OUR WEEKLY CONSERVATION NEWSLETTER
Trunks, tides & a wildlife wake-up call
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From our CEO – Simon Espley
What a breath of fresh air from the AI slop and ‘content creator’ detritus that dominates our feeds! Greg’s personal video account below of the huge breeding python in his garden had me fascinated, thrilled, and more than a little envious that the python had chosen his garden as her nursery rather than mine.
Greg du Toit, a respected photographic safari guide, is old school in that he values respect, dignity, and authenticity. His video demonstrates that in spades. His patient, non-invasive documentation of the snake’s breeding cycle and down-to-earth commentary stand in stark contrast to the forced, insincere clickbait that is now the norm.
Scroll down and see for yourself.
In other news, the safari booking season is well on its way, and popular destinations are largely booked out for 2026, with 2027 enquiries rolling in. We have once again secured an exclusive block of high-season 2026 nights at an authentic bush camp in a prime area of Botswana’s Okavango Delta for you and yours. Let us know your dates, and let’s start planning your escape to the Okavango Delta. Safari njema, good people.
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
Did you know that elephants can ‘see’ using their trunks? An elephant has roughly 1,000 whiskers on its trunk, acting as high-tech antennas.
Elephants are famous for knowing exactly what’s going on: who’s nearby, what’s edible, what’s dangerous. Now, a new study has found that elephant whiskers act like tiny touch sensors: each whisker changes along its length, stiff and porous at the base, and softer and denser toward the tip. Each whisker acts as a tactile sensory organ. This clever design helps elephants sense exactly where something touches the whisker, improving their ability to “feel” their surroundings. So the next time you see an elephant using its trunk to delicately stroke a calf, feel a tree trunk or caress the tusk of a companion, know: it’s reading the world through its whiskers.
This week, we delve into how Africa’s decline in wildlife is draining the continent’s ecosystems of functional energy and ecological power. Plus, we take a breather on the tranquil shores of Bazaruto, with everything you need to know about this island paradise.
Today, we start voting on the first entries for Photographer of the Year 2026, and we are already blown away by the quality – and interesting subject matter – of the photos coming in. We can’t wait to share these with you!
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
WILDLIFE DECLINE
Sub-Saharan Africa has lost over a third of wildlife ecological power, with major declines outside protected areas – study
BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO
Mozambique’s Bazaruto has all the ingredients of a sublime safari: fascinating creatures, scenery & biodiversity
Travel Desk – 2 African safari ideas
Mozambique bush & beach combo – 12 days
Discover Mozambique, from the wilds of Gorongosa National Park to the barefoot luxury of Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. Game drives, bush walks, foraging with wild pangolins, dhow cruises, snorkelling, and helicopter flights make this the perfect blend of adventure and indulgence.
Okavango Delta and Vilanculos bush & beach safari – 12 days
An epic pairing of authentic bush camp and seaside luxury. This bush-and-beach escape begins in the Okavango Delta with game drives and mokoro excursions led by expert Bushman guides in a predator-rich wilderness, before easing into barefoot bliss in Vilanculos, with white-sand beaches, warm ocean swims, and sunset dhow sails.
Still dreaming of the ultimate African safari escape? Browse our safaris ideas here. Or click here to plan your safari.
Our safari guests say…
Teresa and Joan from Ireland went on a dream South Africa trip to Madikwe and Cape Town with AG:
“Magical trip to South Africa. What a fabulous time we had in South Africa, booked seamlessly through Ro and Linda at Africa Geographic. Our trip was to Madikwe Game Reserve, where we stayed for 3 nights. The lodge was very welcoming – beautiful place to stay within the park – and the food was so varied and delicious. The game drives exceeded our expectations… we had many close-up views of the animals. A shout out to our safari guide Ashley, who shared all his knowledge of the animals (and he was a really polite gentleman). And of course, to Heidi, the lodge manager, who had a lovely birthday cake for me on my 60th birthday. Our internal flights to get to Cape Town ran very smoothly, and we were then picked up punctually and stayed at the Queen Victoria Hotel in Cape Town for 3 nights. What a lovely place! We visited all the ‘to-do’ sites there, including Table Mountain, Boulders Beach and Robben Island. A big thank you to Lloyd, whom we booked for a day to drive us around, through AG. All in all, a fabulous itinerary made to our liking. Thank you, AG: I would highly recommend them.”
WATCH
Witness the incredible breeding journey of an African rock python, captured in intimate detail via camera trap in the Lowveld garden of wildlife photographer, Greg du Toit. (08:10) Click here to watch
Cover image: The inquisitive one. Kariega Private Game Reserve, South Africa. © Andrew Aveley. Photographer of the Year 2017 finalist
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