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Collared pride lion hunted in Hwange + 10 African safari sundowner spots + epic Madagascar & Rwanda safaris
This week witnessed one of the most shocking examples yet of mass tourism gone mad.
This recent Instagram video by private guide Nick Kleer shows numerous safari vehicles crowding the Kogatende Crossing in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, preventing the wildebeest herds from crossing the Mara River during the Great Wildebeest Migration. It clearly demonstrates poorly trained, unethical guides and carefree tourists out of their vehicles. The lack of law enforcement is also evident and de rigueur. I have vented about this before, and I repeat that while our governments view wildlife tourism as a cash cow with minimal investment required, this will only get worse.
Our industry also has to step up. My promise to you is this: We will identify the responsible operators, and I will contact each CEO for a pointed discussion. We vet the partners for our tailored safaris very carefully, and if any are involved in this disgusting fiasco, the relationship will be terminated. If enough of my fellow travel company CEOs do this, we can turn the tide.
This massive pressure on Africa’s wildlife and ecosystems is evident in many other popular areas, such as Kruger National Park, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Khwai Community Concession and Chobe National Park.
On a happier note, scroll down to the heart-warming video below of a dramatic wild dog relocation in Mozambique. I was hooked from the first second. Well done to video creator Paul Steyn, a former teamAG member, and to the conservation teams on the ground – sterling effort!
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
It’s been a big month for South African Environmental Minister Dion George, who made two major conservation announcements that could signal a shift in South Africa. First up is the imminent publication of the Lion Prohibition Notice, which will ban new captive lion breeding facilities. It’s not an industry shutdown, but a move that many have been fighting for, which says that breeding lions for cub petting, trophy hunting, and the bone trade is no longer acceptable.
Hot on the heels of that news is the launch of the Rhino Renaissance Campaign in Kruger National Park, an ambitious 10-year plan to rebuild the white rhino population from 2,000 to 12,000. But getting to 12,000 rhinos will be a tall order. Big promises have been made. Will they shake things up on the ground, or are they lofty words destined to drift away on the policy breeze? We’ll be watching.
Trophy hunting season has arrived. And, as if on cue, we have discovered devastating news from Hwange: another collared lion has been trophy hunted. An Africa Geographic-sponsored collar, no less. There are serious ethical questions around this hunt, due to the presence of the research collar, and the young age of the lion, which had not reached the minimum age of 6 years required under Zim hunting guidelines. When will those who preach sustainable hunting confront the unethical practices within their own ranks and demand accountability instead of silence? Read more in our report on the hunt below.
And finally, to lift the mood and send you off with a smile, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most spectacular African safari sundowner spots in Africa. These golden-hour gems are all in places where wildlife is protected, biodiversity is celebrated, and the only thing getting taken away is your breath.
Did you know? Your African safari choice makes a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level. YOUR African safari choice does make a difference – thank you!
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Sundowner, anyone? We reveal our top 10 sundowner spots in Africa – best enjoyed with exotic cocktails and delicious snacks
TRAVEL DESK:
2 AFRICAN SAFARI IDEAS
AG SAFARI GUEST GERALD SAYS:
Here’s what our travellers have to say about their epic family adventures through Africa:
“Trust in the advice of Christian Boix. I have been travelling with Christian from Africa Geographic for more than a decade.
Amateur photography is my hobby, and each trip has been unique, well-planned, and fulfilled my purposes. Whether it was a tented camp in Zambia to see the bat migration, or a safari to Ethiopia. For our latest trip, I wanted to introduce my family of 11 (including 5 children) to the gorillas and chimpanzees of Uganda, the golden monkeys in Volcanoes NP in Rwanda, and the Great Migration in Serengeti NP. The details of the trip met our needs and desires. The smallest details were kept in mind, with travel arrangements precisely arranged. The drivers and guides were kind, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. Dining was always good.
AG safari expert Christian makes each journey a joy, and removes the anxieties of being in places that are really unknown to us. His judgment is always aligned with our needs, which are his first priority. And, on this past journey, the treks into the rainforests of Kibale and Bwindi were fantastic, and the golden monkeys in bamboo forests allowed for fantastic photography. Driving for miles and miles in the Serengeti among 1.5 million wildebeest and 400,000 zebras enabled me to begin to comprehend the magnitude of the Migration. We also saw a cheetah making a kill of a young Grant’s gazelle. Trust and enjoy.”
WATCH:
They were denning outside of safety: pups at risk, options few. In a bold conservation first, a wild dog pack is relocated 400km to a new life. This is the extraordinary story of a rescue no one thought possible. (20:53) Click here to watch
For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here
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