my message reaches a few people.

Your ultimate dream is to build a Global Village in your hometown. Can you explain this new initiative and how much progress you have made so far?

I am selling kilometres of my travel to my friends and families all over the world. One third of the funds covers expenses of my travel and the other two thirds I will dedicate for our global village.

I started to build a house called People House and its almost done in Kolkatta. I have been on the road for 4,000 days and people in all parts of the globe have always invited me to their houses. So, I thought I will invite all of them to this house, and they feel that they are a part of my family.

The blueprint for one part of the global village is ready and we are expecting some support from government and the process is going on. I have around 20 people working now on this project. When the land is ready I will invite every one I met in my journey to come and help me build this and it will become ‘Our Village’. If I succeed in doing this I think I will be able to bring in a concept of Global oneness.

You can read more about Somen Debnath’s journey at his website.



Tourism Observer

ARGENTINA: Interesting Beaches Near Buenos Aires With Fancy Hotels, Good Restaurants, And Plenty Of Cute Shops

As Buenos Aires gradually turns from colourful springtime metropolis to suffocating summer furnace, the proper thing to do is join the mass porteno exodus and head for the coast.

Bear in mind that the vast majority of Argentines travel in January and February, when accommodation prices are highest and the beaches most crowded.

Whilst Argentina is not renowned for its beaches, holidaying on the Atlantic Coast of Buenos Aires Province is probably the most popular option for tourists.

For family vacations, the northern beaches of Partido de la Costa, the closest to BA, are a bit of a favourite.

With attractions like Sea World, a water park, and prices lower than in other areas along the coast, it has a relaxed vibe but with plenty of things to do.

Partido de la Costa extends from San Clemente del Tuyu down to Costa Esmeralda, and has an assortment of bigger towns and smaller seaside resorts.

For those looking for some city action to go with their beaches, the obvious choice is Mar del Plata.

Considering that about half of the total population of BA moves to Mardel in summer, walking around the city feels like walking along Av. Corrientes on peak hour but with the ocean nearby.

The city’s small beaches get impossibly crowded, but if you want nightlife, theatre, people watching or to gamble away your accommodation money in the iconic casino, this is the place to be.

There are, of course, less intense options. Villa Gesell is one of the biggest cities on the coast, and it’s usually known for its young vibe.

While it’s not the most attractive city, it does have large, wide beaches and easy access to smaller and nicer resorts like Mar de las Pampas, Las Gaviotas, and Mar Azul.

Mar de las Pampas is in itself a good option for those looking for a more upscale kind of holiday.

Fancy hotels, good restaurants, and plenty of cute shops set in the middle of a forest by the sea, it’s as good as it gets on the Atlantic Coast.

A similar style can be found in the small, foresty towns of Carilo and Valeria del Mar, all a stone’s throw away from the most exclusive of Argentina’s seaside towns.

The larger Pinamar, the place were politicians and businessmen go to tan.

While it’s impossible to fully escape the crowds in summer especially in January, those looking for relaxation could try the beaches south of Necochea, such as Claromeco, Orense, or Monte Hermoso touted as the only place in the country where you can see the sun come up and go down in the sea.

Finally, and moving further south, those willing to venture out to the coast of the Rio Negro province should head out to Las Grutas, for many the best beach in Argentina, blessed with clear, warmer water, and a very different vibe to that of its northern neighbours.

Given its modest scale and proximity to Buenos Aires, the beaches of Uruguay are just as accessible in terms of distance, though a little more expensive, than the Atlantic Coast.

You’ll find sandy stretches as soon as you land on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, but the best beaches are east of the capital Montevideo.

The best known and most upscale resort is Punta del Este. Sometimes known as the Beverly Hills of South America, the thin peninsula offers plenty of opportunities for celebrity spotting, be it sunbathing on the beach, picking out a pair of designer sunglasses, or dancing all night to some of the region’s top DJs.

Some of Punta’s best nightlife is just east of the peninsula in uber-trendy La Barra, while the village of Jose Ignacio, just a little further east, has become arguably the most exclusive fishing village in South America.

Things get less ostentatious and a good deal cheaper further up the coast. Cabo Polonio is Punta’s polar opposite, devoid of luxury trimmings and even basic commodities like roads and electricity.

In the summer, 4×4 jeeps pick up travellers from the main road and drop them off in the tiny village, where a good book is probably the most valuable thing you can have.

Heading further towards the Brazilian border, the beaches become more open and deserted, with only a few quiet resorts catering to tourists.

One of the most popular is Punta del Diablo, where backpackers and surfers share pretty beaches with the local fishermen.



Tourism Observer

BOTSWANA: Eco-friendly Tourist Destination And Safest Country In Africa

Botswana is a land-locked country located in Southern Africa and bordering on Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Botswana is topographically flat, with up to 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahari Desert.

Its border with Zambia to the north near Kazungula is poorly defined but is, at most, a few hundred metres long.

Sparsely populated, Botswana protects some of Africa's largest areas of wilderness. Safari based tourism tightly controlled and often upmarket is an important source of income.

Botswana is officially known as the Republic of Botswana. It is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa.

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966.

Since then, it has maintained a strong tradition of stable representative democracy, with a consistent record of uninterrupted democratic elections this unlike many African countries and the best perceived corruption ranking in Africa since at least 1998.

The country's name means land of the Tswana, referring to the dominant ethnic group in Botswana.

The term Batswana was originally applied to the Tswana, which is still the case.

However, it has also come to be used generally as a demonym for all citizens of Botswana.Many English dictionaries also recommend the term Botswanan to refer to people of Botswana.

Botswana, one of Africa's most stable countries, is the continent's longest continuous multi-party democracy. It is relatively free of corruption and has a good human rights record.

Seretse Khama Ian Khama the son of Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana's first post-independence leader took over as president in April 2008.

He was the chosen successor of Festus Mogae, who stepped down at the end of his second term, after a decade at the helm.

Mr Ian Khama secured a five-year term in October 2009 after his governing Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) party swept to victory in a parliamentary election, and in August 2014 polls he gained a second term when his party gained the most seats.

Critics describe him as authoritarian while supporters say he is decisive and efficient.

His no-nonsense approach has made him popular abroad as he has broken ranks with regional leaders' timid approach to join international criticism of democratic abuses by former Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

Born in the UK while his father was in exile, Mr Ian Khama is a graduate of Sandhurst officer training college in Britain and was the commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) before becoming vice president in 1998.

His ruling Botswana Democratic Party has governed since independence in 1966.

Botswana is the world's largest producer of diamonds and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.

Botswana is famous for its wildlife, areas like the Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve have a very high concentration of game.

The bulk of the Kalahari desert falls within Botswana's borders and Botswana is home to most of the world's San or bushman population.

Botswana once had the world's highest rate of HIV-Aids infection. UN figures for 2014 suggest that for adults aged 15 to 49 the prevalence rate is 25%.

The official language of Botswana is English although Setswana is widely spoken across the country.

In Setswana, prefixes are more important than they are in many other languages, since Setswana is a Bantu language and has noun classes denoted by these prefixes.

They include Bo, which refers to the country, Ba, which refers to the people, Mo, which is one person, and Se which is the language.

The main ethnic group of Botswana is the Tswana people, hence the name Botswana for its country. The people as a whole are Batswana, one person is a Motswana, and the language they speak is Setswana.

Other languages spoken in Botswana include Kalanga (sekalanga), Sarwa (sesarwa), Ndebele, Xoo and, in some parts, Afrikaans.

Besides referring to the language of the dominant people groups in Botswana, Setswana is the adjective used to describe the rich cultural traditions of the Batswana whether construed as members of the Tswana ethnic groups or of all citizens of Botswana.

In Botswana most of the tribes have different ways that they use to greet one another, but for easy communication and connection batswana use a three way hand shake or one can just greet another by saying Dumelang as a way of saying hello without having to use hand shakes.

In community celebrations like Dikgafela or during marriage ceremonies batswana women show excitement and happiness by the use of ululations as part of their culture.

An estimated 77% of the country's citizens identify as Christians. Anglicans, Methodists, and the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa make up the majority of Christians.

There are also congregations of Lutherans, Baptists, Roman Catholics, Latter-day Saints (Mormons), the Dutch Reformed Church, Mennonites, Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses in the country.

In Gaborone, a Lutheran History Centre is open to the public.

According to the 2001 census, the country has around 5,000 Muslims, mainly from South Asia, 3,000 Hindus and 700 Baha'is. Approximately 20% of citizens espouse no religion.

Religious services are well attended in both rural and urban areas.

Botswana music is mostly vocal and performed, sometimes without drums depending on the occasion; it also makes heavy use of string instruments.

Botswana folk music has instruments such as Setinkane a Botswana version of miniature piano, Segankure or Segaba a Botswana version of the Chinese instrument Erhu.

While Moropa or Meropa in plural is a Botswana version of the many varieties of drums, phala is a Botswana version of a whistle used mostly during celebrations, which comes in a variety of forms.

Botswana cultural musical instruments are not confined only to the strings or drums. the hands are used as musical instruments too, by either clapping them together or against phathisi or goat skin turned inside out wrapped around the calf area, it is only used by men to create music and rhythm.

The guitar has been celebrated as a versatile music instrument for Tswana music as it offers a variety in string which the Segaba instrument does not have.

It is the outsider that found a home within the culture. The highlight of any celebration or event that shows especially happiness is the dancing.

This differs by regime, age, gender and status in the group or if it's a tribal activity, status in the community.

The national anthem is Fatshe leno la rona. Written and composed by Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete, it was adopted upon independence in 1966.

In the northern part of Botswana, women in the villages of Etsha and Gumare are noted for their skill at crafting baskets from Mokola Palm and local dyes.

The baskets are generally woven into three types: large, lidded baskets used for storage, large, open baskets for carrying objects on the head or for winnowing threshed grain, and smaller plates for winnowing pounded grain.

The artistry of these baskets is being steadily enhanced through colour use and improved designs as they are increasingly produced for international markets.

Other notable artistic communities include Thamaga Pottery and Oodi Weavers, both located in the south-eastern part of Botswana.

The oldest paintings from both Botswana and South Africa depict hunting, animal and human figures, and were made by the Khoisan or Kung San or Bushmen over twenty thousand years ago within the Kalahari desert.

Football is the most popular sport in Botswana, with qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations being the national team's highest achievement to date.

Other popular sports are cricket, tennis, rugby, badminton, softball, handball, golf, and track and field.

Botswana is an associate member of the International Cricket Council. Botswana became a member of The International Badminton Federation and Africa Badminton Federation in 1991.

The Botswana Golf Union offers an amateur golf league in which golfers compete in tournaments and championships.

Botswana won the country's first Olympic medal in 2012 when runner Nijel Amos won silver in the 800 metres.

In 2011, Amantle Montsho became world champion in the 400 metres and won Botswana's first athletics medal on the world level. High jumper Kabelo Kgosiemang is a three time African champion.

The card game bridge has a strong following, it was first played in Botswana over 30 years ago, and it grew in popularity during the 1980s. Many British expatriate school teachers informally taught the game in Botswana's secondary schools.

The Botswana Bridge Federation (BBF) was founded in 1988 and continues to organise tournaments. Bridge has remained popular and the BBF has over 800 members.

In 2007, the BBF invited the English Bridge Union to host a week-long teaching program in May 2008.

The Tswana are the majority ethnic group in Botswana, making up 79% of the population. The largest minority ethnic groups are the BaKalanga, and San or AbaThwa, also known as Basarwa.

Other tribes are Bayei, Bambukushu, Basubia, Baherero and Bakgalagadi. In addition, there are small numbers of whites and Indians, both groups being roughly equally small in number.

Botswana's Indian population is made up of many Indian-Africans of several generations, with some having migrated from Mozambique, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, South Africa, and so on, as well as first generation Indian immigrants.

The white population speaks English and Afrikaans and makes up roughly 3% of the population.

Since 2000, because of deteriorating economic conditions in Zimbabwe, the number of Zimbabweans in Botswana has risen into the tens of thousands.

Fewer than 10,000 San people are still living their traditional hunter-gatherer way of life.

Since the mid-1990s the central government of Botswana has been trying to move San out of their historic lands.

James Anaya, as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people for the United Nations in 2010, described loss of land as a major contributor to many of the problems facing Botswana's indigenous people.

He cited the San's eviction from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) as an especial example.

Among Anaya's recommendations in a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council was that development programs should promote, in consultation with indigenous communities.

These were such as the San and Bakgalagadi people, activities in harmony with the culture of those communities such as traditional hunting and gathering activities.

A mid-sized country of just over 2 million people, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. Around 10 percent of the population lives in the capital and largest city, Gaborone.

Formerly one of the poorest countries in the world—with a GDP per capita of about US$70 per year in the late 1960s—Botswana has since transformed itself into one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

The economy is dominated by mining, cattle, and tourism. Botswana boasts a GDP per capita of about $18,825 per year as of 2015, which is one of the highest in Africa.

Its high gross national income by some estimates the fourth-largest in Africa, gives the country a relatively high standard of living and the highest Human Development Index of continental Sub-Saharan Africa.

Botswana is a member of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations.

The country has been among the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Despite the success in programmes to make treatments available to those infected, and to educate the populace in general about how to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The number of people with AIDS rose from 290,000 in 2005 to 320,000 in 2013.As of 2014, Botswana had the third-highest prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS.

Archaeological digs have shown that hominids have lived in Botswana for around two million years. Stone tools and fauna remains have shows that all areas of the country were inhabited at least 400,000 years ago.

Evidence left by modern humans such as cave paintings are about 73,000 years old. The original inhabitants of southern Africa were the Bushmen or San and Khoi peoples.

Both speak Khoisan languages and hunted, gathered, and traded over long distances.

When cattle were first introduced about 2000 years ago into southern Africa, pastoralism became a major feature of the economy, since the region had large grasslands free of tsetse fly.

The ancestors of the modern-day Kalanga moved into what is now the north-eastern areas of the country. These proto-Kalanga were closely connected to states in Zimbabwe as well as to the Mapungubwe state.

These states, located outside of current Botswana's borders, appear to have kept massive cattle herds in what is now the Central District,apparently at numbers approaching modern cattle density.

This massive cattle-raising complex prospered until 1300 AD or so, and seems to have regressed following the collapse of Mapungubwe.

During this era, the first Tswana-speaking groups, the Bakgalagadi, moved into the southern areas of the Kalahari.

All these various peoples were connected to trade routes that ran via the Limpopo River to the Indian Ocean, and trade goods from Asia such as beads made their way to Botswana most likely in exchange for ivory, gold, and rhinoceros horn.

The arrival of the ancestors of the Tswana-speakers who came to control the region has yet to be dated precisely.

Members of the Bakwena, a chieftaincy under a legendary leader named Kgabo II, made their way into the southern Kalahari by AD 1500, at the latest, and his people drove the Bakgalagadi inhabitants west into the desert.

Over the years, several offshoots of the Bakwena moved into adjoining territories. The Bangwaketse occupied areas to the west, while the Bangwato moved northeast into formerly Bakalanga areas.

Not long afterwards, a Bangwato offshoot known as the Batawana migrated into the Okavango Delta, probably in the 1790s.

In June 1964, the United Kingdom accepted proposals for a democratic self-government in Botswana.

The seat of government was moved in 1965 from Mafikeng in South Africa, to the newly established Gaborone, which is located near Botswana's border with South Africa.

Based on the 1965 constitution, the country held its first general elections under universal suffrage and gained independence on 30 September 1966.

Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate claimant to the Ngwato chiefship, was elected as the first President, and subsequently re-elected twice.

The presidency passed to the sitting Vice-President, Quett Masire, who was elected in his own right in 1984 and re-elected in 1989 and 1994. Masire retired from office in 1998.

He was succeeded by Festus Mogae, who was elected in his own right in 1999 and re-elected in 2004.

The presidency passed in 2008 to Ian Khama son of the first President, who had been serving as Mogae's Vice-President since resigning his position in 1998 as Commander of the Botswana Defence Force to take up this civilian role.

A long-running dispute over the northern border with Namibia's Caprivi Strip was the subject of a ruling by the International Court of Justice in December 1999. It ruled that Kasikili Island belongs to Botswana.

At 581,730 km2 (224,607 sq mi) Botswana is the world's 48th-largest country. It is similar in size to Madagascar or France. It lies between latitudes 17° and 27°S, and longitudes 20° and 30°E.

The country is predominantly flat, tending toward gently rolling tableland. Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers up to 70% of its land surface.

The Okavango Delta, one of the world's largest inland deltas, is in the northwest. The Makgadikgadi Pan, a large salt pan, lies in the north.

The Limpopo River Basin, the major landform of all of southern Africa, lies partly in Botswana, with the basins of its tributaries, the Notwane, Bonwapitse, Mahalapswe, Lotsane, Motloutse and the Shashe, located in the eastern part of the country.

The Notwane provides water to the capital through the Gaborone Dam. The Chobe River lies to the north, providing a boundary between Botswana and Namibia's Zambezi Region.

The Chobe River meets with the Zambezi River at a place called Kazungula, meaning a small sausage tree, a point where Sebitwane and his Makololo tribe crossed the Zambezi into Zambia.

Botswana has diverse areas of wildlife habitat. In addition to the delta and desert areas, there are grasslands and savannas, where blue wildebeest, antelopes, and other mammals and birds are found.

Northern Botswana has one of the few remaining large populations of the endangered African wild dog.

Chobe National Park, found in the Chobe District, has the world's largest concentration of African elephants. The park covers about 11,000 km2 (4,247 sq mi) and supports about 350 species of birds.

The Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta are major tourist destinations. Other reserves include the Central Kalahari Game Reserve located in the Kalahari desert in Ghanzi District.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and Nxai Pan National Park are in Central District in the Makgadikgadi Pan. Mashatu Game Reserve is privately owned located where the Shashe River and Limpopo River meet in eastern Botswana.

The other privately owned reserve is Mokolodi Nature Reserve near Gaborone. There are also specialised sanctuaries like the Khama Rhino Sanctuary and Makgadikgadi Sanctuary for flamingos. They are both located in Central District.

Botswana faces two major environmental problems, drought and desertification. The desertification problems predominantly stem from the severe times of drought in the country.

Three quarters of the country's human and animal populations depend on groundwater due to drought. Groundwater use through deep borehole drilling has somewhat eased the effects of drought.

Surface water is scarce in Botswana and less than 5% of the agriculture in the country is sustainable by rainfall. In the remaining 95% of the country, raising livestock is the primary source of rural income.

Approximately 71% of the country's land is used for communal grazing, which has been a major cause of the desertification and the accelerating soil erosion of the country.

Since raising livestock has proven to be profitable for the people of Botswana, they continue to exploit the land. The animal populations have continued to dramatically increase.

From 1966 to 1991, the livestock population has increased from 1.7 million to 5.5 million. Similarly, the human population has increased from 574,000 in 1971 to 1.5 million in 1995, nearly a 200% increase.

Over 50% of all households in Botswana own cattle, which is currently the largest single source of rural income.

Rangeland degradation or desertification is regarded as the reduction in land productivity as a result of overstocking and overgrazing, or as a result of veld product gathering for commercial use.

Degradation is exacerbated by the effects of drought and climate change.

Environmentalists say that the Okavango Delta is drying up due to the increased grazing of livestock.

The Okavango Delta is one of the major semi forested wetlands in Botswana and one of the largest inland deltas in the world, it is a crucial ecosystem to the survival of many animals.

The Department of Forestry and Range Resources has already begun to implement a project to reintroduce indigenous vegetation into communities in Kgalagadi South, Kweneng North and Boteti.

Reintroduction of indigenous vegetation will help with the degradation of the land. The United States Government has also entered into an agreement with Botswana, giving them $7 million US dollars to reduce Botswana's debt by $8.3 million US dollars.

The stipulation of the US reducing Botswana's debt is that Botswana will focus on more extensive conservation of the land.

The United Nations Development Programme claims that poverty is a major problem behind the overexploitation of resources, including land, in Botswana.

To help change this the UNDP joined in with a project started in the southern community of Struizendam in Botswana. The purpose of the project is to draw from indigenous knowledge and traditional land management systems.

The leaders of this movement are supposed to be the people in the community, to draw them in, in turn increasing their possibilities to earn an income and thus decreasing poverty.

UNDP has stated that the government has to effectively implement policies to allow people to manage their own local resources and are giving the government information to help with policy development.

The constitution of Botswana is the rule of law, which protects the citizens of Botswana and represents their rights.

The politics of Botswana take place in a framework of a representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system.

Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Botswana. The most recent election, its eleventh, was held on 24 October 2014.

Since independence was declared, the party system has been dominated by the Botswana Democratic Party.

Many of the indigenous San people have been forcibly relocated from their land onto reservations.

To make them relocate, they were denied from accessing water from their land and faced arrest if they hunted, which was their primary source of food.

Their lands lie in the middle of the world's richest diamond field. Officially, the government denies that there is any link to mining and claims the relocation is to preserve the wildlife and ecosystem, even though the San people have lived sustainably on the land for years.

They struggle to find employment and alcoholism is rampant.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Botswana, as in many African countries.

Since independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world. Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country.

Although Botswana was resource abundant, a good institutional framework allowed the country to reinvest resource income in order to generate stable future income.

By one estimate, it has the fourth highest gross national income at purchasing power parity in Africa, giving it a standard of living around that of Mexico.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Botswana is responsible for promoting business development throughout the country. According to the International Monetary Fund, economic growth averaged over 9% per year from 1966 to 1999.

Botswana has a high level of economic freedom compared to other African countries. The government has maintained a sound fiscal policy, despite consecutive budget deficits in 2002 and 2003, and a negligible level of foreign debt.

It earned the highest sovereign credit rating in Africa and has stockpiled foreign exchange reserves of over $7 billion in 2005/2006 amounting to almost two and a half years of current imports.

An array of financial institutions populates the country's financial system, with pension funds and commercial banks being the two most important segments by asset size.

Banks remain profitable, well-capitalised, and liquid, as a result of growing national resources and high interest rates. The Bank of Botswana serves as a central bank. The country's currency is the Botswana pula.

Botswana's competitive banking system is one of Africa's most advanced. Generally adhering to global standards in the transparency of financial policies and banking supervision, the financial sector provides ample access to credit for entrepreneurs.

The Capital Bank opened in 2008. As of August 2015, there were a dozen licensed banks in the country.

The government is involved in banking through state-owned financial institutions and a special financial incentives program that is aimed at increasing Botswana's status as a financial centre.

Credit is allocated on market terms, although the government provides subsidised loans.

Reform of non-bank financial institutions has continued in recent years, notably through the establishment of a single financial regulatory agency that provides more effective supervision.

The government has abolished exchange controls, and with the resulting creation of new portfolio investment options, the Botswana Stock Exchange is growing.

The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government respects this in practice.

The legal system is sufficient to conduct secure commercial dealings, although a serious and growing backlog of cases prevents timely trials. The protection of intellectual property rights has improved significantly.

Botswana is ranked second only to South Africa among sub-Saharan Africa countries in the 2014 International Property Rights Index.

While generally open to foreign participation in its economy, Botswana reserves some sectors for citizens.

Increased foreign investment plays a significant role in the privatisation of state-owned enterprises. Investment regulations are transparent, and bureaucratic procedures are streamlined and open, although somewhat slow.

Investment returns such as profits and dividends, debt service, capital gains, returns on intellectual property, royalties, franchise's fees, and service fees can be repatriated without limits.

Botswana imports refined petroleum products and electricity from South Africa. There is some domestic production of electricity from coal.

In Botswana, the Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security led by Hon Sadique Kebonang in Gaborone, maintains data regarding mining throughout the country.

Debswana, the largest diamond mining company operating in Botswana, is 50% owned by the government. The mineral industry provides about 40% of all government revenues.

In 2007, significant quantities of uranium were discovered, and mining was projected to begin by 2010.

Several international mining corporations have established regional headquarters in Botswana, and prospected for diamonds, gold, uranium, copper, and even oil, many coming back with positive results.

Government announced in early 2009 that they would try to shift their economic dependence on diamonds, over serious concern that diamonds are predicted to dry out in Botswana over the next twenty years.

Botswana's Orapa mine is the largest diamond mine in the world in terms of value and quantity of carats produced annually.

Estimated to have produced over 11 million carats in 2013, with an average price of $145/carat, the Orapa mine was estimated to produce over $1.6 billion worth of diamonds in 2013.

The economy, one of the most robust on the continent, is dominated by diamond mining and tourism.

As a tourist destination, Botswana has traditionally opted for a high price and low numbers formula, in part as a conservation strategy, and also to differentiate itself from neighbouring tourist countries who follow a mass market tourism policy.

However, that isn't to say that Botswana is an expensive high end destination. In many respects costs and quality compare to neighbouring South Africa.

However the two jewels in Botswana's tourism crown, the Okavango delta and Chobe National Park are quite exclusive, although there are budget options.

For independent travellers touring the region Botswana offers an interesting contrast to the poverty of its northern neighbours, and is free from the apartheid hangover that still blights South Africa.

Botswana has a long established tourism industry and levels of service are good, hassles are low and tourist numbers minimal away from the main parks, allowing for some magical off the beaten path experiences.

Public holidays in Botswana are:

- 1 Jan New Years' Day

- Easter weekend of Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, a four day long weekend in March or April set according to the Western Christian calendar.

- 1 May Workers Day

- 1 July Sir Seretse Khama Day

- Mid July. President's Day

- September 30. Botswana Day

- December 25. Christmas Day

- December 26. Day of Goodwill

Regions in Botswana are:

- Kalahari

The sparsely populated Kalahari Desert and its fringe.

- Okavango-Chobe

The northern part of the country with the Okavango Delta and good game reserves like Chobe National Park and Moremi National Park.

- Southeast

Home to the capital, Gaborone, and most of the country's population

Cities in Botswana:

- Gaborone

- Francistown

- Ghanzi

- Kasane

- Maun

- Nata

- Gweta

- Kanye

- Tsabong

Other destinations:

- Okavango Delta, A unique geological formation where a delta is formed by a river the Okavango, flowing into the Kalahari desert instead of the ocean. Part of the Delta is designated as Moremi National Park

- Central Kalahari Game Reserve

- Chobe National Park, A great place to see wildlife, and a good point from which to move on to Victoria Falls.

- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

- Nxai Pan National Park

- Northern Tuli Game Reserve, a unique corner of Africa where nature & culture combine in spectacular wildlife, stunning scenery and fascinating history.

- Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a good stop between Gaborone & Maun where you can do a rhino tracking with rangers.

The Botswana Tourism Organisation is the country's official tourism group. Primarily, tourists visit Gaborone due to the city having numerous activities for visitors.

The Lion Park Resort is Botswana's first permanent amusement park and hosts events such as birthday parties for families.

Other destinations in Botswana include the Gaborone Yacht Club and the Kalahari Fishing Club and natural attractions such as the Gaborone Dam and Mokolodi Nature Reserve.

There are golf courses which are maintained by the Botswana Golf Union (BGU). The Phakalane Golf Estate is a multimillion-dollar clubhouse that offers both hotel accommodations and access to golf courses.

Botswana Museums:

- Botswana National Museum in Gaborone

- Kgosi Bathoen II (Segopotso) Museum in Kanye

- Kgosi Sechele I Museum in Molepolole

- Khama III Memorial Museum in Serowe

- Nhabe Museum in Maun

- Phuthadikobo Museum in Mochudi

- Supa Ngwano Museum Centre in Francistown

Citizens of 67 countries and territories, including Australia, Canada, Netherlands as well as other EU countries, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, UK and US, do not require a visa.

For citizens of other nations, a visa must be obtained prior to arrival.

As of February 2009, a visa from the Botswana Embassy in the US costs USD107.

If you require a visa to enter Botswana, you might be able to apply for one at a British embassy, high commission or consulate in the country where you legally reside if there is no Botswana diplomatic post.

For example, the British embassies/consulates in Al Khobar, Almaty, Amman, Belgrade, Damascus, Geneva, Guatemala City, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kiev, Pristina, Rabat, Riyadh, Rome, Sofia and Zurich accept Botswana visa applications.

British diplomatic posts charge £50 to process a Botswana visa application and an extra £70 if the authorities in Botswana require the visa application to be referred to them.

The authorities in Botswana can also decide to charge an additional fee if they correspond with you directly.

Botswana's main airport is Sir Seretse Khama in Gaborone. Most flights arriving in Botswana are from Johannesburg in South Africa, but routes from Cape Town, Harare and Nairobi are also available.

Maun also has a limited number of international flights, Cape Town, Windhoek. The distance between Gaborone and Maun is more than 1,000km. Maun is very much a tourist attraction spot.

Trains to/from South Africa have been withdrawn since 1999. A rail link from from Francistown Bulawayo, Zimbabwe was started in June 2006.

There are several entry points by road to Botswana. In the south at Gaborone, providing access from Johannesburg, in the west providing access from Namibia, the north providing access from Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and at Francistown in the east, providing access from Harare.

All road access is good and the primary roads within Botswana are paved and well maintained.

Coming from Namibia, you can either go north to Maun, or south along the Trans-Kalahari Highway to Lobatse.

There is regular bus service from Johannesburg to Gaborone, which takes six hours. There is also service from Windhoek, Namibia via the Caprivi Strip which will drop you in Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana.

There is a bus service from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Private shuttles ran until 2004 from Windhoek directly to Maun and in late 2005, such a service was starting up again.

Alternatively, there is a public bus that runs from Windhoek to Gaborone every Sunday morning via Ghanzi, where you can catch another public bus that reaches Maun by Sunday evening.

Very few locals know street names and addresses,you are likely to have to get directions in terms of landmarks.

Botswana doesn't have a postal delivery system to addresses, just to centralised mail collection points, so even when streets are well-marked, the names may be unfamiliar to residents.

Through a combination of coaches and combies, you can get anywhere in Botswana without any trouble, though public transport is spotty away from big cities and major axes but hitchhiking is popular and very easy.

However, hitchhiking should only be done in desperate circumstances, as Botswana driving is often very erratic and it can be a harrowing experience to have a stranger drive you somewhere.

It is advisable to arrive at the bus station quite early, as the buses do fill up quickly, and it is not uncommon to spend several hours standing in the aisle waiting for a seat to free up, remember to carry water, as the buses are often not air conditioned.

Online maps for Botswana seem to have errors and omissions. Google is particularly worrisome in that it includes tracks that are actually fences, or are incomplete eg the bridges haven't been built.

For example if you plot the route from Gaborone to Maun it will suggest you drive via the Central Kalagadi Games Reserve fence.

Untarred roads present the most uncertainty for the driver, a good option is to look on Google Earth and measure the width of the track, if it is 3 metres wide then it is likely to be a sandy track where you won't get above 20kph.

If it is 15 metres wide it'll be a graded gravel road where you may get up to 100kph. Paper maps. A good wall map can be purchased from the Dept. of Surveys and Mapping in Gaborone near the train station for P80.

Finally map reading skills are not high for the Batswana, navigation via landmarks is the norm.

A new system called PlotFind was developed for Botswana. It currently contains the addresses or plot numbers of locations in Gaborone. This system is the best solution for online maps in Gaborone

The roads are paved and well maintained, so travel by car is also not a problem, provided that one keeps a close eye out for the cows, donkeys and goats that spend much time in the middle of the road.

The Trans-Kalahari Highway is an old cattle route, now newly paved and easiy drivable with a 2-wheel drive. It runs from Lobatse to Ghanzi in Botswana, making the connection from Windhoek, Namibia to Gaborone, Botswana.

It is a long and uneventful drive, but you get a good feel for the Kalahari Desert. Fuel is available in Kang at the Kang Ultra Shop, which also offers a respectable selection of food, overnight chalets, and inexpensive camping.

Be aware that the road from Maun to Kasane through Chobe national park is an unpaved sandy track, even though some maps show it as a proper road. You need a 4x4 for this route. Going via Nata to / from Kasane/ Maun is much quicker and easier.

Buying a car. Botswana isn't a bad place to buy a vehicle for a multi-month long trip around southern Africa, which you can then sell at the end.

Botswana is considerably cheaper than South Africa and Gaborone is swamped with second-hand Japanese and UK imports. The paperwork is not too daunting and the dealer can do most of it for you.

Beware of the many corrupt police officers which are posted at check points, as they often try and claim fines of up to Pula 1000,00 for allegedly ignoring a stop sign or other offenses.

Be polite, stay calm and respect their authority when being pulled over.

Also, the country is divided by many veterinarian fences, which are set up to break the spread of cattle diseases ,like foot and mouth.

There, you are required to surrender all fresh meat products, drive through a disinfectant pit to cleans your tyres and rub your shoes on a disinfectant solution too.

Depending on the month and situation, sometimes these posts are not manned, but at times the checks here can be thorough.

There are many bus companies in Botswana. One of the biggest is Seabalo. From Gaborone you can travel by bus to any bigger city in Botswana.

Botswana Railways operates Botwana's railways. The main line goes from Lobatse, near the South African border, via Gaborone to Francistown at the Zimbabwean border. Trains are running and have been refurbished on the Lobatse - Francistown route.

The official languages of Botswana are English and Tswana. Kalanga is spoken near the Zimbabwe border areas, and is similar to Shona.

The language of business in Botswana is English and most people in urban areas speak it, although in the more rural areas many people do not speak English, particularly the older generations.

The primary indigenous tongue is Tswana, and is the first language of the overwhelming majority of the population. It is not difficult to learn basic greetings and such, and using these in conversation will make people very happy.

Wildlife is Botswana's main draw. Wildlife parks compose nearly one-fifth of the country. In these parks you will find lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, hippos, elephants, antelope, wild dogs, and hundreds of species of birds.

Visitors can take safaris and stay in lodges running the gamut from inexpensive dorms for backpackers with tour buses to $1,000+/night private lodges with your own maid & driver.

Among southern Africa's most impressive and popular wildlife destinations is the Okavango Delta where the Okavango River widens into the world's largest inland delta.

Lying in the middle of the arid Kalahari, the swamps & water channels attract animals from thousands of kilometers around and triples in size to 100 000 sq. km. during floods in July and August.

Nearby Chobe National Park has a large population of elephants and it's also easy to spot many of Africa's well-known species, especially zebras and lions.

The bleak salt pans of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park attract a large number and variety of birds year-round. Other great game parks include Nxai Pan National Park, Mokolodi Nature Reserve, & Gemsbok National Park.

Most of the native tribes in Botswana only dress in traditional outfits and perform rituals for tourists.

Nevertheless, for the culture-cravers, the villages of D'Kar and Xai-Xai have many offerings, including arts, crafts, and the opportunity to participate in various rituals.

Tsodilo Hills contain one of the largest collections of rock art on the continent.

Botswana's currency is the pula, often locally symbolised as "P"; its ISO 4217 code is BWP placed directly before the amount with no intervening space.

Banknotes circulate in denominations of BWP10, BWP20, BWP50, BWP100 and BWP200. You can find 5, 10, 25, and 50 coins, together with BWP1, BWP2 and BWP5 pieces and 100 thebe equals one pula.

In Setswana, pula means rain and thebe means shield.

For the independent traveller prices in Botswana compare to neighbouring South Africa. Notable exceptions are petrol and diesel which are about a third cheaper in Botswana, and alcohol, which is about a third more expensive.

Indigenous Botswana cuisine is similar to the rest of southern Africa and offers little to inspire. Beef is taken seriously and can be of exceptional quality. The braai is a popular cuisine.

The cuisine of Botswana is unique but also shares some characteristics with other cuisine of Southern Africa.

Popular and common Botswana foods are pap or stiff maize porridge, boerewors, samp, vetkoek or fried dough bread and mopani worms. Foods unique to Botswana include seswaa, heavily salted mashed-up meat.

The legal drinking/purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 18.

Throughout Botswana the tap water is safe to drink, the general advise is taken with care, as it varies considerably depending on the area, so make sure you ask locals and travelers alike before drinking it.

Good fruit juice is hard to find but South African 100% juice blends are the norm although Spar do a range of good juices.

The national beer, St Louis, is often derided by foreigners as being worse than domestic US lagers. Most opt for Namibian or South African imports.

Bottle stores are widely found in most places, and even regular, slightly bigger supermarkets are allowed to sell booze.

Most of the accommodation establishments in Botswana are located near the larger towns and cities, but there are also many secluded game lodges tucked away in the wilderness areas.

In the towns it is rare for accommodation to be booked up. For the lodges it is safer to book your accommodation well in advance before travelling to Botswana.

This can be done on line or via travel agents that have the knowledge of the country.

As with many safari destinations booking through an agent in your own country may work out cheaper than booking direct, shop around with different agents to get the best price.

As a rule of thumb P400 (US$50) should get you an acceptable en suite room in most of the towns. In the smaller towns away from the tourist routes quality and prices will be lower.

Botswana has several English language daily and weekly newspapers. Mmegi, Botswana Gazette, Botswana Guardian and Sunday Standard being the most respected.

The Government produces the Daily News, which is distributed free and invariably has a picture of the President on the front cover.

For quality international news the South African Mail & Guardian is available in Gaborone, Pick'n'Pay sells this for a discounted P17, rather than the P24 cover price.

Botswana uses GSM900 and has three mobile operators, Orange, Mascom an MTN offshoot, and BEMobile run by Botswana telecom. Mascom has the worse reputation for customer service.

When topping up try and wait for the end of the month when all three operators offer top-up specials. Coverage is restricted to the towns and highways, out in the bush there is generally nothing.

For internet, internet cafes are present in most towns, and have useable speeds. Wifi is available in the pricier and expat orientated cafes and restaurants, but game lodges tend to be internetless.

In general speeds are noticeably slower in Botswana than South Africa, do any serious downloading before you arrive.

People in Botswana are very friendly and the crime rate is low. Nevertheless, crime has been on the rise over the past several years, so always be aware of your surroundings.

Basic common sense will keep you safe from the predatory wildlife in rural areas. Botswana happens to be one of the safest countries in Africa, no civil war, less corruption, human rights, no natural disasters e.g earthquakes or tsunamis.

Botswana is an eco-friendly tourist destination. The country and it's travel board focus on sustainable things for tourists to do. The fees for Botswana's Safari parks go right back into the parks.

Botswana's HIV infection rate, estimated at 24.1%, is the 2nd highest reported in the world. Exercise regular universal precautions when dealing with any bodily fluid and remain aware of this high rate of infection.

Take precautions accordingly. Wear rubber gloves when dressing someone else's cut, even if they are a child.

The northern part of Botswana, including Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta is in a malaria zone, so it is advisable to take the relevant precautions. Seek medical advice before travelling to these areas.

Water in urban areas is chlorinated, and is drunk from the tap by the local population. Still, short term visitors with sensitive stomachs may feel more secure drinking bottled water.

Outside of urban areas, the water is untreated and straight from the borehole and poses a slightly higher risk to the traveller.

Enjoy your stay in Botswana



Tourism Observer

NAMIBIA: Desert Grace Lodge To Open In The Namib Desert, November 2018

Gondwana Collection’s new lodge, the Desert Grace, in the Namib Desert in Namibia, will open its doors this November.

Accommodation comprises 24 en-suite bungalows, each with its own plunge pool on the verandah; fridge; safe; and tea/coffee facilities.

The bungalows are split between Desert Grace family rooms, accommodating four people, and Desert Grace twin rooms, which sleep two.

Facilities include air-conditioning, secure parking, a restaurant and bar, as well as free WiFi at the reception area.

Children up to the age of five are free of charge, and children between the ages of six and 13 years are charged 50% of the B&B rate.

Activities include dune drives around the Gondwana Namib Park, and walking trails.

Treat yourself to desert elegance and an extra touch of grace!

Graceful spaces and gracious hospitality imbue this modern lodge with its elegance of yesteryear, spirited character and refreshingly stylish interior.

Sip on a pink gin while appreciating the expansive desert scenery from one of the 24 bungalows, each with its own plunge pool.

Outdoors, ancient golden desert; indoors, pure love.

Facilities

- Air Conditioning / Heating

- Restaurant

- Bar

- Free Wi-Fi at the Reception Area

- En-suite bathrooms, showers

- Fridge

- Safe

- Tea / Coffee Facilities

- Secure parking

- Veranda with private splash pool

Child Policy

- Children are most welcome at all our venues.

- Children up to 5 years old are free of charge;

- Children between the age of 6 and 13 years there is a charge of 50 per cent of the B&B rate.

Dune Drive

- Discover the fossilised dunes, the red dunes above the plateau and the many other wonders of the Namib Desert on this drive around the Gondwana Namib Park.

- Walking Trails

- Experience the Namib Desert on foot.

Desert Grace Family Rooms

Graceful spaces and gracious hospitality imbue this modern lodge with its elegance of yesteryear, spirited character and refreshingly stylish interior.

Desert Grace Twin Rooms

Graceful spaces and gracious hospitality imbue this modern lodge with its elegance of yesteryear, spirited character and refreshingly stylish interior.

Bookings are already open.



Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Kampala Serena Opens Largest Champagne Bar In Uganda

Kampala Serena in Uganda recently revealed phase one of its refurbishment with the completion of 36 additional rooms.

There are 32 deluxe rooms, three business suites and a second presidential suite.

There are also more meeting rooms and an additional executive lounge on the fifth floor.

Kampala Serena unveiled The Pearl of Africa Restaurant’s new Champagne Bar on March 1, which is the first and the largest champagne bar in Uganda.

The bar was opened in partnership with Moët and Chandon after two years of remodelling.

The Champagne Bar offers an in-house Sommelier to pair the longest list of bubbles in East Africa with The Pearl’s gastronomic cuisine.


Tourism Observer

DR CONGO: Congo Airways To Start New Routes

This year will be a watershed year for Congo Airways’ expansion plans, says Desire Balazire, Director General of the airline.

The carrier launches services from Kinshasa to Johannesburg today (February 28), marking its international debut, after initially planning to launch these flights later this year on November 1.

The three weekly flights are operated by an Airbus A320-200, with 10 seats in business class and 150 in economy.

Congo Airways next plans to launch flights to Dubai, its first destination outside Africa.

These flights will be operated by a leased Airbus A330.

Later in the year, two more Airbus A320s will be added to its fleet, which presently comprises two Airbus A320s and two Bombardier Q400s, to support regional expansion.

Other destinations that Congo Airways is eyeing include Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Cotonou (Benin), Douala (Cameroon), Addis Ababa and Nairobi.



Tourism Observer

NAMIBIA: Air Namiibia To Commence Flights To Accra And Lagos, June 2018

Air Namibia will commence its Accra route in June after cancelling it in 2013.

What is different this time around is that we are combining Accra with Lagos.

We also have traffic rights for passengers and cargo for travel between Lagos and Accra using the fifth freedom traffic rights granted by the Ghanaian and Nigerian governments, as contained in the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreements.

This makes it a totally different and much bigger operation than before, says Twakulilwa Kayofa, Corporate Communications Officer of Air Namibia.

Twakulilwa says flying to Accra and Lagos will give passengers a better travel option and reduce travel times between Namibia and West Africa by more than 60%.

We are already receiving positive feedback on the launch of this new route.

The operation fits within our existing capacity in terms of aircraft and crew, thereby improving the utilisation rates of these resources while increasing revenue catchment opportunities, he says.

The schedules for these flights have not yet been released as yet.



Tourism Observer

NAMIBIA: Air Namibia Shunned By Banks

The financial situation at Air Namibia has worsened to the extent that even banks are reluctant to give them loans.

Acting managing director Mandi Samson told the new works minister, John Mutorwa, yesterday during a ­familiarisation visit that their biggest problem was cash flow.

Samson said she was surprised that even their bank and another institution was unable to fund them.

We are looking for financing at other countries such as South Africa, which brings the complication of currency exposure.

It is not ideal but if the entire country says they cannot assist us. We have to look elsewhere.

Samson said the struggling parastatal has been unable to get any funding from within the country as there is lack of trust, and also due to the lack of annual reports.

The issue of financial constraints had been presented to Cabinet committees, and the airline was permitted to borrow funds on the market.

Samson could not say how much money the entity needs or how much progress has been made, apart from that they owe the Namibia Airports Company a large amount.

We have the issue of the Namibia Airports Company, whom we owe more than N$ 250 million, and we believe that with the funds we are looking for, we should be able to pay them something as they also need their cash, she said.

Samson also complained about Eros Airport, which she said had become a problem due to its poor infrastructure, which poses safety concerns to employees and customers.

She also said NAC has thus caused them to restrict their flights to three per day while they want to expand regionally.

According to Samson, the airport also closes at 20h00 for business, and cannot thus be used for emergencies when planes need to be diverted to Eros.

Air Namibia's board chairperson, Gerson Tjihenuna, also said the financial situation would not only affect the future of the airline, but that of 700 workers, as well as 70 000 others within the value chain in which the airline is the primary catalyst.

Tjihenuna said government as the sole shareholder has made commitments to the airline, which he said include N$3 billion to back aircraft leases costs.

The last 18 months or so were confusing as to what government wants regarding Air Namibia.

We understand the concern on millions being paid into the airline in the form of subsidies, which is something board and management are working on tirelessly to reverse.

But strong sentiments conflicting with the reason the airline was established for are being echoed at various senior government levels in the media.

These remarks are quite damaging and negatively affecting the airline's standing in international markets and offshore financiers, he said.

According to Tjihenuna, they are committed to turning the entity's fortunes around with government support when needed, but not through negative remarks through the media.

Tjihenuna said they have already been hoping to meet with the minister to discuss the issue of finances.

Mutorwa took the opportunity to urge Air Namibia to hurry up and publish their annual reports, saying that he would not be able to find funding for them if they cannot account for their finances.

The minister said he abides by the law, which strictly instructs for the submission of the annual reports, which the airline has failed to publish for the past 10 years.

The entity's last annual report was published in the 2003/4 financial year.

I will not compromise on this. It is not negotiable, our accountability is annual, and the books must be tabled.

Chair please, regarding the annual reports, we have to be comfortable when we motivate for funding., he said.

Mutorwa said approaching finance minister Calle Schlettwein and motivating for funding will be difficult if the company cannot account for its books.

We are ruled by law, and the law says annual reports must be submitted. I am not saying give me tomorrow, but I must get it. Within this year. Parliament has three sessions, said Mutorwa.

Samson said they would submit their consolidated annual reports by June this year to the works ministry.

Air Namibia is one of the SOEs heavily dependent on government bailouts to continue operating, having received over N$6 billion since 2000.

According to the 2017/18 national budget, Air Namibia will continue to be a burden on state finances as it has been allocated N$486 million for 2017/18, N$494 million for 2018/19, and N$498 million for 2019/20.



Tourism Observer

CONSERVATION: The Dik Dik

A dik-dik is the name for any of four species of small antelope in the genus Madoqua that live in the bushlands of eastern and southern Africa.

Dik-diks stand about 30–40 centimetres (12–15.5 in) at the shoulder, are 50–70 cm (19.5–27.5 in) long, weigh 3–6 kilograms (6.6–13.2 lb) and can live for up to 10 years.

Dik-diks are named for the alarm calls of the females. In addition to the females' alarm call, both the male and female make a shrill, whistling sound. These calls may alert other animals to predators.

The name dik-dik comes from an onomatopoeia of the repetitive dik sound female dik-diks whistle through their long, tubular snouts when they feel threatened.

Female dik-diks are somewhat larger than males. The males have horns, which are small, about 7.6 centimetres or 3 in, slanted backwards and longitudinally grooved.

The hair on the crown forms an upright tuft that sometimes partially conceals the short, ribbed horns of the male.

The upper body is gray-brown, while the lower parts of the body, including the legs, belly, crest, and flanks, are tan.

A bare black spot below the inside corner of each eye contains a preorbital gland that produces a dark, sticky secretion. Dik-diks insert grass stems and twigs into the gland to scent-mark their territories.

Apparently to prevent overheating, dik-diks have elongated snouts with bellows-like muscles through which blood is pumped.

Airflow and subsequent evaporation cools this blood before it is recirculated to the body. However, this panting is only implemented in extreme conditions; dik-diks can tolerate air temperatures of up to 40 °C (104 °F).

Dik-diks live in shrublands and savannas of eastern Africa. Dik-diks seek habitats with a plentiful supply of edible plants such as shrubs.

Dik-diks may live in places as varied as dense forest or open plain, but they require good cover and not too much tall grass.

They usually live in pairs in territories of about 5 hectares (12 acres). The territories are often in low, shrubby bushes sometimes along dry, rocky streambeds with plenty of cover.

Dik-diks, with their dusty colored coat, are able to blend in with their surroundings.

Dik-diks have an established series of runways through and around the borders of their territories that are used when they feel threatened.

Dik-diks are herbivores. Their diet mainly consists of foliage, shoots, fruit and berries, but little or no grass. They receive sufficient amounts of water from their food, which makes drinking unnecessary.

Like all even-toed ungulates, they digest their food with the aid of micro-organisms in their four-chambered stomachs.

After initial digestion, the food is repeatedly eructated and rechewed, a process known also as rumination, or chewing the cud.

Dik-diks' tapering heads may help them eat the leaves between the spines on the acacia trees, and feed while still keeping their head high to detect predators.

Dik-diks are monogamous, and conflicts between territorial neighbors are rare. When they occur, the males from each territory dash at each other, stop short, vigorously nod their heads and turn around.

They will repeat this process, increasing the distance each time until one stops. Males mark their territories with dung piles, and cover the females' dung with their own.

Monogamy in dik-diks may be an evolutionary response to predation; surrounded by predators, it is dangerous to explore, looking for new partners.

Pairs spend about 64% of their time together. Males, but not females, will attempt to obtain extra-pair mating when the opportunity arises.

Females are sexually mature at six months and males at 12 months. The female gestates for 169 to 174 days and bears a single offspring.

This happens up to twice a year at the start and finish of the rainy season. Unlike other ruminants, the dik-dik is born with its forelegs laid back alongside its body, instead of them being stretched forward.

Females weigh about 560 to 680 g (1.23 to 1.50 lb) at birth, while males weigh 725 to 795 g (1.598 to 1.753 lb).

The mother lactates for six weeks, feeding her fawn for no longer than a few minutes at a time. The survival rate for young dik-diks is 50%.

The young stay concealed for a time after birth, but grow quickly and reach full size by seven months. At that age, the young are forced to leave their parents' territory.

The fathers run the sons off the territory and the mothers run off the daughters.

Dik-diks are hunted primarily by leopards, caracals, lions, hyenas, wild dogs and humans.

Other predators include monitor lizards, cheetahs, jackals, baboons, eagles, hawks and pythons.

Dik-diks' adaptations to predation include excellent eyesight and the ability to reach speeds up to 42 km/h (26 mph).

People are the dik-diks’ biggest threat and have long hunted them, setting snares along their paths.

Small bones from their legs and feet are used in traditional jewelry. Their skins are often made into suede for gloves.

With the strategic support of African Wildlife Foundation, the Entonet/Elerai Masaai community opened Satao Elerai, a luxury lodge situated on 5,000 acres of land in Southern Kenya.

Revenue from the lodge is reinvested into supporting the community and conserving wildlife such as the dik-dik.

Dikdiks need you.

With your help, AWF can work on projects like supporting conservation businesses in places where dikdiks live as well as helping park rangers and wardens with technology to monitor parks and keep the dikdiks safe from poachers.

Donate for a cause that will help with wildlife conservation and ensure dikdiks never become an endangered species.



Tourism Observer

TANZANIA: Sakila Sunrise Lodge Arusha Will Be Operational In April

Jambo Tourism Observer,

I’m happy to know your publication. Hongera...it’s very impressive and I would be honored if Sakila Sunrise were featured.

We are a unique project in Tanzania. According to Responsible Tourism Tanzania, Sakila Sunrise is the first fully sustainable lodge developed here.

I thank my brilliant, young Spanish architect Jaime Espinosa for designing a lodge that recognizes the importance of sustainability, especially as we border the forest reserve of Mount Meru where maintaining the natural beauty of the environment is of upmost importance.

The gently sloping site overlooks the Rift Valley with 180 degree view as far as the eye can see, from the Tanzanite mines to the Usambara mountains to Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro.

Behind us is majestic Meru.

Our objective has been to use locally sourced materials in construction, especially bamboo.

Jaime, a bamboo ambassador for the World Bamboo Organization, is passionate about the importance of bamboo in our eco conscious building practices.

Sakila Sunrise was designed to be an intimate lodge with guest capacity limited to 12 adults and 2 children.

However, we provide all the services of a luxury lodge.

When I fell in love with Tanzania in 2010, I knew I would do something interesting here.

Sakila Sunrise Lodge is the result of my passion for the country and its people; a chance to develop something unique, at the same time supporting the local community economically.

The site itself, which I purchased in 2012, dictated the project. Bordering the Mount Meru game reserve, with a 180 degree view over the Rift Valley as far as the eye can see including Mount Kilimanjaro.

Building ecologically and self-sustainably using environmentally friendly materials was the philosophy from day one, as well as providing our guests all the comforts of a small, luxury boutique lodge, at an affordable price.

Even a relatively “small” project is complicated, more so when building sustainably.

At Sakila Sunrise we harvest rain water that we collect and store.

The wetlands surrounding the swimming pool clean the grey water for use in our extensive gardens.

Solar panels provide all of our power for your hot showers, the laundry, and of course wifi and chargers and general electrical needs. All for a maximum guest capacity of 14.

During the next two months I will be posting updated photos before we open at the start of 2018!

The lodge consists of:

- 5 guest bungalows (sleeping 2 each)

- The Director’s Studio sleeping up to 4; perfect for families or longer stays and includes a utility kitchen.

- The Common Area provides full restaurant and bar service.

- The infinity dipping pool includes a large deck overlooking the valley.

- The outside lounge with relaxation around the open fire.

- A barbecue area.

- Large vegetable and fruit gardens.

- Support areas like laundry and sleeping facilities for your safari guides and drivers.

Located above Usa River, this particularly beautiful area is only 30 minutes from Kilimanjaro airport, and with the recently improved highway, only 15-20 minutes from Arusha.

The entrance to Arusha National Park and trailhead for Mount Meru climb are only minutes away, as is the Usa River market, and of course, you’ll want to fit into your schedule a walking safari in the adjacent forest and game reserve.

My staff and I welcome you warmly.

Our official grand opening will be at Kili Fair (June 1-3), but the lodge will be operational in April. Karibuni!

Please visit our website: sakilasunrise.com. I also post updated photos on my private Facebook page (Hjordis Fammestad).

Please don’t hesitate to contact me at +255752539937.

Sincerely,

Hjordis (Mama Sakila)
Sakila Sunrise Lodge
ARUSHA
TANZANIA