Africa Foundation’s Future Leaders Program Manager Lebogang Matlakala is a paradox. A girl who grew up in the dry and dusty interior of South Africa who is an avid diver and oceanographer. An impressive academic and public speaker who advocates for simple and effective communication of complex issues to local communities. A mentor and inspiration for others who remains thoroughly grounded and humble. Listen to her tell her story of personal growth and community development as she literally...

In September 2023, during Climate Week, we were joined by travel expert and writer Jessica Nabongo (our host) and panellists Amanda Ho (Regenerative Travel), Javier Arredondo (Virtuoso), Costas Christ (Sustainable Travel Pioneer), Tshewang Wangchuk (Bhutan Foundation) to discuss the power and agency that individual travelers have to turn the switches, move the dials, and catalyse positive change within the travel industry. The goal of this event was to bring together industry experts,...

Co-founders and editors of African magazine Anja Hanke and Jelena Moro talk about all things conservation and describe their experiences trekking gorillas in Rwanda. Find out about the threats to the survival of mountain gorillas, hear what is being done to ensure their survival and come along as Anja and Jelena describe their gorilla trekking adventure. 

Archie Voorspuy, manager of Suyian Conservancy, paints a picture of this wild and untamed part of Africa and the exceptional game viewing opportunities that it offers. Learn more about the Laikipia Plateau, where Suyian is situated, and find out about the rare and endangered species that make this region their home. Get a glimpse of how this working cattle ranch and wildlife conservancy operates, as well as what travellers to this secluded destination can hope to see and do.

Find out all about Punakha River Lodge, &Beyond’s new home-away-from-home in the kingdom of Bhutan. &Beyond Asia Managing Director Suhail Gupta talks about the challenges encountered and overcome during the building of the lodge. Renowned travel writer Gisela Williams shares warm and poignant memories from her first trip to Bhutan and delves deeper into the country’s unusual model of tourism. &Beyond Sales & Touring COO Ryan Powell describes the emotions of being one of the...

Heli pilot and Director of Tropic Air Helicopters, Ben Simpson, shares his experiences of flying above Africa, from creating exhilarating experiences for travellers to shooting natural history documentaries in remote destinations and translocating elephants and gorillas for conservation initiatives. Listen to him speak about his adventurous career and describe his latest helicopter routes in Tanzania.

John Corse, Managing Director of the Serengeti Ballooning Company, talks about the wonder and magic of soaring over one of the planet’s best-known landscapes in a hot air balloon. Hear John describe what it feels like to take off into an African sunset and find out why a balloon safari is a must on any wildlife adventurer’s bucket list. 

Cristián Saucedo, Wildlife Director at Rewilding Chile, introduces us to the country’s unique wildlife species, from the renowned puma and condor to the lesser known huemul and guanaco. He explains the importance of rewilding and describes the work done by Rewilding Chile, touching on how the organisation is carrying on the legacy of conservationists Kristine and Douglas Tompkins. Cristián also shares his thoughts about the similarities and differences between conservation in Africa and South...

In conversation with writer and sustainability expert Juliet Kinsman, five voices across three continents came together to share tales of their unforgettable travel experiences to enlighten, enrich and inspire, with interconnected musings on a topic that has never been more vital. Discover epic stories, epic adventures and epic solutions about how travel can make a positive impact.

Cheetahs have been extirpated from 90% of their range across Africa and Asia, but people like Vincent van der Merwe are working tirelessly to see the species rebound. In this podcast, we hear from Vincent on the history of cheetah and the challenges which are facing the species, as well as the importance of the species and the efforts being made to protect and conserve them. We also learn about the concept of metapopulations, and how this management strategy is crucial to bringing the world’s...

andBeyond Regional Guide Trainer Dux Mareja unravels the wildlife wonders of Botswana, from the vast herds of the Chobe River in the north to the mysterious Savute Marsh. Discover the varying landscapes and experiences of the Okavango Delta and find out how the flow and ebb of the waters influences this unique ecosystem.

Damen Pheiffer is a specialist guide at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve – a reserve that is close to his heart for many reasons. Listen in as we catch up with Damen and learn a little more about him, the events that brought him to Phinda, and hear some of his wild stories and wildlife experiences from his time as a guide.

Barry Mthembu has done it all. After starting in Phinda’s star-in-training programme back in 2003, he eventually went on to become a butler, camp manager, tracker, ranger, head ranger, and now he is Phinda’s Habitat Field Manager, a job which keeps him on his toes and very busy.

Phinda conservation manager, Simon Naylor, speaks about the importance of lions in their ecosystems, their conservation status across Africa and Asia, the challenges facing lions as a species, and the successes and challenges of lion conservation and management in private, fenced reserves like andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve.

Africa Foundation CEO DR Andrew Venter looks back at 30 years of the Foundation’s achievements and highlights the key successes of the past years. Find out what changes have taken place in the past three decades and discover what new projects are to come. Share the excitement of the spirit and vision that will drive Africa Foundation ahead for decades to come.

In this podcast, we chat to andBeyond Group Sustainability Manager, Jonathan Braack, and architect, Jack Alexander, about sustainability in the design and rebuild of the new andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge. We hear about Jack’s inspiration for the new lodge, and learn about what sustainability in lodge design actually means in terms of architectural choices, building materials, overall design, and environmental considerations. We also chat to Jonathan about the inclusion of new,...

Thulani Mbazini is an inspirational individual who has worked at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve for thirteen years. He started out as a contractor in the habitat team; clearing alien vegetation and working on the reserve. He then studied and qualified to become a professional tracker, a role he delighted in for almost nine years. He always had his heart firmly set on becoming a guide at andBeyond Phinda Forest Lodge; and now, as an established guide within the team at andBeyond Phinda,...

Dr. Andrea Marshall talks about the Hope Spot encompassing the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique, the importance of marine megafauna and why they need to be conserved, the role of hope spots in protecting our oceans, and why collaboration in marine science is a key to success in conserving our seascapes.

Crispo Ndembeka, Africa Foundation Regional Manager for East Africa, speaks about his background as a medical doctor and how it motivated him to work towards improving the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of the region’s rural communities. Crispo describes Africa Foundation’s work in Kenya and Tanzania, focusing on the provision of healthcare and talking about how they have helped local communities overcome a multitude of challenges.

We chat to Peter about the world of marine rangers, the crucial role they play in protecting ecosystems, the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis, and what is being done to support these courageous men and women on the frontlines of conservation.

Driven and passionate, Nancy Iraba is an eloquent advocate for any number of things – marine conservation, biodiversity preservation, access to the oceans and so much more. As the Oceans Without Borders Project Manager at Mnemba Island off Zanzibar, she is also responsible for an initiative aimed at restoring the area’s precious coral reefs to their full glory. Listen to Nancy talk about her journey in marine conservation and describes the aims and successes of Mnemba’s coral reef restoration...

&Beyond Social Media Specialist Josh van der Ploeg looks back at his career as a guide in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, from his initial training course to his years at &Beyond Kirkman’s Kamp and the many research and travel opportunities that came his way. Find out how a project to create an ID kit for leopards in the Sabi Sand led to a camera trapping adventure in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and how years spent as a wildlife guide translate to a career in marketing.

Founded in 1934, Rwanda’s Akagera National Park boasts a history as long and illustrious as some of the continent’s most renowned wildlife areas, and yet it remains relatively little known in a country that is much more famous for its gorilla trekking than it is for its only Big Five game reserve. African Parks Regional Ops Manager for Rwanda Jes Gruner talks about Akagera’s diversity and natural beauty, explaining the operational model that has been used to transform it into one of Africa’s...

What does it take to move 30 rhino across more than half the length of Africa? Simon Naylor, Conservation Manager at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve speaks about translocating a Boeing 747 full of rhinos from South African to Rwanda to create a new breeding stronghold in Akagera National Park. Find out why this ground-breaking feat was necessary and what it took to be accomplished.