southern Africa

“Judge,” a white-back vulture found in the wild as a fledgling by Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust cannot fly due to its deformed wing.

Southern African vultures subject to poisonings, extinction

Certain species of vultures are critically endangered in southern Africa. Recently, some mass killings of vultures in Botswana and South Africa have led to concern over the vulture population. But conservationists are working to increase their numbers.

Southern African vultures subject to poisonings, extinction
A man gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at a site near Johannesburg, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. 

At least 9 African countries set to produce COVID vaccines, Africa’s CDC chief says

At least 9 African countries set to produce COVID vaccines, Africa’s CDC chief says
Women sit on the ground wearing colorful head wraps waiting for aid.

A month after Cyclone Idai, governments struggle to secure crucial recovery funds

A month after Cyclone Idai, governments struggle to secure crucial recovery funds
an aerial shot of the destruction of Idai

Tropical cyclone Idai: The storm that knew no boundaries

Tropical cyclone Idai: The storm that knew no boundaries
a drop of blood being placed onto a slide

A second HIV patient has been ‘cured,’ but researchers say reducing cases is still the top priority

A second HIV patient has been ‘cured,’ but researchers say reducing cases is still the top priority
a gay man in zambia hides his face

For gay men in Zambia, where homosexuality is banned, suicide is a common end

The LGBTQ community isn’t acknowledged in Zambia because the law doesn’t allow for its existence, so people who struggle with mental health issues often can’t find the care they need. Some grassroots organizations are working to help LGBTQ people, but they often operate in secret.

For gay men in Zambia, where homosexuality is banned, suicide is a common end
Saya Pierce-Jones records a recent report on Cape Town's water crisis for Smile 90.4FM radio. In more than a year on the full-time water beat, Pierce-Jones helped listeners understand the roots of the crisis and find ways to dramatically cut their water u

Journalist on water beat helped Cape Town avoid ‘Day Zero’

When Cape Town's growing water crisis started bubbling up last year, a local radio station in the South African city jumped on the beat with wall-to-wall coverage and water-saving tips for listeners.

Journalist on water beat helped Cape Town avoid ‘Day Zero’
People queued to collect water as fears over the city's water crisis grew earlier this year in Cape Town, South Africa.

'Day Zero' has been postponed, but Cape Town is still scrambling to deal with its water crisis

The water crisis in Cape Town, South Africa is easing a bit, but the city and many of its businesses and institutions are forging ahead with expensive efforts to increase supply, including private desalination plants.

'Day Zero' has been postponed, but Cape Town is still scrambling to deal with its water crisis
South African artist Lady Skollie on a sofa in her studio with cut-out shapes of bananas on the wall behind her

South African artist Lady Skollie explains why she paints burning vaginas

“It’s got a burning vagina in the middle and there are all men — so it’s like they are warming themselves around a burning vagina. Which, to me, is pretty much South Africa.”

South African artist Lady Skollie explains why she paints burning vaginas
The Goreangab water treatment plant uses a process that partially mimics nature to turn sewage from Winhoek's 300,000 residents back into potable water. It opened in 1968 and was the first such plant in the world.

Recycling sewage into drinking water is no big deal. They've been doing it in Namibia for 50 years.

Water-starved cities around the world are starting to turn to a once-unpalatable solution: recycling their sewage. And they have a surprising pioneer to thank for developing the technology — the southern African desert country of Namibia.

Recycling sewage into drinking water is no big deal. They've been doing it in Namibia for 50 years.
Mavis, a housekeeper from the Pretoria township of Mamelodi, depends on her garden to help provide for her five children and seven grandchildren. But with this year's region-wide drought, her garden is just a dusty patch of seedlings. “I want rain every d

For one South African house cleaner, this year's big drought means crying, hungry children

The current drought in southern Africa is the worst in decades, and likely a harbinger of things to come as the region warms up and dries out as its climate changes. The drought is having real impact on one resident in a Pretoria township, and what governments in the region can do to help prepare for a hotter and drier future.

For one South African house cleaner, this year's big drought means crying, hungry children
Carving a turducken.

She got her turkey and turducken in South Africa, but then the power went out

Marisa Kaplan had it all figured out. She flew to Johannesburg with a thawing turkey and turducken in the overhead bin. But then she hit a Thanksgiving brick wall.

She got her turkey and turducken in South Africa, but then the power went out
Diana Matumba would like to go to graduate school, but she's under enormous pressure to get a good job now to support her extended family. They helped pay for her college tuition, so she owes them.

In South Africa, it's called the Black Tax

Black South Africans who make good have the financial burden of taking care of extended family. But now some South African millennials are starting to dodge the "black tax."

In South Africa, it's called the Black Tax
Some of the nearly 250,000 Malawians displaced by recent flooding in the southern part of the country sit for a photo at a school where they've taken refuge. Far from the epicenter of international flood relief efforts, the 4,220 people in this isolated c

Here's what happens when increasingly severe weather meets deforestation

Massive flooding in Malawi have forced nearly a quarter-million people from their homes, and many say they will never go home. Where will they go?

Here's what happens when increasingly severe weather meets deforestation
A Madagascar Biodiversity Project poster illustrates the symbiotic relationship between the black and white ruffed lemur and the forests they live in, centered on food and poop. The project aims to use lemur poop to help restore forest habitat for the ben

Lemur poop might save Madagascar's forests — and economy

A reforestation project in southern Madagascar is looking to rebuild the region's forests, lemur populations and even the economy. And it turns out the secret ingredient for regenerating the once-abundant landscape is lemur poop.

Lemur poop might save Madagascar's forests — and economy