Our weekly newsletter
To cull or not to cull in Madikwe? + Nyungwe crimsonwing quest + Volcanoes meet gorillas
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From our CEO – Simon Espley
There is a tiny bird that has never been photographed in the wild other than when accidentally netted during biodiversity surveys.
I have been on numerous adventures to the misty highland forests it calls home to catch a glimpse of this gorgeous avian eye candy, but alas, it has evaded me SO FAR. I also co-founded an NGO that sponsored and managed two years of netting research in their prime habitat in collaboration with Uganda Wildlife Authority – also to no avail.
Shelley’s crimsonwing – Cryptospiza shelleyi – is a species of forest finch occurring in the highland forests of the Albertine Rift in East Africa. It is classified as endangered due to habitat loss and is likely to have a small, severely fragmented and declining population.
One paradisiacal location to search for this special bird is Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. Oh, and it is also one of Africa’s best chimp trekking destinations, and hosts 13 primate and 337 bird species, including 29 Albertine Rift endemics! AND NOW African Parks has opened a new lodge deep inside this primordial forest – Munazi Lodge – the only lodge inside the national park.
Meanwhile, as I am writing this, a giraffe and her adolescent youngster are nibbling new buds on the trees at our garden fenceline, and a drongo is dive-bombing insects disturbed by these gentle giants. Life is good.
Finally, Leo Tolstoy famously stated, “One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken”.
Keep the passion
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
Watch and listen to Simon’s editorial below, or listen to all Simon’s past editorials here:
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
Good news is scarce in the vulture world – which makes this discovery worth celebrating. For the first time ever, conservationists have confirmed a hooded vulture nest with a chick in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This marks the southernmost breeding site yet recorded for the critically endangered species, expanding our understanding of its range – and bringing fresh hope for the species!
The find came during aerial surveys in Zululand and adds to other small but significant wins for Africa’s vultures, including more nests of lappet-faced vultures and growth in some white-backed colonies. With threats like poisoning, power line collisions and traditional medicine hunting still pressing, every chick is a victory.
This week, we bring you news on Madikwe’s elephant dilemma, written by an expert on the matter, Roger Collinson. There are tough conservation choices ahead. We also take you on a journey into Rwanda’s iconic Volcanoes National Park, home to gorillas and grandeur.
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!
Our stories this week
TO CULL OR NOT TO CULL
Madikwe faces an elephant crisis that forces conservation discussions about culling, hunting and tourism. Expert Roger Collinson writes
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Volcanoes National Park is a leading gorilla trekking destination in Africa. This volcanic landscape offers stunning scenery & biodiversity
Travel Desk – 2 African safari ideas
Cape Town, Winelands & Okavango Delta – 11 days – from US$7,190pps
This is the luxury safari you’ve been dreaming of. Experience the ultimate Southern African adventure. A seamless blend of cosmopolitan Cape Town, the culinary magic of Franschhoek, and the wild beauty of Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
Serengeti Great Migration & big cats – 8 days – from US$7,590pps
Be prepared for the drama and the wonder of the vast open plains. Step into the wild heart of Tanzania as the Great Migration sweeps across the vast Serengeti. Encounter endless herds, prowling predators, golden savannahs and dramatic big skies on this unforgettable safari adventure.
Still dreaming of the ultimate African safari escape? Browse our safaris ideas here. Or click here to plan your safari.
Spots on the line: Saving Hoedspruit’s leopards
Africa Geographic is proud to announce our newest conservation campaign: partnering with the Ingwe Research Program to protect Hoedspruit’s leopards. These secretive neighbours quietly share our landscapes, but their survival is under serious threat – seven lost their lives on local roads last year alone.
This vital project tackles the urgent issue of road fatalities and works to implement life-saving infrastructure and signage. Ingwe’s broader work also builds the most comprehensive leopard database in the region, equipping conservationists and communities with the knowledge to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
We support this campaign because it addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing leopards today: surviving in landscapes increasingly shaped by people. Together, we can change this story.
Find out more about the Ingwe Research Program and our campaign to support them here.
WATCH – AFRICAN SAFARI INSPIRATION:
Witness an incredible 25-year journey of love, dedication, and ecological triumph. Samara, a passionate conservation undertaking in South Africa’s Great Karoo, has painstakingly rewilded 27,000 hectares of degraded land, bringing back lions, elephants, and cheetahs after over a century of absence. (06:38)
Click here to watch
*Cover photo: Walking the treetops above Rwanda’s ancient rainforest on Nyungwe’s breathtaking Canopy Walk, where primates, orchids, and birds thrive at eye level. Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. © Villiers Steyn | Ukuri
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