"In case anyone is overcome with guilt: two people driving transafrica in a diesel car will burn less fuel per person than if they flew in a fully-seated 737."

I meet two hardcore environmentalists from South Africa in Morocco that I liked and respected. We travelled together for a few weeks and they said basically they same thing taking into account there were more people on their plane than in my landy.

Their year long trip through Africa, including 5 flights (two because of Malaria) was far worse than my 27,000km trip over 6 months in my landy.

Us humans are a virus on the planet and the sooner we eradicate ourselves the better. Or perhaps we should just slow our destruction down as much as possible... ;-)


[This message has been edited by dj@roamingyak.org (edited 19 August 2005).]

Part 2 of that BBC doc is online now - about 22 mins:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ve/4138200.stm
(click top right)

It's set mostly in Kidal (far north Mali) where one hears they are trying to suppress the age-old smuggling trade - that will go down well on a town which gets 90% of its stuff from Alg. It has to be said that the chilling callous last word by the US Senegal ambassador at the very end achieves the producer's desired effect...

But in my opinion desert tourism is a privilege, not a right - our desert playground is a place where poor people live, oppressed by their governments who themselves are manipulated by superpowers. We should not complain too much.

If travel to some areas becomes restricted, that's the way it’s been across Africa for years, tourism and trade finds a way through, just as the Atlantic route developed when Algeria closed up in the 1990s.

Or tourists find another way to travel in places where unguided roaming is no longer possible, using local guides and/or their vehicles. I say again, it is a big desert and - among other things – is only restricted by your imagination. My interest has always been in the wilderness, not so much how I get there or get around. I am lining up a great private trip in Alg this winter - free of vehicle prep and all that goes with it. We'll be able to sit back, get fed and enjoy the desert for what it is - an amazing place!

Since I first got into the Sahara, Mauritania, Libya and the Gilf have all opened up.
Lately some places have become restricted for overlanders (Alg, Lib), or remain relatively unappealing (Tun, north Mali) or remain unsafe just like they always were (Tibesti), or have the potential to become unsafe by US-led activities (Sahara!) - but we are in a kind of 3rd world war after all so enjoy it while you can!

Ch

Any kind souls out there who can mail me a copy? B band virtually unknown in South Africa.
Would apprecialte it
Jim

3 Bamboo Lane
Hout Bay
7806
South Africa

Thanks to whoever the kind soul is who mailed me a copy! Cant make out who you are, but thanks!
Jim

The Old Adage
"Africa is not for wussies" still stands. Being a pale skinned african I always was filled with wonder thinking what an exciting age of exploration my grandfather and his father lived and explored through. Visions of my father tracking a wounded buffalo for days on septic feet with unceasing diahrea humbles me to the very core. These visions of a fronteer lifestyle of danger and adventure are still strong in todays Africa.
It seems a strange irony that political manipulation, natural disaster and war are required to maintain africa as dangerously beautiful as it always has been.Just as farm land needs to lie fallow to regain it's fertility parts of africa rid themself of unwanted guests for a few years crucial years before again becoming anglicised.

Just a thought.