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Why Lamu is one of the Indian Ocean’s best-kept secrets
1. The oldest Swahili settlement Lamu Town, located on Lamu Island, is the oldest Swahili settlement along the East African coast, stretching from Kenya through Tanzania to Mozambique, and including Zanzibar and The Comoros. For centuries, the local Swahili people proved to be prolific traders along this route and their legacy is evident in […]
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Rwanda’s passionate female conservationist on Kigali’s best
Singita’s 178-acre property sits on the border of Volcanoes National Park; one of four national parks in Rwanda and its most heavily patrolled. Home to one-third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, conservation of this precious habitat is an enormous priority. Claudine’s days involve environmental monitoring and protection, following up on the plant nursery and […]
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Margot Raggett on Compiling Conservation Book Remembering African Wild Dogs
While on safari at Laikipia Wilderness camp in Kenya, Margot Raggett first encountered African wild dogs. They were running off to hunt, with Margot and her guide racing to keep up with them. When the pack came back together, they greeted each other so enthusiastically — as if they’d not seen each other for 20 […]
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Africa’s Top 9 Conservation-led Safaris
The World Travel and Tourism Council offers some figures. In 2019 wildlife-based tourism generated more than US$29 billion annually for Africa and employed 3.6 million people. The entire School of Wildlife Conservation (SoWC) revolves on the premise that to improve wildlife conservation in Africa truly; it must be owned and driven by Africans, benefit people, […]
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Explained: The A – Z of going on an African safari
A is for Angola Angola was once famed for its giant elephants (a 12-ton male was spotted here in 1974), but poaching during the country’s 27-year-long civil war took a big toll on both human and animal population. Angola has been at peace for two decades and their wildlife reserves are on the road to […]
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Zimbabwe’s brilliant female environmental lawyer (and urban farmer) shares her Harare
Takudzwa’s conservation journey started in Hwange National Park. Her father worked there, which she says birthed an innate desire to protect wildlife and the environment. Today, Takudzwa’s experience includes co-authoring a Handbook for Prosecuting Wildlife Crimes and developing the first virtual training on wildlife crime and the law for authorities in Zimbabwe. She has drafted […]
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Top 10 things to know when planning your first African safari
There are some questions to consider right off the bat: are you looking for a romantic getaway? Perhaps a family-friendly holiday? Do you want a rugged adventure or are you strictly interested in getting pampered at a luxury lodge? Those are the kind of top-level questions you’ll need to start considering. Africa can be expensive […]
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The Day May Break: Nick Brandt’s powerful take on climate change
The powerful, mostly monochrome images have people sitting for portraits with a foggy background and rescued animals entering the scene. It looks as if they’re posing together, but the message is that the human characters are victims of environmental degradation and climate change. Climate change, and its resulting erratic weather patterns, has made Laikipia in […]
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Why the Magoroto Forest is described as Africa’s ‘Bali’
Jerry Mchechu, a Tanzanian photographer and content creator, took a leap of faith in 2017 and relocated from Dar es Salaam with his wife to the Magoroto Forest Estate, his mission was to create an eco-tourism project after he was impressed by the remoteness of the area, weather and the scenery. “For a person coming […]
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This has to be Namibia’s most romantic honeymoon pod
Once thoroughly advised on tyre replacement charges, puncture procedures, and wheel-changing ways, I hit the road in a lucratively lime green Suzuki Jimny 4WD rental car from Namibia2Go. As if a solo female traveller wasn’t unusual enough in this harsh environment, my drive drew even more attention in these contradictory beige surroundings. Perhaps all the […]