THIS WEEK - Africa Geographic

Sundowners overlooking the herds in wildlife-rich Khwai Concession, Botswana. The perfect destination for the quintessential African safari. © Machaba Camp

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Guides or influencers? + Tanzania safari circuits decoded + Tsavo tusker Buchuma

Shots fired! The editorial below from a respected safari guide will piss off some of his colleagues and attract vitriol. Uncomfortable truths tend to do that.

Sticking your head above the parapet always results in a defensive reaction from those who benefit from this behaviour, and, of course, unwelcome attention from those who react emotionally to headlines and fail to invest time in absorbing the details. Trust me in that regard; I have the scars to prove it.

Of course, Adam is referring to a tiny minority of safari guides who enjoy a skewed influence because their behaviour and posts are emotive and therefore favoured by algorithms that seek engagement above all else. To the other guides, those not engaging in these tactics, I say this: call out your colleagues on their behaviour. Drop them a direct message and do not back down when they inevitably react defensively. If you don’t regulate your own industry, the algorithms will…

Swimming against the tide is tiring, but ultimately rewarding. Congrats to you, Adam, for your brave missive. Hopefully, some of the culprits will rise above their self-appointed social media influencer status and change their ways.

Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic

From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld

South Africa’s national bird, the elegant blue crane, is in trouble. Once the centre of a conservation comeback story, the blue crane’s stronghold populations have declined drastically, including in the Overberg and Karoo – enough to reclassify this iconic species as Vulnerable. The reasons are complex: fewer chicks fledging, habitat loss, collisions with powerlines, nests lost to predators or machinery, and farmlands that once seemed like safe havens proving treacherous under the weight of agrochemicals and poisoning.

But, this is not a swan song: the blue crane soared once before thanks to focused conservation, and it can again. This news is a call to action for all of us who find joy in a crane’s rattling call to support conservation efforts and spread the news.

This week, we bring you a comprehensive guide to Tanzania’s safari circuits, with everything you need to know. Plus, we look at the pressure that influencer guides are placing on wildlife, with a hard-hitting Op-Ed from Adam Bannister.

Did you know? Your African safari choice makes a difference

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 African safari choice does make a difference – thank you!

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TANZANIA SAFARIS

Tanzania is a bucket list destination for African safari enthusiasts & wildlife lovers. Here’s the lowdown on its four unique safari circuits

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GUIDES OR INFLUENCERS?

Are viral safari guides putting content before conservation? A call from Adam Bannister to restore ethics and integrity to guiding

TRAVEL DESK:

2 SAFARI IDEAS

Family safari to Maasai Mara, Amboseli & Samburu – 9 days – from US$22,938 per FAMILY of 4

Combine three iconic parks with family fun for everyone. This nine-day family African safari to Kenya’s three most iconic destinations is packed with adventure for everyone. Expect an astonishing variety of wildlife encounters, from the Big 5 and Great Wildebeest Migration of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, to huge elephant tuskers in Amboseli National Park, and the ‘Samburu Special Five’ – gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich and beisa oryx.

Walking with giants in Tsavo – Kenya – 13 days – from US$13,350pps

This walking safari tracks the wise old elephant herds as they follow the Galana River through Tsavo National Park, Kenya. Sharing the elephants’ home on equal footing and encountering the famous Tsavo maneless lions, gerenuks and hirolas (the world’s rarest antelope) will supersede any previous game-viewing experiences you’ve had. Stay in beautiful tented camps harking back to a bygone era, and explore the surroundings on game drives in the afternoons. The perfect balance between comfort and adventure.

BUCHUMA, ONE OF AFRICA’S LAST GREAT TUSKERS

Buchuma is a true giant of Tsavo, Kenya – a rare super tusker whose sweeping ivory touches the earth. First identified in 2014, Buchuma is known for his striking, wide tusks (the right one slightly shorter due to a break) and a unique scar on his left abdomen.

We’ve partnered with Tsavo Trust to help protect extraordinary elephants like Buchuma. Fewer than 100 of these tuskers remain across the continent – and Tsavo is home to at least ten. These elephants are constantly threatened by poaching and trophy hunting beyond Kenya’s borders.

Your support can help keep them safe. Donations go directly to Tsavo Trust’s dedicated aerial and ground teams, who monitor and protect these living legends every day. Help safeguard Africa’s last tuskers – find out more and lend your support here.

WATCH: Check out this teaser for Out of Mined – a powerful documentary that lays bare the beauty and fragility of South Africa’s West Coast. From sweeping coastal scenes to the voices of local defenders, the documentary is a call to action against the devastation caused by heavy mineral and diamond mining. The documentary outlines one urgent mission: to protect what remains of the West Coast. (02:07) Click here to watch
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