Pictures
This is a selection of photos, slides and happy snappies taken over a number of years around southern Africa. The selection is called "Scrapbook" because the pictures were not taken for any other reason than to have a few mementos of trips here and there.

To make a site like this with enough pictures to provide a good representation of the areas visited requires more thought and care when taking the pictures. However, the subject matter of the existing pictures versus the completeness of the wished-for pictures, still allowed something reasonable to be put together.

Not all of the pictures are mine; the photographer of the remaining pictures has allowed them to be used marked as copyrighted. All of the pictures are the copyright of their owners, and should not be used without permission.

The pictures were scanned from slides and old photos, of different sizes and ages. An attempt was made to correct color casts and faded edges. Some of the scanned slides had a red cast and others a cyan. PhotoShop was used to attempt to neutral balance the colours. Because of the condition of some of the older prints, the shadow detail did not scan very well - most had a dark red cast, as in the pictures of the animals outside Johannesburg - probably should be scanned from negatives.

Status
This was put together (scanning, cutting, pasting, retouching, text composing and site construction) evenings and weekends during the last part of February and the month of March, 2001. Time constraints limited the effort. Many of the notes and commentaries on each page have been guided by a few of the many questions asked about southern Africa. First release date: Mar 31, 2001.

Dedication
This site is "dedicated" to all those people with whom various trips and outings were shared. The trips were mostly done by roughing it - the best and most interesting way.

It is also a dedication to Africa. Many notes in the site touch on the negative impact of the arrival of European settlers in the country some 200-300 years ago. It is heartening to learn about attempts to halt and many times reverse the damage. A sense of gratitude and thankfulness is felt when such stories are heard or read. Hopefully succeeding generations will be able to experience what was an unbelievable privilege and blessing.

The Old Man Said…

The old man said: "Now tell me please,
all you have done, my boy,
to help save animals and trees,
for people to enjoy."

The young man, settling in his chair,
then started to expound
on species which are now so rare,
they're scarcely to be found.

He said "They need protecting"
and he then went on to mention
that trade in all such beasts is banned
because of a Convention.

"And furthermore" the young man said,
"Endangered species, look,
are now all listed in this Red
(For Danger) Data Book."

He spoke of all of the national parks,
now scattered round the planet,
"A splendid movement - full marks
to those who first began it."

From there he then went on to touch
on "re-afforestation"
and even greater mysteries such
as "process conservation".

"Speak up! Speak up! The old man yelled,
"I cannot hear you now -
the sound of forests being felled
is making such a row. "

"On top of that the anguished bleat
of creatures being slain -
I wonder if you could repeat
your story once again."

The young man sadly shook his head
"It is an ugly din -
I'm only 30, though", he said
"I've faith we can still win."

"I know the situation's grave-
I've known it since birth -
but still it does take time to save
a big thing like the Earth."

from an IUCN Bulletin, and printed in African Wildlife, Volume 33, No. 1

Hopefully for all children to appreciate.