Zimbabwe

Since the 11th century, present-day Zimbabwe has been the site of several organised states and kingdoms as well as a major route for migration and trade. The British South Africa Company of Cecil Rhodes first demarcated the present territory during the 1890s; it became the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. In 1965, the conservative white minority government unilaterally declared independence as Rhodesia. The state endured international isolation and a 15-year guerrilla war with black nationalist forces; this culminated in a peace agreement that established universal enfranchisement and de jure sovereignty in April 1980. The country then rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations (later suspended in 2003), and became a member of the United Nations and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

An ethnically diverse country of roughly 13 million people, Zimbabwe has 16 official languages,with English, Shona, and Ndebele the most commonly used. President Robert Mugabe serves as head of state and government, and as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Renowned as a champion for the anticolonial cause, Mugabe also has a reputation as an authoritarian figure responsible for Zimbabwe's problematic human rights record and substantial economic decline. He has held power since 1980: as head of government until 1987, and head of both state and government since then.

Source: Wikipedia

Thanks so much to Alena for this card from Zimbabwe! 

Sent: 18 January 2016   Received: 17 March 2016   Travelled: 59 days

Mozambique

Mozambique is one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. Mozambique is endowed with rich and extensive natural resources. The country's economy is based largely on agriculture, but industry, mainly food and beverages, chemical manufacturing, aluminium and petroleum production, is growing. The country's tourism sector is also growing. South Africa is Mozambique's main trading partner and source of foreign direct investment. Belgium, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain are also among the country's most important economic partners. Since 2001, Mozambique's annual average GDP growth has been among the world's highest. However, the country ranks among the lowest in GDP per capita, human development, measures of inequality, and average life expectancy.

The only official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, which is spoken mostly as a second language by about half of the population. Common native languages include Makhuwa, Sena, and Swahili. The country's population of around 24 million is composed overwhelmingly of Bantu people. The largest religion in Mozambique is Christianity, with significant minorities following Islam and African traditional religions. Mozambique is a member of the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Latin Union, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Southern African Development Community, and an observer at La Francophonie.
Source: Wikipedia

Thank you to Alena who was travellling in Southern Africa for

this card of Mozambique! 

Sent: 2 February 2016    Received: 15 March 2016   Travelled: 42 days

Mauritania

Mauritania (Arabic: موريتانيا‎ Mūrītānyā; Berber: Muritanya or Agawej; Wolof: Gànnaar; Soninke: Murutaane; Pulaar: Moritani), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in the Maghreb region of western North Africa. It is the eleventh largest country in Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Morocco and the remnants of Western Sahara in the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mali in the east and southeast, and Senegal in the southwest.

The country derives its name from the ancient Berber Kingdom of Mauretania, which existed from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century, in the far north of modern-day Morocco. Approximately 90% of Mauritania's land is within the Sahara and consequently the population is concentrated in the south, where precipitation is slightly higher. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast, which is home to around one-third of the country's 3.5 million people. The government was overthrown on 6 August 2008, in a military coup d'état led by then-General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On 16 April 2009, Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the 19 July elections, which he won.

About 20% of Mauritanians live on less than US$1.25 per day. Slavery in Mauritania has been called a major human rights issue, with roughly 4% (155,600 people) of the country's population – proportionally the highest for any country – being enslaved against their will, especially enemies of the government. Additional human rights concerns in Mauritania include female genital mutilation, polygamy, and child labour.
Source:Wikipedia

Thanks to Anya who returns to Africa for another adventure 

and sends me this card from Mauritania!!

Sent:   Received:   Travelled:

Cameroon

 

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon is a country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Cameroon is home to more than 200 different linguistic groups. French and English are the official languages. The country is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" for its geological and cultural diversity. Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The highest point is Mount Cameroon in the southwest Region of the country, and the largest cities are Douala, Yaoundé, and Garoua. After independence, the newly united nation joined the Commonwealth of Nations, although the vast majority of its territories had previously been a German colony and, after World War I, a French mandate. The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team.
Source: Wikipedia

Last week a friend had asked if I had gotten a postcard from Chad or 

Central African Republic, so when I read CAR on the message I

thought it was a card my friend had arranged for me, but it turned out

to be from the only postcrosser from CAR who sends this Cameroonian card.

So thanks Horia, for sending those good vibes to me and to Esther 

for this beautiful people card. This is my 168th country and 28th African

nation. 

Sent: 8 Oct    Received: 3 November 2015   Travelled: 26 days

Burundi

Burundi, is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. It is also sometimes considered part of Central Africa. Burundi's capital is Bujumbura. Although the country is landlocked, much of the southwestern border is adjacent to Lake Tanganyika.

Burundi is one of the five poorest countries in the world. It has one of the lowest per capita GDPs of any nation in the world. The country has suffered from warfare, corruption and poor access to education. Burundi is densely populated and has had substantial emigration as young people seek opportunities elsewhere. According to a 2012 DHL Global Connectedness Index, Burundi is the least globalized of 140 surveyed countries.

According to the Global Hunger Index of 2013, Burundi has an indicator ratio of 38.8, earning the nation the distinction of being the hungriest country in the world in terms of percentage.

Thank you Chris for my first postcard from this country and the beautiful stamps!

Sent: 26 February 2015   Received: 22 April 2015  Travelled: 55 days

Rwanda

The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The other is found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Some primatologists consider the Bwindi population in Uganda may be a separate subspecies,[3] though no description has been finished. As of November 2012, the estimated total number of mountain gorillas is around 880.

Thanks to a great friend Chris for this gem of a postcard from Rwanda

of the mountain gorilla. I'm in awe of this postcard!

Sent: 18 February 2015   Received: 6 March 2015   Travelled: 16 days

The smoke that thunders

 

David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855 from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls on the Zambian side. Livingstone named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria, but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—"the smoke that thunders"—continues in common usage as well.

 

While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is classified as the largest, based on its width of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) and height of 108 metres (354 ft), resulting in the world's largest sheet of falling water. Victoria Falls is roughly twice the height of North America's Niagara Falls and well over twice the width of its Horseshoe Falls. In height and width Victoria Falls is rivalled only by Argentina and Brazil's Iguazu Falls.

 

@.@ 

"Dr Livingstone, I presume?"

I get chills just reading about Dr Livingstone and remembering

that quote from a movie I watched 21 years ago in my Social Science

class on "Explorers", one of my favourite topics as a kid.

Thank you to Charles of China for my first Zambia postcard!

and Brent for connecting the dots, xie xie!

Sent: 19 May 2014   Received: 20 June 2014   Travelled:32 days

Republic of Congo

 

Not to be confused with the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Republic of the Congo ,also known as Congo or Congo-Brazzaville, is a country located in Central Africa.
The region was dominated by Bantu-speaking tribes, who built trade links leading into the Congo River basin. Congo-Brazzaville was formerly part of the French colony of Equatorial Africa. Upon independence in 1960, the former colony of French Congo became the Republic of the Congo.

WOWZA! Special thanks to my adventurous classmate who was in Congo and

found this beautiful tree postcard from. So happy to receive this safely here

The 137th country! Doing the Congo line dance now! (although the dance originate from
Cuba haha!)

Sent: 9 May 2014   Received: 13 June 2014  Travelled: 35 days

Botswana

 

Elephant, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Hippo calf, Local children,

Chobe River, Traditional Herero woman, Chacma baboon baby

Giraffe

 

Botswana is flat, and up to 70% is covered by the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Its border with Zambia to the north near Kazungula, Zambia, is poorly defined but at most is a few hundred metres long.

Uganda

 

Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala. The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country.

 It is the second most populous landlocked country. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania, situating the country in the African Great Lakes region. Uganda also lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally equatorial climate.

Yay my 133th country!

Thank you to Grace for the beautiful card showing all the different tribes

in Uganda!

Sent: 3 May 2014    Received: 26 May 2014   Travelled: 23 days

The Great Migration, Tanzania

Each year around the same time the circular great wildebeest migration begins in the Ngorongoro area of the southern Serengeti of Tanzania. This migration is a natural phenomenon determined by the availability of grazing. It lasts from approximately January to March, when the calving season begins – a time when there is plenty of rain ripened grass available for the 750,000 zebra that precede 1.2 million wildebeest and the following hundreds of thousands of other plains game.

 

During February the wildebeest spend their time on the short grass plains of the south eastern part of the ecosystem, grazing and giving birth to approximately 500,000 calves within a 2 to 3-week period: a remarkably synchronised event. Few calves are born ahead of time and of these, hardly any will survive. The main reason for this being that very young calves are more noticeable to predators when mixed with older calves from the previous year, and so are easier prey. As the rains end in May the animals start moving north west, into the areas around the Grumeti River, where they typically remain until late June. July sees the main migration of wildebeest, zebra and eland heading north, arriving on the Kenyan border late July / August for the remainder of the dry season (the Thomson's and Grant's Gazelles move only east/west). In early November with the start of the short rains the migration starts moving south again, to the short grass plains of the south east, usually arriving in December in plenty of time for calving in February.

 

Ahsante Farida for this most amazing card from Tanzania!

Sent: 22 March 2014   Received: 22 April 2014   Travelled: 31 days

Tamberma houses

Traditional houses of Togo

Thank you very much Issaka for another awesome card of Togo!

Sent: 3 February 2014,   Received: 17 February 2014,   Travelled: 14 days

My first from Kenya!

Thank you very much Mary for this awesome card ^_^

 

Sent: 21 January 2014,   Received: 11 February 2014,   Travelled: 21 days

Yay a dodo bird

  

The first Portuguese explorers found no indigenous people living on the island in 1507. The Dutch settled on the island in 1638 and abandoned it in 1710. Five years later, the island became a French colony and was renamed Isle de France. The British took control of Mauritius in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars. The country remained under British rule until it became an independent Commonwealth realm on 12 March 1968 and a republic within the Commonwealth on 12 March 1992.

The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural; most Mauritians are multilingual, and English, French, Creole and Asian languages are used.The government system is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system. Mauritius is highly ranked for democracy and for economic and political freedom.

The island of Mauritius was the only home of the Dodo bird. The bird became extinct fewer than eighty years after its discovery.

 Thank you Tasneem for this amazing card!

 

Sent: 13 January 2014,   Received: 23 January 2014,   Travelled: 10 days

Karnak Temple

Postcrossing card from Elena in the USA, thanks for sharing this card from your trip in Eqypt!

I hope someday I can get a card with Eqyptian stamps :D



Sent: 14 June 2013
Received: 27 June 2013
Travelled: 13 days

My first card from Tunisia

My very first card from North Africa and Arab country.

Thank you Malek for this card!

Sent: 5 November 2011,  Received: 27 November 2011   Travelled: 22 days

Camel Market

Camel Market in Imilchil.

Thanks Merouan for this awesome card!

Sent: 2 April 2014,   Received: 25 April 2013,   Travelled: 13 days

Nigeria

 

 

An awesome clear special postmark and the very first card from Nigeria!

Thank you so much for the "people" card, Abbas.

 

Sent: 11 December 2013,  Received: 8 January 2014,   Travelled: 28 days

South Africa #2

1. Namaqualand
2. Cape Town's waterfront with Table mountain in the background
3. Free state farming area, mainly cattle and maize
4.Drakensberge or Dragon mountains
5. The crown of Africa's big 5, Lions!

Vriendelike groete vanuit 'n warm Kaapstad!

(Kind regards from warm Cape Town)

Thank you Muller & Hanre for the amazing descriptions and warm greetings!

Sent: 13 November 2013,  Received: 27 Nvember 2013,   Travelled: 14 days

Ethiopia #2

 

A wonderful surprise in my mailbox today.

Firstly it's my 1st card sent from Ethiopia, and an unsigned one at that. Made it fun for me to figure out who in Ethiopia would send me one and I remember my friend is currently travelling through Africa. A simple test to match her writing to the first she sent to me solved the identity puzzle, that and her predilection for strange African art :p

So here's to my first Ethiopian card (sent on my birthday!), the second African art card from Anya the curly Russian redhead, and the third card from her travels to my mailbox. Wishing you safe journey and incredible experiences :)



Sent: 8 November 2013,   Received: 25 November 2013,   Travelled: 17 days