Posted in Wildlife on Aug 5th, 2011 2 Comments »
Botswana is once more taking a leading role among African nations in advancing wildlife conservation as it prepares to end game hunting in favor of safaris devoted purely to photography. Archibald Ngakayagae, a spokesperson with Botswana’s Ministry of Wildlife, Environment and Tourism, announced last week that the legal process toward policy change is already underway [...]
Posted in Wildlife on Jul 24th, 2011 2 Comments »
Lions break into smaller groups when hunting. Here they can be seen watching our safari vehicle. © Sonya Bessalel Guest blogger and WWF member Sonya Bessalel is a rising sophomore at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. Piling on layers of clothing, I stepped out into the chilly morning air in Africa. Clambering into the [...]
Posted in Travel tips on Jul 18th, 2011 6 Comments »
Planning an African safari? You’ll no doubt be consulting detailed packing lists that advise you to bring various essentials such as binoculars, mosquito repellent with DEET, khaki-colored clothing to blend in with the bush and a headlamp for nighttime reading. Natural Habitat Adventures blogger Wendy Worral Redal recently returned from a safari in Botswana, and [...]
Posted in Wildlife on Jun 29th, 2011 3 Comments »
The lion has forever been a symbol of strength, power and ferocity. During WWF tours to Africa, seeing the majestic species up-close is sure to be a spine-tingling experience. 10. African lions are the most social of all big cats and live together in groups or “prides.” A pride consists of about 15 [...]
Posted in WWF news on Jun 24th, 2011 No Comments »
WWF considers Coastal East Africa one of its priority places for protection. The area is threatened by overfishing, unregulated and unsustainable timber harvesting and wildlife trade. For more than 45 years WWF has addressed the problems facing East Africa by working to establish new national parks, empower communities to manage their own natural resources and [...]
Posted in WWF news on Jun 7th, 2011 No Comments »
When it comes to making the most of its natural resources, Namibia stands apart. Namibia was the first African country to incorporate protection of the environment into its constitution. The government reinforced this by giving its communities the opportunity and rights to manage their wildlife through communal conservancies. But this wasn’t always the case. [...]
Posted in Wildlife, WWF news on Jun 6th, 2011 No Comments »
One of the greatest tropical wildernesses, Madagascar is home to 5 percent of the world’s plant and animal species, of which more than 70 percent are found nowhere else on Earth. And between 1999 and 2010, scientists have discovered more than 615 new species on the island, including the world’s tiniest primate and a massive [...]
Posted in Wildlife on May 23rd, 2011 No Comments »
Revered and reviled The African wild dog is one of the most revered, reviled and fascinating animals on the continent. Its unusually communal and seemingly caring social structure endear it to human beings while its hunting style has been described as savage and cruel by people. It is Africa’s second most endangered carnivore. (Incidentally, the [...]
Posted in Q-and-A, Wildlife on May 9th, 2011 No Comments »
This guest blog comes to us from James Hendry of Wilderness Safaris, one of our tour operators in Africa. When I visit wild places, I am often torn between heading out on a drive or going for a walk. This pleasant quandary set me to thinking about what makes the two experiences so different. Driving [...]
Posted in Wildlife on May 3rd, 2011 8 Comments »
Split from the African continent over 160 million years ago, the island country of Madagascar developed its own distinct ecosystems and extraordinary wildlife. Travel to Madagascar with WWF: Wild Madagascar, June 23-July 6, 2011 Voyage to Madagascar, February 19-March 9, 2012