Up Close and Personal

Aircraft coming in to land at Khartoum airport (Photo taken with my Sony Cybershot from our moving vehicle)

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Cobwebs at Dawn

I took this photo at sunrise on the last day of 2009. I had taken the dogs down to the golf course, near our home in South Africa, as an early morning treat. The bonus was that I was treated to the most awesome sunrise and other photo opportunities as well

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Slow Awakening

The soft light of daybreak over sleepy Omdurman

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Tranquility

This is the scene of the golf course dam which a week ago was a mere puddle. We have had wonderful rains in the Free State this summer, which is good for the farmers and gardeners alike!

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Top of the Ladder

This photo of the "little" 'Berg (as the foothills of the Drakensberg are known) is taken from the top of Jacob's Ladder. My son, John took this photo a few months ago while hiking in the 'Berg.

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High Up

Above sign denotes the highest drivable pass in Africa. Tlaaeng Pass is at the top of the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho. Last weekend my husband and John did a bike trip over the mountains into Kwa Zulu Natal. John took many amazing photos which I will publish and blog about later on in the month.

Photo credit: John Hedges

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Pastoral Scene

I came across this scene in a field just beyond our home. I stopped to watch if the foal would be allowed to suckle and of course, had my camera ready.
You can see by the foal's tail in the photo above, that he's managed to connect to the milk bar!
He was just beginning to enjoy his treat, when suddenly momma noticed me at the fence.
Notice her stance showing that she was starting to move to the side.

Just like a mother, she took up a protective stance, placing her young on the offside and guiding him away from "danger"

And there they go into the distance...

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A Different Ride

Above is a glimpse of the pass we travelled yesterday on our bike ride into Lesotho. More about this interesting and invigorating ride later.

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A Different View of the River Nile

Last week while driving back home from the city centre, we were caught up in the worst traffic jam I have ever experienced. (I'll post about it when I'm back in North Africa) We had to take a different route back to the flat. This was the first time I'd been across this bridge so I snuck a photo, taken through the vehicle window, of the river from this angle. (Images of structures, etc are not encouraged in this city)

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Man, Machine and North African Sky

Earlier this week I posted about my husband fixing, among other things, the air-conditioning unit in our flat. You can read about this here. Ever the helpful wife, I took a few photos while he did the job.

Downloading the photos, I was amazed to see how clear and blue the sky was.

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Barges on the Nile

Some of the barges on the Nile River, Khartoum

The Nile, at 6,671kms/10,587 miles, is the longest river in the world. Its headwaters, the White Nile and the Blue Nile join in Khartoum, Sudan to form the Nile that flows to Egypt. Ten countries share the Nile but about 60% of its length lies in Sudan, while 70% of Sudan is situated within the Nile River catchments.

River Transport Corporation (RTC) is the biggest barge operator in the Sudan. It is a public enterprise which operates on the river Nile while private operators undertake tributory coverage. Operators offer a range of facilities and services that include pusher tugs, general cargo, flat deck, oil fleet and self-propelled barges. This provides a cost effective logistics delivery option to Sudan's central and southern locations.

RTC is the only passenger barge operator with two passenger boats with a capacity of 244 beds. Visit the Barges of Sudan website here for more information on these vessels.

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Tea in Tanzania! I wish...

I took this photo as we flew over friend and fellow-blogger, Lynda's farm

Flying from Johannesburg in South Africa to the Sudan in North Africa, the airlines seem to "hug" the eastern part of the continent. We flew over airspace of South Africa's neighbour, Zimbabwe, then Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya to the first stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Around 18h30 local time we flew over the Kilimanjaro region and friend and fellow blogger, Lynda's home. I took the above photo at that time. When I mailed her after my arrival in Khartoum, she said, "You should have dropped in for a cuppa" I wish...

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The View from the Top

This is the view from the mountain at the back of the mining camp, Base Vie where we lived in Guinea

Beautiful African bushveld at its best

Moosa and I stand on the edge overlooking the African bush. The small silver spot (to the right of the tree trunk) is one of the houses in the camp.

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Life on the Niger River

Last week I posted a scene of the moon rising over the Niger river in Mali, West Africa. You can read all about it here. Today I have another scene of the Niger river; one of fishermen on this vast river.

I took these photos from the hotel veranda in mid-October 2004. We were on our way home on leave. It's fascinating how the warmth of the sunrise in the first photo is totally different from the cold light over the fishermen in the middle of the river in the second.

Thanks to the team from Scenic Sunday for this wonderful meme. For more scenes around the world, click here.

Moonrise over the Niger River

Continuing with my West African posts in the various memes, I found these photos which I took while overnighting in Bamako, Mali. We were on our way out on break, which is the term mining expats use when going out on leave. Our hotel overlapped the Niger river; I took these photos from the verander where we were served meals and refreshments.

African tranquility at its best

The Niger is the third longest river in Africa, stretching over 2 500 miles /4 000 km in a great arc that extends northward. Originating in the Fouta Djallon highlands in Guinea, the Niger river flows through four West African countries; 1 100 mile/1 700km of the river flows through Mali.

It turns back toward the south and makes its way through Niger and Nigeria to empty into the Gulf of Guinea. Mali sits at the northern apex of the curve, where the river splits into a vast 12 500 miles/20 000km inland delta before reforming itself to return southward. The Niger is of vital importance in Mali, providing irrigation for agriculture and serving as a major transportation artery. For a country that is so arid the Niger literally brings life to some of Mali's interior, with fruit and vegetables cultivated all along its banks.

The freshwater fish the river provides, especially in the Niger inland delta, provides food and a source of income for thousands of Malians.

For visitors to the country, the Niger offers a magnificent and leisurely means of travel and touring. During the high water months (between August and November), large river boats ply the river, traversing more than half of the country over a period of six or seven days. Smaller and slower vessels also offer river passage, including pirogues, Mali's small traditional canoes, and pinasses, slightly larger and motorized boats.

The moon rises over the Niger river which flows through the Malian capital of Bamako. 400km / 250 miles up -river is the legendary, but very real city, Timbuktu

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A Formidable Lady Refected

Cathkin Peak looms up on the left of the photo
The same peak reflected

The huge mountain silhouetted in the background, is indeed a formidable lady. You can read about her in my post here.

I took this photo from the church we attend when visiting John and Debbie in the Drakensberg.

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Winter Beauty

Last month my husband and I travelled through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park (here) on our way home from Kwa Zulu Natal. I took these photos when we stopped for refreshments at the National Parks Board shop.

The cypress trees, prolific in the Free State and prettier when green, formed a screen against the mountain known as Mushroom Rock. To me this has a special kind of beauty in the winter.

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Reflection...or illusion?

Above is a holiday resort in the Drakensberg. I took this photo last month from the little church in which my children dedicated their children. You can read about this here.

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Snow on the Malutis

A crisp, clear winter morning simply begged us to ride out into the mountains

Last Saturday morning my husband and I set off on our motorbike. We hadn't had a ride this holiday so we decided to do a quick run to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. You can read about one of our previous trips here.

All bikers will know that when you ride out, you choose a road with "twisties" (turns and winding corners) and long sweeping mountain passes. All South African bikers will know that, in this country, you opt for the road with the least pot-holes! The route we took here, fitted all our requirements.

34 kms/ 22 miles from home we turned east and within minutes the air was even colder than before. In the distance to the right of us, lay the Maluti Mountains. They were white with snow.

The Maluti Mountains form the border between Lesotho and South Africa.

My husband, who is used to North African heat, claps his hands together for warmth

Even though we always expect the cold in winter, it still comes as a shock when we experience it. The temperatures in general had been below zero (well, -1°C ; give a warmblooded South African a break!) but on this day, I'm sure it had dipped to minus ten! Although we're always dressed for biking (i.e. safety first and warmth a close second), we still felt the extreme cold. When my husband stopped for me to take photos and for us to thaw (his words!) I had to warm my thrice-gloved hands on the exhaust before I could risk taking my camera out of its bag.

By Northern Hemisphere standards, this doesn't seem like extreme weather. But for warm-blooded Africans, this is C - O - L - D!

The Maluti Mountains in the distance covered with snow for the first time this winter

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Poplar Trees and a Dam along the Route

All along the road when you travel in the Eastern Free State, you will come across peaceful and idyllic scenes. A few weeks ago I took my littlest and oldest dog, Megan, to be clipped in Ladybrand while I did my monthly grocery shopping. On the way back, she and I stopped and admired the view. This was what we came up with. (Of course I always have my camera handy...)

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