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Ape intimacy decoded + final photos + Vic Falls thrill
The ‘Responsible Travel’ illusion
Self-proclaimed conscious travellers sprinkle their Instagram posts with hashtags like #sustainabletravel and #leaveonlyfootprints, and bathe in the warm glow of virtue. But look closely and you will find that most ‘travel with purpose’ is sterile, vanilla, mass-market mediocrity.
What has a beach resort in a gated compound, a quick bus tour of some ‘local culture’ staged for tourists and your mojito served with a paper straw got to do with protecting wildlife and empowering local people? Nothing. Zero. It’s environmental theatre with room service.
Real responsible travel – holidays that support biodiversity and empower local communities – are often sidelined by holidaymakers because they are less tidy and more complex to arrange. They usually involve staying in smaller lodges rather than big international chains, access via bumpy roads or small planes, and – horror of horrors – no mobile phone reception (Wi-Fi is usually available, albeit slow). Did you know that one of the best ways to travel responsibly is to travel outside the safari high-season months of July to September?
Let’s be brutally honest: mass tourism is a machine that extracts value from nature and people, wraps it in a shiny brochure, and sells it back to tourists with a bow on top. It commodifies cultures and sterilises wild places.
So the next time someone waxes lyrical about responsible travel while sipping a cocktail at a mega-resort that flattened a mangrove forest, call them out. Or better yet, lead by example. Book a trip that supports conservation and empowers local communities. Anything less is just green-tinted tourism.
Those of us pursuing the holy grail of responsible travel are not yet perfect, but we are working on it. Please help us set the standard.
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
What’s small, warty, and has been a total mystery until now? Tomopterna banhinensis, a newly described sand frog from Mozambique that slipped under the radar for decades. In the vast mosaic of Africa’s biodiversity, it’s humbling to realise how many puzzle pieces we’ve yet to find – some hiding in plain sight.
The discovery of this new, charming cryptic frog highlights the power of patient science, collaboration, and a sharp eye for tubercles. Morphologically, the frog closely resembles other sand frogs, which is why it went unnoticed until now. Only careful genetic analysis revealed it was something new. Its discovery highlights how many “lookalike” frog species may still be hidden across Africa, which can be unveiled through DNA sequencing. The world is still wilder, and richer, than we can imagine.
Below, we examine how chimps and bonobos use sex to keep the peace. We also bring you the final gallery of new Photographer of the Year 2025 entries. Now, the judging – and fun – begins!
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
FINAL PHOTOS
Our final week of new entries for Photographer of the Year! Winners will be awarded a safari to incredible Odzala-Kokoua National Park
Story 2
APE SEX
Research reveals bonobos & chimps use sex to resolve tension. Great ape sex offers insight into the evolutionary roots of human intimacy
TRAVEL DESK:
2 SAFARI IDEAS
WATCH: South Sudan is home to the largest land mammal migration on Earth: the Great Nile Migration. During this migration, an estimated 6 million antelope move north and east across the country towards Gambella National Park in Ethiopia after the seasonal rains. Knowing this has allowed African Parks to amplify the safeguarding of this globally significant landscape and its wildlife, while working together with local communities, to uphold their livelihoods and cultural needs. (06:24) Click here to watch
For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here
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