Long Story Form Archives - Africa Geographic

Kibale National Park

The forests of Uganda’s Kibale National Park are an oasis for countless primate species, including chimpanzees, and an array of fauna and flora

Maasai, maize and mammoths – human-elephant conflict in the Amboseli ecosystem

Averting crop-raiding elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem is a constant battle. Josh Clay reports on how rangers prevent human-elephant conflict

Seven safari myths – busted

Can you separate fact from fiction when it comes to the tall tales told about Africa’s wildlife? Our experts bust common safari myths

Warthog

Warthogs are the fast and courageous tusked pigs of Africa. Known for their haggard looks, the warthog is an entertaining sight on any safari

Safari Season – visit Africa in Jun, Jul, Aug

When is the best safari season in Africa? We answer one of the most common safari questions with a comprehensive look at the best African destinations and when to visit them in June, July and August.

Alex Brackx – 2022 Photographer of the Year

Epic images: 2022 Photographer of the Year Alex Brackx shares a selection of his favourite images and the stories behind them

African penguin

The African penguin is an endangered bird found along the coasts of southern Africa, drawing thousands of tourists every year

Safari Season – visit Africa in Mar, Apr, May

When is the best safari season in Africa? We answer one of the most common safari questions with a comprehensive look at the best African destinations and when to visit them in March, April and May.

Ultimate bush and beach combo safari

Bush or beach? There’s no need to choose! We bring you the best combo safaris featuring epic beach & bush destinations for the ultimate African holiday

Virunga National Park

Virunga NP offers unparalleled biodiversity. Rain forests, gorillas, endemic birds, bubbling volcanoes, and safari favourites await

The best malaria-free safari destinations

Want to head on safari while avoiding the risk of malaria? Here’s our round-up of the best malaria-free safari destinations in South Africa

Tsavo National Park’s Great Walk

Ever dreamt of walking in the footsteps of tuskers on Tsavo National Park’s Great Walk? Norman Owen-Smith traversed 160km of this Kenyan park

Cape porcupine

Cape porcupines are fascinating creatures. Protected by deadly quills, they are the largest rodents in southern Africa

Oltepesi – a Maasai Mara camp for photographers

Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp in Mara North Conservancy is designed with photographers in mind – ideal for an epic Kenyan photographic safari

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park

Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago has the ingredients of a sublime safari: fascinating creatures, breathtaking scenery & amazing biodiversity

Your guide to a Botswana safari – SADC edition

SADC residents: tick a Botswana safari off your bucket list. Check out these SADC special offers, for travel to top lodges – up to 75% off

Selati Game Reserve

Selati is a secret Big 5 safari haven on the outskirts of Greater Kruger. It is also home to specials like sable & the rarest cycad on earth

Aardvark

The elusive aardvark is a keystone species, shaping the landscape around it and providing dwellings for other mammals, reptiles and birds

Forest Whisperers

Simon set out to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek in Kenya to find out how community members are restoring threatened forests

Safari Season – visit Africa in Dec, Jan, Feb

When is the best safari season in Africa? We answer one of the most common safari questions with a comprehensive look at the best African destinations and when to visit them in December, January and February,

Kafue National Park

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest and largest national park – known for sweeping plains and wetlands, and abundant and unique wildlife

Gedi Ruins

Gedi was an important medieval East African city of trade. Today, you can visit Kenya’s Gedi Ruins to discover a lost Swahili civilisation

Wall-to-wall wildlife – Khwai Private Reserve

Khwai in Botswana offers non-stop wildlife action. Our Photographer of the Year finalists visited the reserve for an epic experience

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

Kenya’s ancient Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, home to endangered creatures found nowhere else on earth, is a birder’s dream

The miniature owls of Africa

Africa hosts a variety of miniature owls. From scops-owls, to white-faced owls & owlets, here is the rundown of these small, endearing birds

Walking with gorillas

Trekking through the ancient rainforests of Bwindi, Uganda to find mountain gorillas brings Ryan Biller face-to-face with a childhood dream

Safari Season – visit Africa in Sept, Oct, Nov

When is the best safari season in Africa? We answer one of the most common safari questions with a comprehensive look at the best African destinations and when to visit them in September, October and November.

Snakes – everything you need to know

Admired and feared, snakes are marvels of natural engineering, behaviour & movement. Here’s everything you need to know to understand snakes

Primate Quest – DRC, Rwanda & Mafia Island

One family’s adventure with AG to Rwanda, DRC & Mafia Island in search of primates, bats & other weird and wonderful creatures

Dine out in the bushveld

No African safari is complete without a dining experience out in the wilderness. Here are our favourite spots to enjoy dining in the bushveld

Healing in Hwange

Can an African safari bring healing? Aaron Gekoski heads to Zimbabwe to explore Hwange and Matobo National Parks to find out

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s last refuge for savannah-adapted wildlife, and safeguards Central Africa’s largest protected wetland

Habituating leopards

Following the death of leopard Hosana, Jamie Paterson & Maxine Gaines take an in-depth look at leopard habituation & tourism ethics

Africa under canvas

Camping in the bushveld is an immersive experience. Here are the best tented camps in Africa – from basic budget options to luxurious glamping

Majete Wildlife Reserve

Malawi’s Majete Wildlife Reserve is a booming Big 5 destination. Be drawn by epic scenery, cheetahs & wild dogs, & the mighty Shire River

Kalahari’s overlapping cheetah litters

A cheetah mother has been observed simultaneously raising two cheetah cubs of different age classes – behaviour never witnessed in the wild

Northern Madagascar

Northern Madagascar – biodiversity, lush rainforests, mangroves, azure lagoons, palm-fringed beaches, lemurs and ferocious fossa

Meru National Park

Meru National Park is a resilient expanse of vital Kenyan wilderness. This Big 5 safari destination of ‘Born Free’ fame is a land reborn.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a leading gorilla trekking destination in Africa. This volcanic landscape offers stunning scenery & biodiversity

Surviving in post-pandemic Zimbabwe

As tourism slowly recovers in post-pandemic Zimbabwe, hunger still stalks the country. Many resort to the basics to survive the loss of income

Elephant bulls – breeding and trophy hunting

Does the hunting of elephant bulls with large tusks lead to the decline of Africa’s tuskers? We examine the science

Sleep out under the stars

Stargazing under African skies from a comfortable bed will add magic to any safari. Here are our top spots for sleeping out under the stars

Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus – a large semiaquatic mammal – is one of the most powerful, speedy and feared animals in Africa

South and central Madagascar

South and central Madagascar is popular with tourists who enjoy the spiny forests, elegant sifakas, ring-tailed lemurs and desert canyons

The Himba – a people in transition

The iconic Himba people of Namibia navigate an uncertain, modernising world affected by climate change and marginalisation

The 7 best places to see leopards in Africa

Want to spot leopards on your next safari? Here are the 7 top destinations for seeing this elusive member of the Big 5

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park has magnificent scenery, giant baobabs & an abundance of wildlife – all the ingredients for the perfect safari

Africa’s 30 best swimming pools

Here’s our list of THE 30 best swimming pools in Africa – to round out your safari. Best views, best sightings, spots for sundowners & more!

Moremi: bucket-list mobile safari

Explore the pristine Big 5 wilderness of Moremi and Khwai on a fuss-free mobile glamping safari with expert guides on AG’s May expedition

6 beers to order on safari

Here’s our guide to the 6 best locally brewed beers from top-class breweries to enjoy on your African safari

Jackals of Africa – consummate survivors

Jackals are the ultimate survivors of the African bushveld. These social & intelligent canids are expert opportunists and masterful lurkers

Katavi National Park

Katavi is Tanzania’s wildest secret – drawing gatherings of wildlife in the dry season & flourishing under floodplains in the rainy months

The 6 top places to see painted wolves

Looking for the best place to see African painted wolves? We bring you six of our favourite spots to scout for wild dogs

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana casts a spell upon her visitors – a true wilderness, both untamed and austerely beautiful

Africa’s 10 most sublime sundowner spots

Sundowner, anyone? We reveal our top 10 sundowner spots in Africa – best enjoyed with exotic cocktails and delicious snacks

Southern ground-hornbill – Africa’s rara avis

The southern ground-hornbill is a complex, social, endangered species that marks the dawn chorus with its haunting, thunderous call

Gerenuk – Africa’s gawky oddball

Gerenuk: these tiny giraffe gazelle are endearing, somewhat comic and almost alien in appearance – and high on the safari bucket list

Time with super tuskers

Searching for super tuskers? We spotted three of these legendary elephants in one safari trip – here’s how we did it.

Safari time! Our favourite time of day

Between meals, cocktails, spa treatments and pool dips, when should you head into the wild? Here we recommend our favourite safari time

São Tomé & Príncipe – Africa’s undiscovered paradise

São Tomé and Príncipe – two islands off the west coast of Africa – brim with ecological marvels, captivating history, and welcoming people

Photographer of the Year Winners Trip 2021

Khwai – photographer’s paradise

Khwai (Botswana) is every wildlife photographer’s dream. Check out this gallery of images & contact us for your safari plans

Eastern Madagascar

A journey through eastern Madagascar is an adventure for endemic lemurs, birds, reptiles, pristine beaches and ancient forest

Western Madagascar

Western Madagascar boasts iconic images and creatures – fossas, lemurs galore, upside-down trees and rocks with teeth!

Thomson’s gazelle – underappreciated speedster

The Thomson’s gazelle is an under-appreciated antelope of the Mara-Serengeti – a terrific athlete, and integral part of the Great Migration

Madikwe adventure – a boy in the wild

My name is Luka and I am ten years old – I spent my school holidays learning what it’s like to work as a game ranger in Madikwe Game Reserve

Sensing Kenya – A blind woman’s safari

Imbar Golt is blind. Sensing Kenya, she experiences the wonders of Africa through the smells, sounds, tastes and feels of a camping safari

The Cape safari – off the beaten safari track

The Cape safari experience: fascinating wildlife and malaria-free protected spaces close to Cape Town and the Garden Route

Gombe and Mahale – the chimpanzee forests of Tanzania

Gombe & Mahale in Tanzania combine safari with chimpanzee trekking in the magic forests on the shores of Lake Tanganyika

Tana River primates – on a broken wildlife highway

The critically endangered Tana River red colobus & mangabey are endemic to the forests on the banks of the Tana River

Herding 4 Health – people, livestock and conservation

Herding 4 Health is a rural community activity promoting conservation by teaching innovative herding in and near wildlife areas

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy – Kenya’s golden child

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya, is a haven for rare and wonderful wildlife that offers exclusive stunning safari experiences.

The Garden Route – South Africa’s ultimate road trip

The Garden Route is a dramatic meeting of mountains, gorges, forest and the Indian Ocean, interspersed by quaint, sleepy beach towns

Caracal – Africa’s deadly beauty

The caracal, with its luminous eyes, dramatic ear tufts, bold facial markings and stocky physique is arguably Africa’s most exquisite cat

Ghosts in the gorges – on the fugitives’ trail

Fugitives’ Drift is a rejuvenating getaway for heart and soul, where the hills breathe history and ghosts whisper in the moonlit gorges. The lodge is a haven of family hospitality in a breathtaking natural setting.

Striped hyena – the forgotten fourth hyena

Striped hyenas lurk in the shadows, shy and elusive. They are seldom seen, poorly understood and may answer our questions on hyena evolution

Samburu – home of the Samburu special 5

Samburu – an arid land steeped in rich tradition, where people, livestock, and wildlife thrive side by side, sharing precious resources.

Cape Town – Mother City

Cape Town – the Mother City – offers a blend of a nature-lovers playground, modern city lifestyle, cultural diversity and foodie heaven

Oryx – four legendary spear-tipped antelope

Oryx – four robust, dignified and courageous species. Icons of the desert perfectly adapted to their desiccated rangelands.

Zakouma National Park – jewel of the Sahel

Zakouma – a park returned to vibrant wilderness teeming with life, is a once-in-a-lifetime journey for travellers looking for safari adventure

Crossing the human-wildlife barrier

Crossing the human-wildlife barrier – is it ever okay? Three positive African examples involving a pangolin, a blesbok and a clan of hyenas

Victoria Falls – the smoke that thunders

Victoria Falls – the smoke that thunders – is the world’s largest waterfall – a breathtaking place of myth, magic, and romance.

African eagles – Avian apex predators, part 1

African eagles soar through the skies, sharp-eyed and fierce, bringing unexpected death from above to their prey.

Chobe National Park – Africa’s elephant Eden

Chobe National Park boasts the world’s highest elephant density, lush riverine woodland & vast dry savannas – embodying the safari spirit

Counting the Cape parrot – Africa’s rarest

Counting Africa’s rarest parrot – the Cape parrot – on a mountain top in Magoebaskloof, South Africa. By teamAG, led by CEO Simon Espley

Sable and Roan – the ‘horse-goat’ antelopes

Sable and roan – the two magnificent Hippotragus antelope – delight in their majestic bearing, gorgeous coats and rapier horns.

Mukalya Private Game Reserve – Rescuing wilderness

Mukalya Private Game Reserve is a gorgeous piece of restored wilderness on the Zambezi River – an inspiring, family run safari experience.

Murchison Falls National Park

Uganda’s Murchison Falls NP: home to a smorgasbord of wildlife and diversity set against the backdrop of the spectacular Nile River

Odzala-Kokoua National Park – biodiversity bonanza

Odzala-Kokoua NP in Congo is one of Africa’s hidden gems – a testament to the resilience of both the continent’s people and her ecosystems

Western Namibia – shades of ochre

Western Namibia is a land of heat, sand, sea and remarkable biodiversity surviving against the backdrop of harsh but stunning scenery

Forest elephant – endangered gardeners

Forest elephant numbers are believed to have plummeted 86% in just 31 years yet their role in maintaining forest ecosystems is critical.

Marvellous meerkats – mongooses of the desert

Marvellous Meerkats – socially complex and fascinating little mongooses found across the deserts of Southern Africa.

A journey to see Africa’s threatened sea turtles

Five of the world’s seven magnificent sea turtles swim Africa’s oceans and nest on the beaches – all are threatened by human beings

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with the famous crater at its heart, is a spectacular, year-round safari destination of abundance,breathtaking vistas and ancient history.

Do we have an elephant problem?

The ‘elephant problem’ – ecologists, landowners and tourists are grappling with the elephant problem. But what does this mean?

Mthimkhulu Game Reserve – a dream deferred

Mthimkhulu Game Reserve is 8000ha of prime land in the Greater Kruger, 50km north of Phalaborwa. It’s an area with a desperately sad past and a hopeful future. We went to have a look.

Luangwa Valley – vast Zambian wilderness

The Luangwa Valley is a vast Zambian wilderness and playground for tourists seeking an authentic safari experience

Lake Malawi – freshwater beach & island paradise

Lake Malawi is one of Africa’s best-kept travel secrets – a freshwater lake surrounded by gorgeous beaches, islands and biodiversity with endless opportunities for fun and relaxation.