Guest Contributor, Author at Africa Geographic

Boycott Africa – good intentions with unfortunate consequences?

Boycott Africa! is the demand by some who dislike the wildlife policies adopted by some African countries. Is boycott bad for conservation?

Stories in the night sky

For centuries, African myths and legends have been recorded in the positions of the celestial bodies in the night sky. Starry starry night

GORONGOSA IN IMAGES

Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique is a place of abundance; one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth – for the safari connoisseur

Confiscated parrots fly free again over DR Congo forests

39 poached & confiscated African grey parrots released in eastern DR Congo after being rehabilitated at Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Centre

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story is a photographic book celebrating these charismatic predators and telling their story

Strawberry leopard – a first for Gauteng

Photos: The ‘strawberry leopard’ is a genetic rarity that seldom occurs, and is almost never seen. Well, one has now been seen in South Africa

The Power of Unity – Cheetah coalition in Maasai Mara

This is the story of a cheetah coalition of five males – the Tano Bora coalition, meaning ‘The Magnificent Five’ – in Kenya’s Maasai Mara

Ignorant complicity amongst some safari guides

This refreshingly honest opinion editorial looks at eco-ethics amongst safari guides as they go about finding animals for guests

Bee wise

On the south-western tip of Africa, a bee conservation group has spent the last seven years discovering the wisdom of our wild honeybees

Lion farming – Lord Ashcroft submission to South African High Level Panel

Lion farming presentation by Lord Ashcroft to the High-Level Panel looking at the management of lions and other species in South Africa

Kruger waterhole problems

Kruger waterhole problems are being reported, and it is not clear which waterholes are closed as per the Kruger ecosystem management plan

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story

Africa’s Wild Dogs – A Survival Story is a photographic book celebrating these charismatic predators and telling their story

Swimming blind – why critically endangered blind cave catfish needs research

The blind cave catfish, only found in a cave in Namibia, lives in total darkness. It is one of the rarest freshwater fish species in the world

Why are elephants dying in Zimbabwe and Botswana?

Elephants dying: Professor Keith Somerville investigates the mysterious deaths of more than 300 elephants in Zimbabwe and Botswana

Domestic cat predation on wild animals in Cape Town

The domestic cat is a honed killing machine whose impact on biodiversity in South Africa is only now being fully revealed

Counting lions: new study shows the importance of good counts for lion conservation

Counting lions using correct techniques is vital to understand how many lions there are. Historical surveys have not resulted in good data

Roan antelope conservation challenges

Roan antelope populations have dropped to perilously low levels, and there is every chance they could disappear from the areas such as Kruger National Park

It’s not about the worm

Mopane worms are a popular source of protein and delicious snack for rural people in Limpopo – read about a sustainable Kruger harvest program

Rescued pangolins given a rare second chance

Seven rescued pangolins rehabilitated and moved to a new home that is secure and ready to once again play host to pangolins

Why are rhinos important for ecosystems?

Learn about why rhinos are vital ecosystem engineers & why Africa’s wild places would never be the same again if rhinos were to disappear

Not just any walk in the park: 160 kilometres through Zambia’s Kafue National Park

Two conservationists braved lions, hyenas & pythons on a 160km walk to raise awareness about poaching in the vast Kafue National Park, Zambia

Coronavirus has finally made us recognise that illegal wildlife trade is a public health issue

The global Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic may prove to be an important moment in the attempts to address the illegal wildlife trade.

Leopard raids ground-hornbill nest

Video: a leopard raids a ground-hornbill nest in the Greater Kruger – yet another threat facing this threatened species

Goshawks hunting a scrub hare

Two pale chanting goshawks hunting a scrub hare in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

Baboon kidnaps lion cub

A baboon kidnapped a tiny lion cub in the Kruger National Park, and was seen grooming the dying cub in a large tree

Humans not always to blame for genetic diversity loss in wildlife

People are not always to blame for loss of genetic diversity in wildlife, says new study.

Who is who? Elephant identification tips and tricks

This is how researchers in Greater Kruger identify individual elephants.

Trophy hunting: rural communities respond

Opinion: Rural communities are the custodians of African wildlife and deserve to have their voices heard in the trophy hunting debate.

Communities delivering conservation impact & wildlife recoveries

Opinion: Communities are delivering significant conservation results equivalent to those of government parks and reserves.

Elephants in Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi

Conservation needs diversified approaches – opinion

Scientists suggest alternative land-use models to trophy hunting – models that are more inclusive of local people.

Survival against the odds – 2 special elephants

The touching stories of two wild elephants whose struggle for survival will amaze (and humble) you, and provide a sense of perspective into the wonderful journey of life.

Using ‘chilli balls’ to reduce human-elephant conflict in Zambia

Crop-raiding elephants in Zambia are being deterred humanely through the use of ‘chilli balls’ which are fired at their rumps.

Opinion: Zimbabwe’s shameful export of baby elephants under the guise of ‘sustainable use’

Opinion: Export of baby Zimbabwe elephants to China in defiance of CITES is shameful, and makes a mockery of ‘sustainable use’.

Samanyanga – the legendary big tusker of Malilangwe

A moving tribute to the magnificent tusker known as ‘Samanyanga’, of Zimbabwe’s Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve – by wildlife filmmaker and photographer Kim Wolhuter. Samanyanga died of natural causes.

Katavi National Park takes radical action on hippos

Opinion by biologist: Controversial dam being built in Tanzania’s remote Katavi National Park to save hippos may have negative environmental consequences.

Skilful climbers: Lionesses scale near-vertical cliff in pursuit of prey

A great sighting as two lionesses show off their athletic climbing skills as they make their way up a near-vertical cliff face in pursuit of potential prey.

Collaring elephants in Gilé National Reserve – wilderness at its best!

Elephant conservation in action: Collaring elephants in Gilé National Reserve in Mozambique.

Opinion: Approval of citrus farm on Greater Kruger border puts the region’s Protected Area Expansion Project at risk

Citrus farm approved on the border of Greater Kruger. Concerned protected area managers believe that this will threaten the entire region.

Remarkable sighting: Cape cobra versus mole snake

A venomous Cape cobra and powerful mole snake face off in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, providing a most unique and unforgettable sighting.

Poor fencing has devastating effects on roaming elephants

Elephants are being shot because poor fencing results in elephants roaming into communal lands outside of Songimvelo Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

A walk of discovery through Zanzibar’s Stone Town

Stone Town: Exploring the history, architecture and culture through a guided walk in Zanzibar’s oldest town.

Wildlife photography: Aiming for that ultimate ‘bucket shot’

A wildlife photographer pursues his ultimate ‘bucket shot’ of an up-close and detailed photo of a malachite kingfisher.

Do elephants affect vulture nesting success? Ongoing research

Researchers highlight the complex relationship between elephant impact and vulture nest survival in the Greater Kruger National Park.

Large-tusked elephants are in decline, need to be protected from trophy hunting and poaching, says researcher

The need to protect large-tusked and potentially large-tusked elephants from poaching and excessive selective hunting pressure is more apparent than ever as the progressive decrease in average tusk size over the past three decades is potentially leading to over exploitation of older bulls.

Video: The rise of the matriarch – women making a difference on the conservation frontlines

Women are making a huge difference on the frontlines of conservation. Join the Rise of the Matriarch community, which uses film and photography to inspire change, and help make a difference for these women.

Photoseries: Lion cubs enjoy a feast while the pride looks on

An incredibly adorable sighting as two lion cubs have a field day snacking on a kudu carcass in the Maasai Mara.

Elephants are sentient and conservation strategy should adapt, says researcher

We struggle as humans to understand our own actions. How can we begin to understand and provide possible interpretations for the actions of other species such as elephants?

Please help. Botswana cheetahs need livestock guard dogs, and YOU

Cheetah Conservation Botswana is looking for donations to help place 25 livestock guarding puppies with farmers that are the hardest hit by human-wildlife conflict.

Opinion: Selinda Reserve in Botswana was not hunted out, say former owners in reply to Dereck Joubert

Previous leaseholders of NG16, also known as Selinda Reserve, respond to Dereck Joubert’s article on the state of the Selinda concession.

Opinion: Europe first plundered elephants for ivory – should Western countries preach to China?

The Elephant Protection Initiative takes a long view and considers the changing role of China in the illegal ivory trade.

Watch the wildlife documentary: When an Elephant Smiles

Watch the wildlife documentary, ‘When an Elephant Smiles’, that takes a look at saving orphaned baby elephants in Zimbabwe amid massive scale ivory poaching in Africa.

There’s a bat in my bedroom!

A nature conservation student shares her first impressions after a few weeks at the Karoo Lodge Conservancy, located in the Karoo in South Africa.

Bull elephants – their importance as individuals in elephant societies

It has long been recognised that older female elephants are pivotal to elephant ecology and herd survival, but what of older males?

Become an Eco-warrior and donate towards educational conservation comics for children

Become an ‘Eco-warrior’ and help the Southern African Conservation Trust educate the less privileged children by making a small donation towards their educational conservation comics.

Opinion: Trophy hunting in the Greater Kruger versus broader conservation priorities

Trophy hunting in the Greater Kruger – biodiversity conservationist provides perspective, and suggests that well-funded groups opposed to hunting have a disproportionate voice in social media, compared to local communities that are affected by living amongst or near wildlife, and carry the costs.