Anyone who has been on safari knows the indescribable connection with nature that being in the African bush can give you. Proximity with the animals, exposure to the elements and the awakening of all your senses make for a thrilling adventure unlike any other. This unique experience is even more special if it includes a night spent under a canopy of stars.
Every month, our field guides write a Wildlife Report which details the previous few weeks’ animal sightings, as well as notable birds and plants, rainfall in the region and changes in the landscape.
Field guide and wildlife photographer Ross Couper was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in the Matopos National Park, so he has a special connection to the country and its fauna and flora. Here he shares his knowledge and memories of the local African Wild Dog population with us:
The Malilangwe Dam is a shimmering expanse of water that stretches out below Singita Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe, giving guests an incredible view over the water to the sandstone hills beyond. It is an iconic part of the 130,000 acre reserve and home to a number of amazing animals and birds.
There are three things that sum up what it means to be a part of the Singita team: purpose; pursuing excellence in your choice of career; and working in a fully empowered way. These core motivators, along with a passion for Africa and its conservation, are embodied in all our staff and perhaps never more so than in those who have lived and breathed this “Place of Miracles” for large parts of their lives. Today we invite you to meet four members of our Singita Pamushana Lodge family:
Richard and Sarah Madden are freelance travel writers and filmmakers who have spent the last few months documenting life in and around Singita Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe. Their series of short films from the region is entitled “Bush Tales” and explores Singita’s community development, ecotourism and conservation work in Southern Africa. In this, their last report, they reflect on their time in the Malilangwe Reserve and the wonderful wildlife memories they made there:
As part of its ongoing commitment to the surrounding communities, Singita Pamushana (Zimbabwe) partners with the Malilangwe Trust which runs regular courses in conservation education for pupils at local schools. The four-day courses are held at nearby Hakamela Camp for students in Grade 6 and 7 who come from eleven local schools.
It’s considered a very good day in the bush for most wildlife enthusiasts if they manage to spot a rare or elusive animal. It’s also very exciting to see babies in the wild, so to combine both into one sighting is a real highlight for our guides and guests.
Singita Sweni Lodge, South Africa
In an age where the destruction of pristine wilderness continues to accelerate, Singita is making a profound difference in many parts of Africa. Orchestrating an interdependent relationship between communities, wildlife and tourism that ensures true sustainability, Singita is blazing a trail which is seldom achieved on this scale anywhere else on the continent.
