Matthew Weinheimer found a way to combine his work with his passion by offering his optometry skills to those in need. Weinheimer, a junior at IU, will be traveling to Accra, Ghana, in August as a volunteer for Unite for Sight. Unite for Sight is an international organization that provides eye care to improve the health of those living in impoverished and developing countries. Weinheimer said he hopes to help people living in Accra the only way he knows how – through eye care.

via idsnews.com

We didn't have much time when we got back from the trip so we quickly uploaded a few scenic photos.
The stream can be accessed here: http://flickr.com/photos/29577794@N00 We hope to be able to upload more pictures and blog a bit more often about our experiences. This past trip was really hectic and Internet access was hard to come by so day-by-day blog entries are pretty impossible.

via travelblog.org

This month, Big in Japan is on vacation in Africa, and will be bringing you travel news and happenings from around this often misunderstood continent. The thrill of the safari is one of the greatest pleasures of traveling in Africa. Boasting more than a hundred different species of mammals (350+ if you include bats!), the continent is a veritable Lost World of charismatic creatures.

via gadling.com

I have never seen such an array of wildlife in my lifetime, all living together peacefully. That is, until the lions get hungry. Canadian wildlife seems so lame in comparison. We spent 2 nights and 3 days in Tsavo National Park, then another day and night at Lake Nakuru National Park in the Rift Valley. What surprised me the most was how close the animals got to our van. Most were not afraid of us at all.

via travelblog.org

The first picture this week? That would be me on top of Mt Msololo, the highest mountain in the Dzalanyama range. I mentioned these mountains in my last entry. Back then, I was on outreach, seeing them in the distance. What can I say? I had to go there! I spent last weekend in Dzalanyama forest reserve with my two new housemates (Irish medical students). The scenery was absolutely stunning as I'm sure you will agree after looking at my photos.

via travelblog.org

Mauritius is a beautiful tropical island, 500 miles off the east coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Its diverse landscape includes miles of unspoilt coastline, tropical forests and impressive mountains. There are safe beaches, gentle seas, mild tropical climate and combined with a legendary Mauritian hospitality make this island one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations.

via wayfaring.info

Yosemite National Park is one of California’s most popular parks and during the summer, the valley is crowded with hikers, campers, climbers and other travelers who come to soak in the stunning beauty of the landscape. If you are looking for a great national park nearby that gets less visitors but has plenty of natural beauty in it’s own right (including the world’s largest tree), head to Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon.

via blog.realtravel.com

Sun City is internationally renowned as Africa’s premier holiday resort. Sun City offers a myriad of different entertainment and relaxation opportunities, as well as enough attractions and activities to keep everyone busy. Sun City still attracts those wishing to gamble but also those just wishing to relax, and the focus is now on the total experience of Africa.

via wayfaring.info

I think it is about time I write about safari destinations in Kenya since I just wrote about Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Pamela and I toured many other parks in November. I’ll skip the Nairobi destinations and save them for an entry on Nairobi. I have now seen a good part of Kenya although the more I see the more I want to see. Given that I still have a long list of places in California that I want to see after 25 years of living there and touring around the state regularly, I would guess that it will take a lifetime to see all of Kenya.

via blogs.bootsnall.com

Few nations in the world rouse such worldwide mystique and awe as Egypt. An ancient country, Egypt has been a unified state for 5,000 years. While most other nations were still hunting and gathering and learning to build huts, Ancient Egypt perfected one of the most colossal structures of all time—the Pyramids of Giza—and rose out of the constant passage of time by establishing something truly amazing.

via destination360.com

While most people come to Exmouth to see the whale sharks and the other amazing sea life in Exmouth Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the desolate landscape around Exmouth also holds a wealth of surprises too. On the half hour ride in from the airport, you’d be forgiven for thinking Exmouth’s surrounding countryside is a largely flat, monotonous expanse of red earth and grasses, with not much of interest.

via travelhappy.info

A huge vineyard extends from the Apennine hills to the shores of the Po River and the Adriatic Sea, offering well-known wines that have come to symbolize this region where good food and company are at the center of everyday life. The Via Aemilia (the ancient Roman road whose construction began in 187 BC) runs through the whole region along a string of cities from Piacenza to Rimini, and divides it in half.

via travelwebdir.com

African Festivals and Events in May include a fragrant Rose festival in Morocco and a hunting feast in Ghana. A film festival in Uganda will keep the video halls packed in Kampala. All the events are kicked off with International Labor Day on the 1st of May, which is a national holiday in most African countries.

International Labour Day
International Labour Day (or May Day) on the 1st of May is widely celebrated throughout Africa with most government offices closing down for the day. Some countries have parades and marches commemorating workers.

Addo Elephant Marathon
Extreme marathon running is becoming quite popular, after all who wouldn't want to run alongside (or away from) lions and elephants on a sunny day in May? This is the fourth Addo Elephant marathon, which is held in a beautiful national wildlife park near Port Elizabeth in South Africa. There are two runs, a 50 mile and a 100 mile run, both require extreme fitness since most of the running takes place on dirt trails through the African bush.

via goafrica.about.com

Qasr al-Haj in the Nafusa Mountains is a stunning structure, almost more impressive if you don't know its purpose. The accidental visitor may think it was a form of fortified village, in which families lived on top of each other, in rooms simply known as ghurfas.

Rather it is a storage facility for a partly semi-nomadic and partly settled community. The qasr protected grains and everything else that might be stolen. Peoples moved around the area carrying only what was necessary for the everyday needs.

via goafrica.about.com

Libya must be the best kept secret of North Africa. But over the recent years it has opened up to the world. An increasing number of travellers get to see the country's stunning nature; wild mountains, fragile green spots of forests and oases, and the orange coloured desert.

But what brings Libya to most tourists' attention are the fantastic ruins along the coast. Leptis Magna and Sebratha are stunning, but there is more...

via goafrica.about.com