Owls: Masters of darkness
Mike Unwin reveals his fascination with Africa’s owls, the consummate predators. A highly-accessible look at this fascinating bird, the adaptations and attributes that make it so successful and top tips to help you see them on safari.
Uganda: The savvy traveller’s guide to the national parks
A perennial challenge for safari-goers is deciding which parks and reserves to include in their itinerary and which to forego. In Uganda the dilemma is pronounced because the country is compact but packed with a divergence of options. To help you figure out which may be best for you, depending on your interests, your budget and how much time you can afford, we sought the advice of longtime Ugandan traveller and guidebook writer Philip Briggs.
Tanzania: Plains, game and automobiles
While northern Tanzania boasts some of the continent’s most popular attractions, there is plenty of opportunity to explore lesser-known – but by no means inferior – attractions and get a real sense of what the country is all about. Phil Clisby travels from Arusha to Dar in a car, rediscovering his backpacking spirit of adventure.
Kenya: 60 reasons to linger in Nairobi
Most visitors to Kenya pass through Nairobi. This is a city we have come to know pretty well over the years, and have grown to really enjoy. It has an energy that reflects a modern, vibrant Africa. We reckon it’s worth spending a few days here, and to help you get a taste of Nairobi beyond the tourist trail, we’ve enlisted the help of a man about town: Jackson Biko.
Sierra Leone: Fresh start
While established tourist destinations around the world struggle to cope with too much tourism, some countries emerging from strife are looking to tourism to help kickstart their economies. Sierra Leone is one. So, what does this nascent country have to offer visitors, and what needs to be done to build appropriate infrastructure? It’s an exciting proposition, discovers Mark Stratton.
South Africa: School for life
Most tourism enterprises across Africa are now actively engaged in community development and conservation work, as efforts are made to protect our natural heritage and support growing rural populations. One of the best examples of this is in north-west South Africa, where a longstanding project is now developing tourism to help fund its education and environmental work. The impact is impressive, on all fronts. By Adam Cruise.
Zambia: Get on your feet
Recognising the growing desire from travellers to connect with nature and to be more active, more and more lodges are offering guided walking options, ranging from a short few hours to longer expeditions. But what is it really like to participate in a multiple-day walking safari? To find out, Sue Watt visited the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, one of the world’s great wildlife reserves.
Zimbabwe: Slow Safari
All too often we’re impatient to head straight out on safari, eager not to miss any action. But rather than going looking for wildlife, perhaps we should sit tight and let it come to us? Spending time at a waterhole may reveal many more of nature’s secrets than we’ll see from a vehicle, and we might tune in to our natural environment much quicker. Doing this early in your visit will relax you into your holiday and enrich the days that follow. On a recent visit to Mana Pools National Park, Mana Meadows forewent a game drive to sit at Kanga Pan for the morning. Here’s what she saw.
Namibia: In search of remoteness
In an evermore connected and busy world, the opportunity to escape, mentally and physically, is increasingly enticing. There are few places as isolated as Kaokoland, in northwest Namibia. How does it feel to visit, and is it as empty as one might imagine? Sarah Gilbert finds out.
The big read: The L Word
What feeds our fascination with Africa? How have our passions evolved and where do we find fulfilment? Here, in a special essay, author Mike Unwin investigates his own very personal obsession. In his story, perhaps we recognise something of our own.
St Helena: Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Would you journey to one of the most remote places on Earth without really knowing what to expect when you got there? Perhaps this sense of discovery is why we love to travel. It certainly explains the appeal of St Helena for Scott Bennett.
Indaba section:
A compendium of short stories giving personal insight to African travel, including: flight times, calendar, recommended books, and
In search of nothing, by Beth Norton
If Zimbabwe itself is an under-the-radar destination on a global scale, then Mavhuradonha is basically incognito.
Conservation:
A mini-section, supported by African Wildlife Foundation, including:
Why elephants matter
Across the globe, considerable resources are being invested to protect elephants and halt the ivory trade. Don Pinnock, who co-compiled the book The Last Elephants, explains why this work is so important.
Reviving a critical wildlife corridor
In Tanzania, community partnerships and livestock support have transformed a stronghold for wildlife. By Jacqueline Conciatore.
Safari section:
News and advice to help you plan a trip. Content includes:
• The best beds on Lake Malawi
• Profile: CEO, Jenman Safaris & Hideaways, Katja Quasdorf
• News on lodge openings and fresh travel ideas
Credit: Source link