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Namibia, photo paradise + 2 dreamy bush-beach escapes + dramatic wildlife pics
Every now and then, science gets a helping hand from something richer than data: deep, lived knowledge. This week, that knowledge helped identify the world’s first fossilised pangolin trackway, found on South Africa’s Western Cape coast – and confirmed with the help of two Ju/’hoansi San trackers from Namibia.
Not bones, but footprints. Not a skeleton, but a fleeting moment, pressed into sand 120,000 years ago and now preserved in stone. The discovery is groundbreaking – not only for what it tells us about where pangolins once roamed, but for how it was uncovered: through a partnership between scientists and two Indigenous Master Trackers. The discovery confirms that pangolins were once distributed across a larger range than they are now. Stories like this are why we do what we do. Following the faint spoor of the past, we find new reasons to protect what remains.
And speaking of footprints through ancient southern Africa… Namibia’s landscapes don’t just hint at the past, they encapsulate it. Namibia’s deserts, shipwrecked coastlines and contoured dunes are a paradise for photographers. This week, we follow the lens into some of Namibia’s most striking photographic hotspots. See our story below.
We also bring you our latest collection of photos from Photographer of the Year 2025. From baby gorillas in Rwanda to stilt-walkers in Ethiopia, leopards in the Mara to flamingos over Mozambique, this gallery captures rare wildlife moments and cultural traditions – one frame at a time. Photographer of the Year is now closed for entries, but, we still have two more galleries of entries that we will bring you in the next two weeks, consisting of the cascade of photos that we have received in the last few days.
Until next time, follow the tracks, and tread lightly.
Taryn van Jaarsveld – Editor, Africa Geographic
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Story 1
PHOTOGENIC NAMIBIA
Namibia is a photographer’s paradise, and in this post we show you where to go to get the most from your photographic safari
Story 2
INCREDIBLE PHOTOS
Photographer of the Year 2025 is now closed for entries! Here are our top photos for Week 11 of the competition
TRAVEL DESK:
Our safari picks for you this week:
Still searching for that handcrafted experiential safari? Browse our ready-made safari ideas OR click here for free safari planning.
WATCH: Liwonde National Park, Malawi, offers some of the best river-based viewing in Africa of elephants, crocodiles and hippos. The park stretches along the banks of the Shire River – just south of Lake Malombe and Lake Malawi. Verdant landscapes consist of riverine floodplains, woodlands, and arid savannahs. This is a great comeback story of how a sustainable Big-5 safari destination was reclaimed from a poached wasteland. (0:36) Click here to watch
For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here
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