This gallery from Africa Geographic’s Photographer of the Year 2018 semi-finalists will have you dusted off your camera and booking your next African safari
Author Archives: teamAG
Terminally ill Vietnamese find comfort in rhino horn
A recent study has revealed that the reasons why the Vietnamese buy illegal rhino horn is not only for medical and health-related reasons, but also as a form of comfort to those that are terminally ill.
9 Fascinating facts about black-footed cats
Here are 9 facts about the smallest species of wild cat in Africa, the black-footed cat – also known as the small-spotted cat.
Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 4
Africa Geographic’s Photographer of the Year top 101 gallery will have you dusting off your camera and booking your next African safari with them
Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 2
Africa Geographic’s Photographer of the Year top 101 gallery will have you dusting off your camera and booking your next African safari with them
Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 5
Africa Geographic’s Photographer of the Year top 101 gallery will have you dusting off your camera and booking your next African safari with them
Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 3
Africa Geographic’s Photographer of the Year top 101 gallery will have you dusting off your camera and booking your next African safari with them
Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101: Gallery 1
Africa Geographic’s Photographer of the Year top 101 gallery will have you dusting off your camera and booking your next African safari with them
Celebrating Africa’s Elephants
This fantastic photo gallery of African elephants will have you booking your next safari with Africa Geographic and packing those bags
Should businesses pay to use animals in their logos and marketing efforts?
Many charismatic species such as elephants, lions, tigers and pandas face the threat of extinction, despite being held up as the poster characters for conservation.
Impalas cry wolf, so say zebras!
It turns out that impalas are the drama queens of the African bushveld, and other species know it, and don’t take their predator alarm calls too seriously.
Celebrating Africa’s Big Cats
This fantastic photo gallery celebrating Africa’s Big Cats will have you contacting us to arrange your next safari and packing your bags
Wild grey parrot trapping methods are ruinous, says new research
A research paper has investigated how different capture methods and other aspects of the grey parrot trade, other than just the actual volume of birds taken from the wild, can affect sustainability of harvest.
The Ultimate Primate Experience
Safari report-back: Trekking for gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes NP is the is the ultimate primate experience. By Björn Persson
Wild dogs return to Gorongosa after decades of absence
Wild dogs will soon roam free in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for the first time in decades.
Africa comes out tops in megafauna conservation survey
Safari tourism instrumental as African countries dominate as best worldwide in large mammal conservation, according to study.
Manyeleti: The Place of Stars
Manyeleti is Greater Kruger’s secret safari haven – undiscovered by most ardent travellers and yet brimming with Big 5 wildlife encounters
Shoebill – 7 reasons to love this dinosaur of birds
The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) looks like a bird that belongs in the prehistoric age. Found in the marshes of East Africa, the shoebill is classified as vulnerable and is a bucket-list sighting for any avid birder. Here are seven reasons to love this big bird.
Macro photography: Capturing a new world
Environmental photographer and filmmaker, Sam Cox, explains his passion for teaching the art of macro photography to international volunteers through African Impact’s Wildlife Photography & Conservation programme. The programme offers volunteers the opportunity to gain practical experience in wildlife photography while helping to raise awareness of environmental and conservation issues in South Africa’s Greater Kruger area. Here, he shares …
Giant rats: A pangolin’s best friend
The pangolin, the world’s most trafficked animal, might have just found a new best friend – the African giant pouched rat.
Hunting causes life-threatening build-up of toxic lead in vultures
Research in Botswana has revealed that fragments of lead from recreational hunter ammunition are finding their way into vulture bloodstreams, and represent a significant threat to these critically endangered scavengers.
Ethiopia: The living churches of an ancient kingdom
It was early in the fourth century AD, under the reign of King Ezana, when the ancient Kingdom of Aksum (or Axum) – a major naval and trading nation that spanned a large portion of east Africa, including modern-day northern Ethiopia – embraced the Orthodox tradition of Christianity. The capital city of the empire was Aksum, and …
Continue reading “Ethiopia: The living churches of an ancient kingdom”
5 Facts you did not know about African wild dogs
Many will know that Africa’s wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) require vast areas to roam, hunt cooperatively to run down their prey and regurgitate food for pups and other pack members. But there are other remarkable facts about these beautiful animals that perhaps you didn’t know.
Magical Maasai Mara
The fascination of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve and its abundance of wildlife brings fond memories to many seasoned African safari travellers; I am no exception. In January this year, I was invited by some good friends from the USA to join them on a trip to this remarkable reserve. We departed from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, and …
11 Leopard facts you need to know
Discover 11 facts about the African leopard – the most secretive and elusive big cat and the most popular request during a safari game drive
The Mighty Zambezi: More than a River
She goes from lazy and beguiling to a raging beast capable of pounding a man and his ambitions into submission. Indeed, the Zambezi River is quite a lady… Most people know the Zambezi as that intoxicating cauldron of the elements and humankind at Victoria Falls – where that massive river inhales and forces itself into …
Could naked mole-rats live forever?
Naked mole-rats are weirdly spectacular – they are bare-skinned, wrinkly and buck-toothed, and they live in large underground colonies in East Africa where only the queen breeds, with a few selected males. Even more spectacular is that research has shown that naked mole-rats do not age in the same manner as other mammals, and in fact show little to no signs of ageing, and their risk of death does not increase with age.
Klaserie through the Lens
Safari trip report-back: at Klaserie in the Greater Kruger National Park is an epic destination for photographers. By Willem Kruger
17 Elephant facts you need to know
The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest land mammal in the world and one of nature’s great ecosystem engineers, being a major contributor to maintaining the balance between wooded and grass ecosystems. Here are 17 fascinating facts that you need to know.
16 days in Uganda
Uganda beckoned – and after 16 years of planning Gerhard Pretorius finally landed in the steamy city of Entebbe for the safari of his life
Can elephants run, or do they just walk faster?
A fascinating study has revealed that although elephants can move at considerable pace, there is a question as to whether they can run.
7 Consequences of replacing wildlife with livestock
Seven interesting findings based around the impact on ecological processes and ecosystems of the ongoing extinction of native African herbivore species and the increase in livestock populations.
Tantalising Tswalu: The Kalahari’s diamond in the rough
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”
Pangolin research in the Kalahari
Little is known about how pangolins might cope with the direct and indirect effects of a changing climate. A PhD researcher is therefore investigating the body temperature, diet, and activity patterns of free-living ground pangolins in a semi-arid environment in South Africa.
Zombie ants and the dark side of the Force
Zombie ants and mind-controlling fungus reveals the darker side of the insect world.
Kalahari lions: Research sheds light on population
Research has revealed that the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) straddling South Africa and Botswana is a stronghold for African lions.
Safari tips: How to find luxury safari lodges at a discount
Planning an African safari? We provide a breakdown of the various ‘safari seasons’ and when best to travel so as to avoid the crowds.
Rediscovering Kruger
Living on the African continent, we have a vast array of protected areas to visit. Those of us with a travel-addiction and passion for wildlife endeavour to visit them all – the Okavango, Maasai Mara and Serengeti to mention just a few. However, we sometimes overlook what we have right on our doorstep, such as …
Niassa suffers forest loss, but able to support elephants and lions
A recent study states that Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique still has the potential to support tens of thousands of elephants and 1,000 lions, as the vast majority of the ecosystem is intact.
A new generation of Kruger photographers
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 …
Wild dogs vote with sneezes
Scientists studying wild dogs in Botswana have found members of this endangered species use sneezes to vote on when the pack will move off and start hunting.
Macro photography: Up close & personal
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 …
Japan’s ivory market must close down, according to study
With China announcing that it would shut down all ivory trade by the end of this year, concerns have been raised that Japan’s failure to prevent illegal ivory exports will undermine China’s prospective ban and the efforts to end the global trafficking of elephant tusks.
Pangolin trafficking: Research reveals new routes
A recent study has revealed that pangolin smugglers are constantly opening up new global trade routes every year to avoid law enforcement agencies.
Riding in lion country
Equestrian types tend to come with a few traits that, while charming to fellow horsey folk, are unbearably irritating to those not of a horsey nature. One such quirk is the devout belief that having ridden one way, you probably know – better than most – how to ride another. We also have an unwavering …
Safari tips: safety and wild animals
Here are 10 important pieces of information to keep in mind about wild animals when on safari in Africa.
Africa Through My Eyes
Dr Vikram Ghanekar’s journey into the world of wildlife photography began almost a decade ago. His first venture into Africa took place in 2008, and he immediately learned a fundamental reality: you may have the best equipment, but you need to know how to use it properly. Needless to say, after a few workshops and …
Bees protect large trees from elephant impact
A study has found that hanging beehives containing African honeybees from the branches of marula trees protects these trees against elephant impact because the elephants avoid those trees.
Safari tips: What weather to expect in Africa
While on an African safari, the weather will play a significant role in what you are likely to see (and what you’ll pack). So, here is a broad outline of sub-Saharan African climates.
Photographer of the Year: Best Photos from 2017
December 1st marks the start of our Photographer of the Year 2018 competition! To celebrate the occasion, we have taken a stroll down memory lane to look back at our previous year’s winners and finalists. In this edition, we share with you the selection of world-class photos that made the finals of the 2017 competition. We …
Continue reading “Photographer of the Year: Best Photos from 2017”
Why the green season is the time to visit Botswana
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
Safari tips: What to pack for your African safari
The ultimate ‘what to pack’ list of essential items for every African safari – to avoid that sinking feeling of ‘I forgot to pack a …’
Quirimbas: A Diver’s Paradise
Quilalea Island in Mozambique is part of the marine-rich paradise of Quirimbas Archipelago. Adventurer Fiona Ayerst shares her experience
South Africa’s top tourist attractions
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.
Decoding Kruger’s ‘Elephant Management Plan’
The Kruger National Park is vast, at about 2 million hectares, and requires a thorough management strategy in order to ensure long term sustainability. Part of that strategy, The Elephant Management Plan – compiled by Kruger management and Scientific Service – is currently in force, and covers the period 2013 to 2022.
Delta Delight
This fantastic gallery of images by Hannes Lochner will have you booking your Okavango Delta (Botswana) safari with us and packing your bags
The chameleon the size of a house cat: 7 fascinating facts
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.
Bamboo lemurs on the brink, driven by climate change
What do China’s giant pandas and Madagascan bamboo lemurs have in common, aside from their precarious conservation status?
Safari tips: Tipping while on safari
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.
Capturing South Luangwa
Safari report-back: South Luangwa in Zambia offers a wildlife-rich safari and fantastic photographic opportunities. By Edward Selfe
Mega-carnivore dinosaur footprints discovered
An international team of researchers from South Africa, UK, and Brazil have discovered massive footprints belonging to a carnivorous dinosaur that roamed Southern Africa 200 million years ago.
Safari tips: Cell phones & internet on safari
Communication with the outside world is possible in some form from most tourism areas in Africa, and we all need to set boundaries – but for most a safari is time to detox, unplug, switch off.
Kruger should cull 88% of its elephants, says hunter Ron Thomson
Celebrated hunter Ron Thomson believes that 88% of Kruger National Park’s elephants should be culled.
Kwaai Khwai
Safari report-back: My epic adventure in Botswana’s Khwai – a wildlife-rich area near Okavango Delta, Botswana. By Simon Espley
Water for Elephants
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 …
Safari tips: Understanding accommodation types
When it comes to going on a safari in Africa, you will soon discover that the selection of accommodation options is vast. From straw huts and mobile camps, to ultra-luxury hotels and lodges, your choice of where you’ll unload your bags will be influenced mainly by your needs and budget.
My ‘Delta Detox’ mobile safari experience
Safari report-back: My tented mobile safari in the Okavango Delta, Botswana – an adventure I will never forget. By Carolien du Plessis
Magnificent Madikwe
Safari report-back: My wife and I spent two unforgettable days in Madikwe – the variety of wildlife encounters blew our minds. By Anton Kruger
Elephant ivory and the Japanese hanko stamp
Hanko stamps are the Japanese version of a signature, used throughout Japan to sign deals and important documents, and are made out of a variety of materials, including elephant ivory.
Field notes: Western lowland gorillas feeding on seasonal fruits
Odzala-Kokoua National Park guide, Alon Cassidy, enjoyed some wonderful sightings of western lowland gorillas enjoying some seasonal treats.
Moremi Magic
My Moremi glamping safari. There’s something immensely satisfying about discovering Africa on a mobile tented camp safari. G&T anyone?
Cape Town + bush safari combos
How does one exactly combine Cape Town’s summer splendours with a wild Big 5 bushveld safari? We provide four fantastic summer/autumn combos!
Tracking the Silent Giants of Africa
I have had the great fortune of having travelled in many parts of the world and have experienced many things. This was my third trip to Africa, and second to South Africa. I can say, without a scintilla of doubt, this was the most memorable, impactful, emotional and life-altering trip of my life. My wife, …
My Luangwa Valley photo safari
A photographic celebration of another successful Africa Geographic safari for clients in the Nsefu Sector of South Luangwa NP, Zambia
Moments Captured
Moments captured behind the lens – fantastic photography that will have you grabbing your camera and booking your African safari
Hippo teeth: Hong Kong trade threatens species in Africa
Hong Kong has always been regarded as the epicentre of the global wildlife trade. It appears however that this trade is not adequately controlled by authorities and may lead many species to the brink of extinction. Unfortunately, many news headlines announce illegal elephant ivory and rhino horn trade being processed through Hong Kong’s borders. Many …
Continue reading “Hippo teeth: Hong Kong trade threatens species in Africa”
Best places to see wild lions in Africa
For the best chance of seeing lions in the wild, it would be advisable to head to one of Africa’s ‘lion hotspots’
Dragon-like sungazer lizard in danger
Sungazer – it sounds like a cool name for a dragon, and even though these rare lizards look like the mighty dragons from “Game of Thrones”, the fire of their soul may be burned out permanently.
Magic of Mana
This fantastic Mana Pools photo gallery will have you grabbing your camera, packing your bag and booking your African safari with us
Killing crop-raiding elephants won’t solve problem, say scientists
One of African conservation’s most pressing issues is ensuring that elephants and humans can coexist peacefully in the same area
Monochrome Magic
This fantastic black & white photography gallery of African wildlife will have you grabbing your camera and booking a safari with us
Is Madikwe the best malaria-free Big 5 safari experience?
After a few days in Madikwe we had already seen cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, spotted & brown hyenas, rhinos & elephants. By Marc de Chalain
Kruger elephants: Giants of the Future
This is a citizen science project to assist Kruger National Park scientists to monitor populations of large-tusked elephants in the park
Cecil the Lion’s son Xanda killed by trophy hunter
Xanda, the 6-year-old son of Cecil the Lion, has been shot and killed by a client of Zimbabwean professional hunter Richard Cooke, a Victoria Falls resident. Xanda, in his prime years and the father of several young cubs, was killed just outside Hwange National Park, as was his famous father. Although the hunt was reportedly …
Continue reading “Cecil the Lion’s son Xanda killed by trophy hunter”
‘Shoot-to-kill’ policy for poachers, say Botswana academics
South Africa should implement a ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy for poachers, suggest Botswana academics Goemeone EJ Mogomotsi and Patricia Kelilwe Madigele in a report titled ‘Live by the gun, die by the gun’.
Lion farmers in South Africa threaten big cats worldwide
South African lion farmers are supplying large volumes of lion bone, teeth and claws as ‘tiger parts’ to an insatiable Asian market – says a report recently published by the Environmental Investigation Agency. South Africa is the world’s largest exporter of lion body parts.
Undercover operation reveals rhino trafficking secrets
A recently completed 11-month undercover investigation by Elephant Action League (EAL) called Grinding Rhino has exposed the networks, the players and the means by which rhino horn is trafficked into China.
Magical Mahale – meetings with chimps
Trekking for chimps AND snorkeling the crystal clear waters form a paradise beach – the charm of Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania
Kruger- lodges vs self drive
Which Kruger safari option is better – luxury of the private lodges in the Greater Kruger or the self-catering options in the national park?
Madikwe safari – exciting predator encounters
Plenty of predator action and large herds of elephants in this Africa Geographic photographic safari to Madikwe in South Africa
R.I.P Tullamore – the last lion of the 5 Musketeers
Tullamore, the last of the famous ‘5 musketeers’ desert-adapted lions of northern Namibia, has been killed in the Okongue area, along with a lioness and two cubs, in the ongoing battle between rural cattle farmers and free-roaming lions. The lions were poisoned. Tullamore was the last surviving member of a group of 5 desert-adapted lions …
Continue reading “R.I.P Tullamore – the last lion of the 5 Musketeers”
Niassa: splendour in peril
Niassa in north Mozambique is one of Africa’s last true wilderness areas. This superb photo gallery is a testament to this vast treasure
Jurassic Niassa
“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 …
Photographer of the Year: Commendable finalists
The judges had a tough time this year choosing our wildlife category winner in the Photographer of the Year competition as there were so many amazing finalists. It got to a point where they had whittled it down to five wildlife photographs. However, it was clear that all five were perfect contenders for first place! A tough decision had to be made…
Photographer of the Year 2017 Winners
Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2017 Top 101 Finalists – images that will have you grabbing your camera and booking your next safari
Photographer of the Year 2017 Finalists
Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2017 Top 101 Finalists – images that will have you grabbing your camera and booking your next safari
Baby elephants to be exported to Dubai zoo
A game farm in Namibia has been issued permits to sell five baby elephants to a zoo in Dubai. The elephants range in age from four to eight years old. The sale, at an undisclosed price, will be finalised later this year when the elephants are exported.
Photographer of the Year 2017 Semi-finalists Part 2
Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2017 Top 101 Finalists – images that will have you grabbing your camera and booking your next safari
Photographer of the Year 2017 Semi-finalists Part 1
Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2017 Top 101 Finalists – images that will have you grabbing your camera and booking your next safari
