Red-billed oxpeckers are small, striking birds that are easy to spot on the backs of large herbivores across southern and eastern Africa. Their bright red bills and sharp yellow eyes make them stand out, but their importance goes far beyond their colourful appearance. These birds play a crucial role in maintaining the health of both wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit. Red-billed oxpeckers are famously associated with large mammals such as buffalo, giraffe, antelope, and

This blog was written by Koketso Barongwa Sekome, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience. Across Africa’s open plains, the sound of a spotted hyena’s call cuts through the night. These animals are clever, complex, and highly adaptable, but even the most resourceful creatures need one thing to survive: water. In the bush, where dry seasons can stretch for months, water plays a surpri

Every so often, someone spots a bright green snake sliding across a wall or sunning itself in a tree and immediately sounds the alarm — “Boomslang!” It’s an understandable reaction, but more often than not, what they’ve actually seen is the spotted bush snake. And despite the confusion, this sleek little reptile couldn’t be more different from its venomous lookalike. The spotted bush snake (Philothamnus semivariegatus) is one of the most commonly seen snakes in southern Afric

This blog was written by Tia Bell, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience. The leopard  is one of Africa’s most mysterious and graceful creatures. Powerful, stealthy, and beautifully patterned, it’s an apex predator and one of the Big Five, a true sign of a healthy ecosystem. But despite being such a master of survival, leopards are facing more threats than ever. Human activity is s

Tiana Cuttelod, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student, wrote this blog. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a...

This blog was written by Gunther Bauer, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and...

This blog was written by Runé Jansen van Vuuren, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager,...

This blog was written by Cari van Eeden, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and...

This blog was written by Whian Kruyshaar, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and...