Natural history Archives - Page 3 of 42

Incredible sighting: Rare spotted zebra foal sighted in Maasai Mara

A rare spotted zebra foal with what appears to be pseudo-melanistic colouring has been sighted in the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

A rhino renaissance in the warm heart of Africa

Celebrating World Rhino Day by taking a look at the conservation success story of the formidable black rhinos in Malawi.

The three-legged painted wolves of Manyoni

The team at Manyoni spring into action to rescue two endangered painted wolves, an alpha female and male, after both suffering from serious leg injuries on separate occasions.

Twiga Tracker – Using modern technology to save the endangered reticulated giraffe

In a world first, the single largest GPS satellite tagging of endangered giraffes has taken place in Kenya.

Leopard takes down impala

The unpredictable nature of wildlife is what makes going on safari special and unique. Who knows what may be lurking around the next acacia bush or down a quiet dry riverbed? However, knowing what signs to watch for and adopting a deeper understanding of animal behaviour can give you that little boost in ‘reading’ this unpredictability. […]

Pride life: Following the Nanyukie lions in the Serengeti

With a prime location in the Serengeti, Lemala Nanyukie camp has front-row seats to watching the fascinating lives of the resident lion pride.

Daisies that close at night have camouflaged petals to protect them from herbivores

A recent study has revealed a novel way in which flowers can avoid being eaten by herbivores.

Vultures of the Old World

“When one thinks about vultures, one envisions a bald-headed, blood-thirsty scavenger waiting for something or someone to perish. We have been brought up to believe that evil surrounds vultures, and this has led to cinematography portraying the species in a negative and unloved light. This has most certainly contributed to the species being disliked and […]

St. Lucia – a unique town where hippos roam the streets

The town of St. Lucia is one of those hidden little gems with unique opportunities to experience nature in all its magnificence.

Saving Spots – a new initiative to protect wild cats in southern Africa

A new project called Saving Spots has been launched to protect declining wild cat populations using synthetic leopard, serval and lion furs, known as ‘Heritage Furs’.

Leopards in Namibia – latest population census results

The results of a recent leopard census in Namibia, providing a more accurate estimate of the distribution and number of leopards in the country.

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.

Escape and evade strategies in the avian world

Find out about the various escape and evade strategies that birds have developed to avoid predators in the wild.

Minister: How many wild rhinos do we have left?

How many rhinos do we have left in our National Parks? An open letter to South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy.

Rhinos: Trade in horn and increase trophy hunting, says Minister. Have your say, within 30 days

South African minister wants white rhinos downlisted on CITES so that horn can be traded internationally, and she wants more black rhino to be trophy hunted. Read this important post, and have your say.

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.

OPINION: Rhino horn trade – designing a sales mechanism should international trade become legal

Rhino horn trade: If the international sale of rhino horn was legalised could it be more successful than the previous legal sales of elephant tusks?

Professional hunter gored by buffalo in Greater Kruger

A professional hunter has been gored by a male buffalo in the community-owned Makuya concession of the Greater Kruger.

Three captive lions killed after mauling owner to death

Three captive lions have been shot and killed after one attacked and mauled the owner to death at a lion camp near Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa.

Behind the scenes: Rhino dehorning

A look behind the scenes of a rhino dehorning.

Elephants and ivory – CITES CoP18 and what the opposing countries want

Battle lines are drawn at the CITES CoP18 conference which starts this weekend, and elephants and ivory are the controversial issues at play. Here is an opinion post from three organisations about each of the proposals on the table.

Watch: Hippo takes over leopard kill

Always expect the unexpected out in the African bush! A camera trap reveals out of the ordinary behaviour as a hippo robs a leopard of its kill.

Bushbabies – The Southern Lesser Galago

With their large saucepan eyes, big ears and bushy tails, galagos, also known as bushbabies, are one of Africa’s most endearing creatures of the night. Often referred to in South Africa as nagapies, meaning “little night monkeys” in Afrikaans, they are regarded as one of the smallest of the prosimian primate species. Although reasonably common throughout parts […]

Trophy hunters kill popular Zimbabwean lion Seduli – on World Lion Day

A well-known male lion called Seduli, who was popular with photographers, has been shot by hunters on the outskirts of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe this past weekend on World Lion Day.

Surprise sighting! Snake versus bat

A unique sighting as a brown house snake catches a bat and proceeds to swallow it whole.

Scientists write letter to Botswana president about elephants

Prominent elephant scientists write to Botswana’s President Masisi about strategy to manage elephants and reduce conflict with humans.

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.

Incredible sighting: The black cat of the Serengeti

A rare sighting indeed at Lemala Nanyukie Tented Lodge in Tanzania, where this melanistic serval has been seen regularly over recent weeks.

A closer look at women in the Field Guiding industry

South Africa commemorates National Women’s Month in August and here we take a look at women in the field guiding industry.

Newborn turtles journey to the sea

Nothing quite beats the sensation of watching newborn turtles climb and clamber towards the beginning of their ocean lives. It is a tough journey, however, and to make it to the shoreline there are many obstacles that need to be overcome.

Best photographic hotspots in northern Namibia

Namibia is a photographer’s paradise, where in the north you will find both fantastic scenery as well as unforgettable encounters with Africa’s magnificent wildlife.

The green season – Botswana’s best kept secret

With lush, green landscapes creating a breathtaking setting for countless photo opportunities, the green season in Botswana can be regarded as an exceptional time of the year to visit.

The Brown Hyena

Steeped in myths and legends regarding magical powers, hermaphroditism and black magic, and more recently cast as villains by Disney, the hyena family undoubtedly suffers from a bad reputation. With their gentle, social interactions and strong kin bonds rarely witnessed, and their reputation amongst farmers as a livestock predator, the misunderstood and secretive brown hyena […]

5 Great national parks worth visiting in Uganda

Explore the top attractions in five of Uganda’s best national parks.

Watch: Elephant calf rescued from muddy trap

Dramatic rescue of an elephant calf from the mud, with a highly stressed mother having to be sedated. The rescue took place in August 2018, but the edited footage has only now become available from Bumi Hills Foundation.

Snake versus gecko: A classic predator-prey encounter

Incredible sighting as a dwarf beaked snake and a barking gecko cross paths in the Kalahari desert in a classic predator-prey encounter.

Incredible escape and evade strategies in the insect world

Escape and evade strategies in the insect world – where being killed and eaten is an ongoing reality.

Ivory from nearly 300 elephants and scales from an estimated 2,000 pangolins seized in Singapore

A record haul as ivory from nearly 300 African elephants and scales from an estimated 2,000 giant pangolins have been seized by Singapore authorities.

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.

Whale watching at its best along the St. Lucia Coast

Whale watching season is in full swing and here we take a closer look at St. Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal – one of the best places to spot migrating whales and their young.

Wild-caught elephants for USA zoos

United States zoos look set to take wild-caught elephants from Zimbabwe.

Elephant ivory trafficking possibly controlled by only 3 major cartels, says research

Major implications for ivory trafficking as research reveals that only three cartels control most illegal trade, according to research.

Opinion: The untold story behind hunting in Botswana

Hunting in Botswana: Human-wildlife conflict scientist takes a deeper look at whether the historic hunting ban was good or bad for elephants and people.

Celebrating Chimpanzees

A gallery of fantastic images of chimpanzees – in honour of our fellow great ape. Images submitted by our Photographer of the Year entrants.

The latest big cat sightings in the Timbavati

Lions and leopards galore at Umlani Bushcamp in the Timbavati.

Bull elephants mate more as they get older – research

Older male elephants are more determined to track down and mate with females than young elephants, says research.

Breaking: STROOP scoops more awards, stands alongside Steven Spielberg, Natalie Portman and Ellen DeGeneres

Acclaimed South African documentary film, ‘STROOP – Journey into the Rhino Horn War’, has continued to attract the attention of international and local judges and audiences alike, winning two more prestigious awards.

Win a painted wolf / African wild dog safari – fundraising event in Hoedspruit

Support painted wolves (African wild dogs) and join the Endangered Wildlife Trust for a fundraiser and auction evening in Hoedspruit to raise funds to purchase much-needed tracking collars to monitor these endangered predators.

3 Tips for unique wildlife photography

Read about these three techniques that will provide you with the knowledge to take your wildlife photography to the next level.

Yes or no – boycott tourism lodges in Greater Kruger because of neighbouring trophy hunting operations?

Does it make sense to boycott tourism lodges in the Greater Kruger because of trophy hunting on neighbouring properties? Our CEO answers the question.

Scorpions: facts you need to know

Scorpions are fascinating creatures that deserve our respect. They come in all shapes and sizes and this article explains how to differentiate

Introducing the Safari Guide of the Year 2019

And the winner is… After a tough week of scrutiny from mentors and intense but convivial competition amongst the five chosen finalists, the coveted title ‘Safari Guide of the Year 2019’ has been awarded. Find out about the winner here.

Iconic desert-adapted elephant ‘Voortrekker’ killed by trophy hunter in Namibia

In yet another blow to big elephant genes, the iconic desert-adapted elephant bull known by millions of fans worldwide as ‘Voortrekker’ was killed by a trophy hunter after being declared a ‘problem-animal’ by Namibian authorities

Hyena Birth – Moment of Magic

There have been many viewpoints written about the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), from both sides of the story. They have been painted with broad brushstrokes as the evil, thieving scavengers of the African bush on the one hand and the other, highly intelligent, cohesive and beautiful animals. Yet, in a world of pure survival, where […]