LIFE ON THE SOUTHERN PLAINS

Karibu

Well, what a year it has been!

YEARNING

At home in Dorset, whenever I watch the swallows departing

SPACE

At Namiri Plains in the eastern Serengeti, the sense

WILDLIFE

From Kenya to the Great Karoo, no matter where you

STAYING IN TOUCH

There’s much us wildlife-lovers have missed during lockdown. But are there positives to take from the experience? How has this changed the way we will view Africa in the future?

CLIMATE CONTROL

How the weather varies across the continent

TO FLY OR NOT TO FLY?

The global lockdown has reminded us that we need to be kinder to our planet. Undoubtably this will impact our travel behaviour going forward, yet some trips — especially a safari in Africa — are critical to protecting our environment

WILDLIFE AND THE WEATHER

In the natural world, the climate governs everything. How animals adapt their behaviour to cope with seasonal shifts is a matter of survival — some have developed truly remarkable tricks — and it’s only going to get evermore challenging

HOW WEATHER SHAPES NATURE

Few places demonstrate how an infusion of time and climatic forces shape a landscape as clearly as Namibia. One of the joys of visiting is seeing this process in action

SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA’S

South Africa is a country of striking climatic and altitudinal contrasts

COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL

In a glorious celebration of seasonal change, the Northern Cape bursts into colour when spring arrives. Here’s why you should plan to join the annual ‘petal pilgrimage’ to Namaqualand

EMERALD SMILES

Why a safari in the rainy season is not to be missed

FLOOD WARNING

Like some giant lung, the Okavango Delta fills and empties to a slow rhythm in lockstep with the cycle of the seasons, fed by rain in distant lands and dispersing its water into the Kalahari sands, its path shaped and blocked by two geological faults.

MOOD SWINGS

The ebb and flow of the rains influences the personality of the Victoria Falls, so knowing what it will be like at different times of year can help

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LIFE ON THE MOVE

A collection of articles that look at the Great Migration of the Serengeti-Mara… and beyond

THE GREAT MIGRATION: how it works

The climate is at the heart of the migration pattern in the Serengeti and Masai Mara: the rains dictating where the wildebeest go and when, as they follow their noses in a neverending search for food.

FOLLOWING THE HERD

Have wildebeest, will travel. While the river crossings may have the biggest appeal, the downside is this results in overcrowding in a finite space as vehicles jostle for the best view.

SHOULD I LEAD… …OR SHOULD I FOLLOW?

Recent research suggests that the mantle of leadership rotates around the herd, based on an individual's motivation

EYE OF THE STORM

The idea of a high and a low season, particularly in the Masai Mara Conservancies, is patently absurd

Conserving conservancies

Mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown

BEYOND THE MIGRATION

The great appeal of the Serengeti-Mara lies in the year-round drama and exceptional wildlife sightings on offer across this vast ecosystem.

ALONE IN THE SERENGETI

All the images in this feature (unless stated) were taken by photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks between May and July 2020.

ANIMAL EXODUS

Migration isn’t just about wildebeest and river crossings — all across Africa movements of wildlife are occurring at any given time, as a variety of animals, big and small, go in search of food and water. Here’s a selection of the most impressive, to add to your wildlife-watching wishlist

FLIGHT PATHS

Check any field guide to Africa's birdlife and you'll find many migratory species that spend much of their life in Europe and Asia. Others move from one part of Africa to another, or make epic journeys around its coasts. It makes for a rich birdwatching experience.

FLOW MOTION

South Africa is a marine wildlife-lover’s dream, with opportunities to enjoy close encounters with many of the world’s most exciting species, drawn to its waters in abundance. How these migrations are influenced by climate has become more noticeable

THE GREEN HEART: trees of life

Trees tend to get in the way on safari. They hide more exciting things like leopards, gorillas and red-crested turacos. But take the time to simply sit in an African forest — senses wide open — and you’ll experience something just as rewarding as an encounter with a great ape or big cat.

GROWING THE GREAT GREEN WALL

An ambitious project in the Sahel is proving how vital trees are, and gives hope in the battle to protect the environment

LIFE IN THE GREAT FOREST

The Congo Basin rainforest is a massive carbon sink, possibly storing more carbon than the Amazon or Indonesian rainforests. Our global climate depends on it.

HIGHLIGHTING THE LINKS BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Strong African leadership can ensure pandemic response includes conservation goals

DEATH OF A SILVERBACK

The Nkuringo gorilla group significantly aided tourism in the misty hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

BRANCHING OUT

Within Africa’s forests there is a wealth of life to discover and activities to enjoy. So, for your next safari, head for the trees. Here’s where to start

WOODLORE

Paying more attention to the diversity of trees you’ll see on safari can enrich your experience and teach you a lot more about the wildlife you are there to see. To get you started, here’s our guide to a few of Africa’s most iconic trees

Thomas Baines and the giant baobabs

Many visitors to Botswana seek out the iconic Baines’ Baobabs, but who was the man after whom they are named?

WATERWAYS: lifeblood of the continent

Only a tiny fraction of Earth’s water — less than 0.02 per cent — is contained in lakes and rivers, but the impact of these waterways and wetlands is huge.

SPLASHING OUT

Africa’s lakes and rivers are awash with adventure potential. Here’s our pick of activities to whet your appetite

LIFE OF A WATER HOLE

Every safari-goer has spent hours at a waterhole, watching and waiting for wildlife to come and go, knowing that all creatures need water to survive. But how do these lifegiving pans came to be, and how do they evolve through the seasons?

IT'S RAINING FROGS

Why these fascinating amphibians deserve your attention – and why they are critical to a healthy environment

SAFARI

Ideas and advice to help you plan your trip

What it means to be GREEN

In a short period of time, there’s been a revolutionary improvement in environmental awareness at camps across Africa.

GREEN ROOTS

Most lodges and camps now have a strong environmental ethos at their heart; particularly the newer facilities.

Build. Enjoy. Dismantle. Repeat

Many camps in remote areas of some parks are not accessible during the rains, meaning they can’t operate year-round. So what happens to them during the off -season?

DOING THEIR BIT

Minimising their impact on the environment is at the