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Was another famous tusker hunted? + Journey into Pendjari & W
Life in a conservation brand is changing rapidly. Yes, we earn our living as a travel company – handcrafted experiential SAFARIS – but at the root of brandAG is our conservation media, and we are passionate about telling Africa’s stories – warts and all.
The request for more information below about yet another giant elephant allegedly killed by trophy hunters is a classic case in point. For trophy hunters, the personal risk of bragging about their trophies online has increased significantly because of vigilantism, which sometimes spills over into a physical safety threat. Perhaps because of this, these bastions of transparency, ethics and ‘fair chase’ now burn carcasses and no longer share trophy images in the public online space. Silent assassins. And, without facts, the vacuum is filled by speculation on social media. And this makes our role as purveyors of fact more complicated.
Have no fear, though; we have ways and means of rooting out the facts behind this latest tragic example of the plunder of Africa’s biodiversity, and when we do, we will let you know. Because facts matter. A luta continua.
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
Did you know that gorillas hum while they eat? Yes, that’s right: gorillas have meal soundtracks. According to primatologist Eva Luef, who spent hours observing western lowland gorillas in Congo-Brazzaville, gorillas make two distinct noises while dining: a low hum, like a contented sigh, and a more melodic “song” that sounds like someone testing out a new tune. Moreover, these tunes may have an evolutionary purpose: it’s the dominant silverback male’s way of signalling to others that it’s time to dig in.
This week, we are seeking more info on the possible trophy hunting of another super tusker in Tanzania. The jury is still out on the identity of the elephant. Plus, we follow Kingsley Holgate’s Afrika Odyssey adventure through Benin’s W and Pendjari National Parks. See more below.
More sad news: the African penguin has been uplisted as critically endangered. But hope is not lost. You can help by calling on the South African government to save these penguins and the marine ecosystems they anchor. See more info in the video at the end of our newsletter.
DID YOU KNOW?
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level. YOUR safari choice does make a difference – thank you!
Story 1
https://africageographic.com/stories/has-zito-the-cross-border-super-tusker-been-trophy-hunted-in-tanzania/
TROPHY HUNTED?
Africa Geographic is seeking more information on the possible trophy hunting of another super tusker in Tanzania
Story 2
https://africageographic.com/stories/w-and-pendjari-benin/
W & PENDJARI
Kingsley Holgate & the Afrika Odyssey team are connecting 22 African Parks areas. Read about their trips to Pendjari & W in Benin
TRAVEL DESK:
Don’t miss out on our two exclusive safaris – a thrilling introduction to Southern Africa’s most coveted destinations, or a journey to the heart of Zambia’s secret wilderness: Liuwa Plain National Park. Explore our options below or click here for free safari planning.
Be swept off your feet with wall-to-wall wildlife action on this iconic Southern African safari. You’ll visit Greater Kruger, Cape Town and the Winelands in South Africa. And you’ll also visit Khwai Community Concession and Chobe National Park in Botswana. Top this all off with a trip to magnificent Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe – for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Still looking for that unique safari adventure? Browse our safari ideas and feel inspired.
What our safari clients say
Colin and Sara Taylor from the United Kingdom recently spent 10 days on a quintessential Kenyan safari with AG. Here is what they had to say about their experience:
Kenyan Safari Adventure: We took a day flight to Nairobi, spent one night there and took a light aircraft to Saruni Samburu the next morning. We were met at the airstrip and our Samburu driver was our guide on all trips from the camp. He was outstanding, and incredibly knowledgeable on all the animals, and especially the birds – of which there are so many stunning varieties. Saruni Samburu, a luxury camp, is situated at the top of a rocky hill in the Kalama Conservancy. It has an adjacent waterhole and offers incredible views for miles around. After three nights, we flew down to the Mara North Conservancy to visit Saruni Mara, which is tucked away in a secluded and wooded area along a long bumpy road! In the conservancy, safari vehicles are allowed off the tracks so we were able to get very close to many beautiful animals. This is not the case in the Maasai Mara itself. There are also strict rules which prevent too many vehicles being at one sighting at a time. We had many wonderful experiences there and the best were normally on the early morning game drives – well worth getting up for! After four nights, we boarded a light aircraft flight back to Nairobi and then went for lunch in a beautiful garden restaurant near the Karen Blixen Museum, before taking our night flight back to London. Thank you Christian from AG for arranging our safari – everything went like clockwork!
Want to join our safari tribe and have safari experiences like these? Get in touch, and let’s start planning your African safari!
WATCH: The African penguin has just been uplisted to critically endangered. Breeding pairs have dropped below 10,000 – an alarmingly low number. This shows the rapid decline of African penguins – which could face extinction within a decade. Learn more about the plight facing African penguins, and what you can do to help. (04:17) Click here to watch
For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here
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