The Where, the When, the How and the Who of Safaris

Safari is a Swahili word that means 'travel', and in the old days, that is how Safaris worked; you walked around with your bearers looking for game, probably hoping to shoot it. It is possible, though mistaken, to have a completely sedentary safari but, like most things, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Some consider a Safari to be an African experience, but there are many other countries in which you can see spectacular wildlife (India, Sri Lanka, Canada, Scotland, Brazil, Nepal) and they are covered too.

There are many styles of safari, from the super Luxurious to the deep bush basic camp. Remember that for most people the important thing is the animals you see and the people you meet; comfort is great, but you won't necessarily see any more animals. If you want to get the most out of your safaris, read how to choose a safari.

Some safari operators worth looking at.

Kicheche Camps - Luxury tented camps in Kenya
Wildlife Worldwide - Tailor made wildlife holidays on all seven continents
Steppes Discovery - A wide range of unique, wildlife & conservation based holidays worldwide.
Naturetrek - Worldwide bird watching, wild flower and natural history holidays
Exodus - Wildlife & photography holidays on 7 continents
Rockjumper Birding Adventures - Dedicated bird watching holidays

Recent Safaris news

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How to create a wildlife reserve – In South Africa

An area of farmland three hours north of Durban was deemed a suitable location to set up the UmPhafa Private Nature Reserve. This 5,000 hectare area comprised of three farms previously managed for cattle, and encompasses a wide range of habitats from acacia savannah and bushveld to mountainous terrain.

The chimps of the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary

The chimps have all been rescued from ‘inappropriate' care, ranging from people trying to look after orphaned chimps who could not cope with their strength and size, to downright disgraceful instances where chimps had been chained up or locked in a cage not even small enough for them to lie down. Porini run very well regarded camps in Kenya, including in Laikipia. Read more about a Kenya safari with Porini.

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Cape Town wildlife break - Whales, Great white sharks, penguins and game.

Planet Earth Live - What is the point?

BBC is considered the best in the world at making wildlife programmes, and rightly so. They have set the standard with pioneering techniques, the best presenters and innovation. Planet Earth Live has none of these qualities, and there appears to be little live about it either.

Rebel groups invade Mountain gorilla park – Yet another gorilla ranger killed

Park ranger amongst 4 Kruger staff arrested for rhino poaching

Lady of Liuwa gets 2 sisters as lionesses are relocated to Liuwa National Park

Despite responding enthusiastically to her new companions and engaging in copious mating activity, The Lady of Liuwa failed to produce any cubs over an 18 month period. Despite Lady Liuwa's worldwide fame, the prospects of a viable lion population at Liuwa once again seemed dire. So in mid 2011, African Parks took the decision to introduce new lionesses to ensure the continuance of lions in Liuwa, despite the potential threat that new females could pose to the now aging Lady Liuwa.

When the gorillas came visiting....

The guests at a tented campsite in Bwindi Impenetrable Park in Uganda had a major surprise when they got up early for breakfast. Rather than having to go trekking through the mountainous jungle to look for a family of gorillas, the gorillas had come to visit them in their camp.

Big game hunting in Africa is economically useless - IUCN

A new IUCN report reveals that Big game hunting is almost unbelievably inefficient as a wealth generator, when taking into account the land used and the financial contribution made to GDP.

In the 11 main big game hunting countries, the surface area occupied by big game hunting parks is 14.9% of national territory, and the contribution of big game hunting to the GDP is 0.06%.

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Lemurs of Madagascar

Amazingly, when the first edition of this book was written, in 1994, only 50 species were known, but since then another 43 species and subspecies have been identified, and this book recognises a further 8 as a result of greater understanding of their systematics!

Anyone visiting Madagascar should take a copy of this book with them.

Read full review »

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Primates of West Africa

With just 60 species covered in more than 500 pages, this is just about the most comprehensive field guide I have ever seen!

Read about The Primates of West Africa

Kruger rhino massacre continues

South Africa has lost at least 193 rhinos during the first six months of 2011 with Kruger National Park continuing to be hardest hit. The world famous safari destination has already lost 126 rhinos to poaching this year in addition to 146 killed there in 2010.

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Tanzania Government ditches Serengeti Highway

The proposed asphalt road which would have bisected the Serengeti National Park, jeopardising the world's last great mammal migration, will not now be built, the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has announced at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting.

8 lions poisoned in Kenya - Leakey speaks out

Conservationists have warned that Kenya's lion population is in danger of becoming extinct within a few years if nothing is done to stem a wave of poisonings that have already left at least eight of the charismatic predators dead in recent weeks.

Rhino poaching epidemic reaches new levels

The number of rhinos poached so far this year has passed the 300 mark, and more and more reports of rhinos being killed pour in from across Africa. Unless someone somewhere does something soon, there will be few rhinos left. These are this weeks articles about rhino poaching. - But is there are possible solution?

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South Africa sends in the army to stop rhino poaching in the Kruger

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) had been asked by South African National Parks (SANParks) to play a strategic role in the protection of South African National Parks, especially the Kruger National Park, after the recent spate of rhino poaching.

African lions probably 2 distinct species

Surprisingly, lions from West and Central Africa seemed to be more related to lions from the Asiatic subspecies than to their counterparts in East and Southern Africa.

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Tanzania pressing ahead with Serengeti Highway and Lake Natron soda plant

Despite the German government offering to fund a study into an alternative route for the Serengeti Highway, the Tanzanian Government seems to be pressing ahead with its plans, as well as fast tracking the development of the soda ash plant at Lake Natron, the only breeding site for Greater flamingo in East Africa.

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$40,000 to hunt an elephant and you can import the ivory legally into UK!

We are absolutely disgusted to find out that it is still legal to import ivory and rhino horn into the UK, as hunting trophies!

Rhino poaching in South Africa reaches all-time high

A total of 333 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa in 2010, including ten critically endangered black rhinos, according to national park officials. The yearly total is the highest ever experienced in South Africa and nearly three times the 2009 figure when 122 rhinos were killed in the country. An additional five rhinos have been lost to poaching since the New Year.

Kenya Highlights - A guide to escorted tours in Kenya

There are dozens of guide books to Kenya, but this one has a different slant. Not so much a guide book to take with you (Take it anyway), but a guide for before you go.
Read full review »

Wild dogs photographed on the Masai Mara

Kicheche Mara's head guide, Daniel Ntoyian, was returning from a local airstrip transfer. Right outside Kicheche camp he spotted two dogs. Hunting.

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Serengeti highway could spell economic disaster for Tanzania

A team of well-respected scientists has released a joint statement detailing their opposition to the building of a new road that would bisect the Serengeti National Park.

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Serengeti highway protests growing worldwide

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have both stepped into the growing controversy over the proposed Serengeti Highway (Published in Wildlife Extra in June).

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Extraordinary mutation of Thompson's gazelle - or fake?

If it was April 1st, we wouldn't have been surprised by this story, but in August? These images appear to show a Thompson's gazelle that has been bred by crossing a gazelle with a goat or even a Scottie dog. We were immediately suspicious of the authenticity of the pictures as they seem just to extraordinary.

Wildlife photography - Uwe Skrzypczak

Uwe spends a lot of time in East Africa, especially following the great migration, and a lot of this book is based around that extraordinary event. This is a very detailed book covering all aspects of DSLR photography.
Read full review »

3 sites in India recommended for the reintroduction of cheetah

The Wildlife Institute of India and The Wildlife Trust of India have recommended three sites as the best places to re-introduce cheetah into India. 18 cheetah will initially be released on the 3 proposed sites; these cheetah will be obtained from the Middle East and Africa

New highway to cut the Serengeti in half?

Reports now circulating on the web suggest that the Government of Tanzania has given the go ahead for a road to be built right across the Serengeti, potentially blocking the migration route of the wildebeest, threatening the wildlife with a large amount of high speed traffic and providing easy access to many poachers.

First wild born cheetah for 40 years in Arabia

The last known Arabian cheetah was shot in Saudi Arabia in 1950, though they may have hung on in Oman until around 1970. Now 4 cubs have been born in the wild in a nature reserve on an island off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Elephant ivory imports allowed into the USA - Rednecks versus villagers

Wildlife Extra was under the misapprehension that it was illegal to import ivory into the USA. Given the very recent decision by CITES to prevent Tanzania and Zambia from down listing the elephants to appendix 2, Wildlife Extra is speechless to discover that it is perfectly legal to kill wild elephants in some parts of Africa, including Tanzania, and then import the tusks, skin and other disgusting mementos into the USA.

Tiger, gorilla and Serengeti safaris.

Explore run Tiger safaris in India. They also run a series of Gorilla watching holidays in Uganda, and Serengeti safaris in Tanzania.

Huge seizures of 1169 kgs of elephant ivory in Kenya and Ethiopia

The Kenya Wildlife Service has seized the largest haul of ivory in recent history at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, following on 2 days after a similar seizure in Ethiopia.

Legendary Mountain gorilla silverback dies of old age

Trackers at the Karisoke Research Centre found the legendary silverback gorilla Titus dead on his night nest in Volcanoes National Park.

Congo’s wildlife rangers launch offensive against armed groups trafficking charcoal in gorilla zone of Virunga

The Congolese National Park Authorities have sent the biggest ever deployment of armed rangers to strike at charcoal-making operations run by armed groups deep in the forests of Virunga National Park in Eastern DR Congo.

Brutal Namibian seal hunt caught on film – Journalists attacked

Secret footage smuggled out of Namibia has revealed the brutal reality of the Namibian seal hunt - and the subsequent attack on British journalist Jim Wickens and South African cameraman Bart Smithers.

Kenya wildlife down by 40% - Community tourism protects species better than National Parks

Wildlife populations throughout Kenya-inside as well as outside the national parks-declined by 40 percent from 1977 to 1997.

Mali’s elephants under threat from drought

The future of a rare herd of desert elephants in Mali is under threat from one of the worst droughts in living memory, which has left a key water source at its lowest level in a quarter of a century and is breaking down the usual peaceful co-existence between the elephants and local herdsmen.

Leucistic baboons of the Luangwa Valley.

Another reader, Steve Tolan, of the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre has also seen some leucistic baboons inthe Luangwa Valley. There does seem to be a "leucistic hotspot" in the Luangwa, as we have had several reports of different animals from the beautiful part of the world.

Illegal quarry devastates vital wildlife corridor and local communities in Kenya

One of the Kruger’s largest tuskers has died

'Golden' lion of the South Luangwa National Park

One of our readers, Egil Dröge, has sent us photos photos of a very unusual young lion that is clearly much lighter than his siblings.

Knysna elephants – No evidence for more than 1 survivor

Rhino poaching- the poacher tells all.

The Van Deventer brothers were arrested in South Africa on charges of poaching rhinoceroses. Having entered into a plea bargain with the state, the brothers received reduced prison sentences. Shortly afterwards, they contacted investigative journalist and Africa Geographic columnist Ian Michler. They wanted to tell their story.

Read the full piece

In praise of the much maligned hyena – Needs a PR makeover

The hyena gets a bad press. Dan Beaton sings its praises.

Read the full article.

Leucistic impala photographed in South Africa

20th Rhino Shot in 2007 in Kaziranga: Poacher killed.

December 2007: Yet another rhino of Kaziranga National Park fell prey to poachers’ bullets on December 16, bringing the total number killed in 2007 to a record 20.

Safari with children

My kids were so excited about the thought of going on safari in Kenya, and we had a great time. A walking safari, 4 days on the Masai Mara seeing pretty much everything, the flamingos and rhinos at Nakuru, everything you want to see. And the abiding memories? Hiding under the seats of the open top landrover while watching lions hunting, (as all they have learned from years as armchair viewers is that lions will eat you.) and the hotel with a swim up bar and free coke!
READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Photo Story: Martial Eagle Attacks Stork.

Fantastic photos of a Martial eagle catching a White stork. Details.

Articles and advice about the wildlife, National parks and safaris in Kenya

Top African Safari Destinations (in no particular order)

There are many different styles of Safari to choose from, here are a few rules to help you choose.

A good guide/spotter. trust us, you will miss more than you see if you don't have a good guide with you. Not only do they see twice as much, they know ten times as much.
Dawn and dusk are almost always the best time, be prepared to get up early.
Be patient, the longer you are prepared to sit still, the more you will see.
Don't forget the people who live there. They often view the animals as pests, but your income will provide a living for them. Don't be ostentatious or patronising.
Size of vehicle. The bigger and the more people in a vehicle, the less you will see.
Spending £5000 on a safari doesn't guarantee you will see more than someone who spends £500.
There’s a lot more to Africa than the big five. Enjoy what you see and don’t go tearing all over to see a lion, thus missing plenty of fantastic but smaller game.

ELEPHANT BACK SAFARIS: CONSERVATION OR CRUELTY.

Shearwater Adventures, a tour operator from Zimbabwe, is under fire for capturing wild elephants for use on elephant back safaris. However Shearwater strongly defend their position by pointing out that the drought in Zimbabwe is devastating the elephant herds.
Read both sides of the argument.

In this section

Safari of the week

The Where, the When, the How and the Who of Safaris

Some safari operators worth looking at.

Recent Safaris news

More Safaris news

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