Our weekly conservation newsletter
And the winner is…
This is a copy of our weekly email newsletter. Subscribe here to receive the newsletter and more inspiration for your African safari.
From our CEO – Simon Espley
Flying mice
One of my favourite bushveld experiences is staking out dry-season waterholes in the arid Kalahari. The endless traffic of thirsty mammals aside, it’s the avian action that I seek.
This time last year, I was in Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve, checking out the fabulous Dinaka Lodge for our safari guests. After my fair share of lions, cheetahs, rhinos, and a host of desert-adapted species such as brown hyenas, ground squirrels, oryxes, and springboks, I needed some time out from game drives.
There is a busy waterhole in front of the lodge, and after watching countless swarms of red-billed queleas descend to drink, like flying mice, often harassed by lanner falcons, shikras and other deadly missiles, I decided to get some video footage. I set up my phone on a stand at the water’s edge, hit start, and retired to my room for a nap. Looking closely at the resulting footage, I see that the flock included many other species, such as shaft-tailed whydahs and fawn-coloured larks. Click the link below to enjoy the spectacle and hear more from me about this epic safari experience. Pour a mug of coffee, or something stronger, and prepare yourself for four minutes of awesomeness (turn up the sound).
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
Click below to watch Simon’s encounter:
Or, listen to all Simon’s past editorials here
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
Why would a chimpanzee spend more than a decade throwing rocks at the same tree? That’s the question researchers are trying to answer in the remote forests of Guinea-Bissau, where certain male chimpanzees repeatedly return to specific trees to hurl stones, pant-hoot and drum on buttress roots. The behaviour is exceptionally rare, observed in only a handful of chimpanzee communities, and may represent a form of communication, territorial marking or even something approaching symbolism. Intriguingly, some of these “stone-throwing sites” have remained active for more than ten years.
It feels fitting to reflect on nature’s capacity to surprise this week, as we announce the winners of Photographer of the Year 2026. Over 12 weeks, we received 6,084 entries from photographers around the world, selecting just 285 images for our weekly galleries. Again and again, photographers captured moments that challenged expectations: an Ethiopian wolf feeding from wildflowers, a mountain gorilla high in the rainforest canopy, an aardvark emerging into the last light of day, and dramatic encounters that unfolded in fractions of a second. This year’s competition became a celebration of revelation. Africa still rewards patience with the extraordinary. Our winners will soon embark on an Africa Geographic safari to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, where chimpanzee trekking through one of Africa’s most biodiverse forests awaits. See more on the prize in the video at the end of this newsletter.
Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to all the incredible photographers who entered!
DID YOU KNOW?
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 safari choice does make a difference – thank you!
WE HAVE A WINNER
WINNING PHOTOS
The wait is over! Announcing the winner, runners-up and highly commended photos from Photographer of the Year 2026!
Travel Desk – 2 African safari ideas
Maasai Mara Explorer – 11 days
Two faces of the Maasai Mara. This safari explores two distinct sides of the Maasai Mara, from the wild solitude of the Sand River in the south to the Mara River crossing drama of the central reserve. Expect authentic, owner-run lodges, exceptional guiding, discreet service and superb meals as you experience two unforgettable aspects of this iconic ecosystem.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Uganda – 6 days
A bucket-list pilgrimage to Uganda’s mountain gorillas. Trek mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the birthplace of gorilla trekking and one of the world’s most exhilarating wildlife experiences. Explore Bwindi’s jungle paradise, spend time with the Batwa people, search for Queen Elizabeth National Park’s tree-climbing lions and discover the rich biodiversity of Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Still dreaming of the ultimate African safari escape? Browse our safari ideas here. Or click here to plan your safari.
WATCH
As we reveal the winners of Photographer of the Year 2026, take a moment to revisit the adventure that awaits them. This year’s winners will journey to Rwanda’s spectacular Nyungwe National Park – one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests. Their prize includes chimpanzee trekking, encounters with Rwenzori pied colobus monkeys, forest hikes to hidden waterfalls, walks along Nyungwe’s famous canopy walkway, and the thrill of soaring above the treetops on one of Africa’s longest ziplines. Hosted at the beautiful Munazi Lodge and made possible by our partners African Parks and Ukuri, this unforgettable safari is a celebration of Africa’s wild places and the photographers who bring them to life through their images. (04:37) Watch here
To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.
