View from the Masai Mara: Economics on Mane Street

by Richard Coke

I’ve just got back from the Masai Mara, where the last of the migration has been heading off.

The leopards and hyaenas in the Mara are in great condition, because they’ve been feasting all summer. But now the lean months start.

Africa is losing up to 10 rhinos a day to poachers - Helicopter equipped poachers

by Michael Lorentz

South Africa has a proud history of protecting its wildlife.

35 years ago the rhino population was on the verge of extinction, but the slide in Africa was halted, largely thanks to initiatives set up by Ian Player.

For a mind-blowing safari experience, think tiny.

by Michael Lorentz

On their first safari, most people want to see fur and fangs. I quite understand that.

But over time, I find that some of the most rewarding safari experiences are in unusual places and with some unexpected species.

Zimbabwe Invitational Safari - Wildlife & Cultural Connections

Passage to Africa offers the unique opportunity of joining an exclusive ‘invitational safari’, lead by professional guide, Fausto Carbone.

Zimbabwe, once revered as a top safari destination in southern Africa, is re-emerging as an exciting, unspoilt and uncrowded place to visit. It’s a country with great animal and bird diversity, magnificent, unique scenery and friendly people. What’s more, it currently represents the best value destination in Africa.

Inspiring Destination - Amboseli & Surrounds, Kenya

Against the magnificent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro lies Amboseli, a National Park and ecosystem. Meaning the ‘salty earth’ in the language of the Maasai, Amboseli is aptly named after the salty volcanic ash that spewed from the now dormant volcano Kilimanjaro. The 5,000 square kilometre ecosystem lies on Kenya’s border with Tanzania and incorporates habitats of dry lake beds, savannah grasslands, woodlands and swamps fed by springs emanating from the mountain.

Nearly 300 elephants slain in Cameroon for ivory, government minister confirms

by Tapang Ivo Tanku, for CNN
February 21, 2012

Poachers in search of ivory in northern Cameroon have slaughtered nearly 300 elephants for their tusks since mid-January, according to the country's minister of forestry and wildlife.

Book Pick - Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

by Alexandra Fuller
Publication Date: March 11, 2003

Amazon Review:
In Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller remembers her African childhood with candor and sensitivity.

Property Pick - Singita Pamushana

Singita Pamushana
Gonarezhou, Zimbabwe

In south-eastern Zimbabwe, a mere two hundred kilometres from the South African border is the private Malilangwe reserve. A pristine area extending over 1300 square kilometres, it offers a habitat of rocky outcrops, cathedral mopane and majestic baobab trees.

Product Pick - Wonderbag

What is a Wonderbag?

It really is very simple. The Wonderbag is a heat-retention cooking bag.

A Wonderbag is an insulated bag in which people can cook anything from meaty stews or vegetable curries to simple rice and soups. You heat up your pot of food on the stove, kick-starting the cooking process, and then place it in the Wonderbag.

Documentary Pick - Home

by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Narrated by Glenn Close

"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being."

Photo Essay - Peering with Intensity

Image: Peering with Intensity
Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana
Photographer: Richard Coke, PTA Partner Guide

The soft, golden light on this young male leopard is no happy accident. Richard first spotted the cat and its prey, a sable antelope, early in the day during a trip in Botswana's Okavango Delta but was frustrated by poor light conditions.