No image available
/ 4 February 2004
"Fishing isn’t my forte. I reminded myself of this as I tugged helplessly on the rod, trying to dislodge my hook that, during a somewhat wayward attempt at casting, had embedded itself into a low-slung jackalberry tree". A little piece of Portuguese-style heaven lured Sharon van Wyk down to Hazyview.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
"When I wrapped up the first instalment of the Five Rivers Safari it was at the end of November on the hot, dusty plains of Kwando Lebala in the far north of Botswana". Sharon van Wyk winds up her adventure in style with visits to Zambia and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
"It wasn’t the best way to start a road trip. Somewhere on the Canterbury Plains, about two hours west of Christchurch, my car was ambushed by sheep." Despite an unconventional start, Oliver Berry wasn’t put off discovering the land of
the <i>Lord of the Rings</i>.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
The security of patrons at Australia’s thousands of bars and nightclubs — one of its major tourist drawcards –has been called into question after the death on January 19 of Australian international cricket player and commentator David Hookes.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
For those who navigate the chaotic streets of Nigeria’s commercial centre, Lagos, it can seem that the city was designed to test the patience of commuters. Now, traffic authorities are striking back at irresponsible drivers who drive against the flow of traffic — by making them go for psychiatric tests.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
"Who said apartheid was wrong, it was evil, it was a heresy, and it must die?"
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
Meseret, from the Lalibela district in northern Ethiopia, was only 13 when she became pregnant. Married at 12, her underdeveloped body was not ready for the stress of giving birth. After six days of gruelling labour her child was finally born, but it was dead. As a result of the long labour, Meseret suffered crippling injuries – including the ripping of internal tissue.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
Despite last-minute amendments to the Communal Land Rights Bill, the legislation still discriminates against rural women, say land and women’ rights activists. Single women are particularly prejudiced by the Bill, whose latest incarnation was adopted by Parliament’s agriculture and land affairs committee last week.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
More red flags are going up over genetically modified (GM) foods flooding the African market without the necessary collective bio-safety precautions or technological capacity being in place. A genetically modified seed giant views developing countries as prime targets. South Africa is a net importer of wheat and had to import 1,2-million tonnes of the grain last year.
No image available
/ 4 February 2004
While African culture may venerate the aged, the continent’s pensioners don’t always find themselves living out a peaceful retirement. This is nowhere more true than in Nigeria, where the collapse of pension schemes has pushed many former civil servants into poverty.