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I have a childhood memory of a troop of baboons, waiting among nearby rocks on a sun baked kopje, taking notice of nearby humans and watching and waiting until they saw a weakness and finally moving in for the kill, barking, grabbing, ripping livid flesh with long sharp canines, howling like wolves. And for the longest time I thought that memory was a scene from a movie called Flight of the Phoenix . But it turns out it was a scene from a movie that showed up on my doorstep this morning. And some time between that childhood memory forming and the DVD's delivery I actually went to the southwestern desert of Africa, straddling the border of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, and the baboons did indeed have their way with me. But it wasn't as bad as it was in the movie; In fact it was a rather fun adventure .
, and that would have been in 1964. Then, the next summer (we did not see a lot of movies back in those days, what with all the trouble hitching up the horses to the wagon to go into town and all) my two sisters, BJ and Bunny got stuck with me (the baby of the family) and we all went down to see the new Gidget movie, which had just come out. But when we got to the Palace Theater, the lines were around the block and it was obvious that even if we stood in the line we would never get tickets to the showing of this blockbuster film to end all films. So we walked a few blocks to the other movie theater that existed in Downtown Albany in those days (anyone remember its name?) to see whatever film happened to be playing there. And it was the Flight of the Phoenix.This was, as it turns out, to be the first adult film (as in not a kid's film) that I was to see, and I only remember fleeting bits of the original. And one of my memories of the film is the final scene when one of the protagonists is killed and eaten by a troop of baboons. From the sun baked kopje. But very recently I learned that I had confused Phoenix to see what memory it might spark and was surprised to find that it was not available as a DVD. I had assumed, incorrectly as it turns out, that all movies had been converted into DVD. All the good ones, anyway. Even more surprising was that the studio had plans to put the film on DVD and it would be out in a few months.
So I pre-ordered it, and now, I'm the first kid on the block to have a copy of Sands of the Kalahari !
I'll review the movie for you another time. As an Africanist with an interest in US and Western conceptions of Africa, I make it a point to watch movies about or set in Africa, no matter how painful that may sometimes be. For now, I thought I'd take the opportunity to show you a few photographs of the region, where I've spent a bit of time and done a bit of poking around , otherwise known as "research.
Orange River Africa - News
POWERED UP: The mini solar park on a farm near Groblershoop in the Nothern Cape, where Orange River grape farmer Stephan van Zyl will benefit by using the electricity to pump water. Picture: Supplied The country's first mini-solar park has been
The ridge in the distance is the approximate border of Namibia, the photograph is taken from a point in South Africa. The Orange River flows from right to left, in a deep canyon and out of sight. Yeah. That is a little like calling one of the world's
Not to fight about it, but to bring it to your public's attention that there is a small, but growing village on the banks of the Orange River that has not succumbed to the ANC's hegemony over South Africa, neither to the demographic death dance of
Current production of some 2500 carats of large gem quality diamonds per month is derived from two operations, the Holpan/Klipdam mine located in the Northern Cape, and the Saxendrift mine in the Middle Orange River are of the Northern Cape Province.
Most of the diamonds that Rockwell recovers from the Middle Orange River have been swept down over the years from Lesotho, where Gem Diamond's Letseng operation is currently the world's largest producer of type-two diamonds, but poised to be overtaken
Smallmouth Yellowfish on fly in the Orange river, South Africa by ...
Www.catfishjoeproductions.com The most amazing river in South Africa and possibly on the continent, The Orange River, home to many amazing species and strong fish. Many species of Yellowfish, Shaprtooth Catfish, Orange River Mudfish and more. One of the most amazing fly fishing experiences in the world. Also home to monster Catfish where Catfish Joe shows us how it is done. Watch this quiet piece of land where we fished at. See website for more details. A Catfishjoe Production.
Ikoli Harcourt Whyte (1905-1977) Background “My name is Ikoli Harcourt-Whyte. I am an Igbo speaking native of Abennema in Port Harcourt. I was born in 1905. My parents sent me to school, but when I was fourteen years old, I developed signs of leprosy and a mission hospital later confirmed the disease. “I was frightened because, according to the custom in those days, I would be sent to the Uzuakoli Leprosy Hospital where people with leprosy were isolated from others. The Methodist Mission operated the hospital. It had white missionary doctors and nurses from Methodist Church and further support came from the Nigerian government. Leprosy “Leprosy isolated me into a place where I would see no other books but religious. I read and re-read the Bible and other religious books. Those books transformed me. Instead of feeling bitter that all was lost, I discovered that all things work together for good to them that love God (Roman 8:28). Music “I had always loved music, but the songs I sang were the folk songs of the Igbo people. At Uzuakoli, I heard for the first time gospel hymns in Sankey’s Sacred Songs and Solos. In addition to the “Words-only Edition” used by patients who attended the chapel, the missionaries allowed me to see the “Music Edition”. “Some of the missionaries had copies of the British hymnbook, Hymns for Divine Worship, which had been issued in 1889, also allowed me to see that hymnal.
I am 100.008% full. Water resources management in Southern Africa
I am 100.008% full. Water resources management in Southern Africa
I am 100.094% full. Water resources management in Southern Africa 
Diamonds and Death: Diamonds and Death on the Orange River, South Africa
Diamonds and Death: Diamonds and Death on the Orange River, South Africa Orange River Africa - Bookshelf
The Times history of the war in South Africa, 1899-1902
itself, when it subsequently came to take over the Orange River territory, soon found itself obliged to make short work of the pretensions of its protSges. ...South Africa, report of the Commission, with Annexures and Appendices A[-E].
ORANGE RIVER COLONY. 25. The settlement of this Colony by Europeans was brought about by the Great Boer Trek of 1836 from the Cape Colony. ...All about South Africa
Our Rivers The Orange River is South Africa's largest river and drains almost half the country. It rises in Lesotho's Maluti Mountains and, after flowing ...The tour of Africa, Containing a concise account of all the countries in that quarter of the globe, hitherto visited by Europeans; with the manners and customs of the inhabitants
RETURN TO THE ORANGE RIVER, AND THE CAFE. HAVING taken leave of the King of the ... the most civilized and ingenious people I had seen in Southern Africa. ...Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa
Amongst those so escaping the battle of the boulders were the " Star of South Africa," and the pioneer stone picked up in the gravels of the Orange River, ...Helpful News Directory
Felix Unite :: Orange River Africa :: orangeriverafrica.com
... from the gentle flow of the Orange River, the Cabanas are cozy huts combining beautiful simple luxury with privacy and serenity. ...
Orange River (South Africa)
Sunset over the Orange River near Upington in the Northern Cape ... The Orange River (Gariep River, Groote River, or Senqu River) is the longest river in South Africa. ...
Orange River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The course and watershed of the Orange River. This map shows a conservative border for ... The river then runs westwards through South Africa, forming the south ...
Orange River Rafting - River Rafting Tours on the Orange ...
Orange River Rafting Adventure. Join umkulu on an Orange River Rafting Tour on the Orange River.
Felix Unite :: Orange River Africa :: orangeriverafrica.com
This, the greatest of all South Africa's rivers, rises in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho, ... These latter two rivers are the only perennial rivers to flow into the Orange. ...