Constitutional Court ruling ends a decade-long battle over controversial oil and gas exploration rights off South Africa’s Wild Coast. Anton Crone – Tue 18 August, 2026. South Africa’s Constitutional Court has brought an end to a decade-long legal battle over Shell’s plans to explore for oil and gas off the Wild Coast, in a landmark...
A beautifully illustrated new children’s book is hoping to inspire a lifelong love of nature by telling the story of one of South Africa’s rarest birds, the Black Harrier, BirdLife South Africa’s Bird of the Year for 2026. Published by Jacana Media’s Staging Post, For We Are Few combines science, storytelling and art to introduce children and...
24 July 2026 – Three community-led initiatives from Botswana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have been shortlisted for the 2026 Wilderness Impact Challenge, a competition that rewards innovative solutions that strengthen Africa’s conservation economy while improving livelihoods. The finalists were selected from more than 80 entries submitted from around the world, with this year’s Challenge focusing on...
Finding presence, healing, and community in the skies above the Garden Route By Stephan van Wyk As birders, we are intimately familiar with the thrill of the chase. We willingly drag ourselves out of bed at ungodly hours, pack our optics, and take on challenging terrain just to catch a fleeting glimpse of a localised...
One of South Africa’s premier vulture-viewing destinations will welcome visitors again from 1 August 2026, when the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide near Underberg reopens after a temporary closure linked to regional Foot-and-Mouth Disease concerns. Although vultures are not affected by the disease, access to the hide was suspended because it is situated on a working livestock...
Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger – Sarah Barratt of Thornybush Game Lodge has been crowned Safari Guide of the Year (SGOTY) 2026 after five days of competition in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Otto Scribante of Singita was named runner-up. The competition, hosted at Klaserie Drift Amani, marked the 15th anniversary of SGOTY, which...
by Wesley Gush and Cassie Carstens Two key skills are needed if you to study Secretarybirds in South Africa. The first is the ability to drive vast distances for long hours. These birds occur in most rural regions across the country, and familiarity with dirt roads and remote farming districts is essential. The second is...
South Africa’s proposed new conservation targets fall short of the internationally agreed goal of protecting 30% of land, freshwater and marine areas by 2030, according to conservation group WWF South Africa. A draft version of the country’s third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026–2035, presented at a national conference this week, proposes conserving 21%...
A major new conservation initiative aimed at strengthening biodiversity protection and community resilience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was officially launched in Gaborone, Botswana, on 12 May 2026. The 30-month project, titled Integrated Management for Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, is funded by the European Union through the NaturAfrica programme and implemented by African...
