Category: News

It’s no secret that it takes a very passionate person to become a safari game ranger or guide in the African bushveld. These men and women work very hard to learn the secrets of the bush and some might argue that it takes a lifetime of learning and discovery before one can say they know anything about the flora and fauna of Africa.

Having a professional guide in the bush makes your whole safari experience an educational and safe one. 

We spoke to veteran game ranger Craig McFarlane, who’s lifelong fascination with the African bushveld has left an impression on all those who he has taught and guided over the years. As the Head of Guide Training & Activities for Elewana Collection in Tanzania and Kenya, Craig’s knowledge of the bush is impressive, with only a few guides having been trained at his level in Africa.

We spoke to Craig to find out his story, and what he thinks safari-goers should know about being a game ranger:

“As a boy growing up on the family farm in South Africa, my dream was always to work in the bush. I was fascinated by animals, big and small, wild and tame, and spent all my time learning about them. My father taught me the foundations of being a guide and I helped him with guiding clients,” Craig reminisces.

Craig has been a safari guide for more than 27 years

“The African bush is my home and it’s what I know best. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with people who have an interest in animals and wild places,” he explains.

Craig earned a number of qualifications during his career, including the FGASA Level III, SKS DG and Tracker II qualifications. After 27 years in the bush, he really knows his stuff. To be a great game ranger, he says, “One needs to be obsessively observant and have an inquiring mind.”

On his most dangerous wildlife encounter, Craig remembers a day when he was confronted by elephants while leading a group of safari travellers through the bush.

“We came across a matriarch elephant with her small calf and without warning, she immediately charged with full intent. I told my clients to get down on the ground and try to appear as non threatening as possible. Suddenly she stopped, only an arm’s length away and assessed us. When she realised that we would not do her calf any harm, she turned and left.

Believing the whole ordeal was over, we were about to continue our walk when a young bull elephant suddenly mock-charged us. With a lot of noise, flapping ears and shows of strength, he finally tired of showing off and left, leaving my clients terrified, but with a newfound respect for animals in the wild,” Craig remembers. 

This confrontation between this game ranger and elephant is similar to what Craig and his group must have encountered. Without Craig's knowledge of elephant behaviour and quick thinking, his encounter with a swaggy young bull could have meant disaster

Craig’s must-bring essentials for a memorable safari is a camera, binoculars, a comfortable pair of shoes and sunscreen. With wisdom he continues, “Have an inquiring mind, ask as many questions as you want and respect wild animals. This is their home and we are just visitors,” Craig advises.

Thank you to Elewana Collection for this interview and to Craig for his passion and dedication both out in the field and in training Africa’s next generation of elite game rangers.

You’ve finally booked that dream safari in Africa and as you touch down at your destination, you’re filled with trepidation, wonder and excitement for the trip of a lifetime. The sights and sounds of a foreign country can be overwhelming.

The truth is that there is a certain amount of risk involved in travel, regardless of global technology’s influence on how we traverse the globe. Most resorts and tourist destinations are safe enough, but anything can happen during a long vacation, and when they do, it’s good to have something that you can fall back on, and that’s what travel insurance policies are designed to do.

Whether it’s natural calamities, lost possessions or legal issues, a good travel insurance policy can protect you against all manner of emergencies. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect from the average travel insurance policy.

Lost luggage

Although this is relatively common, there really isn’t anything more annoying than having baggage lost or delayed during transit. Good travel insurance will protect you with a small allowance so that you can freshen up before your baggage finally arrives. If your luggage is stolen or damaged, this is also grounds for claiming from your travel insurance provider.

Delayed flights

Delayed flights are another travel inconvenience that can’t be predicted. Unusual weather patterns or an aviation emergency can leave travelers high and dry. If your airline cannot accommodate you during your transit, your travel insurance will sort out the problem. Use your allowance to get last-minute accommodation, toiletries or some food before you’re on your way again.

Medical emergencies

While medical emergencies don’t happen often, when they do it can be quite a shock. One doesn’t necessarily plan for this but sometimes it may happen to you. Illness or injury is a scary thing to happen while on safari and travelers need plenty of support in these cases. If you require hospitalization or expensive medicines, your travel insurance will have your back until you’re healthy enough to get back home.

Legal issues

Sometimes, a brush with the law in another country can happen. It’s often a good idea to book your African safari with the help of a safari expert so that they can inform you of the laws of another country. Accidents do happen and should you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, travel insurance can make or break a situation like this.

Money matters

Lost or stolen cash and credit cards is any traveller’s worst nightmare. If there is no bank representative in your destination, getting yourself back on track can be very challenging. The good thing is that travel insurance will help you get back in touch with your cash. Most embassies cannot help you with this matter so travel insurance is your best bet.

From weather-related accidents to unexpected cancellation fees, travel insurance is designed to protect you and your family from the pitfalls of long-destination journeying. A travel insurance policy may also be useful if you’re traveling together with a group. Assuming the policy also covers your companions, it can protect them against the same contingencies that you
are protected from.

While travel insurance is an additional expense, but is really worth it when you consider the overall cost of an African safari . Sometimes a little financial protection can be extremely handy should the unexpected happen.

One of the joys of working in the travel industry is getting to know people who are truly passionate about Africa. Not only is our continent arguably the most beautiful and thrilling, we have abundant wildlife and flora found nowhere else on the planet. There is something so special about Africa, and in order to preserve its natural bounty for future generations, we have to raise awareness about the value and importance of conservation.

We believe that one of the roles of a wildlife and nature photographer is to showcase a subject from a unique perspective, to allow others to share in the joy and moments that are part and parcel of the occupation. One such photographer is British-born Margot Raggett, who has dedicated her life to capturing African landscapes and animals and sharing these with the world.

Margot is an award-winning wildlife photographer who’s passion for Africa began on a trip to Kenya. The sheer beauty of the Masai Mara was the turning point in her career. In addition to her stunning shots, Margot began the Remembering Wildlife project, a charity that focuses on industry collaboration in order to combat poaching on the continent. The book series features a collection of wildlife photography by some of the best photographers in the world, including Margot’s work. Past themes include Remembering Elephants, Remembering Rhinos and the highly anticipated Remembering Great Apes which will be available in 2018. The series has been an overwhelming success, with much support from celebrities and fellow photographers.

It’s people like Margot Raggett who are changing the landscape of conscious travel, which is incredibly valuable for Africa as a whole. We’ve compiled five of our favourite shots to bring in 2018. Take a look:

 

 

 

 

If Margot’s work has inspired you to experience Africa for yourself, head over to our website to find out what a safari in Africa would cost so that you can tailor your journey to fit your budget.

Nowadays, planning a trip is no longer a hassle like it was a few years ago. Gone are the days when guidebooks and maps were part and parcel of the safari experience. Now, with state-of-the-art technology such as smartphone GPS’s, Airbnb and other useful tools, travellers can explore their world in a flash.

Whether it’s directions, accommodation, or any other travel-related necessities, travellers can find solutions with the touch of their finger. With more than a thousand apps to choose from, travellers no longer face the challenges that an extended trip abroad can bring.

We’ve compiled a list of five travel apps to use in 2018 that will take the stress out of your African safari:

1. Pack Point

This app simply helps you to pack. The user is required to tell the app where he/she is traveling to, the time of travel and the reason and Pack Point will compile a list of things needed for the trip. You can check items off after packing them.You no longer have to deal with the common ‘Did I carry my…?’ feeling that always comes after leaving your house.

2. Duolingo

With over 80 million users, Duolingo is a well-designed language app that’s available for free.This app will help you to learn language basics or polish your grammar and vocabulary in a fun way. Just like any computer game, Duolingo guides you through different difficulty levels that you need to complete before advancing which also gives you experience points. This is an awesome app for kids due to the simplistic layout and cute graphics. The app is freely available for both Android and iOS.

3. XE Currency

XE is one of the best go-to websites for currency conversions, making its mobile app so popular amongst travellers. XE has several business-oriented features, which include historical currency charts and rates for precious metals, but for travellers, its mostly used to convert any currency in the world. XE also works offline by keeping the last updated rates in its database, a feature that’s handy if you find yourself in a place with limited internet connectivity or you’re trying to save on data. XE Currency is freely available for both Android and iOS.

 

4. LiveTrekker

This resourceful app makes a beautiful journal of your travel destinations on an interactive map. LiveTrekker tracks you as you move, marking a line on a map along the route taken during your travel. This app also monitors your altitude and speed giving travellers a great experience during their adventure. Apart from just looking back at the route taken during your travel, you can add text, pictures, audio, and videos along the way, producing a wonderful multimedia diary which can be shared with your friends and family. Live tracker is free both for Android and iOS.

5. TripIt

Tripit is a free travel itinerary app that helps you see the entire trip in one place. A user simply forwards all his/her booking emails to the app which then collects all the details. The information about your trip will be available offline so you won’t have to worry about data charges. You also need to upgrade your account in order to use all the features in Tripit but this is a great way to reduce tons of tickets and paper itineraries to fit in one place that is easily accessible.

Simple to download, easy to use and extremely valuable, technology is changing the way we travel. These apps are a great addition to your the safari experience. Thinking about taking a trip to Africa but unsure about the costs of an African safari? Visit us here to compare prices and tailor your safari to meet your budget.

Have you tried the #HerdTracker app? Developed by Discover Africa, the app lets you track the famous Wildebeest migration at any time; perfect for planning your trip around the animals’ movements. Take a look here.

When we think about explorers and big Travel Channel stars, names like Bear Grylls, David Attenborough and Dominic Monaghan come to mind. With years of experience traveling the globe and coming face-to-face with some of nature’s most wondrous sights, these modern-day globetrotters inspire awe and a certain amount of envy when we look back at their lifetime of experience and adventure.

And then you hear about Kingsley Holgate, a South African-born adventurer with a passion for Africa; its beauty and it's people. It’s doubtful that anyone has explored Africa the way Holgate has. From intrepid expeditions to reaching out with his humanitarian efforts, Kingsley Holgate is Africa’s very own Indiana Jones.

Adventure Africa

Known as the bearded explorer, Holgate has been described by international magazines as the most traveled man in Africa. Born in 1946 in Natal, South Africa, Holgate explains that as a young boy, he would sit on his father’s knee, listening to stories about explorers such as David Livingstone and Sir Henry Morton Stanley. Inspired and intrigued by their fulfilling journeys, Holgate followed suit and has dedicated his life to tripping around this beautiful continent, extending a helping hand towards those who need it most.

Memories to last a lifetime

Whether it’s boating from Cape Town to Cairo, using only Africa’s rivers and bodies of water to transverse the continent, or circumnavigating the world following the Tropic of Capricorn, Holgate definitely knows how to keep people on their toes. He has followed original routes explored by H.M. Stanley, Livingstone himself and Frederick Courtenay Selous, touching the lives of locals along the way.

Holgate has led several National Geographic expeditions and written countless books about his experiences. Holgate explains that a constant thirst for adventure and the people he meets along the way has inspired him to continue his work.

A big heart

His foundation, Kingsley Holgate Foundation, is strongly linked to wildlife, nature and community conservation across Africa. He has dedicated his time campaigning against the poaching of Africa’s endangered rhinos as well as elephants. For instance, one of his campaigns known as “Rhino Art – Let our Children's Voices be Heard,” is undoubtedly Africa's most comprehensive children's conservation project ever. This campaign has also become one of the most successful projects, extending to other African countries affected by rhino poaching and drawing global attention to this ongoing problem.

A passion for people

During his lifetime, Holgate established his foundation to save and improve lives through adventure. He has been involved in a number of humanitarian expeditions throughout the African continent traveling by dhow, inflatable raft, canoe, foot, bicycle, and Land Rover. Some of his most recent expeditions include 'The Outside Edge Expedition' and the 'Africa Rainbow Expedition.' All these are aimed at giving out mosquito nets to help prevent malaria among some of the worst affected areas in Africa. He also runs another campaign known as the 'Right to Sight' whose main aim is to provide glasses to those with eye problems.

Other notable achievements

As one can imagine, such a life comes with plenty of its own challenges. Holgate’s journeys have seen him up against dangerous wildlife, bandits, pirates, malaria and epidemic cases of poaching. Having overcome these obstacles has made Kingsley Holgate an inspiration to so many people, while still remaining a deeply humble man.

Holgate was inducted into the Royal Geographical Society for his extensive knowledge and pushing the boundaries of expedition travel.

Image Credit: Land Rover Magazine UK

Kingsley Holgate is a legend in his own right and has certainly increased our thirst for traveling to Africa. His knowledge and never-give-up attitude puts him on our list as one of the most influential travelers of all time.

Follow in Kingsley Holgate’s footsteps and discover the costs of an African safari with us. The nifty Safari Cost Estimator helps you create your bespoke itinerary.

The herds have started to arrive in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, mainly heading towards the Ndutu lake region. The herds are still spread out along the south eastern area of the Serengeti, but all are slowly making their way south, and this time of the year a percentage of the wildebeest can be found outside the confines of the Serengeti.

January is the start of the calving season for the wildebeest, and after a gestation period of around 8½ months, the cows are heavily pregnant at this time of year. Around 80 to 90% of the calves are born in a 21 day time frame. This short calving time gives the calves a better survival rate with the predators.

You can expect a lot of predator action in January up to March due to the calving season, so definitely worth the trip.

If you need more information you can contact Karl at karl@discoverafrica.com

Our Guide of the Month: Heribert Joseph Mardai, Ranger at Asilia Africa 

Born on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Heribert is a specialist safari guide at Asilia Africa's Little Oliver's Camp located in the picturesque Tarangire National Park. From a very young age, Heribert found himself intrigued by big cats and almost any creature that crawls, slithers, runs or flies. 

After completing high school, Heribert enrolled at the College of African Wildlife Management. It was at this institution that Heribert's passion for wildlife was finally realised. His first appointment was at the famous Selous Game Reserve, the largest protected game reserve in Africa. 

Heribert's dedication to his country and its wildlife is truly admirable. He has been a committed ranger at Little Oliver's Camp for the last seven years. Aside from his day job as a ranger, Heribert has travelled extensively and enjoys the thrill of new adventures. On a recent trip to South Africa, Heribert braved one of the world's highest bungee jumps from the Bloukrans Bridge in the famed Garden Route. 

Our Lodge of the Month: Kimondo Camp, Asilia Africa

Like the herds of antelope that have made the Serengeti the most famous wilderness region on earth, Kimondo is a traveller. As the seasons wax and wane so this migration camp crafted of wood and canvas follows the herds on their never-ending journey across the grasslands of East Africa.

From July to October home for Kimondo is near the sinuous Mara River on the famous Lamai Wedge, where massive herds brave the jaws of hungry Nile crocodiles. As winter eases and summer warms the land, the herds move south to calve in the lush grasslands of the southern Serengeti. As the herds move, so does Kimondo, to ensure you’re never far from the heart of the migration.

But unlike the thundering wildebeest, Kimondo – like its sought-after sister-camp Olakira – leaves no footprint behind. Entirely solar-powered, it’s a migration camp that touches the earth lightly while providing authentic luxury on the Serengeti plains. With just eight comfortable tents Kimondo offers an intimate safari experience; a sumptuous taste of how the early explorers discovered the wonders of East Africa.

From rich hand-woven rugs to burnished copper lanterns a sultry mix of Moroccan exoticism and East African safari romance resonates at Kimondo, where king-size cast-iron beds rest under canvas ceilings as the rustle of the savannah lulls you to sleep. Or leave sleep for a while and linger at the fireside, swopping tales of your day in Africa as the embers crackle up towards the Milky Way. Kimondo translates as ‘shooting star’ and in Tanzania’s crystal-clear skies you’ll be sure to see more than a few.

Looking for instant updates on the Great Migration? Visit our Herdtracker app to accurately plan your safari or visit us here for a list of affordable, luxury safari packages 

Whether you’re an avid global traveller or a dreamer, the National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest is the one of the most eagerly anticipated competitions in travel. Of over ten thousand of entries, the judges have selected the best photograph according to its creativity, composition and quality. Entrants competed in four categories; Wildlife, Landscape, Underwater and Aerials.

This auspicious contest celebrates everything that makes our world vibrant, exciting and vast. From every corner of the globe, there’s a story to be told and the Nature Photographer of the Year captures the breathtaking and sometimes tragic snapshots of a world that so desperately needs a voice. The winners of the National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition for 2017 have managed to capture most beautifully, the emotional complexities of our natural world.

The Winners

Overall Winner (Wildlife): Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan, Singapore  

“I was really excited that this particular image won the contest because I think the orangutans needed it more than me…I think this will put some spotlight back on this endangered species and help to save their habitats,” Bojan explains.

This shy orangutan peeps out from behind a tree in this close encounter with an endangered species. The photograph captures the emotional confrontation between nature and man.

Overall Winner (Aerial): Todd Kennedy, Australia

A lone Australian swimmer laps across a natural rock pool in Sydney. The crashing waves reveal the majesty and hugeness of the ocean.

Overall winner (Landscape): Karim Iliya, Hawaií

The splatter and spray of molten lava in the Hawaií Volcanoes National Park is a testament to the true age of the earth.

Overall Winner (Underwater): Jim Obester from the United States of America

This magnificent sea anemone pulses shows off its adaptive bioluminescence, a vivid and striking feat in the depths of Hood Canal in Washington.  

Feeling inspired? The 2018 National Geographic Photographer of the Year contest is now open to the public. Take a photographic safari in Africa and perhaps you could be next year’s winner.​

Wondering what the cost of an African safari is? Visit us to compare prices and tailor your safari to suit your budget.  

Technology continues to embed itself in all aspects of our lives in ways we never thought possible. It comes as no surprise then that a passionate team headed by Val Thomas have compiled an impressive mobile app that makes it easy for users to identify both indigenous and alien plant species at the touch of a screen.   

TheTreeApp was launched in South Africa in September 2017

Forget scouring through botanical books and dictionaries, TheTreeApp is a useful and easy-to-use guide to South Africa’s abundant flora.

How does it work?

The App gives the user the ability to identify any tree via an interactive Smart Search procedure Intuitive and interactive technology is compatible with GPS functionality, which makes the search for a specific tree easier, even in the bush. TheTreeApp also comes with a wealth of educational information, maps, and images enabling you to engage with the environment during your safari adventure.

The TreeApp also comes with a wide variety of features such as satellite-interactive distribution maps. You can identify more than 1100 trees using these maps which help propel the App’s GPS function by interacting with GPS satellites. As such, locating certain trees is easier as opposed to the traditional referral or guessing methods.

TheTreeApp also comes with over 2200 images both displayed in pen and watercolour ink drawings painstakingly and lovingly illustrated by Joan Van Gogh and Penny Moraites.

An App for everyone

All information is stored inside TheTreeApp and as such no Wi-Fi is required for identification. It also uses plain English as well as 11 vernacular languages to describe various plant species. While TheTreeApp comes in handy for recreational purposes, it has also been well appreciated along professional circles to identify and locate multiple species of trees in South Africa within a radius of 12.5 kilometers.

MyTreeApp features beautiful illustrations

Out of the 1,100 tree species listed on TheTreeApp, 990 are indigenous while 136 are either invasive or noninvasive. They also come with distribution maps and a lot of comprehensive data The designers also added Info Hotspots to help you navigate and understand the information inside the App better.

Your favourites

You can also add your favorite trees and their GPS location using the My Tree feature. What's more, you don’t have to be well versed in scientific tree terminology to understand specific names thanks to a 700-word glossary embedded in TheTreeApp. You can also change the language (English/Botanical/Afrikaans) and grouping methods (Genera/Families) in the App’s settings.

TheTreeApp is a valuable piece of technology that has nature lovers excited about the future for plant identification in the country. At just under $35, the app is incredibly useful for safari enthusiasts looking for learn a little bit more about South Africa’s unique and valuable flora. TheTreeApp is available for Android and Apple users.  

Name – Julian Brookstein

Date of Birth – 09 August 1979

Qualification – Zimbabwean Professional Guide

Place of Birth – Harare, Zimbabwe

Julian was born and raised in Zimbabwe and is a third generation Zimbabwean. His interest in the outdoors and wildlife began at an early age when he used to attend junior guiding camps in the school holidays. He has grown up keeping everything from scorpions to rats as pets. It was at age eleven that Julian told his parents he would be a guide. After completing his schooling and attaining a diploma in Agriculture in Zimbabwe, Julian went to South Africa to further his studies and attained a diploma in guiding and lodge management. After completing the diploma he returned to Zimbabwe.

He started his career as a canoe guide on the Zambezi River guiding multi-day trips in the Zambezi National park, also working as a whitewater Rafting guide on the rapids below the Victoria Falls. Due to the downturn in tourism, Julian went to the UK in 2002 and began working on a cruise ship. He worked at sea in the galley of the liner and climbed to the position of Chef De Partie, third in command to the head chef.

During this time he travelled extensively throughout Europe. With a burning desire to come home and get back into the bush, he returned to Zimbabwe and began working for Wilderness Safaris. He managed and guided in their camps in Mana Pools and Hwange National Park. At the beginning of 2011, Julian joined Camp Hwange as part of the new management team.

Julian holds a Zimbabwean Professional Guides license. As a Zimbabwean professional guide, he is well versed in all aspects of the African bush and has gone through rigorous training and exams, both practical and theory. It is this and a passion for the bush that make guests as enthusiastic as he is.

Source from Safari Talk.

Listen to Rula's review of Saruni Rhino and being the first ever guest to stay and take part in black rhino tracking on foot. 

 

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