Podcasts about Kruger National Park

Ep 190 w/ Dave Seminara - Inside South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini: Dave's Ultimate African Adventure GuideIn this week's episode, I sit down once again with writer, journalist, YouTuber and seasoned traveller Dave Seminara, who has just returned from an epic journey across South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. This conversation dives deep into one of the most fascinating regions on the planet, and Dave takes us right into the heart of it—through national parks, vibrant townships, mountain kingdoms and some unforgettable encounters along the way.We start in Cape Town, where Dave shares his experience navigating one of the world's most spectacular cities, from its dramatic geography and unpredictable weather to the realities of inequality and the history woven into its suburbs. He takes us for a raw and honest look at the Cape Flats, where he met community leaders working to interrupt gang violence and support local youth. It's eye-opening, powerful and adds an important layer to any understanding of South Africa.From there, Dave describes the magic of going on safari for the first time, including what it's like to stay on a restored luxury train in Kruger National Park, the thrill of spotting wildlife up close, and why safari is both the most rewarding and unpredictable style of travel. He shares practical tips on budget, expectations and what to do when your game drive luck runs cold. We also talk about the difference between national parks and private game reserves, the food (which sounds absolutely unbelievable), and the guides who bring the whole experience to life.Dave then takes us into the Drakensberg Mountains for hikes, ancient Bushmen rock art and one of the most unique lodge stays he's ever experienced. And of course, we cross borders into Eswatini and Lesotho, exploring the logistics, the culture and why both mini-kingdoms are absolutely worth adding to any Southern Africa itinerary.This episode is packed with insights for anyone dreaming of Africa, planning a first visit or simply curious about what travel looks like beyond the iconic highlights. Dave brings his humour, honesty and deep curiosity, and by the end you'll understand why this trip made him rethink his entire travel focus.If you enjoy the episode, please rate and review the podcast on your favourite app and subscribe on YouTube—every bit of support helps the show grow. You can also fuel the podcast at buymeacoffee.com/wingingit to support the production of these weekly stories. And of course, share the episode with a friend who's dreaming of an African adventure.Want to see more? Check out Dave's website and YouTube vlogs below.Dave SeminaraWebsite - https://daveseminara.com/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@MadTravelerWant to travel with me to El Salvador? Click this link to hear more - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/winging-it-podcast/id1559489384?i=1000734952340Click here to book - https://intrepid.wetravel.com/i/68fa168c8d157da799033142❤️ Support the ShowIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on your favourite podcast app — it helps new listeners discover the show. And share this episode with a friend who loves adventure, travel and big ideas.Timestamps00:00 — Intro, podcast opener & welcome04:15 — Dave checks in from St. Petersburg and opens the conversation13:03 — The long-haul...

Send us a textIn the mid 1900's over 300 boreholes were installed, and 50 dams built in the Kruger National Park to supply water for the wildlife. Many of the wind-pumps are now derelict, and dams have been breached - leaving many visitors confused as to why?We answer these sometimes controversial questions in this podcast. The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textIn the mid 1900's over 300 boreholes were installed, and 50 dams built in the Kruger National Park to supply water for the wildlife. Many of the wind-pumps are now derelict, and dams have been breached - leaving many visitors confused as to why?We answer these sometimes controversial questions in this podcast. The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

My Story   Talk 32   Life after Mattersey (2) Welcome to Talk 32 in our series where I'm reflecting on God's goodness to me throughout my life. Last time I was telling you how the Lord opened up a wider ministry for me after we left Mattersey and we concentrated on Countries in Europe. Today it will be Africa and Reunion Island.   African Countries I have already mentioned my first trip to Africa which was to Burkina Faso in the year 2000 while we were still at Mattersey. The next trip was to South Africa in 2004, just after leaving Mattersey, which I have also mentioned already. The African countries I visited after Mattersey were Ethiopia (five times between 05 and 09), and Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa again, making a total of ten trips overall, half of which were to Ethiopia..   I visited Ghana in 2007 at the invitation of Paul Frimpong Manso, then the Superintendent of the Ashanti Region and later to become the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God in Ghana. Paul had been a student at Mattersey in the nineties, being one of the first to earn our newly validated BA degree and had later returned to take our MA too.   The purpose of my visit was primarily to speak at their pastors' conference and preach at their ordination service for new ministers. I was treated like royalty despite the fact that they were all smartly dressed in suits and ties – and some even with clerical collars – while I wore a short sleeved open-necked shirt, a special concession granted to me as someone unaccustomed to the temperature which, although it was only January, was far too high for my liking – a problem I was to face later in India in 2010.   It was a privilege to see the great work that Paul was doing and to know that he valued highly the teaching he had received at Mattersey. One of the things he had said to his fellow-students about my teaching on the Holy Spirit was that in Ghana they not only believed the things I taught but that they also put them into practice! Miracles seem to happen more often in Africa than they do in Europe, but often there is a lack of sound biblical teaching to go with them. The truth is, we need both. And a major part of my ministry has been to emphasise this.   My visit to Nigeria in 08 was unique in that the invitation did not come from any of the usual sources. Barrie Taylor is my daughter Sarah's father-in-law and has exercised an ongoing ministry for many years visiting Nigeria and by regular visits has developed a strong relationship with some of the churches there. As a result they respectfully refer to him as Uncle Barrie.       Barrie invited me to accompany him on one of these trips and I was delighted to do so. We flew to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, and were met by pastors John Sarota and Vitalis Yahemba, the CEO of Truth and Life Ministry. We travelled by car to Kaduna a journey of some 200 kilometres to the north of Abuja and stayed at the Catholic Social Centre sleeping in relatively comfortable rooms.   But I confess I was disturbed at times by the high-pitched buzz an occasional mosquito flapping its wings at 250 times a second and by the fear that one might find its way under the mosquito net. Another disturbance early each morning was the sound of the muezzin calling from the minaret of a local mosque reminding faithful Muslims to pray. Kaduna lies very close to the northern area of Nigeria which is predominantly Muslim and where so many Christians have lost their lives for their faith.   Despite the ever-present Muslim threat, Christians from the area gathered in large numbers, evidenced by the fact that while we were there the total attendance was around 2,500, meetings being held at Talmo College in a hall holding about 800 and the messages relayed to four marquees and translated into four different tribal languages. We both felt that the trip had been well worthwhile and I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to get to know Barrie better and to discover how much we both had in common.   I went to South Africa again in November 2009 at the request of Paul Alexander to teach at the Africa School of Missions which he had founded some time previously. I enjoyed teaching the small class of students and the fellowship at mealtimes with staff members too. However, there were long periods each day when I had little to do and, apart from a quick visit to the Kruger National Park, which I had visited with Eileen in 04, I needed to find something to do to occupy my time. So I decided the start writing a new book.   For some time I had been feeling that I should write something that would be useful as a tool in evangelism, and this was confirmed by something Brian Niblock said to me when he was preaching in our church in Brixham. And that's how I came to write my little book, Signs from Heaven – why I believe. To my surprise, the whole thing was finished by the time I left South Africa.   But perhaps the most significant moment about the whole trip was what happened on the flight home. I checked in online at the earliest possible moment and was able to get a seat at the front of economy where there was the most legroom. But after boarding the plane I was soon asked by a flight attendant if I would vacate my seat as someone had been taken ill and needed easy access to a seat on that row. So I ended up sitting in a different seat, but on the same row and, as it turned out, right next to the man who was unwell.   He was accompanied by his wife who explained to me that only a few days earlier they had flown to South Africa for a holiday but on arrival her husband had been rushed to hospital. His condition, the details of which I forget, was quite rare, totally unexpected, potentially fatal, and required specialist treatment. They were returning to England in a state of shock and understandably very worried.   They asked me what I had been doing in South Africa, and I said that among other things I had been writing a book about miracles. I said something like,   It sounds like you need a miracle right now.   It turned out that they were Catholics and, though they hadn't been to church for a long time, certainly did believe in miracles. I shared the gospel with them, prayed for them, gave them a copy of my book on healing, and posted them Signs from Heaven as soon as it was published. Years later she told me that her husband, who had made an unexpectedly quick recovery, had now died, but that that encounter on the plane had restored their faith in the Lord Jesus.   My first trip to Ethiopia was in January 2005 at the invitation of Heikki Pentinnen, a Finnish missionary who was organising an international charismatic conference in Addis Ababa and looking for a main speaker to take several sessions on the gifts of the Spirit. He had heard about me from Arto Hamalainan who knew me well through our work on the PEF presidium. Hundreds of leaders, including those from Orthodox and Coptic churches, gathered from across Ethiopia for this unique occasion and I was thrilled to see their desire to get a biblical grasp on the work of the Spirit.   I made annual visits for the next four years (2006-09) teaching for one or two weeks in a Bible College in Addis at the invitation of Canadian missionaries Jeremy and Teresa Feller with whom I usually stayed. Jeremy and Teresa's parents, Brian and Valerie Rutten, had all come to Mattersey to take our MA in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies and were keen to have me come and teach in the college where they were serving with PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada).   On at least two of these occasions, I was accompanied by Eileen who loved the country and its wonderful people. Apart from the teaching in the college we were taken on lengthy trips to parts of the country which were far hotter than Addis where the climate is more acceptable because of its high altitude. One such trip in February 07 was to Awassa some 290 kilometres to the south. Eileen's journal captures the memory very well: Lush vegetation, bananas, sugar cane. Beautiful. Lakes, mountains, animals, people, donkey carts. Small groups of huts. Camels, ostrich, hyena. A dead animal being eaten by a vulture and a dog watching and waiting, Young children herding animals, carrying heavy loads, water, bundles of leaves, sticks.   The Pentecostal Church in Awassa where I preached on the Sunday was one of the largest in Ethiopia. 2000 people gather at 6.00 every morning to pray. There were 6000 in the 9am service. They have six branch churches with a total membership of 12,000. God is doing amazing things in Ethiopia and I'm so grateful to have had the privilege of teaching and preaching there over those few years.   And I'm grateful, too, that we were able to fund the translation into Amharic of Body Builders, my book on spiritual gifts. Despite the massive growth of the church, Ethiopian church leaders recognise their need of sound biblical teaching and if I have made at least a small contribution to that, the Lord be praised.   Ile de la Réunion (Reunion Island) Located in the Indian Ocean between Africa and India, the Ile de la Réunion is an overseas French territory. I have already mentioned in an earlier chapter how in 2004 I was the main speaker at the French National Pastors' Conference in Bordeaux. It was there that I met David Cizéron who told me about his father's work in Réunion and gave me a book about him. Aimé Cizeron was now with the Lord, but I was fascinated with the account of his apostolic ministry as a result of which some 40 churches had been planted all over the island.   So I was pleasantly surprised a year later to receive an invitation to be a guest speaker at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of ADD in Réunion in 2006. They were happy to pay the airfares for both Eileen and me and, as I learnt later, as a tropical island Réunion is a much sought after holiday destination particularly for the French. But we had accepted the invitation well before we knew all this because I was determined to visit the place where 5000 people were gathering within four weeks of the start of Cizéron's ministry as a result of the miracles of healing that were taking place.   So in April 06 we flew to Réunion via Paris, landing at the Roland Garros airport to be greeted by a TV crew asking how we were expecting the eight days of meeting to go. I was very tired after what had been an extremely long journey, made worse by an eleven hour delay in Paris, and simply replied, I believe the Lord will bless us greatly, which he certainly did.   But that did not mean that everything would go smoothly. The very next day, our hosts, Patrick and Joanna, were showing us round a market in Saint Denis when they met a friend and introduced us to her. She then said something very strange: You are not afraid of the Chikungunya? Now there were some live chickens for sale in the market and, not knowing what Chikungunya was, I thought it must be something to do with chickens.       But no. Chikungunya is a highly infectious disease borne by mosquitoes and potentially fatal! The entire island was affected by it and we had not noticed the warnings about it when we arrived at the airport. We found out later that Tom Trask, American AoG General Superintendent and guest speaker at the conference, had been warned about it in advance, but somehow no one had thought to tell us.   But despite all that, we had a great eight days of meetings and the Lord not only preserved us from the chikungunya but greatly blessed all the meetings and ministry. So much so that we were invited back the following year for a longer visit where I conducted seminars for the pastors on spiritual gifts, preached in two evangelistic meetings, and took a series of Bible studies from Monday to Friday in the church in Saint Denis.   The people were really hungry for the Word of God. In each evangelistic meeting over 200 people came forward in response to the gospel appeal, and there were over 700 each night for each of the Bible studies. My subject, as usual, was spiritual gifts, but I shall never forget the remarkable way some one came to Christ at the close of one of those meetings. But first I need to tell you about Véronique.   Véronique was a kind lady who took us to explore various parts of the island during the daytime when there were no meetings until the evening. Réunion is a volcanic island and one such trip involved driving to the top of the volcano and then walking down into its crater. This was apparently quite safe even though the volcano erupted quite frequently and the steam was still rising from the lava months after the last eruption.   One of the days we were there was a public holiday and Véronique had taken her children to the beach. While she was there she told a friend about the meetings and persuaded her to come. She came to the meeting and was so overwhelmed by the worship that she felt she had to leave. But when she was about ten minutes away from the church she suddenly heard the music from the church coming through her mobile phone. No one had called her and, unable to think of any natural explanation, she felt compelled to return to the meeting. She sat through it in tears and at the end, although I had not made a gospel appeal, came forward and asked how she could be saved. It was such a joy to be able to lead her to the Lord and to learn later that she was regularly attending her local ADD church.   So the Lord was using us and blessing us in so many different ways and I look back on those years with great gratitude to God. Next time I'll be talking about our trip to India in 2010 when I began to experience very real health challenges for the first time in my life.

Send us a textDuring peak season the park can seem very crowded - and some "Road Rage" and "Sighting Fighting" can occur.We explore some of the reasons for this, some takes (from our perspective) on the "crowding" - and how to deal with it.The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textFire is a conservation tool used for the management of grazing area and plant communities. Visitors to the Kruger Park - especially in the winter months, and in early spring -  often drive through burned areas - it's dusty, smokey, and smelly - and can sometimes be unpleasant. Controlled burning is however a vital management tool - and we hope that this episode helps you understand some of the science behind it.Here is the link as mentioned in the podcasthttps://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/csp2.12658The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textThe Greater Kruger National Park currently has an elephant population of over 31,000 animals. This is just not sustainable.There are no easy or "warm & fuzzy" answers to this. This podcast lays out a bit of the history of the "elephant management" issues, where it comes from, some of the main players in the ongoing debate - and the final question: How do we fix it?======================================Here are some selected references:Barnes, R. F. W., Craig, G. C. & Dublin, H. T. (2010). The African Elephant: Status, Ecology and Management. Cambridge University Press.Cumming, D. H. M. (1997). “Elephants, woodlands and biodiversity in southern Africa.” South African Journal of Science, 93(5): 231–236.Ferreira, S. M. et al. (2023). “Spatial trends in elephant populations in Kruger National Park.” Koedoe, 65(1): a1714.Helm, C. & O'Connor, T. G. (2012). “Woody vegetation structure and composition under different elephant impacts in Kruger National Park.” African Journal of Ecology, 50(4): 404–413.O'Connor, T. G., Goodman, P. S., & Clegg, B. (2007). “A functional hypothesis of the threat of local extirpation of woody plants by elephants in Africa.” Biological Conservation, 136(3): 329–345.Owen-Smith, N. & Kerley, G. I. H. (2020). “Elephants and fire in savanna ecosystems.” Ecological Applications, 30(3): e02017.SANParks Research Report 2023–24. South African National Parks Research and Scientific Services Directorate, Pretoria.Conservation Action Trust (2023). “Elephant carrying capacity is an antiquated concept.”The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textDuring peak season the park can seem very crowded - and some "Road Rage" and "Sighting Fighting" can occur.We explore some of the reasons for this, some takes (from our perspective) on the "crowding" - and how to deal with it.The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textFire is a conservation tool used for the management of grazing area and plant communities. Visitors to the Kruger Park - especially in the winter months, and in early spring -  often drive through burned areas - it's dusty, smokey, and smelly - and can sometimes be unpleasant. Controlled burning is however a vital management tool - and we hope that this episode helps you understand some of the science behind it.Here is the link as mentioned in the podcasthttps://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/csp2.12658The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textThe Greater Kruger National Park currently has an elephant population of over 31,000 animals. This is just not sustainable.There are no easy or "warm & fuzzy" answers to this. This podcast lays out a bit of the history of the "elephant management" issues, where it comes from, some of the main players in the ongoing debate - and the final question: How do we fix it?======================================Here are some selected references:Barnes, R. F. W., Craig, G. C. & Dublin, H. T. (2010). The African Elephant: Status, Ecology and Management. Cambridge University Press.Cumming, D. H. M. (1997). “Elephants, woodlands and biodiversity in southern Africa.” South African Journal of Science, 93(5): 231–236.Ferreira, S. M. et al. (2023). “Spatial trends in elephant populations in Kruger National Park.” Koedoe, 65(1): a1714.Helm, C. & O'Connor, T. G. (2012). “Woody vegetation structure and composition under different elephant impacts in Kruger National Park.” African Journal of Ecology, 50(4): 404–413.O'Connor, T. G., Goodman, P. S., & Clegg, B. (2007). “A functional hypothesis of the threat of local extirpation of woody plants by elephants in Africa.” Biological Conservation, 136(3): 329–345.Owen-Smith, N. & Kerley, G. I. H. (2020). “Elephants and fire in savanna ecosystems.” Ecological Applications, 30(3): e02017.SANParks Research Report 2023–24. South African National Parks Research and Scientific Services Directorate, Pretoria.Conservation Action Trust (2023). “Elephant carrying capacity is an antiquated concept.”The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Rangers are fighting an uphill battle against rhino poaching in South Africa's Kruger National Park. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, poaching is expected to spike, as it did in 2024. Despite dehorning programmes and stronger arrests, convictions, and prosecutions, 35 rhinos were lost in the first weeks of 2025 alone. The pursuit by transnational syndicates remains relentless. To strengthen its response, SANParks has partnered with the Tracker Academy to retrain field rangers in advanced man‑tracking and bushcraft skills. Manager Alex van den Heever told BizNews the initiative is groundbreaking. The focus, he explained, is not on chasing poachers but on tracking the rhinos themselves and proactively protecting them before syndicates strike. It's an approach that has been used before, but the Tracker Academy aims to embed it permanently in Kruger, a park whose rhino population has been decimated by poaching from 12,000 a decade ago to just 2,000 today.

Send us a textThe Kruger National Park is a wonderful and special destination. It is a "World Class" wildlife park - but there are a few basic rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to have a great visit. We give a few tips on how to enjoy the park without getting into trouble, some basic etiquette on the road, and a short rundown on some "Park Manners".Have great stay! The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textThe Kruger National Park is a wonderful and special destination. It is a "World Class" wildlife park - but there are a few basic rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to have a great visit. We give a few tips on how to enjoy the park without getting into trouble, some basic etiquette on the road, and a short rundown on some "Park Manners".Have great stay! The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textMost people go to the Kruger National Park for "Game Drives" - this is obviously the main aim of the visit - but there are variations available - and there a definitely different ways to do it!There are also a variety of "other activities" available in the park - so press the "reset" button, slow down, relax - and really get to experience the Kruger National Park - there is a lot more to it than just chasing around on the roads!The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textMost people go to the Kruger National Park for "Game Drives" - this is obviously the main aim of the visit - but there are variations available - and there a definitely different ways to do it!There are also a variety of "other activities" available in the park - so press the "reset" button, slow down, relax - and really get to experience the Kruger National Park - there is a lot more to it than just chasing around on the roads!The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

The highlight for many birders every year is BirdLife South Africa's Birding Big Day. On Saturday the 6th of December, birders will be racing across different parts of the country, trying to see as many species as possible in just 24 hours. It's a day that's not only packed with fun and excitement, but also contributes meaningfully to the vital conservation work done by BirdLife South Africa.In this episode, we dive into what Birding Big Day is all about and how you can take part. More importantly, you'll get practical tips and advice on how to maximise your bird count—straight from some of the country's top-performing teams. From planning routes to managing team dynamics and identifying key habitats, we cover everything you need to smash this year's Birding Big Day!First up, I chat with Dr David Ehlers Smith, the Science and Spatial Planning Project Manager from BirdLife South Africa. Then I'm joined by two of South Africa's top birders, Jody de Bryn and Duncan McKenzie, who generously share their insights and experience.RETURN Africa invites birders to join them for Birding Big Day on 6 December 2025, or to book a stay during the wet season when Pafuri's migrants expand the birding list to over 450 species. Rare and special birds can be found in Pafuri's spectacular riverine and fever tree forests, flood pans, river systems, and in the mopane and sandveld habitats that make this region the most diverse and bird-rich corner of the Kruger National Park. RETURN Africa partners with community-led conservation to deliver measurable local benefits. Spaces are limited—visit returnafrica.com and experience Pafuri's birding brilliance.Visit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from show:Birding Big Day information https://www.birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/birding-big-day-2025/

Send us a textIn this podcast we answer some questions from a listener in Australia - how to arrive in SA, how to get to Kruger, car hire, some advice on camps and distances, where to spend the most time.......We help to plan a 10 to 14 day Kruger itinerary.The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textWe chat about what you need to make for an unforgettable visit to the Kruger National Park. Basic stuff to take with you: some essentials in the suitcase, some good tips for what to take in the car, how to have a comfortable stay. And most essentially - how to plan for and have good days driving in the park!The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textWe chat about what you need to make for an unforgettable visit to the Kruger National Park. Basic stuff to take with you: some essentials in the suitcase, some good tips for what to take in the car, how to have a comfortable stay. And most essentially - how to plan for and have good days driving in the park!The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textIn this podcast we answer some questions from a listener in Australia - how to arrive in SA, how to get to Kruger, car hire, some advice on camps and distances, where to spend the most time.......We help to plan a 10 to 14 day Kruger itinerary.The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textSome tips for your visit to the Kruger National Park. How to get there, how to get into the park, where to stay, what type of accommodation is available, the different types of camps.Kruger is a huge park - 19,623 sq km. And another 1,800 sq km of private reserve.12 main camps, 5 bush veld camps, 2 bush lodges, 4 satellite camps. A plethora of luxury private lodges - it just depends on your budget - and what experience do you want?We give some insight to help you make a choice. The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Send us a textSome tips for your visit to the Kruger National Park. How to get there, how to get into the park, where to stay, what type of accommodation is available, the different types of camps.Kruger is a huge park - 19,623 sq km. And another 1,800 sq km of private reserve.12 main camps, 5 bush veld camps, 2 bush lodges, 4 satellite camps. A plethora of luxury private lodges - it just depends on your budget - and what experience do you want?We give some insight to help you make a choice. The Road Trip SA app is available for downloadDo you want to visit and explore South Africa? Touch Africa Safaris

Join us as we sit down with South African Professional Hunter and Guide Tommy Steele to uncover the real stories behind African hunting, conservation, and what it's like living as a farmer in today's South Africa. From elephant overpopulation to poaching, corruption, and unforgettable safari experiences, you won't see South Africa the same way again. In this episode of The Green Way Outdoors Podcast, Kyle, Jeff, Lecia, and Tommy Steele dive deep into the realities of hunting and conservation in South Africa. Tommy shares his journey from growing up on a farm to becoming one of the most respected hunting guides in the country, building Shibani into a destination that blends world-class hunts with family hospitality. We cover: * How American hunters perceive South Africa vs. the reality * The role of private game farms in saving wildlife populations * Elephant overpopulation in Kruger National Park and why conservation is failing * The truth about poaching, corruption, and survival in rural communities * Personal stories from hunts, community work, and family life in Africa If you've ever dreamed of going on safari or wondered what it's really like to live as a farmer in South Africa—this conversation is eye-opening, inspiring, and unforgettable. Watch our HISTORY Channel show on: - HISTORY Follow us on: - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter - Youtube - Our Website

The Kruger National Park — once the pride of South Africa — is showing cracks in its balance. In this episode, I unpack my recent visit to Kruger and the hard truths behind its management. With over 2 million hectares of land and an estimated 31 000 elephants, 2 000 lions, and 12 000 buffalo, the park faces a growing question: Is tourism alone enough to sustain it, or has emotional conservation replaced ecological science? Join me as I break down the numbers, carrying capacity, and income comparisons between Kruger's current tourism model and a potential controlled hunting approach — revealing just how massive the economic difference could be.

The Kruger National Park — once the pride of South Africa — is showing cracks in its balance. In this episode, I unpack my recent visit to Kruger and the hard truths behind its management. With over 2 million hectares of land and an estimated 31 000 elephants, 2 000 lions, and 12 000 buffalo, the park faces a growing question: Is tourism alone enough to sustain it, or has emotional conservation replaced ecological science? Join me as I break down the numbers, carrying capacity, and income comparisons between Kruger's current tourism model and a potential controlled hunting approach — revealing just how massive the economic difference could be.

My Story  Talk 28  Activities Beyond Europe Welcome to Talk 28 in our series where I'm reflecting on God's goodness to me throughout my life. Looking back on it, I suppose I travelled fairly widely during the time we were at Mattersey. Apart from the many places in Europe we visited, I found myself on the Lord's business in America, Africa, and Asia, though never, incidentally in Australia. These visits, which cover the period from 1982 to 2004, were either in connection with the Pentecostal World Conference which later became the Pentecostal World Fellowship or preaching trips The Pentecostal World Conference My reason for attending the Pentecostal World Conference in Oslo in 1992 was that, because it was being held in Europe, the PEF presidium had decided to hold a committee meeting there at the same time. Eileen and I had visited Norway for the first time two years previously where we had enjoyed a holiday there before attending the EPTA conference in Lillehammer. This time, however, I was alone. During one of the mornings, I was sitting high up at the back of the auditorium and was surprised to hear my name mentioned at the close of the session. Dr Ray Hughes was asking me to see him on the platform during the coffee break.  I couldn't imagine why but, of course, went to see him as requested. This was not quite as easy as it sounds because to get there I had to make my way through hundreds of people who were exiting the venue and all walking in the opposite direct from me. When I finally got there, he said to me, Oh David, as you know, you've been appointed to the Advisory Committee, and we'd like you to sit on the platform with us for the rest of the conference. Well, I knew nothing about this appointment. It was a complete surprise and when a year or so later I was elected to the Presidium it was an even greater honour. The 1995 conference was particularly special because it was held in Jerusalem. And this time Eileen came with me. We had never been in Israel before and we made sure that we saw as many of the biblical sites as possible. We had booked a tour with a Christian company and travelled in a small coach with a group of Brits who were attending the conference, and it was there that we met Ivor and Jan Maddison who were pastoring the church in Ollerton, not far from Mattersey.  (We got to know Jan very well when she came to live in Brixham after Ivor had died). The tour involved a visit to Tiberias on the shore of Lake Galilee from where we visited Capernaum, took a trip across the lake in a boat like those used by Jesus' disciples and from which he calmed the storm, and had a meal on the lake shore eating ‘St. Peter's fish', so called because of the occasion where he found a coin in the fish's mouth. We went to Caesarea Philippi, a beautiful place, where Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ. We visited the place in the river Jordan where Jesus is believed to have been baptised, and further south we had a brief stop in Jericho.   We travelled up from there to Jerusalem in time for the conference and of course visited Bethlehem and all the places you would expect, many of which have been spoilt by centuries of tradition and tourism. Eileen got to see Nazareth, but I missed the trip because I had to be in a presidium meeting. Highlights in Jerusalem were the Garden of Gethsemane, and the via dolorosa. But without a doubt the visit to the garden tomb was by far the most moving. It may or may not have been the actual site of Jesus' burial and resurrection, although I like to think that it was, but it was certainly a powerful reminder of the truth – Jesus is not here, he is risen! And who could forget the visit to the Upper Room and joining with other Pentecostals in speaking in tongues as the first disciples did in Acts 2? After the conference we visited Masada, floated on the Dead Sea where it's impossible to sink, and went to the cave where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. It was there, I think, that we paid an Arab to let us take a photo of his camel! We also visited a museum where we saw a number of ancient seals, some dating back over three thousand years, and reminding us of Paul's teaching that after we believed we were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. So during the trip there was much to remind us of Bible times and the truth of God's word. We were glad that we went but have never had a wish to return. Eileen is now enjoying the heavenly Jerusalem and one day I will join her there. And all because of Jesus! In 1998 the conference was held in Seoul, Korea, at the vast Yoido Full Gospel Church led by David Yongghi Cho, numbering at the time some 720,000 members. We had at first thought to extend the trip and visit China and the Great Wall. Eileen had always had a great interest in China, but when it turned out that the visit was not feasible she decided not to accompany me. I had met Cho at the London world conference in 1976 when I gave him a copy of my book, Know the Truth, later to be renamed You'd Better Believe It. I was naturally interested to visit his church and to experience one of the Sunday services there. There were, I think, six services each Sunday to accommodate the vast numbers. Everything had to be organised and left little if any room for the exercise of spiritual gifts like tongues, interpretation and prophecy which we might expect in a smaller congregation. Presumably there was opportunity for such gifts to be experienced in their many home groups. The final meeting of the conference was held in the Olympic Stadium where it was estimated that over 100,000 people were in attendance. I was privileged to read from the scriptures, which I found a little difficult on this occasion as I had somehow mislaid my glasses on a visit to the Prayer Mountain and was using a pair borrowed from an English brother who was staying in the same hotel as me. During the conference it was decided to hold the next presidium meeting in Hawaii in 1999. The reasoning seemed to be that as Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean it was not too far from either Asia or America. However, no one considered the inconvenience for anyone travelling from Europe! But as I was the only European on the presidium I could hardly object. So that is how I came to fly to Hawaii, a 24 hour journey each way, for a three-day committee meeting! The purpose was to plan for the 2001 conference which was to be held in Los Angeles. Fortunately, the meeting finished a day early and I had a day to spare before flying home. This gave me the opportunity to take a minibus tour of the island, visiting among other things Pearl Harbour and a tropical rain forest. I also experienced macadamia nuts for the first time and learnt that the name comes a Scot named Macadam who first discovered them and who also invented tarmac! Eileen was able to travel with me for the Los Angeles conference in 2001 and in the week before the conference we both enjoyed a short holiday staying with Brian and Ann Lee, old friends from Retford who had emigrated to La Verne just a few miles from L.A.  It was good to renew fellowship with them and to preach in their local AoG church. At the conference itself I had been asked to chair a theological seminar at which Roger Stronstad, a Canadian scholar whose writings I greatly admired, was to be one of the speakers. The subject was the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and at the last minute, I was asked to be the other speaker deputising for an American brother who was unable to attend. I was so grateful to the Lord for the opportunity he gave me to speak at the conference and the help he gave me to do so. The last world conference we attended was in South Africa in 2004. This conference was in many ways different from all the others. In the opening meeting the delegates were warmly welcomed by the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeke who had been deputy president under Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999 and served as president from '99 to 2008. Eileen felt particularly honoured as she was seated right next to him on the front row! But much more important was the fact that so many participants were from African countries, and the meetings were marked by the freedom of expression so typical of African worship and so different from the formalism we have seen elsewhere even in some Pentecostal meetings. It was something we were to see much more of in later visits to Africa in the years that followed my retirement from Mattersey, After the conference we hired a car and travelled to the Africa School of Missions founded by Paul Alexander, my newly appointed successor at Mattersey. We broke our journey at Witbank where I preached at two services on the Sunday, travelling on to ASM on the Monday where we were warmly welcomed by the staff. They asked us if we were planning to visit the Kruger National Park, and, when we said no, one of them kindly phoned a relative who worked there and arranged for us to stay for a few nights at Skukuza, one of the safari lodges in the park. Our accommodation was in an extremely comfortable one-room apartment that looked something like a traditional African hut with a thatched roof. The restaurants served excellent food which was relatively inexpensive and offered views overlooking the wonderful wildlife. We enjoyed every moment we spent at Skukuza, especially when a company of mongooses ran across the compound in single file right in front of us. But of course it was driving outside the safari park that we saw most of the wildlife. It was early spring in the southern hemisphere, and the leaves had only just begun to appear on the trees and bushes, making it easy to spot whatever animals and birds happened to be in the area. We travelled miles each day, taking care to obey the instruction never to get out of the car except in specially designated safe places. We were also glad that the car had good air-conditioning because it was often important to ensure the windows were closed. On one occasion we stopped to watch a group of baboons in the road just ahead of us and I closed the electric windows. However, I had momentarily forgotten that, unlike our car at home, our hire car had electric windows only at the front. We only realised the back ones were still open when a large baboon leapt in onto the back seat attempting to steal our lunch! I turned round and shouted in a loud voice – Eileen later told the grandchildren that Grandad roared like a lion – and thank God, the animal obeyed! Both we and our lunch were safe. After that, we never opened the back windows again for the rest of the trip. Apart from that, the remainder of our stay there was relatively uneventful. We loved it so much that when I was back at ASM a few years later I borrowed a car and went back there. Our visit was far too short but was the highlight of our trip to South Africa. We were particularly grateful that in such a short time we had managed to see the big five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo, a wonderful ending to our last Pentecostal World Conference. Preaching trips But of course my travels beyond Europe were not limited to my role in the Pentecostal World Fellowship. There were preaching trips as well. At first, these centred on the USA where I combined preaching with raising funds for our building project. An American AoG pastor named Paul Curtis had a burden for Britain came to see me on one of his trips to England and said he would like to help raise funds for our new Hall of Residence. So at Paul's invitation, in February '82 I spent ten days preaching in AoG churches in North Carolina with a view to returning in mid-May for a period of four weeks. I enjoyed the trip in February, and the Lord blessed my ministry, and about £1400 was raised towards our building fund. Hopefully the trip in May-June would be more fruitful in that respect. I was looking forward to it and had bought my flights in advance as that was more economical. But only a few weeks before the trip Paul contacted me to apologise and tell me that he had been unable to arrange a suitable itinerary for me and that he felt that the time was not right. But I had already bought non-refundable tickets for flights both ways! And I had already planned the timetable at Mattersey to enable me to be away from the college throughout that period! After praying about it I contacted John and Sara Miles who were by then living in Naperville, Illinois, and asked their advice. Sara suggested that I was in a situation like Abraham's when he set off not knowing where the Lord would lead him. So I used the air tickets to fly as far as New York and paid the extra to fly on to Chicago where John and Sara collected me from O'Hare airport on May the 18th. When I arrived they told me that they had contacted Richard Dortch, the Superintendent of the Illinois AoG, and that he was arranging an itinerary for me around Illinois where I was already known through my three visits back in the seventies. I stayed with John and Sara until 6th July preaching in churches in the Chicago area on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. These included Yorkville, Palatine, Dekalb, Naperville, and Lake Villa as well as Chicago itself. I also spent a day at Wheaton College, had lunch with John, who was now a French professor there, and with Peter Kuzmic from Yugoslavia, and saw the wardrobe made famous in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. On Thursday the 27th I flew via Denver to San José, California, to visit Bethany Bible College. Dick Foth, who had been the pastor in Urbana where I first preached on my visit to the States in 1972, was now the President of Bethany and I had a couple of useful days with him visiting the college and comparing notes.  I had an interesting experience flying back on the Saturday. The weather was extremely hot and everyone else was dressed in shorts and T shirts. I, however, was still wearing my jacket. As I was waiting in the queue to check in, an airline official approached me and said, Excuse me, sir. I wonder if you can help me. We're overbooked in Economy Class, and as you seem to be a suitable gentleman, I wonder if you would mind travelling First Class. Would I mind! It was the first and only time I have travelled First Class and, although I could never justify the expense of doing so, I was more than happy to enjoy the experience at no extra cost to myself. On 6th June I left Naperville and flew to Urbana where I preached on the Sunday and where my old friend Jim Hall was now the pastor. The next day I flew to Springfield MO to visit two other AoG colleges, Evangel College and Central Bible College, as well as the Graduate School located in the AoG Headquarters in Boonville Avenue. When I returned to Urbana on the Friday, Jim Hall had arranged an English Evening where I talked about the spiritual state of the UK and taught the Americans how to make a proper cup of tea! On the Sunday morning, I preached in Normal, where Marvin Foulkes was the pastor. I had preached for Marvin back in '72 and '74 and was delighted to see how much the church had grown since then. In the evening, I preached in Decatur from where I flew back to Chicago ready for my return to England the next day. Looking back on it, I felt that the trip had been very worthwhile, not just because it raised about $5000 for our college, but because of the opportunity it gave me to visit and learn from other AoG colleges and expand my vision for Mattersey. I was very grateful to Richard Dortch for making it possible. A year later I met Dortch in Portugal at the opening of the new chapel in the Bible College in Fanhões, near Lisbon, and he shared with me that he was soon likely to become the Executive Vice-President at PTL, the centre of Jimmy and Tammy Bakker's ministry, and he invited me to preach for a week on their TV station. This took place in 1985 and during our stay Eileen, Jonathan, and I were treated to the luxurious accommodation of the Heritage Grand Hotel. And we came home with a significant sum of money for our building fund.  We were, of course, very grateful for their hospitality and generosity, but I confess I was not really comfortable about so much luxury. Coming to terms with the cultural differences and levels of poverty or prosperity we see around the world is by no means easy. The riches of America were in stark contrast with the poverty I was to see in India less than a year later. But I'll tell you about that next time.

Matt Jones and Drew Franklin start the show with Matt in a tent in Kruger National Park! A full day of NFL games starting in Dublin. There are a lot of headlines from Ireland, including Steelers backup QB Skyler Thompson being robbed on Friday night. Matt was amused by Aaron Rodgers' quote about being in Ireland. The Eagles move to 4-0, but Matt still had hope in Baker Mayfield throughout the entire game. The Giants upset the Chargers, but what did you think about Jaxson Dart? Titans' QB Cam Ward was extremely blunt about the state of the team, does Drew agree? The Falcons are the most confusing team week to week. Spencer Rattler joined a rare group of QB's to start their careers 0-10, who are the other 9? Onto the afternoon games, the Chiefs dominate and how concerned are you about the Ravens at 1-3? The Colts take their first loss, but did one play decide the game? An impressive game for the Jaguars and more injury concers for the 49ers. Matt couldn't be happier about HOW the Bears beat the Raiders. Are we seeing a renaissance of kicks being blocked? Matt thinks we could end up looking back at the 2024 Draft Class of QBs as league-changing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oupa Pilane, chair of Satsa and Graskop Gorge Lift Co director, weighs in on the factors holding back tourism in Mpumalanga and SA. He says tourism infrastructure and access are more important right now, instead of moves to rename the Kruger National Park. Podcast series on Moneyweb

Lobby group AfriForum and the Orania Movement have strongly condemned the vandalism of Afrikaner monuments in Pretoria. The damage targeted a gun barrel and a boot on two Boer warrior statues flanking the Paul Kruger statue in Church Square. This follows the EFF's recent push to remove colonial and apartheid-era statues nationwide. The party has also proposed renaming Kruger National Park in a motion tabled in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. AfriForum and the Orania Movement call the EFF's actions an attack on Afrikaner heritage and their right to exist in South Africa. For more we're joined by Joost Strydom, Head of the Orania Movement

Debate is raging over the potential renaming of some of Mpumalanga's most famous landmarks. The EFF THIS WEEK tabled a motion in the provincial legislature - to rename the Kruger National Park, The Kruger - Mpumalanga International Airport and a stadium in eMalahleni is stirring sharp political divides in the province. The EFF says that apartheid era names have no place in a democratic South Africa. The EFF is proposing renaming Kruger National Park to Skukuza National Park, the airport to DD Mabuza International Airport, and the stadium to Veli Mahlangu Stadium. Others are however warning that renaming the Kruger National Park will have severe consequences for South Africa's tourism sector, as the park is synonymous with the country's tourism offering and, as a brand, its name holds immense value both locally and abroad. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Prof Elmarie Slabbert director of Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society (TREES) at the North-West University.

Thembani Mkhize is an urban researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory, about the proposed name change for the Kruger National Park Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lester Kiewit is joined by Raymond Maseko - PRASA Regional Manager to correct a statement made previously regarding the pricing of Metrorail tickets for the SanParks partnership this week. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lester Kiewit is in conversation with SANParks Head of Communications, JP Louw, about National Parks Week. The initiative allows South Africans free day access to most of the country’s 21 national parks, encouraging citizens to explore and connect with their natural heritage. Visitors are reminded to bring their South African ID and note that free entry applies to day visits only, not accommodation or other paid activities. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanya Munro shares her incredible multi-country African adventure, focusing on South Africa in this first episode of a two-part series. After 35 years on her bucket list, she finally travelled through Johannesburg, Kruger National Park, Cape Town and the Garden Route, experiencing wildlife encounters, cultural discoveries and stunning landscapes.• Best time to visit South Africa for wildlife viewing is during the dry season (June-July)• Starting in Johannesburg provided important historical context through a Soweto township tour• Thornhill Safari Lodge near Kruger offered incredible wildlife viewing including lions, cheetahs and elephants• Cape Town surprised with its beauty, perfect weather and Table Mountain backdrop• V&A Waterfront area provided safe, convenient accommodation with good security• Garden Route tour covered 1,200km of diverse landscapes from mountains to coastline• Blyde River Canyon (third largest canyon in world) was an unexpected highlight• Game meats like kudu, springbok and ostrich were culinary standouts• Cape Malay cooking class in Bo-Kaap offered cultural immersion through food• Learning about South Africa's history early in the trip provides essential contextJoin us next week as we continue Tanya's journey through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.⭐️ Guest - Tanya Munro

John Maytham speaks to Trevor Oertel, Executive Committee member of the Sustainable Use Coalition of Southern Africa, about why he believes a recent study on trophy hunting near Kruger National Park overlooks key conservation and livelihood benefits, and how outside pressure is shaping the debate. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham speaks to Adam Cruise, respected wildlife journalist for the Daily Maverick and long-time conservation advocate, who unpacks the significance of this new research published in Biological Conservation. The study surveyed over 1,500 households across 12 communities and found that an overwhelming 95% believe wildlife is part of their heritage and should be protected, with 94% opposing the killing of animals for profit. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Luyt is one of the professional hunters that works in the APNR - the Associated Private Nature Reserves of the Kruger National Park. These reserves were setup to incorporate into Kruger National Park and allow for more movement of wildlife. With the dropping of fences, Kruger's burgeoning elephant population has spilled into the APNR, where legal, highly regulated hunting of elephants occurs. The hunting of elephants in this area has gone through significant upheaval since 2021, when Humane Society International put a court interdict in place stopping export of elephant trophies. Today, we get a huge step forward towards returning to pre-2021. John brings Robbie breaking news out of the Limpopo Province of South Africa that now, for the first time in quite some time, international hunters may now hunt nonexportable elephants in the Limpopo Province, along with a history of why this is such a significant clawback of ground after several battles in and out of court. Get to know the guest: https://www.instagram.com/johnluyt/?hl=en Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@bloodorigins.com Support our Conservation Club Members! Bar JP Safaris: https://www.barjpsafaris.com/  Cabassa Safaris: https://cabassasafaris.com/  Robin Hurt Safaris Namibia: https://www.robinhurt.com/hunting-safaris-namibia.html  See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io This podcast is brought to you by Bushnell, who believes in providing the highest quality, most reliable & affordable outdoor products on the market. Your performance is their passion. https://www.bushnell.com  This podcast is also brought to you by Silencer Central, who believes in making buying a silencer simple and they handle the paperwork for you. Shop the largest silencer dealer in the world. Get started today! https://www.silencercentral.com  This podcast is brought to you by Safari Specialty Importers. Why do serious hunters use Safari Specialty Importers? Because getting your trophies home to you is all they do. Find our more at: https://safarispecialtyimporters.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Civil organisations in Mozambique say at least 120 children have been kidnapped by insurgents in the north of the country. The Human Rights Watch group warn of a rise in abductions in the country's troubled nothern province of Cabo Delgado. The children are reportedly being used by Al-Shabab, an insurgent group linked to the so-called Islamic State, to transport looted goods, cheap labour and in some cases as child soldiers. We'll hear from someone closely monitoring the kidnappings.Also, are there increased US bombings against targets in Somalia since Donald Trump became president?And we meet Cathy Dreyer, the first female ranger to head up the team at the Kruger National Park in South Africa!Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Alfonso Daniels and Nyasha Michelle Technical Producer: Jack Graysmark Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Alice Muthengi and Andre Lombard

For decades, Adrian Gardiner has led the charge in rewilding farm land in the Eastern Cape, but he's still chasing bigger ambitions. His vision is to transform the province into a wildlife jewel, stretching from Plettenberg Bay to the Karoo. In this interview with BizNews about the newly released book The Man Who Changed a Landscape: The Adrian Gardiner Story by Dean Allen, Gardiner recounts his journey and the challenges he faced in realising his vision. It began with a 2,500-acre farm near Port Elizabeth, where he overcame deep scepticism to establish Shamwari, a malaria-free Big Five reserve. Shamwari became a blueprint for 16 similar reserves across the Eastern Cape. Inspired by figures like David Attenborough, the 82-year-old Gardiner's optimism remains unwavering. Gardiner's ambition that he shares with other private and public reserve owners includes the creation of an Eastern Cape National Park even larger than the Kruger National Park. He is also determined to help see the end of captive lion breeding, highlighting the staggering reality that 8,000 lions remain in captivity for their bones and canned hunting. Wildlife, Gardiner says is South Africa's biggest asset, but the most rewarding part of his journey has been the lives he has managed to change. – Linda van Tilburg

Over the skies of Kruger National Park flies a cheetah – in a jet!Written especially for this podcast by Simon.  If you enjoyed this story, please do leave us a review.  And, if you'd like to suggest an animal for a future Animal Tales story, you can do so by emailing podcast@animaltales.uk. We would love to hear from you.  Animal Tales Books!Collections of Animal Tales stories are available to buy exclusively at Amazon. Simply search for Animal Tales Short Stories or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLJQZ9C9?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi Become a PREMIUM SubscriberYou can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you:All episodes in our catalogue advert freeBonus Premium-only episodes (one per week) which will never be used on the main podcastWe guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a storyYou can sign up through Apple Podcasts or through Supercast and there are both monthly and yearly plans available.   Discover a brand new story every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – just for you!  You can find more Animal Tales at https://www.spreaker.com/show/animal-tales-the-kids-story-podcast A Note About The AdvertsIn order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice.  We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you're concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page.  As creators, we want your child's experience to be a pleasurable one. Running adverts is necessary to allow us to operate, but please do consider the premium subscription service as an alternative – it's advert free.

Our Burning Planet is the Daily Maverick section devoted to expert environmental opinion and analysis. We partner up each Friday on the Afternoon Drive to discuss a burning issue. John Maytham speaks to John Davies, Project Co-ordinator for Raptor Conservation and Research at the Endangered Wildlife Trust, following one of the most devastating wildlife poisoning incidents ever recorded in southern Africa. Follow us on:CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkzaCapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham speaks to Alex van den Heever, a renowned wildlife tracker, author, and speaker. Alongside Renias Mhlongo, he co-founded Kruger Untamed, a unique safari experience designed to fully immerse guests in the healing rhythms of the bush. With decades of experience on foot in the African wild, Alex shares powerful insights on how nature quiets the mind, calms the body, and reconnects us to what really matters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome back one of my favorite guests, Pieter Verster, joining us all the way from just outside Kruger National Park. Pieter is not only a passionate birder but a champion of atlasing—a powerful, rewarding way of birding that directly contributes to conservation.In this episode, we unpack what atlasing is, why it's so valuable, and how it can take your birding to the next level. Whether you've never heard of a pentad or you're already logging lists, this conversation is packed with practical advice, personal stories, and insights to inspire you to get involved.We'll explore how atlasing sharpens your birding skills, builds community, and helps protect the birds we love. Pieter also shares tips for getting started, finding access, staying safe, and discovering hidden gems in your area. This is one of those conversations that will make you want to grab your binoculars and head outsideVisit our online store to get your birding related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialza

“If I go to the good Hopi Indian quote, ‘We don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.' I sit in reflection of that and I hope the future generations will lead with heart and they'll be guided by the values that built this legacy to date. That they honor the past by innovating with purpose and with integrity. Everybody's always got to remember that stewardship is a sacred trust, and one that turns heritage into hope.”We're in great company with Shan and Bronwyn Varty, the mother and daughter duo behind Londolozi, who, with their family's one hundred years of history, are pioneering one of South Africa's original private game reserves as a living model of conservation development. Here, they are nurturing a Futuristic African Village, a prototype for village consciousness where wild animals and people alike, live together in dignity and harmony, with each other and the land. It is with an abundance mindset that they have chosen to share this land and legacy with worldly guests, committing to excellence in ecotourism with their accredited Relais & Châteaux status. In celebration of Mother's Day, in this episode, Shan and Bron paint for us a picture of luxury in its purest form—with time as the artist, the senses as the medium, and Mother Nature as the muse. Top Takeaways[2:10] With 100 years of family history living on this land, the Varty's roots run deep and strong as they grow and evolve with their environment.[4:50] The name Londolozi is Zulu for ‘Protector Of All Living Things,' reflecting their ambitious conservation ethic in stewarding our human relationship with the natural world. [7:00] They say “it takes a village to raise a child,” and there is sincere truth in that there is a power of resilience in community, as both Shan and Bron learned early on. [12:30] “When you live in nature, you live in an ecosystem of connection, not comparison.”[15:15] How meditative design is a way of practicing presence, learning to get out of the way and allow nature to lead, creating a sense of place that meets you where you are. [20:00] Londolozi's Camps are a collection woven together with a “Golden Thread”—each with their own significance, but all along a journey through legacy and luxury. [29:15] The Varty's are proud “Artists of Experiences”—curating luxury safaris for every chapter of life—from first-time safaris to multigenerational family trips, from honeymoons to wellness, with photography and more in store,[36:40] The “Ripple Effect” stands for Restoration, Innovation, Protection, People, Leadership, Education.[41:00] Rather than creating something new, Shan and Bron are celebrating 100 years of history by bringing back the old, polishing and preserving along the way.[46:15] Mother Nature's wisdom is in embracing a state of flow that changes with the seasons—recognizing that mothering is not something that is done, it is something that is felt—and can only be done so by slowing down. Notable MentionsNelson MandelaMaya AngelouThe Leopards of LondoloziPeter Reed LinensLand RoverSesaties, South African Kebabs Good Work FoundationTracker Academy Healing HouseVisit For YourselfLondolozi Website | @londoloziImages courtesy of Londolozi Game Reserve

Fiona Macleod, editor of Oxpeckers Environmental Journalism, joins John Maytham to unpack a chilling exposé on the criminal networks driving rhino horn trafficking across the South Africa-Mozambique border. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kruger National Park is massive.  With over two million hectares to explore, you could spend your whole life exploring it.  However, we only had three days - but we lived it to the fullest!  Main Story Begins at: 6:37 Show notes Buy me a Coffee Spring ChirpKruger National Park Kruger Adventure Lodge Phabeni GateTinker GuideseBird Trip ReportBirds/Animals mentionedWattled Starling Southern Carmine Bee-eater Intro Bird Call: Red-crested Bustard (Recorded: Kruger NP February, 2025) Outro Bird Call: Woodland Kingfisher (Recorded: Kruger NP February, 2025) Support the showConnect with us at... IG: @Hannahgoesbirding and @ErikgoesbirdingFacebook: @HannahandErikGoBirdingEmail us at HannahandErikGoBirding@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.gobirdingpodcast.comVenmo: @hannahanderikgobirdingGet a discount at Buteo Books using code: BIRDNERDBOOKCLUB

Kirsty Redman has many titles but the two she is most proud of are - Emerging Tuskers Project Coordinator, as well as the Elephant Hall Museum Director in Letaba Rest Camp for Kruger National Park in South Africa. Kirsty joined Robbie live from her office (yes and its true, Robbie and Kirsty were surrounded by garbage bags of elephant dung - all in the name of research!) to discuss big tuskers in the park, the history of the museum (which started as a marketing effort and evolved into more conservation and research efforts), and to really give folks an insight into the history of elephants. Get to know the guest: https://iono.fm/e/571963 https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=kirsty+redman+kruger&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&dlnr=1&sei=ho3FZ8_WGJ7Dp84PyLbIgA8  Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@bloodorigins.com Support our Conservation Club Members! The Wildlife Center: https://www.wildlifecentermi.org/  Landtrust: https://landtrust.com/  Chapungu-Kambako Safaris: https://chapungu-kambako.com/  See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io This podcast is brought to you by Bushnell, who believes in providing the highest quality, most reliable & affordable outdoor products on the market. Your performance is their passion. https://www.bushnell.com  This podcast is also brought to you by Silencer Central, who believes in making buying a silencer simple and they handle the paperwork for you. Shop the largest silencer dealer in the world. Get started today! https://www.silencercentral.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Tran has lived more lives than just about anyone I know. He's a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple businesses across industries, including tech, ammunition manufacturing, defense contracting, and tequila, among many others. Andy is a true modern Renaissance man whose path defies convention and serves as a testament to his deep curiosity, creativity, ability to execute, and humility.He has alpine mountaineered in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego while living out of the back of a truck; spent months in the interior of Alaska guiding caribou and moose hunts, as well as driving jet boats for the Discovery Channel. He has been embedded with Special Mission Units and Anti-Poaching Task Forces in South Africa and Kruger National Park. Additionally, he worked with Ecuadorian Special Forces on missions to hunt narco submarines in the Amazon jungle.Andy was also a professional MMA fighter, finishing his career with an undefeated record of 6-0. Beyond fighting, he helped start and lead Beta Academy DC, an MMA gym in Washington, D.C. At just 18 years old, he co-founded an architectural practice with his uncle and led the firm to become a multi-million-dollar enterprise.Most recently, Andy joined fellow Cleveland entrepreneur and Renaissance man Nick Dadas (featured on Lay of The Land episode #158) as Chief Marketing Officer of SISU Lifestyle....And the list goes on.It's difficult to assign Andy a single label or category. However, to ground our conversation today: Andy is the founder of Arthur Street Ventures, a Cleveland-based venture design studio and holding company focused on developing, incubating, and providing seed and early-stage capital to companies operating in media, defense, consumer packaged goods, alcohol & spirits, cannabis, and apparel sectors.-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyctran/https://www.instagram.com/actran001-----SPONSORS: Impact Architects & NinetyImpact Architects & NinetyLay of The Land is brought to you by Ninety. As a Lay of The Land listener, you can leverage a free trial with Ninety, the platform that helps teams build great companies and the only officially licensed software for EOS® — used by over 7,000 companies and 100,000 users!This episode is brought to you by Impact Architects. As we share the stories of entrepreneurs building incredible organizations throughout NEO, Impact Architects helps those leaders — many of whom we've heard from as guests on Lay of The Land — realize their visions and build great organizations. I believe in Impact Architects and the people behind it so much, that I have actually joined them personally in their mission to help leaders gain focus, align together, and thrive by doing what they love! As a listener, you can sit down for a free consultation with Impact Architects by visiting ia.layoftheland.fm!-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Jeffrey Stern on X @sternJefe — https://twitter.com/sternjefeFollow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

South Africa has a poaching problem. A decade ago, General Johan Jooste oversaw the transformation of Kruger National Park's field rangers into an elite, anti-poaching unit whose efforts helped protect rhinos and other iconic species. Last year, news editor Dac Collins joined the rangers to see how Kruger's poaching problem has evolved, and spoke with Jooste to understand how we got here. Edited by Mike Pedersen / Eighty Five Audio. Guest hosted by news editor Dac Collins. Produced by executive editor Natalie Krebs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Sowry, a 22 year veteran of Kruger National Park and current Pafuri section ranger in Kruger National Park, took Robbie on a game drive outside the Letaba Rest Camp in late November. Richard is an incredible conservationist, has fought the height of the Rhino poaching battle in Kruger National Park, loves argentinian doggos, and is just a pragmatic guy when it comes to wildlife conservation in today's era. Richard is a neutral in my book - he hunts, but isn't completely pro-hunting, he is also pro-ecotourim, and is a staunch pro-sustainable use guy. Robbie and Richard drove around for an hour, and recorded a podcast as they did it, during the height of sweltering summer in South Africa to talk all about African wildlife, Rich's career, and more. You will have to forgive Richard and Robbie, as both during this podcast are like dogs when they see a squirrel, but this time, it's two passionate individuals spotting wildlife and game on their game drive together! Get to know the guest: https://www.krugerpark.co.za https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5NtagwL4A4 Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@bloodorigins.com Support our Conservation Club Members! Adam Clements Safaris: https://safaritrackers.com/  SCI Louisiana Acadiana Chapter: https://laacadianasci.org/  Georgia SCI: https://www.gasci.org/  See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io This podcast is brought to you by Bushnell, who believes in providing the highest quality, most reliable & affordable outdoor products on the market. Your performance is their passion. https://www.bushnell.com  This podcast is also brought to you by Silencer Central, who believes in making buying a silencer simple and they handle the paperwork for you. Shop the largest silencer dealer in the world. Get started today! https://www.silencercentral.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices