Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: The Big Tree

This is a big tree. No wonder it is called "The Big Tree."

This is a baobab tree that is located to Victoria Falls. It is said to be 73 feet around and 79 feet high. That sounds big enough.  

It's tough to know how old this tree is, but guesses have gone as high as 2,000 years old. Others have suggested that this is actually three trees that are intertwined, and thus a bit younger. No one wants to chop it down and check, and in the end it doesn't matter much.  

It's certainly possible that explorer David Livingstone saw this tree. He popped up in 1854 and was the first European to see the falls. Since the tree is only a mile or so away, a bump between the two might have happened.

By the way, there is a nice mushroom-shaped tree just down the street; the area has a bunch of them. They look great outlined against the sky.  

Johannesburg, South Africa

If South Africa is to build up a strong economy that ripples prosperity throughout the country, Johannesburg will lead the way there. 

It's becoming a major economic engine for all of Africa. Indeed, it's achieved the status as the financial capital of the continent. They call it the "City of Gold," and not just because of mining in the region. The architecture of the main business district is particularly striking. Take a look at this building called "The Marc," which is in the Sandton part of town. It's the home of some top businesses in the region, and of the largest stock exchange on the continent. Some call it the "Pineapple."

As of 2022, the population of Johannesburg was close to five million people. However, the population of the region is around 15 million. The area between the city and Pretoria used to be open space. Soon it will be completely filled in one huge city-region.

Johannesburg has problems, particularly as of late. The city seems to have been badly managed in some areas, and the infrastructure isn't doing well. Crime has become a particular problem, especially at night. It is going to be a bumpy ride for Johannesburg, but we're rooting for a happy ending. 

Johannesburg, South Africa; Apartheid Museum

It's been more than 30 years since apartheid was no longer the law of the land in South Africa. It's still a nightmare for those old enough to remember it, but that number shrinks every day. It's good to make sure that young people learn the lessons taught about that experience. 

The Apartheid Museum is a response to that. It opened up in 2001, and offers some powerful lessons on the subject. The opening is particularly powerful. Patrons are given a ticket with a particular race at random - regardless of their actual background. So whites could enter the door for non-whites, and non-whites can go in the door for whites. It's all by chance. Your treatment while inside depends on which door you walk through. 

It's all well done with plenty of detail. That makes this complex the top authority of its kind on the subject. The amount of time spent there probably depends on how much interest you have in the subject ... and how much time the guide allows you to have. But it's nice to see this remain operating and vital a quarter-century after opening.

Johannesberg, South Africa: Hector Pieterson Memorial

The fight against apartheid in South Africa was a long and difficult one, and it's a bit difficult for an outsider such as a tourist to know everything that went on along the way. But the story of Hector Pieterson is an important one. 

It was June 16, 1976. He was a 12-year-old who was protesting the use of Afrikaans in school, a language that was mostly used by white and colored (meaning mixed in this case) students. Some blacks wanted the teachers to switch to their native languages. In the midst of a large demonstration, dogs attacked the 10,000 protesters and tear gas was used on them. In the confusion after that, shots were fired at the mostly young crowd. Pieterson was one of ten to die. A photo journalist snapped a shot of Pieterson as a friend carried him toward help while his sister accompanied them. It became a famous symbol for the resistance at the time. Pieterson soon was pronounced dead.

A memorial was set up to Pieterson only a couple of blocks from the shooting site. It was particularly touching to stand by that memorial and hear sister Antoinette tell our group about the events of that day - 50 years later. It made the history come alive. A museum is located nearby, and Antoinette works there as a tour guide. 

Johannesburg, South Africa: Mandela House

The guess here is that 8115 Vilakazi Street has become one of the most famous addresses in South Africa. It's connected with Soweto, a township that saw more than its share of difficulties in regard to race relations over the years. The key is who lived there: Nelson Mandela and family. They were there from 1946 to 1962, when Mandela went off to jail. (He returned in 1990 when he was released, but only stayed for less than two weeks.)

The building has been turned into something of a shrine and museum for Mandela. It's a modest place, with some of the original furniture still around. If you look carefully, you still see some bullet holes and scorch marks from fires left over from earlier times. The walls have a variety of memorabilia and tributes on them. Mandela donated the place to the Soweto Historical Trust in 1997.  It went through a major renovation about a dozen years later, and tours (and accompanying guides) were soon added.

This is a rather nice neighborhood by historical standards, since Bishop Desmond Tutu lived nearby. How many neighborhoods have two Nobel Peace Prize winners?

Johannesburg, South Africa: Orlando Towers

What's all of that artwork doing on the cooling towers at Three Mile Island? 

That particular nuclear site came to mind when we approached the facility in Johannesburg. A little research showed that this actually had something to do with coal. The towers were part of a coal-burning project that opened in 1942. Eventually, the facility was closed, and a decision was made to use it differently. 

As we moved even closer, we could see a connecting bridge between the two towers. Yes, it was set up for bungee jumping. Sure enough, we saw someone go for a ride in a bit of good timing. That is only part of the story, as other extreme sports are staged there as it became something of a headquarters for activities that were a bit out of the ordinary. 

The building is located in Soweto, a township in Johannesburg. You can see it coming from a distance, thanks to the paint jobs on the sides of the towers. 

Looks like the recycling project, which must have seemed unlikely at first, has turned out pretty well.