Welcome to African Storybook Media

Phew, that didn't take long. The days of vuvuzela and the FIFA football show are not only long gone, but almost forgotten. Such is the speed of back-to-normal here in South Africa. It's a case of same ol', same ol' now that the tourists are gone, with government corruption back in the headlines...and in a throwback to the late 1980s, even media freedom is once again under threat. So the option of thinking about travel in Africa - the colour of the landscape, its free-roaming wildlife and the friendliness of its people - is a welcome one. After all, they do comprise - after Nelson Mandela - the country's best face.

Looking for the stories that portray the best of Africa is what we do here at African Storybook. The tales of beauty, goodness, selflessness and courage are often found in the tourism and conservation spheres, like the rustic lodge started on South Africa's rural Wild Coast by a post-grad financial whizz-kid just because he knew that tourism could help the local village out of misery. That's the story of Bulungula, a phenomenal success.

Africa is only just being discovered - much like this site - and if you think of the size of the continent you will understand that countless stories remain out there. The more we tell, the more who come to see for themselves, the more tourism grows and with that...comes the opportunity to learn. It's about education and financial independence. And it is in this context that we welcome you to the vibrant world of African Storybook.

This is the factory where Stories and Tales for the world of tourism, conservation, sport and travel are identified and crafted. Editorially, our aim is to produce beautiful television, and well-written articles, brochures and picture-stories. It is also to bring out the best in deserving product and establishments, to tell their stories and to market them with an honesty that the consumer craves.

What is it that we do?

* We produce brochures and marketing material - electronic, hard and soft copy

* We produce television - editorial & commercial. Even for YouTube.

* We write articles for consumers & the trade.

* We consult to Lodges and Hotels. Having either worked at or reviewed over 200 such establishments around Africa, we can help with distinguishing from the rest of a crowded industry. We know what works and what doesn't.

Who do we work for - and with?

Two groups. The first is editorial; we produce television inserts for Carte Blanche, South Africa's top, multi-award (CNN) winning documentary and magazine programme. Just this year our inserts produced range from the crisis facing bees in South Africa, the role football played on Nelson Mandela's Robben Island, coping with cerebral palsy in the rural Transkei and an investigative piece on a controversial oil tank farm in Port Elizabeth. We also write and photograph for a selection of publications in South Africa and overseas. Most recent contributions to CNN Traveller include a story on safari in Tanzania and the battle of Isandlwana in South Africa, at that time the heaviest defeat ever inflicted on the British Empire. Our last piece for Travel Africa was on Mozambique's unknown Niassa Game Reserve.

The second group comprises the public relations and marketing industries. We use the power of Story to distinguish establishments within the tourism and conservation from their competition. With a wide experience that includes a deep knowledge of the sport, development and global political arenas, we are qualified to see to anyone's needs. Good people of sound ethics and integrity are always preferred.

That's the magic of Story. Whatever the topic, it speaks to anyone, anywhere.