Southern Africa Odyssey

—By Megan Brief
On September 22, conservation scientists and animal advocates join forces in recognition of our planet’s five species of rhino. Learn how Richard saves species as a Sony Ambassador and Expedition Leader for Nat Hab & WWF.

—By Laura Kiniry
Here are eight extraordinary avians to keep an eye out for on your next African game drive, or African safari with Nat Hab.

—By Emily Goodheart
Victoria Falls is the Eden of Africa. Spray from the cataract creates a multitude of rainbows and forms a rain forest microclimate, with lush greenery growing along the canyon sides. The thunderous, iridescent water is astounding to behold. Learn more about one of Earth’s greatest natural wonders with these 5 facts.

—By Matt Kareus
Compared to elephants, rhinos and the big cats of Africa, hippos are generally under appreciated, despite their declining numbers and the critical role they play in creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems. In the interest of shedding a little light on this enigmatic creature, here are a few interesting hippo facts to consider when you encounter a pod on your next safari.

—By Nat Hab traveler Debra Eliezer
Often times the excitement of the search is just as thrilling as spending time with wildlife on an African safari. Experience what it’s like to search for and see lions in the wild in this first-hand account!

—By Michelle Peters
Nat Hab has redefined the definition of a sustainable safari by focusing on the “4 Cs”: commerce, conservation, community and culture. Let’s take a closer look at ecotourism in Botswana and how it relates to your experiences in the heart of wildest Africa!Make a difference in Botswana when you choose a high-quality, in-depth, conservation-minded safari experience. Connect with the local community and appreciate the majestic landscapes and unfettered wildlife, coming away with a more positive outlook on the future of sustainable tourism.

—By Megan Brief
Known as ‘The Land of The Giants’—Chobe National Park, nestled in the north of Botswana—is home to Africa’s largest population of elephants. Travel with Nat Hab & WWF and watch these mammoth mammals bathing and playing in the water as you cruise the Chobe River’s marshy channels and visit local communities to see their conservation initiatives in action!

—By Jon Jared
Every well-loved travel destination has a sweet spot. A window when the calendar, weather and wildlife conspire to create a time or a season that becomes a favorite for those who make the journey. Going on a Botswana safari during the green season is an extraordinary experience that moves beyond sightseeing and instead aims for sustainable adventure.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
Zambia’s lions are telling their own travel stories of a sort: tales about their times caught in wire snares, noose-like traps used to poach bushmeat and control carnivores. And those stories could help researchers improve conservation efforts in the country.

—By Samantha Miller
Celebrate these majestic mammals during Botswana's green season, where mothers and babies abound in Chobe National Park, home of the largest surviving elephant population in the world.

—By Jesse Marcus, WWF
I traveled to Southern Africa on a Natural Habitat Adventures trip in October 2019, just a few months before COVID-19. I saw a pride of lions dozing in the shade of an acacia tree. An adult rhino squaring off with his child in a playful, even tender, shoving match. A herd of wild buffalo at magic hour, trailing a sepia-toned dust cloud behind them. I also met people whose lives and livelihoods directly benefited from local conservation efforts. The time I spent in Southern Africa seems like a dream now. But even though the memories may fade, they remain the gift that keeps on giving. That is what it means to be enriched by an experience. It stays with you. It changes you. It makes you a part of it. Forever.