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https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/feed <language>en</language> <item> <title>What goes on must come off: uncollaring the Makgadikgadi Elephants https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/what-goes-must-come-uncollaring-the-makgadikgadi-elephants <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">We have a lot to learn from animals and never is that more true than in the field of conservation. Much of our most valuable data comes from simply monitoring the behaviour of wildlife, and that’s exactly why we are supporting our partners Elephants for Africa (EFA) in a collaring project. The collaring forms part of our ongoing support for large mammal migration initiatives. The collaring was undertaken by EFA to gather insight into the movements of elephants in both protected (i.e. national parks) and human landscapes. The collars used were also fitted with accelerometers which allow EFA to identify certain behaviours, such as key feeding areas. Seven adult bull elephants were collared back in August 2022 in Makgadikgadi Pan and Nxai Pans National Park with a view to removing the collars 24 months later, however successive droughts meant that the elephants were in poor condition, and it was decided that the risk to their health was too great and thus the uncollaring was delayed until after the rainy season here in Botswana. Enormous care is taken to ensure the welfare of the animals during operations such as this. It would be tragically ironic should wildlife be harmed during a conservation effort. Thankfully this year and last saw good rains in Botswana and the animals were able to put on weight, making them more resilient to the darting operations. This meant that the team were able to undertake the uncollaring operation last month. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32143" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-3.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-3-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> “There was a lack of infrastructure where the elephants were spending time,” explains Dr Kate Evans Founder and Director of Research at Elephants for Africa. “We employed a helicopter from which to dart the elephants and a small plane to spot them and ensure the safety of the team on the ground – making sure no other elephants approached them while an elephant was down on the ground having his collar removed.” The uncollaring team were able to uncollar six of the seven bulls, five of which were within the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and a sixth one on community land. The seventh elephant was located in the north of the park but could not be uncollared as it was situated in a thick mopane woodland. All darting procedures to remove the collars used a drug known as M99, a potent analgesic, under the expertise of a very experienced veterinarian. Once the collars were removed, the elephants were then administered the appropriate reversal drug and carefully monitored to ensure they regained consciousness and resumed normal behaviour before EFA and the veterinarian left. Having successfully uncollared five elephants on the first day, the team were feeling positive. The following day, they headed off early to the final elephant’s last known location. The elephant was located amidst dense mopane woodland, making a landing and darting operation unsafe. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32144" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-1.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> “Despite waiting in the hope that the individual would move into a more open area, the terrain remained inaccessible, and it was determined that proceeding posed unacceptable risk to both human and animal safety,” Dr Evans recalls. “The difficult decision was therefore made to postpone the uncollaring of this individual.” The mission is far from over though, and the remaining elephant, catchily known as IR SAT 6216, is being closely monitored so that any opportunity to safely remove his collar in more accessible terrain won’t be missed. Unfortunately, though, he seems to have immersed himself in an abundance of food, water and breeding herds – key components for a content adult male elephant! Thus, it’s expected that he may not make himself available for uncollaring any time soon. The EFA team are committed to his welfare though, so will wait until he’s ready. The only danger being that his collar battery will run out and they won’t be able to utilise some of the collar’s valuable data. The uncollaring of the elephants allows EFA to access the accelerometer data. The last few years have seen the Boteti River dry out and the re-erection of the western park boundary fence, so this pre and post data will allow EFA to assess the impact of these drastic changes in the elephants’ habitat choices. An extensive database can now be drawn up to help assess areas of ecological importance to these elephants, identify the places where they are likely to come into conflict with people and see the areas they use to migrate to and from the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The six collars that were successfully removed are on their way to be refurbished by the manufacturers in South Africa (it’s a hard life being a collar aboard an elephant!) and their accelerometers will also be removed. Back in EFA HQ there are two PhD students and a bachelor’s student hard at work on the collar data they currently have, and eagerly awaiting the accelerometer data. Here’s hoping that IR SAT 6216 will relinquish his before too long – perhaps we can use the waiting time to assign him a better name. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32145" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-2.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Blog-category-1024-x-681px-2-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/what-goes-on-must-come-off-uncollaring-the-makgadikgadi-elephants/">What goes on must come off: uncollaring the Makgadikgadi Elephants</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Thu, 03 Jul 2025 10:21:17 +0000 Anonymous 4036 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa World Giraffe Day https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/world-giraffe-day <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">Virtually every animal has its day, yet until 2014 that was not true of giraffes. Fortunately, our partners the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) took a stand and launched World Giraffe Day as a way of raising awareness around the plight of these fabulously elegant creatures. World Giraffe Day is recognised annually on June 21st – the longest day or night of the year, depending on which hemisphere you’re in – a fitting tribute to the world’s tallest terrestrial mammal. “World Giraffe Day has become the biggest day of the year to celebrate all four species of giraffe, increasing awareness and education, and helping to raise critical funds for our conservation efforts across Africa,” GCF Co-Founder and Director of Conservation, Dr Julian Fennessy tells us. We teamed up with GCF some years ago because we recognised the incredible work they’re doing to protect giraffe. The giraffe is hard to miss, so it might come as a surprise to hear that they need additional recognition, yet GCF estimate that their populations have declined significantly over recent decades and that they’ve lost nearly 90% of the African habitat in the last 300 years. Despite this, GCF is the only NGO in the world that concentrates solely on the conservation and management of giraffe in the wild throughout Africa. “There was a lack of scientific and conservation awareness about the plight of giraffe when we first started studying them,” recalls Julian “It was our team at GCF that sounded the alarm for their silent extinction and realised that giraffe needed our urgent help. Our mission is to secure a future for all giraffe populations in Africa, and we can now see that we are making a difference for giraffe.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Etosha-Heights-Wildlife-Tower-of-giraffe.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31621" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Etosha-Heights-Wildlife-Tower-of-giraffe.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Etosha-Heights-Wildlife-Tower-of-giraffe-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Etosha-Heights-Wildlife-Tower-of-giraffe-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> It is believed that historically around one million giraffe roamed freely throughout Africa, but in the late 1800s a highly contagious viral disease known as rinderpest arrived with infected cattle from Europe and decimated the giraffe population. According to GCF, the first reliable giraffe numbers come from the 1980s when there were roughly 155,000 giraffe in Africa. Over the years, limited information has been available but in 2020, GCF estimated Africa’s giraffe population at 117,000 individuals in Africa – a 30% decrease. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of GCF and its partners, things are changing for the better. Increased awareness, improved data collection, and targeted conservation work have led to many success stories. However, progress isn’t uniform — conservation outcomes still vary across the different giraffe species. The subject of different giraffe species is a pertinent one, particularly when it comes to their conservation. One of GCF’s biggest contributions has been leading collaborative genetic research that revealed giraffe aren’t just one species, but four distinct species with seven subspecies. That discovery has been a game-changer for giraffe conservation, reshaping how conservationists understand and protect these remarkable animals. The IUCN currently classes the single species of giraffe as Vulnerable, however, with GCF’s State of Giraffe 2025 new information is available and likely three of the four species of giraffe should be listed as Endangered or Vulnerable. As part of GCF’s continent-wide genetic study, the Natural Selection Foundation funds Giraffe Genetic Testing Project in Botswana and Natural Selection’s Katie Ahl and Emma Wells (who you’ll read about in a couple of paragraphs), are instrumental in driving it. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_GPS-tagging-in-northwest-namibia-4-copyright-GCF.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31622" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_GPS-tagging-in-northwest-namibia-4-copyright-GCF.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_GPS-tagging-in-northwest-namibia-4-copyright-GCF-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_GPS-tagging-in-northwest-namibia-4-copyright-GCF-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> “The Natural Selection Foundation funds the second phase of our Botswana giraffe sampling and analysis,” shares Julian. “We will be finished with sample collection soon and all giraffe skin samples will be sent to our partners in Germany for analysis. Katie and Emma have been at the core of coordinating sampling – the Natural Selection and GCF partnership is a good example of collaboration in conservation and tourism. The IUCN SSC Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group are currently reviewing the giraffe taxonomy based on our work and input from others. Our work has clearly shown that there are four species and seven subspecies of giraffe, and the Natural Selection Foundation has been one of the supporters of this project over the years.” GCF’s latest statistics show that the Northern, Reticulated and Southern giraffe are showing positive trends in their numbers, while the Masai giraffe numbers have stabilised. Decisive conservation actions and increased interest in giraffe are showing effect through these figures. As GCF point out, they’re also getting better at counting giraffe! A great way to familiarise yourself with the work we do in collaboration with GCF in the wonderful world of giraffe conservation, is by joining our Giraffe Conservation Safari through Namibia on which you’ll meet some of Africa’s finest giraffe conservationists. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_DSCN7689.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31623" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_DSCN7689.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_DSCN7689-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_DSCN7689-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> This nine day adventure is guided by Emma Wells and Katie Ahl. Personable, passionate, vastly knowledgeable and great company, this couple will be with you every step of the way, ready to answer questions, keep things running smoothly and show you the work on the ground. “This trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get hands on with the people who are the leaders in giraffe conservation,” the pair explain. “You are invited to take an active role in observing what it takes to study and conserve giraffe in a wild and remote location and what is being done to conserve them throughout Africa. Not only will you meet some of GCF’s team of experts, but you will also be hosted by two giraffe specialists who work hand in hand with GCF and Natural Selection. This is your chance to ask every question you’ve ever wanted to know about giraffe from the people who are in the know and on the front lines. If you love giraffe this is the trip for you.” The journey begins in Windhoek where the group will convene at The Weinberg for the first night and meet the Stephanie Fennessy, Executive Director and Co-Founder of GCF. The following day you’ll head to Etosha Heights Private Reserve where you’ll see how the land has been successfully transformed from a hunting area into a destination for photographic safaris and conservation. Giraffe will be the focus during your stay but you’re also likely to see lion, elephant and both black and white rhino. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0006_152A5715-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31624" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0006_152A5715-2.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0006_152A5715-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0006_152A5715-2-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> You’ll spend two nights at Etosha Mountain Lodge within the reserve and meet members of GCF’s team at the Etosha Heights Conservation Centre (EHCC). The centre is a field station in the reserve from which GCF runs a comprehensive conservation and education initiative in collaboration with the Namibia University of Science and Technology and Etosha Heights Private Reserve. The team will talk (and walk) you through the work being done by GCF and their partners in the reserve. Travellers will be able to join the GCF team as they check camera traps, help identify individual giraffe, learn how to track them and take game drives to see the conservation successes first hand. Your next two nights will be at Hoanib Elephant Camp where you’ll work alongside other members of the GCF team, including Dr Julian Fennessy. Together you’ll observe the desert-adapted giraffe and you’ll have the once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in a tagging operation, helping the GCF team fit GPS satellite tags to the giraffe so they can be monitored remotely and we can better understand their movements and how they use their habitat. 1.5% of every guest’s stay at Hoanib Elephant Camp goes directly to conservation and community work, and 60% of this goes to GCF’s work in the area. “Northwestern Namibia is the home of GCF’s long-term programme monitoring the desert dwelling Angolan giraffe,” recount Katie and Emma. “In the late 90s GCF Director Julian Fennessey started his PhD research on this giraffe population in the Hoanib, Hoarusib and Khumib Rivers. The project continues to collect valuable data on the movements, social structures, lifespan and breeding behaviours. Some people may assume the world knows a lot about giraffe, but giraffe are an understudied species (or indeed four understudied species!), and this long-term monitoring is critical to better understand giraffe and conservation management of giraffe throughout Africa.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0007_1-Angolan-giraffe-walking-in-Northwest-Namibia-©-GCF-Michael-Viljoen.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31625" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0007_1-Angolan-giraffe-walking-in-Northwest-Namibia-©-GCF-Michael-Viljoen.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0007_1-Angolan-giraffe-walking-in-Northwest-Namibia-©-GCF-Michael-Viljoen-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0007_1-Angolan-giraffe-walking-in-Northwest-Namibia-©-GCF-Michael-Viljoen-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The trip wraps up with two nights at Shipwreck Lodge in Namibia’s rugged Skeleton Coast National Park. Here you can truly appreciate the adaptations animals must make to survive in the desert, and you may even see Angola giraffe traversing the sand dunes. Your time at Shipwreck Lodge is the perfect opportunity to reflect on your travels and discuss what you’ve seen and done with your fellow travellers and your guides Katie and Emma. Emma and Katie previously worked for GCF and ran and managed their long-term giraffe conservation monitoring programme in Northwest Namibia. They’re veritable experts on both the desert-dwelling Angola giraffe and the conservation work being done. Giraffes have been a major part of the ladies’ lives since their early zookeeping days. “I am drawn to their ethereal ways and curious nature,” reflects Katie. “There is just something about their long eyelashes and soft, almost silent way of moving that speaks to me. But once I made my first visit to Africa in 2017, I knew I needed to understand them on a deeper level and be part of their conservation in Africa”. Should the stars fail to align for you on the Giraffe Conservation Safari, there’s another opportunity to meet the pair and that’s by booking a stay at Thamo Telele. Here they take guests on a giraffe experience where they learn about giraffe biology, conservation and research. On this trip, or a stay at these lodges, you’ll meet the people on the ground, making a real difference to the future of giraffes. You’ll also spend quality time with these otherworldly creatures. “Giraffe are iconic,” smiles Julian. “They’re also vital to Africa’s ecosystems as they shape, pollinate and maintain healthy savannah habitats, which supports biodiversity. Culturally and economically, they are iconic symbols for African people, attracting ecotourism that supports conservation and local livelihoods”. The Giraffe Conservation Safari is scheduled for 2-10 September 2026. Get in touch if you’re ready to make the journey. The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/world-giraffe-day/">World Giraffe Day</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Fri, 20 Jun 2025 09:15:35 +0000 Anonymous 4031 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa Once a Year Something Exceptional Happens at Lekkerwater https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/once-a-year-something-exceptional-happens-lekkerwater <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"> Whale watching tops many a bucket list. The ocean holds so many untold secrets and to see such vast creatures in their natural environment – a little glimpse into the magnitude of their world, is for many, a once in a lifetime experience.South Africa is globally recognised as a whale watching hotspot, from both land and the water, with some species residing in the waters here throughout the year, and others journeying across oceans to reach them each year. Whale season in South Africa typically runs from around June to November when the coastline begins to heave with these enormous marine mammals. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_SA_Lekkerwater_Michael-Poliza_L2_whales2-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31353" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_SA_Lekkerwater_Michael-Poliza_L2_whales2-1.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_SA_Lekkerwater_Michael-Poliza_L2_whales2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_SA_Lekkerwater_Michael-Poliza_L2_whales2-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The Whales <ul> <li>Bryde’s whales call South Africa home all year round. They like the warmer, equatorial waters in the area and have brightened up many a day, particularly outside whale season when the sightings are unexpected!</li> <li>The whale most commonly associated with the country is the Southern Right. They migrate here annually from Antarctica in order to mate and calve in these more temperate waters. They’re known as the Southern Right whale because they were once considered ‘the right whales to hunt’ due to their desirable meat and high oil content. The name has stuck.</li> <li>These two species are joined each year by the Humpback whales, who stop for a bit of a break around the South African coastline before continuing their journey. They demonstrate quite some endurance, with some populations covering 5,000 miles as they move from tropical breeding waters to cooler feeding waters.</li> <li>The Minke whale is a less commonly sighted whale in these waters. Your best chance of seeing this small rorqual whale is during whale season but sightings outside that period have been reported and it’s thought that some may be resident throughout the year.</li> <li>Another whale that’s seen with far less regularity but can be sighted on occasion is the Sperm whale. Again, the best chance is during peak whale season when they migrate, and if they’re seen it’s usually along the coastlines of the Western or Eastern Cape. It might seem a strange name for a whale, but the sperm whale’s name comes from ‘spermaceti’, a waxy substance found in their head. Whalers incorrectly believed the substance to be sperm. Scientists remain unsure of what its function actually is.</li> <li>Blue whales use South African waters as a migratory corridor rather than for breeding or for feeding, and thus can be sighted very occasionally.</li> <li>One of the most exciting developments in South African whale watching recently has been the arrival of a pair of Orcas. Promptly named Port and Starboard, South Africans have watched agog as the duo have attacked and driven out the sharks that formerly patrolled the coastline. </li> </ul><figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_SA_GweGwe_Wildlife_Whale-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31355" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_SA_GweGwe_Wildlife_Whale-2.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_SA_GweGwe_Wildlife_Whale-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_SA_GweGwe_Wildlife_Whale-2-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> It’s possible to see whales from the water on a dedicated boat trip, but in the right place, it can also be done from land. While heading out by boat allows closer proximity to these massive marine mammals, shore-based whale watching expands the experience from a concentrated boat trip to the duration of a stay. It’s also an ideal solution for those who suffer from queasiness out on the water. One of the finest places for land-based whale watching is Lekkerwater in De Hoop Nature Reserve in South Africa’s Western Cape – around a three hour drive out of Cape Town. This is one of the world’s most important calving grounds for Southern Right Whales and from July to October hundreds of Southern right whales arrive from Antarctica to calve and breed in the calm waters. Positioned alongside the water’s edge, Lekkerwater’s situation means you don’t even need to leave the lodge to indulge in a spot of whale watching, even if they start performing just as you’ve sat down for dinner. These gentle giants come astonishingly close to shore – often within mere metres of the beach. Mothers come to give birth and nurse their calves before tackling the long journey south to their summer feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean. Keep your eyes peeled for plumes of mist as they blow or the distinctive circular footprint they leave as they dive – both are telltale signs, easy to see from shore that they’re in the area. This is whale watching at its most intimate – no boats, no crowds, just the rhythmic soundtrack of waves and whale song. From the comfort of your beachfront room, you’ll be able to watch as they cavort in the water outside, and you’ll find that every corner of your private deck offers remarkable sea vistas to immerse you in one of nature’s most moving mammal migrations. If whales are on your wish list, Lekkerwater is an ideal destination, with plenty more to explore between your whale watching endeavours.  <figure><img decoding="async" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_SA_Lekkerwater-Beach-Lodge_Whales2.jpg" alt="" /></figure>  The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/once-a-year-something-exceptional-happens-at-lekkerwater/">Once a Year Something Exceptional Happens at Lekkerwater</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:47:16 +0000 Anonymous 4025 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa World Environment Day: Message In a Bottle https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/world-environment-day-message-a-bottle <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">The romanticism of the ‘message in a bottle’ imagery has endured through the ages. The first documentation in fact, dates back to 310BC, when the Greek philosopher Theophrastus – a pupil of Aristotle, used them to demonstrate that the Atlantic Ocean flowed into the Mediterranean. Since then they’ve been utilised for science and communication, bringing us neatly to World Environment Day, which this year centres on combatting plastic pollution. Back in the age of ancient philosophy the bottles were fashioned from glass, but through the two thousand odd years that have passed since then the low cost, versatile material plastic became a mainstay of daily life. One common use for plastic is water bottles. Cheap, lightweight and convenient, the plastic water bottle was somewhat of a no-brainer, and incredibly easy to discard. However, as our population has become increasingly environmentally aware, one significant message has risen to the fore: this is not sustainable. We now know of course, that those easy to swig and sling plastic bottles take a devastating 450 years to break down. Further to this extended decomposition time, they can also release harmful chemicals into the environment and contain high levels of microplastics which can threaten marine life and infiltrate the human food chain. Now that we understand all this, the romantic notion of a ‘message in a bottle’ is somewhat dispelled. Which means it’s time for a new message in a more sustainable vessel, and this time it’s about implementing change and making a difference. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-13.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31209" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-13.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-13-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-13-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> We’ve been working hard to eradicate all single-use plastics from our camps and we achieve this in a number of ways: <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>We’ve removed all single-use plastic water bottles from our camps. Instead, our guests and staff have durable, reusable bottles that are practical, look great, and are crafted to last a lifetime. The solidity of these bottles also makes them ideal for adventurers out on safari when they might get dropped as travellers reach for binoculars or end up rolling across the floor of a game drive vehicle. </li> <li>We’ve invested in sustainable water purification systems. Most of our camps provide safe, clean drinking water that doesn’t cost the Earth through a 3 stage reverse osmosis (RO) system. This water filtration setup purifies water through three filtration stages using a combination of mechanical and chemical processes including a reverse osmosis membrane. </li> <li>We refill rather than replace. The toiletry bottles in our bedroom suites are refilled between guests rather than replaced entirely, drastically reducing plastic waste. They also add to the overall aesthetic rather nicely!</li> <li>It goes without saying that plastics are recycled throughout our operations, but did you know that we also actively repurpose them? By utilising plastic in community crafts we help local villagers generate income while keeping plastics out of land fill sites.</li> </ul>Further to these changes that influence current behaviour, we also invest heavily in conservation education projects which seek to educate youngsters about the environment. Children who travel to our lodges benefit from these programmes, but so do the kids who live close to the wildlife areas. Initiatives such as KEEP, Lessons in Conservation and Coaching Conservation all strive to educate future generations about the environment and help them rise to the challenge of assuming its guardianship. The next generation will be far better educated and prepared to care for this planet and nurture it back to full, wild health than we have been. The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/world-environment-day-message-in-a-bottle/">World Environment Day: Message In a Bottle</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:40:10 +0000 Anonymous 4022 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa International Leopard Day in Khwai Private Reserve https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/international-leopard-day-khwai-private-reserve <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">May 3rd marks International Leopard Day and one of the best places to see leopard conservation in action is Khwai Private Reserve (KPR) in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Leopards are among the numerous predators found in the exclusive reserve and our team on the ground works hard to keep them safe. The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a remarkably adaptable big cat, with the eight subspecies occurring across sub-Saharan and northeast Africa, Central Asia, India and China. The habitats they live in vary hugely from mountains to jungles and even cities – they have the widest geographic range of any big cat (Guynup, 2024). They’re solitary and elusive creatures, making them one of the most enthralling sightings for safari-goers. Despite being so enigmatic and indeed the most resilient of the big cats, their populations are unfortunately decreasing, and they’re currently classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. In fact, the IUCN believe they may now be extinct in 26 countries that they were once found in. The primary threats they face are loss of habitat, human-wildlife conflict, trophy hunting and poaching. As one of the top predators in their habitat, leopards are vital to their ecosystems. Their predation keeps herbivore populations in check – particularly antelopes, preventing overgrazing which in turn allows vegetation to thrive and supports the overall health of the ecosystem. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Sable-Alley_Mink-Jaeger_L4_Leopard-4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30825" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Sable-Alley_Mink-Jaeger_L4_Leopard-4.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Sable-Alley_Mink-Jaeger_L4_Leopard-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Sable-Alley_Mink-Jaeger_L4_Leopard-4-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The plight of the leopard isn’t immediately obvious to guests in Khwai Private Reserve though, until they begin to engage with the conservation efforts that are underway. Our work with the leopards here began in 2017 with our Leopard Habituation Project. This project was necessary because the reserve had previously been used for hunting, so the wildlife required some reassurance that no one was going to try to shoot them anymore. Our team needed to habituate them to the presence of humans and safari vehicles ensuring they no longer considered either a threat. “During the transition from hunting safaris to photographic safaris, many of the animals on the concession were skittish,” recalls Gofiwa Thebenala, the reserve’s Head Ranger. “To address this, it was agreed that the rangers would focus on habituating leopards and other wildlife, but with most of the focus on the leopards. All resident leopards are now successfully habituated and comfortable around guests.” For those who visit KPR and spend time in one of the lodges here: Tuludi, Sable Alley, Little Sable, Skybeds and Elephant Pan, the predator action is a huge draw, however the high predator numbers pose a threat to the reserve’s leopards. With the lion population increasing, the leopards are being crowded into a concentrated area, where normally they’d have more space. Alas, there’s nothing we can do about this situation beyond monitoring. Another threat to the reserve’s leopards is snares. Thus far no leopards have been caught in snares, but other species have, and our team must be particularly alert in looking for snares during the grass cutting season when community members come in to cut grass in the reserve. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_Bots_North-Island_James-Ramsay_L4_Leopard-13.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30826" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_Bots_North-Island_James-Ramsay_L4_Leopard-13.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_Bots_North-Island_James-Ramsay_L4_Leopard-13-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_Bots_North-Island_James-Ramsay_L4_Leopard-13-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Being aware of these threats allows us to mitigate them as much as possible, taking care of Khwai Private Reserve’s leopard population. We currently have 11 leopards in the concession, each of whom is well habituated – particularly the females, and they all have their own territories. Closest to Little Sable is the female Acacia and her two cubs, while Mathata and her cub can be found in the Sable Alley area. In the region around Tuludi, you might see Nicky and her two cubs or Khuhle and her cub. The presiding male meanwhile is called Rra Tsebe and he could be seen virtually anywhere! “Nicky is also affectionately referred to as Mosadimogolo which means ‘old lady’,” notes Gofiwa. “She’s the oldest leopard on the concession and was one of the first to be habituated when the photographic safaris began in 2017. At the onset of her habituation, she had a male cub named Nicolas who’s now left the reserve. Khuhle is another cub of Nicky’s from 2019. She’s also well habituated and currently has a cub of her own. Two years ago, Nicky had two more cubs named Bella and Rra Dijo who can still be seen near Tuludi with their mother and are very happy with guests around.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Leopard22.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30827" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Leopard22.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Leopard22-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Leopard22-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> A very high percentage of visitors to the reserve see the leopards, and many become so invested in the individuals that they’re keen to take things a step further with the Khwai Private Reserve Ranger Experience. “We take pride in the fact that guests visiting Khwai Private Reserve have a high chance of spotting leopards during their stay,” smiles the head guide. “While it is possible for some guests to leave without seeing a leopard, we estimate that 9 out of 10 guests will see them. The Ranger Experience is the best way to get involved and have first-hand experience on how we habituate the leopards.” The Ranger Experience allows guests to help a specialist team track, capture data and patrol. The experience begins before dawn and guests will spend up to 6 hours tracking and identifying a variety of predators including leopards. If time allows there’ll also be the opportunity to check in on some of the reserve’s conservation projects along the way. This work all goes towards building a bigger picture of the reserve’s predators and informs the team on how best to manage and protect them. For leopards sightings before other guests have even woken from their slumber – this is the activity for you. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_KPR_JK_Ranger-Activity8.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30828" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_KPR_JK_Ranger-Activity8.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_KPR_JK_Ranger-Activity8-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_KPR_JK_Ranger-Activity8-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/international-leopard-day-in-khwai-private-reserve/">International Leopard Day in Khwai Private Reserve</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Fri, 02 May 2025 11:48:14 +0000 Anonymous 4019 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa International Hyena Day https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/international-hyena-day <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">Today’s International Hyena Day and it’s time to appreciate their value. Disney might have us believe that hyenas are brainless, cackling lunatics salivating over their next meal and doing no good whatsoever, but they actually contribute significantly to their environment, and bear with us, but they’re really quite sweet! <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30657" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-2.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-2-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> There are three species of hyena in the subfamily Hyaenidae, these are the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and the brown hyena (Hyaena brunnea). They also have a close cousin in the aardwolf (Proteles cristata). We’re fortunate enough to have three of them in the areas we operate, the exception being the striped which occurs elsewhere in Africa and beyond. It’s likely to be the spotted hyena that first springs to mind for most people. They’re particularly known for their vocalisations which sound like laughter and most often occur with excitement of stress. These are the largest of the species and have a distinctive spotted coat. Those hoping for a spotted sighting would do well to visit our Khwai Private Reserve lodges in Botswana: Tuludi, Sable Alley, Little Sable, Elephant Pan or Skybeds. However, a healthy African wild dog population also tends to be a good indicator of their presence – the dogs are such effective hunters that they attract the attentions of hyenas and vultures who look to benefit from a successful hunt. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30658" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-1.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_Bots_Sable-Alley_Hyena-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The brown hyena is a more solitary creature. They’re shaggy and endearingly shy, quiet animals. Spend time with a brown hyena and you’re sure to develop a soft spot for them. While their spotted associates are thriving, these delightful animals are unfortunately classed as Near Threatened but our guests are still in with a good chance of seeing them. The Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana are particularly good for brown hyenas, so booking a room at Jack’s Camp, San Camp or Camp Kalahari would be a good move. Alternatively, you could swap salt pans for sand dunes and head to Namibia. Hoanib Valley Camp, Kwessi Dunes and sometimes even Shipwreck Lodge can prove fruitful for brown hyena sightings. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_17-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30659" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_17-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_17-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0005_17-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Smaller and more timid than their close relatives, the aardwolf is vulnerable to larger predators and thus is cautious. Its name translates as ‘earth wolf’ in Afrikaans and they feed primarily on termites. The aardwolf is even trickier to find than its brown cousin, but once again we can help, because they’re frequently sighted from Tawana, our lodge in Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve as well as in the Makgadikgadi Pans. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Okavango-Delta_Chris-Schmid_L2_Aardwolf-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30660" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Okavango-Delta_Chris-Schmid_L2_Aardwolf-1.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Okavango-Delta_Chris-Schmid_L2_Aardwolf-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_Bots_Okavango-Delta_Chris-Schmid_L2_Aardwolf-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The Hyaenidae are sometimes painted as nothing but scavengers who are damaging to the ecosystems they live in. Far from being pests in these areas though, Hyaenidae make a positive impact on their environment. For starters, they provide a very efficient cleaning service. They’re absolutely brilliant at clearing the ecosystem of carcasses or infirm animals. In doing so, they help to recycle nutrients and stop disease spreading. They also hate waste – while other predators pick and choose what they consume, the hyenas eat everything except the hair. All this bone they’ve eaten creates calcium compounds in their stools providing further nutrition for other animals who can’t eat bones themselves but can devour hyaena poo! Aardwolves meanwhile keep termite populations in check, thus protecting agricultural land from the damage they incur. So if you’re lucky enough to find yourself at a hyena sighting, take a moment to appreciate the good they’re doing – they’re integral threads within Mother Nature’s rich tapestry. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_21-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30661" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_21-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_21-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_21-Makgadikgadi-Brown-hyena-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/international-hyena-day/">International Hyena Day</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:28:39 +0000 Anonymous 4016 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa Earth Day – Our power, our planet https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/earth-day-%E2%80%93-our-power-our-planet <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">We’re committed to conserving and protecting Africa’s last great wild places and as part of that vision we keep our own carbon footprint to a minimum, ensuring we tread lightly in our endeavours and draw on renewable energy throughout our operations. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_43-Kwessi-Dunes-Sundowners.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30514" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_43-Kwessi-Dunes-Sundowners.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_43-Kwessi-Dunes-Sundowners-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_43-Kwessi-Dunes-Sundowners-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> This ambition is not without its challenges of course, particularly when operating in some of the world’s most remote corners. Many of the sustainability strategies we invoke are practical, such as deploying as few supply runs as possible to and from our camps – something we achieve simply through solid management, or make use of natural resources, like the solar energy that every one of our lodges runs on. With 27 lodges in our portfolio, having them all powered by solar is no small feat, and one that we’re justifiably proud of. We’ve also introduced a remote system that can track our solar power generation across the company. There are other approaches we’d like to incorporate, but are, as yet unable due to the nature of the areas we work in. A good example of this is the electric safari vehicle – perhaps the only green car that’s not considered unlucky! You might have seen them being utilised in other areas, but the rough terrain and water that we need our game drive vehicles to negotiate makes them impractical for us in their current guise. We are, however keeping a close eye on their advancement and are busily trialling a fuel additive in the game drive and support vehicles across our Namibian lodges that reduces fuel emissions. We reduce waste in the lodges in a variety of ways, including repurposing materials at every opportunity (Tawana’s floors are fashioned from recycled cork), using glass crushers and meticulously managing the sewage processing systems. This year we’ll be trialling a system whereby waste from Mokolwane is taken to Maun where it’s fed to maggots which are, in turn, fed to chickens. Tawana meanwhile is soon to have a biogas digester installed which will produce methane for cooking. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BOTS_Tawana_Dook_L4_Bathroom5.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30515" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BOTS_Tawana_Dook_L4_Bathroom5.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BOTS_Tawana_Dook_L4_Bathroom5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BOTS_Tawana_Dook_L4_Bathroom5-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Our reach extends beyond our lodges and into the community. We’ve installed solar energy in Gweta Hospital’s operating theatre, laboratory and pharmacy and are unrolling the technology across the whole hospital. We’ve also solar powered the village’s water supply, ensuring that this is now reliable. Over on South Africa’s Wild Coast meanwhile, we have a carbon project at GweGwe Beach Lodge in Mkambati Nature Reserve. The Mkambati Land Trust represents 6,600 rural families who own 18,000 hectares of uninhabited grassland at the heart of the country’s Eastern Cape. 7,400 hectares of this land is within Mkambati. Various contributing factors have led to the grasslands deteriorating, but a Pre-Scoping Study has concluded that correct management over the next 30 years would sequester around 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in soils. Carbon credits would be generated from this sequestration and to achieve it the Mkambati reserve needs to be expanded to 15,000 hectares – this is phase one of the project. Next, we’ll introduce regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management principles before extending the project to eight other areas within the Wild Coast. More than 80% of the carbon credit income stream generated will go to the local communities. We’re all about giving back to the Earth, and more often than not, this is most effectively done by using the planet’s own great gifts. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Indland-from-MNR.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30516" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Indland-from-MNR.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Indland-from-MNR-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Indland-from-MNR-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/earth-day-our-power-our-planet/">Earth Day – Our power, our planet</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:27:32 +0000 Anonymous 4014 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa How we help the African Elephant https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/how-we-help-the-african-elephant <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">There are actually two elephants in Africa: the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) found in the rainforests of West and Central Africa, and the more familiar African Savanna Elephant (Loxodonta africana) which is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. These giant pachyderms are perhaps the continent’s most iconic species, and yet both populations are in decline with the Forest Elephant classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and the Savanna as Endangered. It is the African Savanna Elephant that occurs in the areas we operate, so that’s the species our own conservation efforts focus upon. The Savanna Elephant is the largest species of elephant, and anyone who’s seen one will attest that they really are as enormous as your childhood imagination led you to believe. They’re also crucial to the ecosystems in which they exist, serving as very efficient gardeners and ensuring that tree density is kept under control so that other flora and fauna can thrive in the savanna and woodland they inhabit. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Elephant1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30389" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Elephant1.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Elephant1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_Bots_Tuludi_Anja-Hanke_L4_Elephant1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Savanna elephants face numerous threats, many of which stem from escalating human–elephant conflict. One of the most well-known is the illegal ivory trade. Despite a global CITES ban on the sale of elephant ivory since 1990, demand persists — and tens of thousands of elephants are still poached each year to supply it (WWF, n.d.). However, the threat to elephants extends beyond ivory. As human populations expand, elephants increasingly find themselves in close proximity to villages and farmland. Their sheer size makes them capable of significant damage — from trampling crops to destroying infrastructure — often just by following their natural movements. Many of their traditional migratory routes now intersect with human settlements, turning everyday journeys into dangerous encounters for both people and elephants. These conflicts not only heighten tension but also make elephants vulnerable to retaliatory killings. We are addressing elephant conservation with a multi-faceted approach: Youth Education Projects A crucial component of conservation is education, and we work with a number of like-minded partners to deliver engaging education that teaches young people living near wildlife areas about the value and conservation of the wildlife and habitats around them. Lessons In Conservation is one such organisation operating in Botswana, raising awareness about conservation in rural communities across Africa. We also work with Elephants for Africa on an Environmental Club which sheds light on the relevance of the wildlife that passes through the local village to Meno a Kwena. Another partner of ours, Wild Shots Outreach, takes a slightly different approach and uses photography to not only progress children’s potential but also encourage appreciation of the wildlife local to them. Coaching Conservation meanwhile, use sport to get the message across to kids in wildlife adjacent areas, and we support their work through funding and access. Over in Namibia, the world of conservation is opened up by our partner KEEP programme which is designed and implemented by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and connects children from urban primary schools with nature, nurturing an interest in the environment. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_IMG_5299.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30390" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_IMG_5299.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_IMG_5299-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_IMG_5299-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation When humans and elephants compete for space and resources, conflict between the two is inevitable. Because of this, we’ve funded the Botswana Predator Conservation (BPC) BioBoundary Project which investigates the efficacy of plant-based airborne elephant repellents to help protect crops and infrastructure. Humans and elephants themselves are kept safe through our Elephant Express buses. We work with EcoExist and the Okavango Community Trust to run these buses, with insurance sponsored by SATIB and the Botswana Insurance Company. The three buses provide safe transportation for school children and clinic patients through an elephant corridor. Further to this we work alongside Elephants for Africa to collar and monitor elephants, and also to help communities elephant proof their livelihoods. We’re also partners on the Living with Wildlife Strategy Workshops in Moreomaoto Village. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BUS-Edit.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30391" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BUS-Edit.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BUS-Edit-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_BUS-Edit-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Anti-Poaching The fight against poaching is ongoing, and we’re well equipped to deal with it. Concern for the wildlife in Khwai Private Reserve led us to ensure rangers in the Khwai Private Reserve Anti-Poaching team are fully equipped. Radios, tablets, drones and even motorbikes help the ranger team to be as effective on the ground as possible and we’ve invested heavily in their training too so they’re prepared at all times. The status of a species is always evolving, and by supporting organizations and individuals who share our values, we remain ready to meet the changing conservation needs of the African Savanna elephant. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Scott-Ramsay-Photos-Khwai-73.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-30392" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Scott-Ramsay-Photos-Khwai-73.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Scott-Ramsay-Photos-Khwai-73-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Scott-Ramsay-Photos-Khwai-73-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/how-we-help-the-african-elephant/">How we help the African Elephant</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:54:30 +0000 Anonymous 4012 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa International Zebra Day – Where To See Them https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/international-zebra-day-%E2%80%93-where-to-see-them <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">Our brand is synonymous with zebras – we’re so fond of these stripy equids we even put one on a bicycle for our logo and we have no shortage of options for those looking to spend time with a zebra or indeed, a thousand of them. Their appearance is so remarkable that you’d struggle to invent these extraordinary creatures, however it’s not their monochrome looks that capture the imagination in real life, it’s the noise they make. “As stunning as they are, the noise is incredible and so unlike a horse,” agrees Private Guide and Head of Sales Peter Allison. “When they gather at Meno a Kwena right in front of the camp there’s a chorus of thousands emitting an almost whistling sound.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_BOTS_Meno-a-Kwena_Martin-Harvey_L4_zebra_015.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14208" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_BOTS_Meno-a-Kwena_Martin-Harvey_L4_zebra_015.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_BOTS_Meno-a-Kwena_Martin-Harvey_L4_zebra_015-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_BOTS_Meno-a-Kwena_Martin-Harvey_L4_zebra_015-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> One of our flagship conservation projects is the Makgadikgadi Large Mammal Migration Conservation Initiative. Prior to the 1960s the area of north-eastern Botswana around the Makgadikgadi National Park and the Kalahari Desert held the longest and possibly the largest migration of zebra and wildebeest in Africa. Unfortunately land use changes brought extensive fencing to the area and cut short this historic migration. Astonishingly though, the migration has re-emerged over the last decade and we’ve committed significant funds to reopening these migration corridors so that the animals’ movement can continue undeterred. We work on a multifaceted conservation program, addressing wildlife and cattle movements, waterhole usage, human-wildlife conflict zoning and conflict mitigation efforts. We work alongside local communities and all stakeholders to develop land use plans that benefit all and allow this epic migration to flourish. A happy by-product of this project are the incredible zebra sightings that our guests can enjoy from our Makgadikgadi properties. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_01-Zebra-migration.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14209" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_01-Zebra-migration.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_01-Zebra-migration-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_01-Zebra-migration-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Certainly Meno a Kwena is one of the best places to see zebra them. The clifftop position means that most of the camp, including the rooms overlook the river below and it’s here that they arrive to drink in April and then remain until around September. The floating hide at the water’s edge offers a water level view of the zebra as they flow up and down the hillside to quench their thirst. There’s a liquidity to the sight of so many of these equids as they stream past one another almost as one creature. The most famous zebra sightings are in Kenya’s Masai Mara of course, and second only to that is this annual pilgrimage. The zebras travel through Northern Botswana and from as far away as Namibia to the Makgadikgadi Pans where they can be seen from roughly December through to March. “It’s amazing to see them in such huge numbers in a dead flat environment,” notes Peter. It’s not only their surroundings that might surprise you, “as pretty as they are they’re actually quite violent animals,” he adds. “The males fight within their bachelor groups to see who can take on a dominant stallion. They do this using donkey kicks, rearing chop-downs and biting. Biting is actually their main weapon and they usually bite one another underneath the chin.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_08-Zebra-migration.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14210" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_08-Zebra-migration.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_08-Zebra-migration-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_08-Zebra-migration-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The zebras that migrate benefit from protein rich grasses from the mineral laden Pans and thus weigh around 20 percent more than their non-travelling cousins in the Okavango Delta. If you’re keen to see these more slimline individuals, or indeed any zebra outside the migration season, Khwai Private Reserve and the Okavango Uncharted lodges of Duke’s Camp and Duke’s East are excellent for year round zebra sightings. Those who are travelling to Namibia also stand a good chance of seeing these striped delights. The Plains zebra is the most widespread and the familiar species at our Etosha Heights Private Reserve properties, but at Hoanib Valley Camp and Kwessi Dunes you might just come across the much rarer Hartman’s zebra which sports narrower stripes that don’t meet beneath the belly. Should your time in the company of zebras leave you keen to support their conservation, you can do this with a donation to the <a href="https://www.naturalselectionfoundation.org/conservation/makgadikgadi-large-mammal-mitigation-conservation-initiative/">Natural Selection Foundation</a> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_BOTS_Elephant-Pan_Tom-Frew_L4_Zebra-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14211" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_BOTS_Elephant-Pan_Tom-Frew_L4_Zebra-1.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_BOTS_Elephant-Pan_Tom-Frew_L4_Zebra-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0003_BOTS_Elephant-Pan_Tom-Frew_L4_Zebra-1-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/international-zebra-day-where-to-see-them/">International Zebra Day – Where To See Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div> Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:52:14 +0000 Anonymous 3992 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa Meet Ketji, our Community Outreach Officer for Namibia https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/meet-ketji-our-community-outreach-officer-namibia <div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded">When guests travel to Africa it tends to be because they want to see the wildlife, but upon their return it’s often the people who they remember. It’s not only conservation work that we undertake, we’re also committed to supporting the local communities and one man who’s very involved in this is our Namibian Community Outreach Officer who’s widely known as Ketji. “My full name is Jermain Ketji,” he explains. “But I prefer to be known by my last name Ketji and that’s how everyone knows me. I was born in Grootfontein, a recently established town that’s a main business hub and supports the nearby farming community both commercial and communal.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-25-at-09.10.01.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13706" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-25-at-09.10.01.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-25-at-09.10.01-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0004_WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-25-at-09.10.01-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> From day one, community has been a core component of life for Ketji. “I grew up with a strong rural rooted upbringing which was very common,” he tells us. “Working parents in towns would send their children to grandparents in the village until they reach school age.” This practice familiarised the young children with the adults’ daily chores and they learnt to contribute to the household. “My interest was mostly in goat herding,” notes Ketji. “It provided an opportunity to be out in the bush which meant the chance to enjoy the different treats that nature has to offer.” The young Namibian also learnt from the older generations who guided him through the traditional herding practices. “I was so fascinated by the bush skills of the herders,” he nods. “The way they were able to find their way around and use the native plants to treat different ailments – it’s as though they were the pharmacists and everyone would order different plants from them on a daily basis. Throughout my schooling I would spend all my holidays and weekends back at the village and get straight back into my chores.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_5.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13707" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_5.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0002_5-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> This sense of community has stayed with Ketji right through to the present day as has the love of nature that his days out herding instilled. “It connected and tied my soul and spirit to nature. Throughout my life I have only wanted jobs that involved travelling to remote rural areas. It is a connection I have been fortunate to grow and strengthen over the years as I learnt more about conservation, tourism and how they can be used to develop and empower rural communities.” Today, home for Ketji is Namibia’s capital Windhoek where he lives alone and continues to travel frequently in his role for us. Ketji had already spent 16 years working in tourism and outreach prior to joining Natural Selection three years ago. In this previous role he undertook guiding, lodge management, concession management and served on the boards of lodges as well as a non-profit. Ketji’s role with us as Community Outreach Officer for Namibia sees him ensure that the local communities benefit fully from Natural Selection’s ecotourism endeavours and it’s a model that he wholeheartedly believes in. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Namibia_WarmquelleVillage5_AntonCrone_L4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13708" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Namibia_WarmquelleVillage5_AntonCrone_L4.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Namibia_WarmquelleVillage5_AntonCrone_L4-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0000_Namibia_WarmquelleVillage5_AntonCrone_L4-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> “I am passionate about people and their harmonious existence in nature,” he enthuses. “Over the years I have seen tremendous transformation of people and landscapes due to sustainable eco-tourism concepts. If done well and centred on people, I believe that community outreach is the best form of development. It should be done by the people, for the people, with serious passion and conviction from all involved.” Ketji’s days are spent acting as liaison between conservancy and community partners on a range of different initiatives through Namibia. “We concentrate our efforts on impact through education,” he notes. “We’re currently sponsoring 20 learners from two high schools to help aid their chances of qualifying for tertiary education. In addition to this we recently built a kindergarten for a rural community in the Sesfontein area, the Otjikondavirongo Conservancy.” <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_IMG-20230725-WA0001.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13709" srcset="https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_IMG-20230725-WA0001.jpg 1024w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_IMG-20230725-WA0001-300x200.jpg 300w, https://naturalselection.travel/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blog-category-1024-x-681px_0001_IMG-20230725-WA0001-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> Our community champion won’t be drawn on a favourite amongst the projects we run, but does have a favourite aspect of the job. “I really enjoy interacting with people and learning more about cultures, customs and traditions – I treasure unity in diversity.” As has been the case since he was a boy spending his school holidays herding goats, Ketji also places immense value upon being amongst nature’s spoils, “breathtaking, spectacular views, fantastic sightings, serenity and the solitude that only Mother Nature can provide.” He will also concede that resource mobilisation is the most challenging part of his role. With such an involved job it’s natural that Ketji needs some downtime, and when he’s not working on our projects he can be found out running or camping in Namibia’s unspoilt landscapes. The post <a href="https://naturalselection.travel/meet-ketji-our-community-outreach-officer-for-namibia/">Meet Ketji, our Community Outreach Officer for Namibia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://naturalselection.travel">Natural Selection</a>. </div><div class="field-tags" rel="dc:subject"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><a href="/africa/blog/tags/people" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">People</a></div> Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:25:26 +0000 Anonymous 3987 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa

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