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A young male mountain gorilla tentatively reaches out to poke his week-old baby brother in a sibling tale as old as time. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. © Tomasz Szpila
Photographer of the Year 2023 entrant

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2025 photo finalists + 2 photographic safaris + whales & wildflowers

Has ‘luxury’ been hijacked?

That word ‘luxury’ is so subjective and often alienating. It has been hijacked by purveyors of excess and opulence, and speaks of chunky watches and fast cars shoved into conversations and social media posts. And yet, an evolved version of luxury goes to the core of the tailor-made experiential safaris that we craft at Africa Geographic, in addition to our conservation media and donations. Hold my sundowner G&T, and let me explain.

With us the renaissance of ‘luxury with purpose’ transcends opulence and embraces meaning. Luxury safaris should no longer be defined by crystal glass chandeliers or rimflow pools but by soulful connection, exclusivity of experience, and purposeful impact.

Our safari guests crave stories, authenticity, and the reassurance that their journey is contributing to something greater. Holidays that transform. Of course, some fortunate travellers can afford a higher price tag than others, but that is the way of the world. Our focus at teamAG is to persuade our guests to employ their comparative wealth in the pursuit of changing lives on both sides of the travel experience.

As the world reawakens to the value of wild spaces, choose responsible safaris that honour the land and its people. Help us redefine luxury – not as excess but as experience, intention, and legacy.

 

Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic


From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld

Ever wondered why elephants are so… wrinkly? Turns out those creases are more than just good looks. Elephant wrinkles – especially on their trunks – aren’t random folds, but functional features that aid in gripping, shape-shifting, and even reveal a kind of “trunkedness”. Yes, elephants, like humans, show left- or right-handed preferences when grabbing things.

Scientists have studied various elephants, from unborn calves to zoo-dwelling pachyderms, to understand their glorious folds, and found that these wrinkles begin developing in the womb and deepen with age. Think of it as nature’s way of building better tools. Proof, once again, that evolution doesn’t waste a wrinkle.

We will soon be announcing the WINNERS of Photographer of the Year 2025… And what a journey it’s been! But, we have chosen the FINALISTS, and this week we share two galleries filled with our entrants’ epic photos.

Plus we share the magic of West Coast National Park: from wildflowers to whales, ancient footprints and epic birding.


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

Discover South Africa’s West Coast National Park – wildflowers, whales, ancient footprints & epic birding just 90 minutes from Cape Town

Story 2

Enjoy Gallery 1 of our Photographer of the Year finalists here. Winners to be announced soon!
Story 3

Enjoy Gallery 2 of our Photographer of the Year finalists here. Winners to be announced soon!


Travel desk TRAVEL DESK: 

2 SAFARI IDEAS

Fancy a guided photographic safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara? Join award-winning photographer Arnfinn Johansen on this exclusive safari for four guests. Highlights include guided game drives with an experienced Maasai guide in a modified photographic vehicle and accommodation at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp. Departure Dates: 24 October–1 November 2025. Only 2 spaces left.
Experience the best of Mana Pools – inland and floodplains – with safari expert and photographic guide, Villiers Steyn. This epic photographic safari, led by two expert guides, is for the adventurous traveller and photographer seeking incredible wildlife action. Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe offers raw and surreal photographic opportunities. SADC rates available. Only 1 space left! (Check out the video at the bottom of this newsletter to see what’s in store for your Villiers Steyn safari)
safari

YOUR SAFARI JUST HELPED SAVE AFRICA’S VULTURES

We’ve got incredible news to share – you made a real difference.

Thanks to your safari booking with Africa Geographic, we’ve proudly donated US$5,000 to the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey Programme in response to a heartbreaking mass vulture poisoning incident just weeks ago. This emergency support helped fund rapid rescue missions and rehabilitation efforts that prevented a potential crisis in southern Africa.

When you travel with AG, you do more than explore Africa’s wild places – you help protect them. A portion of every AG safari booking goes directly to vital conservation projects like this one. Because of your decision, Africa’s vultures are getting a second chance.

Ready to plan your next life-changing safari?
Let us craft your dream journey – and know that your adventure supports the creatures that need it most. Check out some of our safari ideas here.

👉 You can also support the EWT directly here.

safari

WATCH: A photographic safari in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, offers an extremely wild, untamed experience. Villiers Steyn headed up an Africa Geographic photographic safari to Chitake Springs, Mana Pools, and here’s how it went down. You too can join Villiers on a photo safari to Mana Pools – see the safari details above. (09:23) Click here to watch

For more videos celebrating Africa, check out our videos here

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African safari

Why choose us to craft your safari?

Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.

Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?

African travel

Trust & Safety

Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.

See what travellers say about us

Responsible safari

Make 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 safari choice does make a difference - thank you!

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