Kenya’s mangrove forests are among the country’s most critical habitats in the fight against climate change. These vital ecosystems serve as essential breeding grounds for marine life, shield the coastline from storms and act as powerful natural carbon sinks, storing up to four times more carbon per hectare than traditional forests. Despite their extraordinary ecological…
The Western Soutpansberg Nature Reserve (WSNR), covering 14 properties (eight landowners) and spanning over 11 607 hectares of critical biodiversity, was officially declared on 17 January 2025. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) drove the formation of the WSNR, and this brand-new reserve in the Soutpansberg encompasses a Centre of Endemism, a recognised Key Biodiversity Area,…
Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West, renowned for its breathtaking scenery, sustainability initiatives and rich heritage, has opened bookings for a new one-day, 13-kilometre guided hike. The first hike takes place on Saturday, 15 March and is thereafter offered twice a month, weather permitting. Hikers will enjoy access to areas of the 3 200-hectare property…
Kirstenbosch is a name that resonates around the world as the home of a uniquely rich flora in a setting of unsurpassed beauty. Established soon after the unification of South Africa in 1910, the garden continues to draw both tourists and locals to its enchanting spaces and botanical riches. This book tells of how Kirstenbosch…
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), together with South African National Parks (SANParks), celebrated the completion of the Richtersveld Desert Botanical Garden at Sendelingsdrif in the Richtersveld National Park, on 20 August 2024. The botanical garden was established through a partnership between SANBI and SANParks, in terms of which a management plan for the…
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) has earned a global reputation for its commitment to responsible tourism, and its contributions to protecting the historic mountain on which it operates one of the world’s grandest cableway experiences. Cape Town’s aerial cableway is located within the Table Mountain National Park: a pristine ecosystem of staggering biodiversity, which…
Ericas come in an astonishing array of sizes, shapes and colours. Some 680 species, many of them found nowhere else, occur in the Cape Floristic Region – a centre of unparalleled diversity for the genus and home to one of the world’s richest floras. In Ericas of the Fynbos, 170 of the region’s most common varieties…
In this absorbing and inspired account of one of the continent’s oldest botanical wonders, Rupert Watson explores the life and times of the majestic baobab, an ancient tree that has outlasted every plant and animal around it. The narrative, supported by exquisite photography, effortlessly blends natural history and personal observation, while also drawing on extracts…
