Search results for: birds

Uganda beckoned – and after 16 years of planning Gerhard Pretorius finally landed in the steamy city of Entebbe for the safari of his life

A fascinating study has revealed that although elephants can move at considerable pace, there is a question as to whether they can run.

It was like a scene out of the movie Jurassic Park. You know, that adrenaline-fuelled, chaotic scene when the bad guys arrive on the island in their vehicles and speed through the bush while dinosaurs scatter out of their way as they hunt for the ultimate dinosaur trophy. Well, this was like that, except I …

Continue reading “Tantalising Tswalu: The Kalahari’s diamond in the rough”

Karen Blixen, the author of Out of Africa, once said, “If there were one more thing I could do, it would be to go on safari once again”. Well, here I was, indeed on safari again, reclining in my bathtub, luxuriously located on the verandah of our room just metres above the Kafue River at Mukambi Safari …

Continue reading “Kafue: A River Runs Through It”

Planning an African safari? We provide a breakdown of the various ‘safari seasons’ and when best to travel so as to avoid the crowds.

The Wild Shots Outreach programme began just over two years ago in November 2015. The programme aims to give students from disadvantaged communities that border the Greater Kruger National Park area in South Africa the opportunity to experience the wonder of the wild and immortalise moments through the lens of a camera. The majority of …

Continue reading “A new generation of Kruger photographers”

How often can you say that to take photographs of your subjects you have to lie down on the ground? Well, how else would you be able to get a ground-level perspective of the life of an ant, or peer in close to fully appreciate the form of a spider? Most people don’t. We walk …

Continue reading “Macro photography: Up close & personal”

Here are 10 important pieces of information to keep in mind about wild animals when on safari in Africa.

Botswana’s green season, the months of November to March, is known by locals as the “secret season” – when you will have game drives to yourself, and enjoy amazing sighting

Quilalea Island in Mozambique is part of the marine-rich paradise of Quirimbas Archipelago. Adventurer Fiona Ayerst shares her experience

If there was a checklist for the perfect travel destination, South Africa would tick most of the boxes. Famed for its amazing wildlife and landscapes, superb local cuisine, warm hospitality and great weather, (plus the added bonus that its affordable) it’s easy to understand why tourism is so big in South Africa.

This fantastic gallery of images by Hannes Lochner will have you booking your Okavango Delta (Botswana) safari with us and packing your bags

The Parson’s chameleon is regarded as the largest chameleon in the world, found in the lush rainforests of eastern and northern Madagascar. Here are some fascinating facts about this giant creature of the forest.

The simple act of tipping can be an anxious moment for many people while on safari, and the subject of much discussion and seeking of advice.

Safari report-back: South Luangwa in Zambia offers a wildlife-rich safari and fantastic photographic opportunities. By Edward Selfe

The poisoned bodies of nearly 50 vultures have been found by rangers in Mozambique‚ just a short distance from the boundary of the flagship Kruger National Park.

The Kgalagadi always delivers unusual opportunities to photograph animal and bird behaviour – such as a bird-eating heron.

Safari report-back: My epic adventure in Botswana’s Khwai – a wildlife-rich area near Okavango Delta, Botswana. By Simon Espley

There is a crisis of elephantine proportions playing out in the dry sandy Kalahari woodlands of eastern Botswana, and a determined family of caring people is caught in the middle of the drama. A friend and I spent a few days with them in September this year and came away determined to help. I hope that …

Continue reading “Water for Elephants”

Safari report-back: My wife and I spent two unforgettable days in Madikwe – the variety of wildlife encounters blew our minds. By Anton Kruger

My Moremi glamping safari. There’s something immensely satisfying about discovering Africa on a mobile tented camp safari. G&T anyone?

How does one exactly combine Cape Town’s summer splendours with a wild Big 5 bushveld safari? We provide four fantastic summer/autumn combos!

This fantastic black & white photography gallery of African wildlife will have you grabbing your camera and booking a safari with us

After a few days in Madikwe we had already seen cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, spotted & brown hyenas, rhinos & elephants. By Marc de Chalain

This was an amazing opportunity to visit Ethiopia’s most important biodiversity hotspot and see some of the rarest creatures in the world.

Which Kruger safari option is better – luxury of the private lodges in the Greater Kruger or the self-catering options in the national park?

“Are we seriously landing there?” The Cessna Caravan was heading towards a massive rocky dome, and what appeared to be a short dirt track in a dense sea of woodland. But, as we skimmed over a wide sandy riverbed, the track morphed into a landing strip. We bumped down and taxied to a halt. Paradise …

Continue reading “Jurassic Niassa”

Without detracting from the wonderful and critical role that our national parks play in conservation we would like to take an opportunity to focus on the positive achievements of the private sector in this regard.

Mabamba Swamp is a bird-lovers dream destination. It is home to 260 bird species, including the massive shoebill – Uganda’s most sought-after bird!

Namibia’s desert-adapted lions are hardy survivors that eke out a living in the inhospitable arid west of this beautiful country

The three-night Mphongolo Backpack Trail in the Kruger National Park takes takes your soul to a deeper understanding of wilderness

“Turn left. Continue along the road, through a dry riverbed. When the road forks, keep to the left.” We were 371km from home, six hours into our journey, and at the bottom of page two of a three-page printout of detailed instructions describing how to get to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. We weren’t …

Continue reading “Supernatural South Luangwa”

The annual wildlife count in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park is a wonderful citizen-science project for all – Tony Park tells his story

A photographic bonanza safari – predators galore in Botswana’s Savute, Chobe National Parl. This is an Africa Geographic safari

Discover the rich history of Kenya in these three Nairobi museums.

This fantastic photo gallery showcases the fascinating tribal cultures, wildlife and breathtaking vistas of Namibia – pack your bags

Gorillas, forest elephants and bonobos threatened by plans to make the world’s second largest rainforest the next frontier in the global palm oil trade.

Delegates at a global wildlife conference on Sunday voted to ban international trade in African grey parrots, one of the world’s most trafficked birds.

A daring comparison of two popular Southern African transfrontier parks.

Wüstenquell in Namibia’s abundant rock formations make it one of most spectacular locations for any landscape photographer.

Kruger2canyons

Sign this petition and help to save thousands of wild African grey parrots!

Swaziland enjoys a diversity of landscapes and experiences for the traveller and a laid-back vibe – fantastic for that chilled vacay

A leopard has killed 33 Endangered African penguins in a single incident in Betty’s Bay, South Africa

These magical black & white images of Kenya and Tanzania by Federico Veronesi will have you contacting us to arrange your next African safari

Etosha in Namibia provided the perfect African wildlife experience for an artist from Spain – check out his artwork and take in his advice

A visit to the Gede Ruins uncovers a lost Swahili civilisation and tells stories of how they used to live.

A camera trap study contributes new insights into the diverse world of small and medium-sized carnivores.

14 more vultures have been found in KwaZulu-Natal that are thought to have been poisoned by an unknown chemical.

Photos documenting the biggest ivory burn in history, which took place in Nairobi National Park last weekend.

Illegal shipments of African grey parrots intercepted in the DRC and local governors make efforts to crack down on the trade before it is too late.

There is nothing in Africa quite as emblematic of the colour scarlet as the flaming coral tree. Find out more about this family of colourful fauna.

Off the beaten track in one of South Africa’s most loved tourist destinations.

Selous is Africa’s oldest and largest protected area. This fantastic gallery of images will have you contacting our safari team and packing your bags

An Australian couple share why they are so crazy about Kruger National Park – after more than 25 extended stays in the park over the years

Everything you need to know about Etosha National Park in Namibia – home of giant white elephants & crowded waterholes during the dry season

A thicket is a dense, almost impenetrable tangle of trees, shrubs, and vines, that is home to a host of biodiversity. Here is why you should spare a thought for thickets

Exploring the wild places of Namibia makes for a different kind of honeymoon, and our road trip turned out to be the journey of a lifetime

iSimangaliso is a World Heritage Site – a rich and diverse ecosystem that attracts nature lovers and provides sustainable livelihoods for many

Connect to your food and the rhythm of nature in a new, fresh and wild way by growing these 12 indigenous edible plants.

Penguins are in trouble. A 1930’s video clip with Cherry Kearton gives an insight into the extent of the endangered African penguin population decline.

Four Cap Classique-filled days spent discovering vineyards that are making a difference in the beautiful Cape Winelands.

Hermanus and False Bay – things to do, what, when and how. A complete guide to having fun on Cape Town’s coastline – from a local

An examination of the African grey parrot populations in the DRC and suggestions of what can be done to prevent their extirpation.

New research suggests that the golden jackal should actually be classified as a species of wolf.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a vast wildlife paradise and a dream safari destination for photographers – check out this photo gallery

A secretarybird has successfully been released back into the wild after a lengthy period of treatment to one of its eyes.

Understanding the problem of drought in iSimangaliso Wetland Park and finding the solution.

A 19 year old penguin, rescued by SANCCOB in 1997, has been released after recent oil spill.

Facing multiple threats including poisoning by poachers, African vultures are declining at a critical rate and researchers suggest that they are heading towards extinction.

The bat-eared fox is a cute, shy creature that wanders around southern Africa’s drier landscapes at night in search of food

Watch the first rehabilitated endangered African penguins be released in Cape St Francis this Saturday, after recovering from mystery oil spill in Algoa Bay.

Rehabilitation of oiled penguins continues at SANCCOB in the Eastern Cape

Endangered white-backed vultures found poisoned; two rescued in time.

SANCCOB rescues 30 penguins from an oil spill in the Eastern Cape.

The black mamba is a misunderstood snake – the subject of many urban legends and exaggerated claims Learn more here

65 vultures and a tawny eagle found dead in a poisoning incident on a private farm north-west of Hoedspruit.

The Ruvuma River does not give up her secrets easily – but that did not stop 4 intrepid researchers from journeying its length

A successful penguin release at Burgher’s Walk Restoration Project in Simon’s Town.

A road kill survey of Pilanesberg National Park produces some interesting results.

From being rather bland the long-tailed widowbird transforms in a Cinderella-like way into the most miraculous bird in the bushveld!

In the highlands of Ethiopia, American scientist Meg Lowman is working with local forest ecologist Alemayehu Wassie to protect ancient church forests. As in many developing countries, much of Ethiopia’s original forests have been cleared for subsistence agriculture and for harvesting timber and firewood, diminishing northern Ethiopia’s forest cover from 45% of its territory in …

Continue reading “Ethiopia’s Church Forests”

I was used to working in the savannahs of eastern and southern Africa, where the animals I studied roamed in full sight. I was used to the relative comfort and safety of getting around in a 4×4, and my camera went everywhere with me. Then, in 2010, I arrived in the Central African country of …

Continue reading “Finding Gold in Gabon”

The first photo of a black-breasted barbet in Chad’s Zakouma National Park!

Zakouma – a North African safari destination that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the great wildlife and safari destinations of Africa

Walking through the ashes of Table Mountain National Park after last week’s monumental fire, I didn’t expect to see it as a landscape teeming with life, and yet it was. The sensation was one mixed with awe at the devastation, and wonder at the nature that has survived or is already emerging. For 5 days …

Continue reading “Life in the Ashes”

A wild-born female Cape parrot rehabilitated from a deadly viral infection and released back into the wild in 2011 has been seen on several occasions, apparently healthy and living the life.

The NSPCA speaks out on why selective breeding for colour morphs has absolutely no benefit to the individual animal, the species, biodiversity or conservation as a whole.

10 endangered Cape vultures were released back to the wild this February.

Liuwa Plain, a remote national park in Zambia, is a conservation success story because of cooperation from villagers that live inside the park

The parasitic relationship between cuckoos and sunbirds in Uganda.

Humans are largely to blame for the rapid demise of one of Africa’s most famous birds – the bearded vulture.

The thing about hunting is that the topic is so polarising that it prevents meaningful discourse between people who probably have more in common than they care to admit. And, while the protagonists battle it out, the grim reapers continue to harvest Africa’s wildlife and other natural resources. We humans tend to silo information to …

Continue reading “The Thing About Hunting”

Every year thousands of tons of wheat, millet and sorghum is lost as a result of millions of queleas devouring crops both from commercial and subsistence farmers.

Interesting antelope, stunning birds and a caring community make Bangweulu Wetlands a place to visit in 2015!

The Arabuko Sokoke Forest is saved from oil mining as communities take a stand to save this critically threatened habitat.

From herds of lechwe in the flood plains to the fishing festival of the Lozi people. Liuwa Plain National Park is place worth visiting!

We challenged our CEO Simon Espley to tick off a carefully compiled list of avian eye candy during his 3-day Samburu safari

Discover what a magical resource butterflies and moths are for local ecosystems at Spring LepiBASH from 18 to the 26 of October.