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FUTURE South Africa

7/16/2014

This is South Africa, come and enjoy the future with us.

2014 National Election, My vote went to the political party which had education heading their list of priorities and the largest portion of expenditure devoted to Education.

On multiple occasions clients have said to me whilst on tour, "Andrew, you live in Gods own country", No better accolade.

Visit this amazing country, be part and be positive for this beautiful country.

Through Education Lies a Great Future.

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Rhino Straits

11/20/2012

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Rhino will soon to be called a "Nhono".

A "crash of Rhinoceros" is an aptly termed collective noun which has more meaning to the state of all Rhino species left in the world than its actual grammatical intention.

There is great concern from the South African Tourism sector along with all Citizens of the country, witnessing one of South Africa's Big 5 wild animals rapidly being decimated by poachers at an alarming and catastrophic rate supplying Rhino horn to Far East markets mainly Vietnam and of major moral concern in the trade, fellow to South Africa in the BRICS group of Nations, China.

It is estimated that 80% of the existing wild Rhino populations occur in Southern Africa with large proportions of the figures emanating from the World renown Kruger National Park and the Madikwe Reserve region of the North West Province where only this week saw the gruesome massacre of 10 adult Rhino, bringing annual totals of deaths to record amounts of over 530 gruesome Rhino deaths Country-wide.

Local poaching syndicates are well organised and in some circumstances highly trained with evidence implicating Veterinarians, Professional hunters and even Conservation Authorities, along with the less sophisticated but as harmful cross border raiding poachers from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They are all driven by greed as Rhino Horn can fetch up to $65 000per/Kg on the black market and with many arrests but with more bail payments or cases being thrown out of the courts than convictions and with no steadfast plan of action, the Rhinoceros population is under extreme threat.

Rhino Horn in the Far East and Asia is valued in many ludicrous and mythical manners including status and remedy to various ailments even though it has been proven scientifically with Pharmaceutical studies commissioned by the WWF, performed by Hoffman-La Roche and backed up in later years by the Zoological Society of London that Rhino horn which has a makeup of Keratin similar to finger nails or hair, has absolutely no medicinal values. When the Studies were first complete in 1983 the Black Rhino population was at 15 000 and even with hard evidence, in 1993 the Black Rhino numbered 2300.

This is not a stand alone problem for South Africa. Irrespective of which country you live in around our globe, if you wish to be able to view this wonderful creature in the wild and more importantly if you wish to have your children and generations after that enjoying Rhinoceros in their natural habitat, then the citizens of the whole world need to stand up and let voices and actions be heard and felt too. It is most interesting to hear people talking about travel and holidays to Vietnam but do you ever hear them remarking about the Rhino they have seen there? No, because they have already murdered their own population and it’s estimated that only 6 Vietnamese Javan specie Rhino’s still exist.

For more infomation and ways for you to help stop the slaughter and prevent the complete extinction of the worlds Rhino population view the following websites.
www.savingrhinos.org and www.rhinoconservation.org

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An Interesting Glance of South Africa

11/19/2012

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Statistics released in November 2012 have the population at 51,8million. Up from 47,0million in 1994 when first President, Nelson Mandela, lead the Country into Democracy.

South Africa has the 3rd highest biodiversity in the world.

South Africa's home to 80% of the worlds Rhinoceros population, 448 Rhino's were grimly slaughtered by poachers supplying the illegal Rhino Horn trade destined mainly for China and Vietnam. As of November, 549 Rhino’s have savagely succumbed to this barbaric trade.

Geographically consists of Mountains, escarpments, plateaus, bush, grasslands, wetlands, sub-tropical and semi desert in one country.

Incredible 900 bird species.

Tugela Waterfall in Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Drakensberg Mountains is the 2nd highest in the world at 850m.

The world has 6 Floral Kingdoms of which the Cape Floral kingdom, the smallest and the only one within the borders of a single country is also the richest in terms of amount of species. Approximately 35 % of the 9000 species are endemic to the Cape Floral kingdom.

South Africa ranks 25th, in the world, in terms of area within its sovereign borders at 1,295000mil/sq Km.

The CAT scan, the scanner which takes 3D X-rays of the human body and detects diseased tissue was co-invented by South African physicist, Dr Allan Cormack.

Pratley Putty, the fix all putty was invented by George Pratley of Johannesburg.

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Anti-Fracking in the Ancient Karoo Region of South Africa

10/10/2012

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Mystical ancient Karoo.

From a Tourism viewpoint, this is the start of an on-going campaign of a series of blogs which will aim to oppose Fracking or the Hydraulic Fracturing Exploration of Shale Gas which foreign based Royal Dutch Shell, Bundu Australia and Falcon USA wish to exploit in the Greater Karoo Region of South Africa.

GPS Tours supports the efforts of the Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) who are leading the campaign against the inevitable destruction of this pristine region of South Africa. For up-to-date information visit www.treasurethekaroo.co.za

A few teasers to think about.

1.    The Ravine Rabbit (Bunolagus Monticularis) on the brink of extinction.

2.    The Leopard is the only true free roaming Big 5 animal group which survives in the Karoo.

3.    Most Porto-Mammalian Fossils in the world found in the Karoo.

4.    Best Fossils of the early Dinosaurs found in the Karoo.

5.    Five specie of Tortoise, most in any conservation area in world.

6.    Black Eagle demise.

7.    Most area’s in the Karoo average less than 250mm p/a of rain.

8.    Most water is derived from ground water aquifers.

9.    Richest Desert flora in the world with 9000 species

10.   Largest variety of Succulent Flora found worldwide.

11.   Geologically 260 million years old.

12    Heritage collapse.

Look out for more posts on this critical subject in the weeks to come.

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FUTURE South Africa

Rhino Straits

An Interesting Glance of South Africa

Anti-Fracking in the Ancient Karoo Region of South Africa

About GPS South Africa

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