Leopards inhabit many habitat types – but they also inhabit a blind spot in conservation. Tough to count, we can only guess their numbers
Author Archives: Guest Contributor
A Savuti fishing leopard in action
Watch this fishing leopard catch a catfish (barbel) in a muddy waterhole in the Savuti Channel of Botswana’s Chobe National Park
Wüstenquell in Namibia offers unique rock formations for photographers
Wüstenquell in Namibia’s abundant rock formations make it one of most spectacular locations for any landscape photographer.
Sustainable utilisation of wildlife not so sustainable
Overexploitation of wild species that cannot be compensated for by reproduction or regrowth has been identified as a threat to biodiversity
I can’t afford to volunteer in my own country
The problem with volunteering: By volunteering at conservation projects you may be robbing local conservationists of jobs
Poaching along the Okavango River
A look into the poaching of elephants, hippos and crocodiles along the Okavango River on the border of Angola and Namibia.
Watch: A baby snow-white baboon
An adorable leucistic baboon is spotted playing in South Luangwa as his mother keeps watch.
Why Etosha is the perfect place to sketch wildlife
Etosha in Namibia provided the perfect African wildlife experience for an artist from Spain – check out his artwork and take in his advice
Wounded elephant limps to a local lodge for help
A victim of a failed poaching attempt, this elephant limps to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge in search of help.
Trophy hunting – a compromise?
Trophy hunting – the debates rage on. This analysis of the arguments put forward to justify trophy hunting makes for interesting reading
Build your own owl box!
Attracting owls to your garden is a wonderful way to marvel at these incredibly hunters of the dark. Learn how to build an owl box
The truth about volunteering with lions
Volunteering with lions – a volunteer exposes the behind-the-scenes reality of working in one of South Africa’s lion parks
Antelope hybrid in the wilds of northern Botswana
A wild hybrid between a red lechwe and a waterbuck antelop confounds an experienced game ranger in Selinda, northern Botswana
Zooming in on mesocarnivores
A camera trap study contributes new insights into the diverse world of small and medium-sized carnivores.
The rich history of Zanzibar’s dhows
Zanzibar’s rich, fascinating history is entwined in the use of the dhow – an ocean-going vessel used for trade along the East coast of Africa
Elephant poaching – intelligent law enforcement helps
Elephant poaching: Tanzania’s recent success in the ivory war is testament to the powers of a multi-agency anti-poaching strategy
Chapman’s Baobab has fallen down
Chapman’s baobab in Botswana – Africa’s first “post office” and a beacon for early day explorers has fallen down
A photographic journey through traditional Egypt
Outstanding photo gallery by Yasser Alaa Mobarak, a 22-year-old amateur photographer based in Alexandria, Egypt
White baboon stands out from the crowd in Arusha NP
A white, albino baboon has been seen wandering around Arusha National Park in Tanzania. This is an extremely rare encounter that has tourists flocking to view the mythical creature
Coral trees of South Africa – a study in scarlet
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.
Who are the Black Mambas?
The black mambas are about girl power! Find out more about the all-female anti-poaching unit that is making waves in conservation
How China’s taste for wildlife feeds a killing frenzy
Africa’s extraordinary and charismatic wildlife is clearly under siege from the wrecking ball that is China.
Saving a little elephant
An elephant calf is saved after he became trapped in a dam at Phalaborwa Copper, Limpopo – thanks to the heroic team of Elephants Alive
Asia’s Golden Triangle – a conduit of death for Africa’s animals
The Asian end of the grisly wildlife trade business and a place that has become China’s illegal wildlife supermarket.
Carnivores in decline due to land reform
Population numbers of carnivores in Zimbabwe have dropped significantly due to land reform that has seen large tracts of land change hands
Peter Beard and The End of the Game
A meeting with Peter Beard, author of the End of the Game – a provocative tale of the harsh reality of starvation, poaching and hunting in Kenya.
The horror of snares
Unravelling the danger of snares – the indiscriminate killer of the bushveld and a serious threat to Africa’s free-roaming wildlife
An open letter to point out flaws in legalising the rhino horn trade
An open letter to Mr. Hume, the owner of South Africa’s largest privately owned rhino herd, with regards to his wish to lift the CITES ban on the rhino horn trade.
Local community rallies together to save elephants that are stuck in the mud
The tale of an attempt to rescue two elephants from the mud after they became stuck after trying to drink water from muddy pools
Why you should care about thickets
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
A very special pangolin rescue
This is a story of two rescued pangolins, a story of compassion and transboundary teamwork to help two endangered mammals
5 things I wish I knew before climbing Kilimanjaro
Five things you should know before you summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and a popular challenge for adventurers
8 unexpected uses for elephant dung
Elephant dung has many uses to humans – from delicious coffee and beer, to medicine, insect repellant, biogas and paper
Seaweed – 10 facts and interesting uses
Interesting facts and uses for seaweed – the treasured garden under the waves.
12 edible indigenous South African plants
Connect to your food and the rhythm of nature in a new, fresh and wild way by growing these 12 indigenous edible plants.
Extinct, then rediscovered – the ‘little violins’
The lovely yellow Lachenalia mathewsii, like so many plants in the Cape Floral Kingdom, is at risk of going extinct.
18 000 Mauritian flying foxes: to cull or to treasure?
The Mauritian government plans to cull 18,000 endangered flying foxes – scientists say that this drastic measure threatens their existence
Where did all the penguins go?
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.
Rescuing Beatrice the baby aardvark
‘A’ is for aardvark – a strange nocturnal creature that wanders some of Africa’s drier areas. ‘B’ is for baby aardvark that was rescued
Welfare of elephants in captivity comes under question
Elephants are still being ridden in South Africa, despite a growing international move away from the controversial practice
‘Extinct’ plant discovered on Lion’s Head
A small species of plant, thought to be possibly extinct, has been rediscovered on the slopes of Lion’s Head.
Graphic content: Baby hippo killed by its pod
A baby hippo is slaughtered by its pod in a startling series of photographs that highlights the realities of wild Africa
Drones keep elephants safe in Tanzania
To reduce human-elephant conflict, drones are being used to chase elephants off farms and ensure their safety.
Lions are in trouble in Namibia
Lions could be in trouble in Namibia’s arid northwest if nothing is done to reduce human-predator conflict
A Rock Art Jewel
One man’s mission to document a complex rock art panel on the roof of a shelter in a remote area of South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains
A Southern African Mesosaurus site
Discovering the fossils of the Mesosaurus in Namibia.
Putting right the black mamba’s reputation
The black mamba is a misunderstood snake – the subject of many urban legends and exaggerated claims Learn more here
The creatures of the Boland caught camera traps
See what creatures live on the Boland’s mountains thanks to these great camera trap images!
Wild dogs of Serengeti
Wild dogs: a lost species is returned to Serengeti National Park.
Photographing the cattle of Pondoland
Christopher Rimmer speaks about the creating of his Amapondo Exhibiton – photographing the cattle of the Pondo people of Port St Johns.
