The Southern African Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000) was a major surface, airborne, and space borne field campaign carried out in southern Africa in 2000 and 2001 that addressed a broad range of phenomena related to land-atmosphere interactions and the biogeochemical functioning of the southern African system. This paper presents a thematic analysis and integration of the Journal of Geophysical Research SAFARI 2000 Special Issue, presenting key findings of an intensive field campaign over southern Africa in August and September of 2000. Keywords: SAFARI 2000, Southern Africa, Biomass burning, Aerosals Emission factor, Radiation forcing.