Paul Steyn spends his days submerged in the world of digital story telling. When coming up for air, he prefers it to be somewhere in the middle of the wilderness. He is obsessed with finding new and interesting ways to distribute content to all those who love and connect with Africa.

Recent Post: Unspotted: One Man’s Insane Search for Africa’s Most Elusive Leopard

Cape Town-born Peter Borchert has a career in publishing spanning four decades. In the early 1990s he founded the award-winning magazines Africa Geographic and Africa – Birds & Birding. He has travelled widely in Africa and has written extensively about the continent.

Recent Post: Founder’s note: June 2013

Hi, I'm Judy, the senior sub-editor of Africa Geographic magazine. I'm not only fixated about commas, though. I am passionate about our planet, its wild landscapes and its bustling places. People fascinate me, animals even more and wide open spaces simply mesmerise me. I've travelled some and have been privileged to see a handful of Africa's amazing sights. Oh, and I love to write.

Recent Post: Ivory, Apes and Peacocks

While taking photographs in the Cederberg, neck deep in water with a modest film camera, Sean Messham opened the shutter that he wanted to focus his energy towards environmental journalism. After finishing his Photojournalism course at Rhodes University he experienced a short stint with internal communication before finding his little niche working for bigFIG Digital Media .

Recent Post: If it Stays it Pays: The Real Commercial Value of the Big Five

Hey, I’m Rich . I’m a solid believer that adventure is wired into the heart and soul of every human being alive. I consider myself lucky that I’m in tune with my own wiring, and carry the burden of an unrelenting wanderlust. While I like nothing more than to get my fix of adrenalin and taste the elixir of life at its sweetest, I’m deeply passionate about Africa and all its precious places, people and wildlife. After studying Journalism at university, I’m currently interning at Africa Geographic with Safari , an opportunity that I am tremendously excited about. I’m a keen writer and photographer, and my goal is to use my talents to develop my voice on conservation issues in our beautiful continent. Follow me on twitter @richpearcephoto

Recent Post: Cheetah Outreach – moving into the future

James Williams completed his B.Sc in Zoology and Environmental Science and immediately did some time in the Sabi Sands reserve. Thereafter, he moved into a little thatch and reed bungalow 4m off the Zambezi River where he lived and worked as a guide in Barotseland, Western Zambia. After Zambia, he spent some time in corporate agriculture before starting his own tourism and eco-adventure business called Corporate Wildman where he hosts specialized wilderness events and runs Wildman Challenges in the best wildlife, birding and fishing destinations of Southern Africa. He lives in Hout Bay, Cape Town but will always be found somewhere in nature in his free time. He is a keen photographer and a very bad fly – tier!

Recent Post: An elephant never forgets: the sunken hide at King’s Pool, Botswana.

In the Guest Blogger profile, you'll see fresh and exciting content from a range of contributors who have submitted their content to us on a once-off or temporary basis, including press releases, campaigns and exciting adventure and travel tales!

Recent Post: Bizarre lion behaviour in the Okavango Delta

Ian has spent the last 24 years working as a specialist guide, photo-journalist and consultant across Africa, including a stint of 13 years based in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. When not guiding, he writes predominately for Africa Geographic covering topics on conservation, wildlife management, ecotourism, and the environment, and has been writing his popular monthly column since 2001. Ian is also the author and photographer of seven natural history and travel books on Africa, and is a past winner of the bird category in the Agfa Wildlife photographic competition (1997). He has also worked as a researcher and field coordinator on various natural history television documentaries for international broadcasters and as a consultant on ecotourism to various private sector and government agencies. Prior to his life in the wilderness, he spent eight years practicing as a stockbroker in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Recent Post: Maasai locked out of Loliondo

With degrees in zoology from the universities of Cambridge and Pretoria, Tim Jackson is mandated to keep his finger on the pulse of the science underlying African conservation and wildlife issues. His insights appear in publications such as Africa Birds and Birding, Safari interactive magazine and in Africa Geographic, where he is the scientific editor. Tim is passionate about travelling and enjoys nothing more than heading into the African wilderness with his trusty camera and notebook to uncover the latest developments and news in the world where wildlife and science collide.

Recent Post: Can you identify this washed up sea creature?

Simon Espley is an African of the digital tribe, although he also enjoys the odd printed magazine. He has travelled extensively in Africa – walking, driving, boating, biking, horse riding and flying his way in pursuit of wilderness and elusive birds. Simon is a chartered accountant and successful businessman in the online.social.mobile space. He is a director of Africa Geographic Holdings and bigFIG Digital Media. The views expressed in his posts are his own and not necessarily those of these entities. Connect with him on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter.

Recent Post: How CHANGE is affecting the travel industry

I am a South African who grew up in the former Transkei, (now the Eastern Cape) and I spent much of my time along the Wild Coast. For over ten years I have been working as a guide in northern Botswana, for a company called Wilderness Safaris. I spend many days of each year leading photographic safari trips with small groups of people through our fixed camps in the Kalahari, Okavango, Linyanti and Savuti regions, mostly. My special interests are birds, lions and photography, in no special order. When I am not guiding in the field, I take part in some of our companies environmental projects. Botswana is a country with a solid conservation ethic, and I am fortunate to be able to share some of what I do and see by means of my writing and my images. Visit my photography page

Recent Post: Dying To Breed

Elodie Sampéré has served as Ol Pejeta’s Head of Conservation Marketing since January 2010, but has been working with Ol Pejeta in a consultant capacity for over four years. Elodie earned a BA in Political Science and Philosophy and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Prior to joining the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Elodie served as the Director of Marketing for the African Wildlife Foundation for seven years. Elodie also works for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the Northern Rangelands Trust and Save the Elephants , dividing her time between all four organisations.

Recent Post: The New Year Starts with a Bang

Frikkie is the 9th member of an intrepid Adventure Dynamics team currently preparing to climb Everest from the north face. He is determined to be the first African wild dog on the summit of Mount Everest and has requested that a photo journal records his progress to the top and his safe return. The journal will be auctioned along with Frikkie himself as part of Adventure Dynamics’ team objective to increase the awareness of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s fundraising efforts for their African wild dog research project in the Kruger National Park. Frikkie hopes to raise at least R500,000 as a contribution towards it. He has already spent a week acclimatizing in Kathmandu and is doing well, soaking up the local culture.

Recent Post: Everest Team gathers in support of the Wild Dogs

We're the Africa Geographic editorial team – a diverse set of editors, designers and social media gurus, all united by our passion for this addictive continent.

Recent Post: Thandora death shocks experts

I have worked for Wilderness Safaris and affiliated camps in the Okavango since 2004. Wild places, travel, writing and photography are my passions, and for the last year I have had the opportunity to combine all of these in a position for Wilderness Safaris, where I generate media, pictures, stories and blogs about our exceptional environment. From my base in Mombo Camp, I travel to the Okavango camps of Xigera and Vumbura, on the lookout for noteworthy sightings, events, animal characters and photographic opportunities, which are then uploaded and proliferated through various digital media. Visit my website Ryan Green Photography

Recent Post: Legadema loses cub to large male leopard

Hi, I’m Rach . If not adventuring in the African bush, the chances are I’m dreaming about it. My childhood played a big role in this passion as I was privileged to travel much of Southern Africa from an early age. Needless to say, I’m happiest barefoot with a sketchbook in hand – watching elephants at a water hole or listening to lions roaring around a campfire. Wildlife, children and storytelling are a big part of my life. Follow my adventures on my blog www.bushboundgirl.com

Recent Post: Life, love and elephants – a most beautiful book

Hey, I’m Gareth. Ever since I can remember I’ve had a great interest in nature. From a young age I visited the Kruger National Park, which has probably been the main reason why I followed the path to become a field guide. Now with 10 Years of guiding experience in the Eastern and Western Cape and a passion for birding, I have recently set up set up my own guiding business in Plettenberg Bay. Through my passion for nature and being a keen amateur photographer I hope to be able to educate and share some of my interesting finds in this area as I continue to be amazed by the diversity of Plettenberg Bay on a daily basis.

Recent Post: First free-roaming cheetah cubs born in over 120 years in Southern Cape

Hey, I'm Roan. I am a PhD Candidate at the Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, NZ, and Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, R.S.A. I've spent three years researching and tracking black rhino on foot in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Zululand, towards my PhD (which I plan to hand in within the next few months). I also completed a BSc (ConsBiolEcol) Honours degree from Dept Zoology La Trobe University in Australia. I am a born and bred South African (still a citizen), who emigrated when I was 17 to Melbourne, Australia. I finished school there and then pursued Biological Sciences and did remote fieldwork on fur seals on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. I taught high school for two years in London and then took up the PhD of black rhino for the last 4-5 years. For all my publications and details see my LinkedIn Profile

Recent Post: Earless black rhino – are they stone deaf?

Tony Park and his wife, Nicola, thought they were going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa back in 1995 when they spent three weeks in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Instead they were bitten by the Africa bug and have returned to the continent every year since from their native Australia. Tony now makes a living out of his love for Africa, writing novels set in the bush. He and Nicola spend six months of every year roaming Africa's national parks, where he researches and writes his books. His ninth novel, 'Dark Heart' - due for release in Australia, the UK and South Africa in November - is set in South Africa and Rwanda. For more information on Tony and his books, visit www.tonypark.net

Recent Post: Year of the snake

Cheryl-Samantha Owen is a photographer and writer specialising in the environment, conservation, science and ecology, with particular reference to Africa. Born in Kenya, Sam developed a fierce drive to protect the continent’s resources, and decided to train in the biological sciences. Sam holds a BSc in Environmental Science from Imperial College, London and a MSc in Conservation Biology at the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute, University of Cape Town. She has lived in Africa for most of her life, and her work with Fauna and Flora International, Conservation International and the Save Our Seas Foundation has taken her across the continent and along its oceans and coasts, including expeditions to the remote Aldabra Atoll, Djibouti and the Tana River Delta. Sam’s visual style combines an artist’s eye with both a scientist’s knowledge and a journalist’s sense of storytelling. She hopes her work will take the viewers on a journey of discovery and stir their curiosity. More than that, she strives to provide a visual stimulus, which will encourage us all to become better custodians of our planet.

Recent Post: Saving the Last African Penguins on the Planet

I have grown up living in some of Southern Africa’s most beautiful places; from Cape Town, where I was born, and sandy Arniston Bay, to the shores of the great Zambezi, the pristine Okavango, and starry Namibia, with a stopover in Jo’burg for a few big city years, finding solace at boarding school in the hills of KwaZulu Natal. After a year of making beds and cleaning toilets in Scotland, scoffing one pound noodles on the streets of London, Swiss skiing, and Thai island-hopping, I set my sights on Rhodes University. There I finished a Bachelor of Journalism & Media Studies while blissfully and barefootedly dwelling in the revelry of small town living and learning to navigate the local Pick n Pay with my eyes closed. I have a deep love for this extraordinary country & the African continent, her people and her beautiful, fragile wilderness. Follow me on Twitter .

Recent Post: A brighter future: final day of a Children in the Wilderness camp

Following ancient elephant migration paths linking major wildlife parks, conservationists Ian MCallum and Ian Michler are undertaking a five month west-to east journey across eight southern African countries. They will travel by bicycle, on foot and by kayak (Zambezi River and Okavango Delta) . The expedition will take place between 1 May through to September 2012, with the purpose of raising awareness and exploring possible solutions to current environmental and wildlife challenges. The journey aims to rekindle the rapidly declining indigenous knowledge base of the human – animal interface, and indigenous solutions to conservation challenges and issues. Along the way they will meet with local communities, work with partners and survey and document animal movements and conservation issues. Visit the Tracks of Giants website

Recent Post: End of the road marks the beginning of environmental change…

Chris Martin is a wildlife photographer and qualified Field Guide, currently working in South Africa, both as a freelance wildlife photographic guide and as a member of the Africa Nature Training team. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) in the UK. His photographic work has been regularly featured in magazines both in South Africa and internationally. Chris’ formative years saw him grow to love wild places and to explore and discover a love for adventure that continues to this day. In his younger years as an accomplished mountaineer and skier, Chris led and participated in expeditions across the globe, particularly throughout the Himalaya regions, Europe, North America and Alaska. Following an expedition in 1993 to East Africa, to climb in the Mount Kenya region, Chris experienced Africa for the first time and it captured his soul. Visit Chris's website

Recent Post: It’s Spring!

I am a freelance editor/writer, ultra-distance trail runner and mother of one. My passion for the natural world and a desire to fix all that we are doing to it runs deep. In my twenties I travelled fairly extensively in southern Africa. Before varsity, I headed off to Malawi to work as a 'travelling chef' . In the early 90s, I spent about 6 very happy months working on the Zambezi/Chobe Rivers as chef-cum-guide. I am happiest when running, hiking or cycling up or down a mountain, or in big open spaces and wilderness areas, away from the madness of the city. In my freelance work, I write predominantly for school kids and almost always about matters environmental. I have an overriding interest in species, habitat loss and in looking at ways to live 'lightly'. Through my writing, I hope to whip up a desire to shift behaviour and to help people see the connections between all that they do and how the earth copes (or does not cope!)

Recent Post: On Toad Alert

Morgan Trimble is a freelance photographer and writer based in South Africa whose work has been featured in a number of magazines, books, and exhibitions. Morgan grew up on an American bison ranch in rural Kansas, then moved to Boston to study sciency things at MIT and did a stint on an archaeological dig in Kenya, before an around-the-world nautical voyage introduced her to South Africa. After graduating from MIT, she moved to Pretoria for an MSc on elephant biology. Besides keeping busy with her ongoing studies in conservation ecology, Morgan is an outdoor enthusiast and will drop everything at the prospect of big adventure. To see more, check out her website Morgan Trimble Photography

Recent Post: Don’t miss “Africa” on BBC Knowledge

I am a social media marketer for a specialist African tour operator selling luxury safaris, honeymoons and family holidays. I often say that I have my dream job. Having always had a passion for travel as well as African wildlife, with Mahlatini African Travel I get to indulge these two passions in equal measure. For the past 6 years I have been privileged enough to travel most of Southern and East Africa - all in the name of research! My husband and I are both South Africans currently living in the UK but with plans to return to Africa one day. Our idea of the perfect break is escaping the rat race and heading for our little piece of heaven - the Kruger Park. Having recently become parents to a baby boy we are very excited to introduce him to the African bush and all the adventure that it brings.

Recent Post: Africa’s greatest animal dads

Christie Fynn is passionate about wildlife, Africa, conservation and travel. She grew up exploring her grandfather’s farm in Zimbabwe and, after leaving school, spent seven years working at some of Southern Africa’s top game reserves. She then went onto work for Getaway magazine as an online travel manager and photojournalist. Her passion for wildlife conservation has most recently been fuelled by the surge in rhino poaching. Her articles and blogs covering rhino poaching have helped raise awareness around this issue to national level which has made her a source on the subject. She currently works in Zululand for Wildlife ACT and the Wildlife ACT Fund , companies that assist in monitoring endangered wildlife such as the African painted dog, cheetah and black rhino. Follow her on twitter @christiefynn

Recent Post: From Cape Town to Conservation: living my dream in Zululand

A television programme that has, for twenty-five years, presented the successes and disasters of conservation to South Africa's people. 50|50 has influenced environmental policy, stirred the public against environmental injustices, promoted the work of our dedicated conservationists, and helped to create a stronger awareness of conservation and environmental issues in South Africa. Weekly on a Monday on SABC2 at 7:30pm - 8:30pm Visit the 50/50 website , or follow us on Facebook

Recent Post: 50|50 Episode, 11 March 2013

To combine in one person, a healthy dose of oestrogen and the ability to use a large calibre rifle accurately should only prove interesting! But guns and hormones generally don’t feature a huge amount when one’s passions primarily involve trees, birds, teaching and writing. Megan is best described as a naturalist with a creative bent and literary inclinations. With a conservation degree and years of guiding and training field guides in her background, she has a solid grounding in all topics natural. But her career has been more eclectic than the traditional “bush-whacker” and has involved, amongst other things, creative expression through both written and visual media. Currently, Megan is the Senior Producer on the 30-year old SABC 2 environmental TV programme 50|50 and her book “Game Ranger in your Backpack” has reprinted three times since its release two years ago. Megan is most at home behind her pair of 10x32 binoculars stalking an LBJ or snapping a macro shot of something obscure that someone else might have stepped over or passed by. When she’s not gallivanting in the bush for whatever reason, she is most probably enjoying a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in the company of her good friends or encouraging the keys of her Yamaha concert piano to produce a tune.

Recent Post: At Home with Hyaenas

I am a part field guide, part photographer, part tiara-wearing South African based in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park. Over the past six years, I have really settled into life in the bush, and besides living out my childhood dream of being a game ranger, I have developed a passion for capturing the special moments of my daily life on camera. While I don’t think I will ever fully appreciate how fortunate I am to be out in the bush all the time, I do realise that I live the life many can only dream of. I take great pleasure in sharing my magical moments and stories with anyone who cares to listen, and have connected with people from all over the world through my photography. Please feel free to visit my daily blog or my photography page on facebook for updates from the bush.

Recent Post: Dancing with Leopards: A Survivor’s Story

Thirty years of travelling to and living in eleven African countries – from my first trip to southern Africa on assignment as a fashion model, to my recent role as Africa Adventures Specialist in East Africa for the Jane Goodall Institute – has nourished my lifelong passion for the natural world. In 2009 I sold my big house and most of my stuff so I could live more simply. When I'm not traveling in Africa I’m writing about it from my small cabin in the Teton National Forest in Moose, Wyoming. You can find me at AfricaInside.org

Recent Post: How to Kiss a Giraffe

Currently studying Creative Writing, I am in the process of writing a fiction novel for young adults. I'm also a Journalism student with a dry, sarcastic humour but a warm and independent heart. My interests are wildlife and conservation, science, biology, films and music. I am still young and have a lot to learn, but Wildlife Journalism was always a calling - the need to inform you about what's out there and how you can join it. Things you've never realised before, animals you've never seen before, places you wish you knew about before...

I am a 22year old South African field guide/Wildlife photographer . I have worked in reserves all over my amazing country. Soon as I left high school I packed my bags jumped in my car and left the city behind to persure my lifelong dream to become a GAME RANGER. I have always had a deep passion for photography, but only really took it up in 2009 and ever since then you won’t see me without my camera in hand. My goal is to take photos that can let someone that wasn’t there experience the way I felt through the emotion of the image. I have been incredibly lucky to meet some amazing people through my passion, and I owe all my success to them. If you would like to see more of my photo’s and stories please don’t hesitate to “like” my photography page on facebook.

Recent Post: The gauntlet of the Manyeleti game reserve

‘Living the dream’ is a much over-utilised cliché, but finding myself immersed in the African bush after being born and raised in England, it's a phrase that eloquently sums up the life-changing events I have experienced. I always had an affinity for African wildlife and, as a child, spent countless hours reading literature, watching documentaries and daydreaming about living in this magical terrain. When the chance came along unexpectedly, I jumped at it and within a couple of months found myself deep in the bush, studying to be a field guide. I have never looked back. I have been in the industry for more than six years and currently ply my trade at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve www.sabisabi.com alongside my wife and soul mate who is also a guide here. The photographic opportunities are endless and, as a keen amateur photographer and writer, I am in my element. I am incredibly proud of my achievements and currently hold FGASA 3, trails guide and SKS birding qualifications, but I still wake up each morning with a sense of excitement about what the bush holds for me to learn. No two days or sightings are ever the same and it is this emotional rollercoaster that drives me to pursue and share my passion on a daily basis. These blogs and others can be found on www.sabisabi.com/blog.

Recent Post: This is Sparta!

Zimbabwe's most innovative resort, the superb Victoria Falls Safari Lodge borders the Zambezi National Park and enjoys uninterrupted views of unspoilt bushveld, spectacular African sunsets and game sightings at its on-site waterhole. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is one of Africa Geographic's Special Places .

Recent Post: 600 poachers arrested… 20,000 snares lifted… hundreds of animals saved… but more scouts needed by valiant VFAPU

With an absolute passion for nature, I am fortunate enough to be living out my childhood dream as a guide. I started out as an environmental consultant but soon realised that the corporate world was not for me and so followed my heart and ended up at an amazing piece of Africa called Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. A passion for photography and sharing this incredible place with the rest of the world has driven me to blog for the past two and half years and I look forward to sharing more with all of you through Africa Geographic. You can follow daily updates about what I am seeing on our facebook page.

Recent Post: The lion eats tonight

In 2003, Colleen Begg and her husband Keith started working in the little known Niassa Reserve in Northern Mozambique. Their focus is on promoting the place and coexistence between people and lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyena in this incredible wilderness. They currently live for 8 months of the year in Niassa Reserve with their young children, Ella and Finn. Follow Colleen’s blog posts for updates from the remote corners of Mozambique.

Recent Post: Meeting face to face in Niassa

I figured out early on that two things would dictate how I lived my life. I love to learn, and I’d be absolutely delighted if I never had to be indoors again. My parents and professors managed to curb the latter tendency long enough for me to complete my MSc in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa (an academic path that actively encouraged my tree-climbing tendencies!). My research has placed me in unique situations – scaling termite mounds in the Kruger National Park, hurtling after chacma baboons up Cape mountains, spending salt-encrusted days at sea, facing stand-offs with buffaloes in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal and spending afternoons submerged in the Mutale River’s crocodilian waters … mine is a life lived in love with Africa’s wildest spaces. I am currently an assistant researcher at UCT’s Marine Research Institute, conducting the first underwater camera survey of False Bay. A deep reverence for our natural world keeps me driven to find conservation solutions. 'll be sharing my research and experiences with you on a regular basis. Look out for me – I'm the one surrounded by sea!

Recent Post: Falling for False Bay

With a teaching background in physical education and geography, based in Canterbury, UK, and as an education advisor for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, he has been travelling around Africa for the past 10 years, taking opportunities to support education and wildlife projects in Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Some of his highlights include diving with hammerheads in the Red Sea, trekking to see gorillas in Uganda, helping with white shark research in South Africa, assisting with anti-poaching and education projects in Zimbabwe and, most recently, supporting the work of Game Rangers International in Zambia. Between these projects, he leads school groups on adventure tours to South Africa and Nambia. My biggest project to date takes place in August 2013, when I and two cousins will cycle through Zambia in aid of the Elephant Orphanage Project, part of Game Rangers International and supported by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

Recent Post: A “Suni” Day!

Alessandro Bonora is the Art Director on Safari Interactive Magazine .After studying Journalism at university, he began a brief stint in hard news before opting for a career on the visual side of the creative word. He worked as a designer for an advertising agency during a four year spell in Rome, Italy before returning to Cape Town and joining Africa Geographic. He is passionate about digital story-telling and considers it very fortunate he gets to combine this with his love for wildlife and travel on a daily basis.

Recent Post: Finding Leopard Cubs in a Tree and other Photographic Adventures

Hey, Catherine here. I’m the new blogging intern at Africa Geographic. I graduated from UCT in 2010 after studying Media &Writing and then took off to work and travel my way through South America and learn a thing or two about the world. I came back with a Spanish repertoire, a few salsa moves and an intensified love for writing, blogging and ‘discovering’. It is these passions which landed me on the doorstep of Africa Geographic. Viva!

Recent Post: A Guide to SASSI Seafood

Irene Amiet Quiroga is a previous marketing executive who first came to South Africa as a conservation volunteer. In her “Love Letters to Africa” she writes of her love of the Dark Continent and her hope that the human race will get re-connected with nature in order to better conserve our heritage.

Recent Post: Love Letters to Africa

Sarah Borchert here. I'm the editor of Africa Geographic magazine. It's a big, time-comsuming, stressful job – and I wouldn't have it any other way. Some people jump out of planes (or helium balloons), bungee over the Vic Falls or abseil down mountains for their adrenalin kicks. Me? I just show up for work on deadline.

Recent Post: Bleak News For Rhino – Vietnam Fails to Sign

I left my native Spain, its great food, siestas and fiestas to become an ornithologist at the University of Cape Town and to start Tropical Birding, a company specialising in bird-watching tours worldwide. The past 11 years have seen me travel to over 60 countries in search of 5,000 plus bird species. Time passed, my daughter became convinced that I was some kind of pilot and my wife acquired a budgie for company – that’s when the penny dropped. Thrilled to join the Africa Geographic team, hardly contained in an office, I look forward to reporting on new and exciting travels, and continue to share the joy of birding and exploration.

Recent Post: Romping with Otters at Kariega Game Reserve

British-born Pete Oxford has been a resident of Ecuador, South America, for the past 27 years. He and his South African wife and photographic partner, Reneé Bish, have been regular and frequent visitors to southern Africa for the past two decades. They are presently based in the Marataba private concession in Marakele National Park, Limpopo province, where they work as 'photographers-in-residence', documenting both the treasures and the rebuilding of the contractual national park. The Oxfords' work has appeared in magazines around the world, including Africa Geographic, Time, Smithsonian, Life, BBC Wildlife and National Geographic. The couple has published 12 books. Pete is a founding fellow of the prestigious International League of Conservation Photographers, has been represented 10 times in the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards and was recognised by Outdoor Photographer Magazine as one of the top 40 most influential nature photographers in the world.

Recent Post: Gorgeous Brunette and Stunning Blonde Run Wild in Marataba

Zimbabwe-born Jason Wharam grew up on a farm, where the local elders taught him about the cultural backgrounds and traditions of Zim's varied people. From them, he also learned about the landscape and became passionate about nature. Jason's high school years were spent at an old, military-type boarding school – Plumtree, near the Botswana/Zimbabwe border. There, his love for the bush blossomed as he spent time birdwatching, hunting, camping, fishing and exploring the surrounding wilderness. After completing his Cambridge studies, he became a trainee safari guide in the Gwayi Valley on the outer perimeters of Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. He has worked with safari legend Lionel Reynolds and honed his white-water rafting skills. Jason has been a professional guide since 1999, leading safaris throughout southern Africa's most remote and beautiful parks and reserves from the Skeleton Coast in Namibia to Botswana and down the wild Zambezi. His second passion? Photography. Jason has recently retired from guiding and is using his camera to create incisive, inspiring images that are designed to help protect wildlife and the parks in which they live. See his images at jasonwharamphotography.co.uk

Recent Post: Elephantastic!

For four months, a six-person team made up of scientists, photographers and social entrepreneurs will sail in the vessel, Lo Entorpy, a 70'ft monohull beauty on an expedition along the east coast of Africa. Their aim? To use a technology called stereo-imaging to dive and film transects spanning from Mozambique to Kenya to provide the first baseline assessment of the fish fauna spanning the length of the East African ecosystem. Join the team as they explore the relationship between humanity, our marine environment, science, technology and cultures in order to shift in the way we build or begin to build our conservation networks on coral reefs.

Recent Post: Karibu Tanzania!

Growing up on a farm, Hendri Venter has been enchanted by wildlife and the natural world from a young age. As a child he would often go off exploring either on horse-back or by foot. It was these experiences that shaped his amazement and love of wildlife and the outdoors. Then he picked up a camera and discovered that he could capture nature’s magic on film. He has never looked back. He now works as a wildlife photographer in Africa.

Recent Post: Leopard catches more than it bargained for

It may look like he's a full-time guide or a full-time photographer, but the truth is he's neither. Morkel Erasmus grew up with a love for the wild places and wild animals of Africa like many South Africans do. The problem is that he became obsessed with capturing their enigmatic beauty when he first picked up a camera. When he's not being a family man or working as an Industrial Engineer you can find him as far away from civilisation as possible...with a camera in hand. Morkel now leads safaris for Wild Eye in his spare time, and spends a lot of time sharing his knowledge and passion with others online. Check out more of his work at www.morkelerasmus.com

Recent Post: Rhino Fridays

Marcus and Kate are a freelance writer/photographer team, contributing stories on travel, conservation and human interest from across east and southern Africa. They just completed a year in Kenya's Masai Mara where they conducted a research project on wildlife tourism and community-based conservation, including working on projects such as Elephant Voices and Living with Lions. They are a Swedish-Australian couple with itchy feet and a love for Africa, adventure and discovery.

Recent Post: Walking in the Footsteps of Giants

“What an awesome privilege to view the wonderful detail of God’s creation through a man-made lens”. I am a South African lawyer, photographer and conservationist (not necessarily in that order). Nature, the diverse wildlife of the beautiful African continent and the conservation of its natural treasures, are very close to my heart. Needless to say, with the advantages and development of digital photography my passion came into being, albeit a couple of years to late, if you ask me. I hope that through my photography, I can share the beauty of the African continent and its wildlife with my fellow Africans and with those that are not as privileged to live in this enigma we call Africa. But most of all, I hope I can inspire others to protect and conserve our natural heritage and that of our children...

Recent Post: Goshawk vs. Falcon Caught on Camera

I’m Holly – Assistant Editor @ Safari – Africa Geographic's digital travel magazine. Born and raised in the rural British Counties, my mother began life on a sugar farm in Zululand. After reading Anthropology at university in London, working for a political activist filmmaker in India, and doing a short stint under the bright lights of Bollywood – I decided it was time to return to the motherland. To earn a crust in the name of wanderlust, I finished up a post grad in media and hotfooted around South Africa as a freelance travel journalist. Now, I’ve landed up in the hallways of Africa Geographic.

Recent Post: Prince William Backs African Conservation Awards

Ian Manning is a writer and wildlife ecologist deported from Zambia for campaigns against protected area alienations and the bushmeat and ivory trade. He opposes the plunder of Lower Zambezi NP for copper mining. His book 'Out of Zambia: a history of conservation and plunder' will be out on e-book.

Recent Post: Conservation is Politics: Zambia’s Hunting Landscape

Hi, I’m Chloe. I’ve recently learnt that life is full of surprises and that one should learn to embrace that, as there’s little else to do when confronted with the element of surprise. This became obvious to me during the months I spent in the Kruger National Park, where my FGASA group would set out on game drive with bated breath, camera at the ready and snap-happy fingers poised. What we were to see could never be predicted. After obtaining my degree in organisational psychology at the University of Cape Town, I headed off, rather surprisingly, into the bush to learn game-rangering. Even more surprisingly, I became a qualified field guide (despite the lack of any sort of vertebrate present during my practical). I'll cut out the long, weepy story of how I came to leave the magnificent veld, and fast-forward to the part where I can happily announce that I’m living the dream – so very nearly. My job at Sun Safaris requires that I read and watch and look and listen to everything that is safari. I relish in the responsibility to write about this fascinating world, and to blog for Africa Geographic is the cherry on top. The ‘so very nearly’ part? Well that’s in anticipation of a surprise offer to visit the glorious African countries I love to read and write about!

Recent Post: Is Fencing in Our Big Cats for the Best?

Kate Olivia Pettit was born and brought up on the East coast of Scotland. After reading an undergraduate in Communications, and an MA in human rights, Kate has lived and worked for numerous NGOs and non-profits around the world. Her passion is being able to experience and learn from others, and use those experiences on her journey to discovery. She is truly invested in travel with purpose and innovative platforms to make the world go round that little bit smoother. She loves the peace and tranquillity she receives from new cultures and norms, and as a skier and rock climber, she is a natural thrill seeker, and thrives off the inner euphoria’s she recieves from adventure travel. Following a generation of footsteps on her mother’s side, she has followed her dream and become a freelance writer.

Recent Post: Innovative Reforestation: Greenpop’s Trees for Zambia

Gorongosa National Park, in Mozambique, is perhaps Africa’s greatest wildlife restoration story: a 20-year public-private partnership between the government of Mozambique and the Gorongosa Restoration Project, a U.S. non-profit organization. To learn more about the Park, its history, the animals that call it home, ongoing research in the area and how you can plan your Goronogosa adventure visit the Park’s website: http://www.gorongosa.org/our-story

Recent Post: Gorongosa through the eyes of children

Ruth Leeney is a researcher and training provider, with a PhD in marine biology. She grew up in Ireland and the UK and now lives in Namibia, but work has taken her to the Arctic, the USA, Greece and a handful of West African countries. She has spent the last decade and more, working on conservation and research projects focusing mostly on whales and dolphins. She also works on community education initiatives and the development of sustainable marine tourism, and has an interest in culture and traditions in coastal communities, particularly in West Africa. Her work, adventures and the colourful challenges of the ‘dark continent’ are documented on her blog, West Africa Cetaceans.

Recent Post: A lost whale brings new significance to Namibia’s coast

Carolynne Higgins loves life, sometimes a little bit too much, she admits freely. This quality became evident at university, where she managed nevertheless to finish her degree in English, teach herself web design & SEO, study copywriting and cartooning. She's passionate about photography, writing, sketching, design, travelling and the outdoors. Recently, she has developed an odd obsession with a lion pride in South Africa's Klaserie Nature Reserve, near Kruger. Her interests are sometimes a little bit offbeat as she doesn’t particularly care for the normal, and her 'winging it' approach to travelling has led her into some interesting situations. If something's boring, Carolynne will ensure it becomes an adventure. Her current position at Sun Destinations,, a company that handles marketing, sales and reservations for a number of camps and lodges, manages to curb her not-being-able-to-sit-still problem and allows her to write about travel … and travel.

Recent Post: Tales from the Haina Watering Hole

Bush mad! Zimbabwean is the best way to describe Zane. After growing up in Zimbabwe running around the bush, he moved to England to continue his education. As you would expect he was bound to end up in the African bush again, dashing back at the first opportunity. He completed his FGASA training before working as a guide and anti-poacher in Kruger national park. Then going on to follow his passion for photography, Zane began leading photographic Safaris. Photography is his way of sharing his passion for nature with world. Becoming a photographic tour leader is a dream come true. By traveling all over Africa leading photographic safaris, Zane hopes to make his mark as a photographer and conservationist. Have a look at Zane's work on his facebook page.

Recent Post: 2 lions, 1 cheetah – who wins?

Amrit studied Environmental Science in University and gave up on the science part after getting his degree .He, however continued down the Environmental road by working for Greenpeace , since the age of 17. He presently works onboard Greenpeace ships . He occasionally blogs at text and more often at text

Recent Post: Whales and the Warrior

Anna Breytenbach is a professional animal communicator who has received advanced training through the Assisi International Animal Institute in California, US and has been practising for 12 years in South Africa, Europe and the US with domestic and wild animals. Her conservation experience includes working with cheetahs, lions, wolves, baboons and elephants in educational and rehabilitation programmes. Anna's goal is to raise awareness and advance the relationships among humans and other species, on both the personal and spiritual levels. She?s also the subject of the documentary movie 'The Animal Communicator' due for international release in 2013. In her communication and conservation work, Anna lives her personal mission of being a voice for the animals and the wilderness. Find out more at http://www.animalspirit.org

Recent Post: What Whales Want

I’m a simple guy and know what makes me happiest - time spent in wild natural places, preferably with awesome rocks, amazing clouds and my camera. After a number of years in the eco-tourism industry in Botswana and a backpacking stint around eastern Europe and Asia, I recently completed my MSc in conservation biology. My belief is that human population expansion, the root cause of the majority of our conservation problems, will eventually peak and reverse. My goal in life is to try to make sure we still have as many natural places as possible left at that time.

Recent Post: The front line of lion conservation

Running free in the wild may be simply a dream for many in today’s constraining world. In my case, the quest for ‘mamofa’ country (miles and miles of f*** all, as once aptly expressed by an exploration geochemist from the University of Cape Town) has become an integral cornerstone of everyday life which I’ve had the fortune to nurture both above and below water, on snow-covered mountain slopes and desert dunes, along forested fjords and in the dry bushveld. On my journeys I have enjoyed the occasional company of snakes, parrotfish and giant fruit bats and have always shared my adventures with good friends or fellow long- and snowboarders. Born in Cape Town, raised in Germany and Switzerland, and travelling in Namibia and South Africa during lengthy visits to family and childhood friends, I can converse with humans in four languages (English, German, French, Italian) but the language of the wild remains elusive. It is for this reason that I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been accepted as an intern at Africa Geographic in Cape Town. This extramural practical forms part of my studies in International Journalism at the University of Bremen, northern Germany. When I’m not out and about, you can find and visit me on my blog: framedbynataliaflemming.wordpress.com

Recent Post: Second round of treatments for Elandela rhinos

Porini Camps are small luxury rustic eco-camps in private conservancies within the Maasai Mara, Laikipia and Amboseli ecosystems, Kenya. Our camps are situated on lands leased from local communities and are staffed by local people, making your holiday with Porini a truly meaningful experience for all concerned.

Recent Post: 15 Lion facts, brought to you by Porini Camps, Kenya

Limpopo-Lipadi is a large (32,500 ha) game and wilderness reserve located on the northern banks of the Limpopo River in the Tuli Block of south-east Botswana. The owners are a diverse community from around the world who want to conserve and protect the African wilderness, and who treat Limpopo-Lipadi as their home away from home. The reserve is large enough to sustain a natural predator-prey balance, thanks to varied habitat types, and boasts diverse game viewing, phenomenal bird watching, fantastic landscapes and an extremely low visitor density. River Camp comprises seven discrete lodges positioned along the river for maximum privacy for each owner party. Owners and their friends have the option of self-drive or guided game drives and catering options range from fully-catered to self-catering. Activities include game drives, walks, fishing, viewing hides, bush picnics and simple relaxation. The management team based on the reserve is very discrete and respectful of privacy. This unique model empowers owners to leave a legacy without having to deal with the complexity and costs of managing their own game reserve. Go here to find out more or to make a discrete investment enquiry.

Recent Post: The sky-diving leopard

Many of David’s friends think of him as a talker rather than a writer, but when he is able to keep quiet for extended periods of time and look down at the keyboard, he can also write and does it well. After a decade spent working as a town planning and environmental lawyer and drafting agreements only five people would read, he realised a career change was needed to increase his readership. David is passionate about generating interest on how human population and consumption growth impacts in both wildlife and local communities. ‘It’s such an important topic and much of it remains a taboo,’ he says. ‘Our effects as a species are staggering, yet people are scared of mentioning the human population impacts. It’s the stampeding herd of elephants in the room. Fortunately, I quite like tackling taboos.’ He also disagrees with much of what is currently written about the topic and hopes to cause a bit of a debate. David has embarked on a six-month road trip through South Africa and will write 100 articles for his environmental project ‘Too Much Too Many’. Read our interview with him here and keep up to date with David’s initiative through www.toomuchtoomany.co.za or https://twitter.com/DavidJohnsonSA