Guest Blogger, Author at Africa Geographic

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.

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.

Wildlife vet: the Botswana elephant debate is actually about a bigger conservation issue

Botswana elephant debate: Wildlife vet says that this is NOT about too many elephants in Botswana, it’s about too many elephants in areas where humans, livestock and elephants overlap.

Why identifying individual elephants is important, and the pivotal roles matriarchs and older bulls play

Understanding the importance of identifying elephants and the pivotal roles matriarchs and older bulls play.

Addressing Malawi’s deforestation crisis

On the International Day of Forests the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust addresses Malawi’s deforestation crisis.

Graphic content: Lion attacks injured hyena

A dramatic sighting as a lion brutally attacks an already injured spotted hyena in the Kgalagadi.

Opinion: Put down the petitions – help create alternatives for Botswana beyond elephant hunting

Botswana elephant debate: Tourism marketing manager urges the tourism industry to create alternatives beyond elephant hunting.

Photoseries: Sonny, the rescued baby mongoose

Introducing Sonny, a rescued baby mongoose who has now found a home at ZURI Orphanage in Namibia.

Opinion: Dr. Mike Chase on elephant poaching in Botswana

Dr Mike Chase, from Elephants Without Borders, provides a statement on the elephant poaching in Botswana.

Opinion: Activist exposes South Africa’s lion park scams

Lion activist says let’s call a scam for what it is.

Opinion: Pro hunter responds to our CEO regarding hunting in Greater Kruger

Professional hunter Paul Stone has responded to Simon Espley’s opinion editorial questioning whether the trophy hunting industry will ruin Kruger National Park’s expansion plans.

Photoseries: Leopard family makes a splash

Magic happens while on safari when a leopard mother leads her two cubs across two flowing channels of the Sand River to the other side.

Video: Leopard attacks baby honey badger, then mother retaliates

A video captures an exceptionally rare moment in which a leopard attempts to kill a young honey badger.

Brutal: Crocodile rips out zebra’s guts during Mara River crossing

WARNING: Contains distressing images, not for sensitive viewers. A zebra receives fatal injuries after a crocodile attack in the Mara River.

Opinion: Ecologist responds to Guardian newspaper article against trophy hunting

Campaign against trophy hunting – a western urban cultural imposition on rights of rural African communities: arrogant cultural superiority or ignorance?

Nose-to-nose with one big cat!

A photographer and her husband receive a surprise up-close encounter with a young male lion in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Opinion: Why trophy hunting is counter-productive as a ‘conservation tool’

Trophy hunters target the largest or rarest animals they can find – or those with the biggest horns, tusks or manes. Yet both science and common sense tells us that that goes against nature’s law of survival of the fittest.

Graphic video: Hippo commits infanticide

Dominant male hippos can engage in brutal fights to defend their territory, and can even commit infanticide to secure their dominance over the pod.

Fantastic sighting: Leopard’s heavy load snaps branch

South Luangwa in Zambia provides an unbelievable sighting of a leopard attempting to carry her kill up a tree, with not much success.

Adorable sighting: Bat-eared fox kits

An adorable sighting of bat-eared fox kits adds to the magic of a safari in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania.

Saving trafficked pangolins, one release at a time

A story about releasing trafficked pangolins back into the wild, thanks to a dedicated team of people fighting to ensure the survival of these threatened creatures.