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Mission Bazaruto + stellar photos + Zanzibar special
Does an African safari really make a difference at ground level? The short answer is YES, it does, but some more than others. Every lodge/camp employs local people with cascading benefits for their dependents and the local economy. The more benefits local people derive from the safari tourism industry and NGO activities, the more inclined they will be to support conservation and resist alternative land uses such as farming, mining, logging and trophy hunting. Many lodges have concerted programs that involve education and health benefits for local people – and more. Most will happily provide you with details if you ask them – or you can ask our safari experts to dig further to help craft your responsible safari. To do that, visit our website via the links below and follow the prompts.
How can you increase the positive impact of your safari? There are many ways, but here are three that stand out like a giant knobbly baobab against the starlit night sky:
- Why not venture beyond the ‘prime’ safari season of June to September? By doing so, you reduce the environmental footprint (fewer people and vehicles to impact on the landscape and wildlife movement) and open yourself up to some of Africa’s most unique experiences – the hidden gems that safari connoisseurs often seek out. To help you plan, we’ve provided a detailed month-by-month guide to a typical year in Africa.
- As a responsible traveller, you can shape the future of African safaris. Consider including visits to remote areas that are less popular than the heavily marketed destinations. These off-the-beaten-path locations often offer unique experiences and can significantly benefit from your visit. You can find a variety of these locations in this taste of ready-made safari packages.
- And you could try ‘COALITION‘ – an innovative campaign dreamt up by my team that speaks for itself.
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
Hyenas and porcupines don’t get along, nor do hyenas and warthogs, or porcupines and warthogs, for that matter. Fair enough. So how do these three species end up shacking up underground?
Researchers have observed spotted hyenas, porcupines and warthogs – on more than one occasion – sharing the same den site in Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. One site was home to as many as two porcupines, six warthogs and 11 hyenas at one time – who often entered the den within minutes of each other. Not only did the animals remain safe inside with no conflict, but the hyenas also did not prey on their bedfellows on the surface. The key to the peaceful cohabitation boiled down to three things: sharing bones (at least between the hyenas and porcupines), having separate bed chambers, and, on the hyena’s part, not being able to move enough in the tight space to inflict harm. Fascinating!
Check out our Photographer of the Year gallery below (there’s less than one month left to enter!), and read about Kingsley Holgate’s mission of hope to Mozambique’s paradise island of Bazaruto Archipelago National Park.
Story 1
https://africageographic.com/stories/bazaruto-archipelago-a-seascape-of-hope/
MISSION BAZARUTO
Kingsley Holgate & his Afrika Odyssey team are connecting 22 parks managed by African Parks. Read about their trip to Bazaruto Archipelago NP
Story 2
https://africageographic.com/stories/photographer-of-the-year-2024-weekly-selection-week-7/
STELLAR PHOTOS
Enjoy our Photographer of the Year 2024 Week 7 gallery. Only one month left to enter to win an epic safari and to have a lion research collar sponsored in your name
TRAVEL DESK:
Bush or beach? Now is the time to start planning your safari – whether to see the Great Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania, or to soak up the island vibe of Zanzibar. Or why not combine the two?
SAFARI WITH US
Our safari experts have been busy planning epic safari experiences for our tribe. From a 17-day safari across three countries (SA, Kenya & Tanzania), to a gorilla-trekking safari to Rwanda and Uganda, and a special-occasion safari to the Okavango Delta in Botswana: here’s what our travellers had to say.
“I would not change anything… Nadia helped us design a fantastic 17-day safari adventure across three countries (on short notice). Everything worked seamlessly, from flights, to properties, to transfers. More importantly, she helped immediately with any questions we had mid-journey. We could not be happier with our decision to travel with Africa Geographic. An amazing experience, with no friction.”
“An excellent and well-organised tour of Rwanda and Uganda!”
“Christian from Africa Geographic was really good in helping us with a special-occasion safari. His advice on selection of camps in the Okavango was really good. All arrangements worked well and it was a great experience.”
Want to join our safari tribe and have experiences like this? Get in touch, and let’s start planning your unique African safari!
WATCH: Once extremely numerous, the African penguin population has plummeted from one million breeding pairs to a tiny fraction of this figure. Commercial fishing, marine pollution, and habitat destruction have taken their toll. Due to increasing pressure, the African penguin could be wiped out within a decade without active intervention. (05:18) Click here to watch
For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here
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