Our weekly conservation newsletter
Nature doesn’t give a damn + Mara tusker Fred dies
This is a copy of our weekly email newsletter. Subscribe here to receive the newsletter and more inspiration for your African safari.
From our CEO – Simon Espley
Nature doesn’t give a damn about our timelines
Humans have an obsessive need to find structure in everything. We identify patterns, build predictive models, devise strategies and cram the glorious chaos of life into neat little boxes. Preferably with measurable outcomes, quarterly reports and someone to hold accountable when things don’t go according to plan.
Meanwhile, nature gets on with the business of life. No spreadsheets, performance reviews or shareholder expectations. Just an endless series of collisions, adaptations, failures and evolutionary experiments, unfolding over timescales that make our grand plans look laughably insignificant. And here’s the uncomfortable bit: we are merely one species in this magnificent, relentless process. Nature doesn’t need us. We need nature.
Consider a wildlife reserve undergoing ecological rehabilitation. The landowners have a 20-year restoration plan, carefully crafted to satisfy investors. The head warden has a five-year strategy, conveniently aligned with a performance contract. The team on the ground? They’re thinking a year or two ahead, perhaps until a better job comes along.
And then Mother Nature wanders into the boardroom, glances at the PowerPoint presentation and says, “Cute. I’ve got a thousand-year plan to undo your last century of meddling. And I won’t be taking questions.”
There’s the absurdity of it all. We appoint ourselves custodians of ecosystems we barely understand, impose deadlines on processes we cannot control, and then express surprise when nature refuses to follow the script.
None of this means we shouldn’t plan, manage or restore what we’ve damaged. Quite the opposite. But perhaps a little humility wouldn’t go amiss. Nature operates on its own terms, and our job is to understand those terms rather than arrogantly assume we can rewrite them.
We are not in charge; we are participants – temporary ones, at that. Get used to it and enjoy the ride.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Peace out.
Simon Espley – CEO, Africa Geographic
Watch Simon’s podcast below:
Or, listen to all Simon’s past editorials here
From our Editor – Taryn van Jaarsveld
Ever tried telling someone to back off, only to have them completely ignore you? It turns out that elephants know that feeling too. New research shows that elephants use an elaborate repertoire of gestures to get their point across, checking whether the other elephant is paying attention and persisting when the message doesn’t get through. Spreading their ears out, flapping them or giving another elephant a firm shove with the trunk are all ways of saying “back off” – and if the message is ignored, they may repeat or change their gestures until they get a response. Even among elephants, some individuals just can’t take a hint.
Also this week, we pay tribute to Fred, the iconic Maasai Mara tusker, whose long life and satellite tracking contributed to elephant conservation in Kenya. And we head to Botswana’s Mashatu and Tuli Block, where elephants roam ancient river valleys, leopards thrive and walking, cycling and photographic safaris offer exciting ways to explore this remarkable landscape.
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!
Our stories this week
TULI AND MASHATU
Discover Botswana’s Mashatu and the Tuli Block, where elephants, leopards, walking, cycling & photographic safaris await
ICONIC TUSKER DIES
Iconic Maasai Mara tusker Fred has died in his mid-50s. His survival and satellite tracking contributed to elephant conservation in Kenya
Travel Desk – 2 African safari ideas
Botswana + Namibia landscapes & wildlife – 16 days
The best of Namibia and Botswana. This journey blends the freedom of a Namibian self-drive with the ease of a fly-in Botswana safari, from towering red dunes, ancient cultures, and desert-adapted wildlife to the floodplains and forested islands of the Okavango Delta and Chobe River, where predators and abundant wildlife thrive.
Mashatu & MalaMala Big 5 safari – 10 days
An exclusive luxury safari combining two of Africa’s finest leopard destinations. Explore Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve, where ancient baobabs, sandy riverbeds and abundant wildlife create spectacular photographic opportunities. Continue via the dramatic Blyde River Canyon to MalaMala in Greater Kruger, renowned for exceptional Big Five encounters. From scenic flights and luxurious lodges to expert guiding and memorable wildlife sightings, this journey brings together contrasting landscapes and outstanding safari experiences.
Still dreaming of the ultimate African safari escape? Browse our safari ideas here. Or click here to plan your safari.
Meet super tusker EM2
EM2 was formally added to Tsavo Trust’s monitoring database in 2024, joining the ranks of Tsavo’s remarkable super tuskers. Believed to be between 40 and 45 years old, he is a calm, imposing bull, usually seen alone. His tusks have grown significantly in both length and girth, making him one of Tsavo’s impressive giants.
We’ve partnered with Tsavo Trust to help protect some of Africa’s last remaining giants. Fewer than 100 tuskers are thought to survive across the continent, and at least 10 still call Tsavo home. These rare elephants – whose tusks brush the ground – are prime targets for poachers and trophy hunters beyond Kenya’s borders.
Book an Africa Geographic safari to help keep EM2 and others like him safe. Or support Tsavo Trust through our Guarding Tuskers campaign to keep vital aerial and ground patrols running and continue safeguarding these magnificent elephants.
WE WON AFRICA. NOW, VOTE FOR AFRICA
GEOGRAPHIC AS THE WORLD’S BEST.
Africa Geographic was named Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Company 2026. Now, we have been nominated as the World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company 2026.
You know what we bring to safari: decades of expertise, exceptional journeys, trusted relationships and a deep commitment to Africa. It’s time to take that recognition to the world stage.
Vote for Africa Geographic as the World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company 2026 here.
Voting closes 9 November 2026.
WATCH
Among Nyungwe’s colobus monkeys
Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is home to extraordinary troops of Rwenzori pied colobus monkeys, with more than 500 individuals recorded moving through the forest together. Our 2026 Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year winners captured these fascinating primates during their time in one of Africa’s most remarkable rainforests. (02:18) Click here to watch
Cover image: A mud bath gets messy for the photographer. Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana.
© Kevin Dooley.
Photographer of the Year 2022 entry.
To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.
