This travel diary to Busanga Plains in Kafue National Park (Zambia) will have you contacting Africa Geographic to arrange your next safari
Author Archives: Guest Contributor
Leopard raids ground-hornbill nest
Video: a leopard raids a ground-hornbill nest in the Greater Kruger – yet another threat facing this threatened species
Bangweulu – where the water meets the sky
Bangweulu, where the water meets the sky. This conservation success story is owned by a remote Zambian community of fisherfolk
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.
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.
The Greatest Spectacle on Earth – Crossing the Mara
The energy in the air is feverish, filled with anticipation and burgeoning adrenaline. The chorus of thousands of voices echos through the dust as the herds make their way towards the banks of this legendary river, signalling what’s to come. If the conditions are favourable, what follows will be the breathtaking pinnacle of nature’s greatest spectacle, …
Continue reading “The Greatest Spectacle on Earth – Crossing the Mara”
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.
Gonarezhou – Land of Giants
GONAREZOU – a conservation success story and iconic wilderness destination for those seeking true wilderness
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Discovering the forest birds of Maasai Mara
The banks of the Mara River in the Maasai Mara of Kenya offer ideal habitat for birds – and for bird-watchers, especially if you find a puddle of water, and especially during the heat of the day.
Botswana elephant poaching debate: Wildlife vet speaks his mind
Botswana elephant poaching debate: Wildlife vet speaks his mind.
Scientists question BBC reporting over elephant poaching crisis in Botswana
A group of prominent scientists have questioned the reporting by the BBC of the elephant poaching crisis in Botswana.
Sierra Leone’s Turtle Islands: The ultimate digital detox
A journey to Sierra Leone’s Turtle Islands provides a technology-free escape like no other.
Researchers use “biological passport” to monitor whale sharks – Earth’s largest fish
A new study has revealed endangered whale sharks inhabit smaller geographical scales than previously documented, which suggests they may be at increased risk of local extinction if good conservation management is not in place.
The demise of the baobabs – a climate change warning?
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to life on this planet, and there is a sad irony that baobabs which are known as ‘the trees of life’, are amongst the first casualties.
My fight to save Liberia’s pangolins
Two steps forward, one step back in pangolin conservation. Liberia is a country in West Africa that has overcome civil war, battled through the Ebola crisis and is currently recovering from the impacts. But there is one more issue to confront – the illegal wildlife and bushmeat trade.
Giraffe survives despite deformed jaw
Despite a deformed jaw, this giraffe cow has been able to adapt and survive in the Kruger National Park.
Witnessing an elephant relocation in northern Kenya
We get an insiders view as to what happens during the relocation process of an elephant heading to a new home from Lewa to Tsavo in Kenya.
