It is my first time in Africa and I am glad to be here in the Sahara! I am visiting Niamey, Niger (14 Degrees North, 2 Degrees East) while I am here and am glad to be! The people were quite a culture shock at first with their large, colorful, interesting clothing and their horse and camel racing, but once I got more comfortable they were really nice and grateful to have me there. I went to the Niger river and watched people practice some prayers. I had trouble with communication and speaking french because it has been quite a while since I have needed to communicate in french. I do, however, understand quite a bit of Islam, Niger's main religion, because of my recent travels to western Asia. In the northern part of Africa, the landscape is flat and full of sand. (I am in the largest desert in the world after all). There are occasional hot winds that make you feel like you are in a giant oven, but so far I haven't encountered a large sand storm. I also met a man who, from what I understood, gave me a little information on some recent events in Niger. He told me that Niger banned slavery in 2003, but it still goes on illegally. He also told me that they had a president named Tandja who tried to change the constitution to gain even more power, but he was ousted in 2010. Well, it is time I get out of this hot, dry land and travel to the Congo basin!

My journey continues and I am headed to Kampala, Uganda. It is located at 1 Degree North and 33 Degrees East. I visited the Ruwenzori Mountains and the Nile River. The hilly landscape soon transforms into mountains which cascade into rain forests. The people speak mostly English and Luganda, their main languages. I was headed to the market and went to buy some water, and, i assumed they either spoke English or Luganda. They actually spoke a similar, tribal language. I then realized that there were multiple tribal languages along with the other two. Much like the languages, their are multiple religions. They have many endangered animal parks that contain the rarest animals on earth. Deforestation is hurting the Bambuti and Batwa tribes. Recently, in 2000, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya form the East African community and pledge cooperation. There is currently an argument over cutting down the Mabira rainforest between the president and locals. I am happy to have traveled to the congo basin and am now headed to the desert. 

    After my visit to Uganda, I decided to go to South Africa. While there I had to decide which capital city to go to, and ended up in Cape Town. This is the legislative capital. There is also Bloemfontein, Judicial, and Pretoris, Executive. Along with going to cape Town, I traveled to the Orange River and the Drakensberg Mountains. I wanted to go see the Vaal River as well, but ran out of time. I Took a safari and saw many animal munching on the grassy plain. It was very difficult tokk communicate with others as there are eleven official languages and many other tribal ones too. I managed to make it though. Much like their languages, there are multiple reiligions as well. Did you kniow that South Africa is nick named "The Rainbow Nation" because it contains more than 30 ethnic groups. South Amerca also exports more than 20 kinds of grapes. It was hard to travel to some parts of the country though, because more than half the citizens live in poverty and about six million are living with HIV/AIDS. I spoke to my tour guide on the safari who told me how multiple "Peace Parks" have opened since the early 2000s, and they help migrating animals roam between countries. They also promote peace between neighboring countries. He also talked to me about how South Africa is the leader of world production of diamonds and gold. He also talked about how each year thousands of people come to see the animals and it has boosted their economy. Well, as much as I enjoyed my journey to Africa, I am ready to go home.