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Travel is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury, especially as we 'finally' begin to understand how important travel is for personal development and good mental health, and physical health. This is why it’s very easy to find hundreds, if not thousands, of blog posts and recommendations on what to pack when travelling to certain countries or cities. For this blog post, we thought of changing it up a bit by talking about five things that you may not already know you needed if you are travelling to Africa. Basic First Aid Kit If you’re an adventure junkie, this may be something you already have in your pack. But if you’re more of an urban traveller, you might not realise the convenience of having your own first aid kit with you, especially in the outdoors. Of course, tour operators such as Africa Wild Trails have a first aid kit and qualified first aiders with you every step of the way but we strongly recommend that if you’re planning on hiking, trekking and paddling during your venture, having your own trusty first aid stash will prove to be useful. You don’t have to go overboard and pack a huge kit that could rival emergency responders. Just having a small, clearly marked bag or box with items such as plasters, gauze, antiseptic wipes, insect repellent, hand sanitizer etc. Look out for our first aid blog coming up soon… Leaders: Preloaded Tablet While it’s true that you’re travelling to Africa to go on an ultimate venture in nature, there may well be periods of downtime with your group on the minibus or in camp, or when travelling from camp to camp or in camp in-between activities, and these are period you may wish to write notes, relax, or delve into a good book. Internet coverage will not always be readily available so it’s not possible to go on YouTube or scroll through your Instagram feed. A tablet is also an excellent piece of kit to have for research during your African venture. There are many Apps to download at home and use abroad on African fauna and flora as well as the varying cultures, translation Apps and the history of the region you are travelling to, which can only serve to enhance your overall experience! Extra Batteries and Power Banks Most people usually pack one extra battery for their digital devices and one power bank during their travels. When travelling to Africa, it’s recommended that you pack more. There may be instances where there’s no electricity or there’s only one electrical source so you may not be able to charge your devices and other tech. Having backup power will really be useful especially if you’re into photography. Look out for our power bank and related tech blog coming up soon… Wet Wipes This is a multi-tasking essential that you can use to clean up in-between showers, sanitise your hands before meals, or as an alternative to toilet paper when out hiking. As with every item you buy, ensure you gain knowledge on the product such as purchasing 100% biodegradable wet wipes. Head Torch You’ve probably seen one being worn by a variety of people but may not have owned one yourself. As the name implies, head torches are small light bulbs attached on a strap and worn on the head. This device is extra useful because being in nature means limited light source and at night. Wearing a head torch frees up your hands and will always point in the direction you need it most; where you are looking! You’ll be surprised that head touches are actually pretty affordable. If you only take one torch on your venture, make sure it’s a head torch! Look out for our torch blog coming up soon… If you want to learn more about travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure…

Nobody wants to end up having sore, blistered feet after a long, supposedly enjoyable hike. This is why having the right type of walking boots is very important. But with the vast selection of footwear available now in the market, choosing the right pair can be confusing and even overwhelming. So what do you need to look out for when boot shopping? Here are some practical tips to keep in mind. 1. Fit This is the most important factor when choosing a pair of hiking boots. Everything else is secondary. If your boots are ill-fitting, you are more likely to develop foot injuries. You have to make sure that they are comfortable and in the right size. To ensure that your boots will fit well, check out these reminders. Try them personally Who doesn’t love the convenience of online shopping? While ordering your boots online is probably much faster and easier, going to a dedicated shoe shop will allow you to try on different pairs and compare how you feel in them. If your only option is to order online, carefully check boot sizing guides to confirm you are ordering the right size. Once the boots arrive, try them on and walk with them around the house. Make sure there is a return policy in case the pair is too big or too small. Bring along your socks Part of having the perfect fit is bringing along the socks you usually wear when shopping. If you’re planning to buy new socks too, buy them before buying the boots. This way, you are sure that your socks are not too thin or too thick which will mess up the fit of the boots. How the boots should feel Your feet should be comfortable while walking. While the boots must fit snuggly, your toes should not feel scrunched up. There should be room for your toes to wiggle and they should not be touching the front end of the boots. To test this, you can try pushing your toes to the front end, if there is enough space to put your index finger at the back of the boot then that means that there’s enough wiggling room for your toes. To ensure that they are not too big, your heel should not be rising up when walking. The boots should also be able to support your ankle and the boot tongue (the flap-like material under the laces) should not be loose. The weight of the boot should also be not too heavy for you to walk in, but sturdy enough to offer you adequate support. The best time to shop Always shop in the afternoon or evening time because your feet tend to swell later in the day. This will guarantee that the boots will not be too tight for you. Break in your boots You MUST avoid wearing brand-new, never-worn boots during a hiking trip. Break them in by wearing them for a few days. Wear them first inside the house to test them and when you are happy that you’re not going to be returning or exchanging them, using the boots during short outdoor walks is also a good idea. 2. Function Along with the right fit, function is also a very important factor when buying boots. This may be confusing especially for hiking newbies so here are some things to consider. Where are you going to use them? When you want to buy a pair of trainers, you can now choose depending on the sports you’re going to use them for running shoes, tennis shoes, football shoes, basketball shoes, etc. When buying hiking boots, you should also think the same way. You can buy a different type of boot depending on the terrain you will be walking on. For well-marked paths, flat ground and long-distance walks, you can go for lightweight boots that are more flexible. However, for more challenging, rocky terrain – you might have to go for a pair that has stiffer soles. Depending on the brand and the model, you can choose the right style suited for a particular terrain. When are you going to use them? Your feet tend to swell and become bigger in warmer weather. What this means is that you should take this into consideration when buying your boots. You do not want to discover that your boots are too tight due to the change in climate. It is better to buy boots that are a bit bigger to fit you in warmer weather because you can always wear thicker socks or insoles in colder weather. It’s not possible to make a smaller boot bigger! While you can choose to buy a different pair depending on the season, there are also boots that are designed for multiple seasons and terrain. What type of material do you need? In terms of material, the most common types are leather and synthetic. Boots made of synthetic fabric like Gore-Tex are typically more comfortable and flexible while leather boots tend to last much longer, even a lifetime. Once a pair of leather boots are well worn in, they are just as comfortable as any other type of Gore-Tex boot. Whether going for leather or synthetic-made boots, make sure you choose a waterproof pair. Even leather boots are now lined with Gore-Tex fabric to make them waterproof and increase comfort and breathability. 3. Style and Price Point While the style of the boot is not the priority, it will not hurt if you choose a pair that you personally like the look of. Everyone has individual preferences so as long as you’ve ticked all the boxes when it comes to fit & function, then you’re free to choose the design of your choice. The last factor is price point. Should you go for the most expensive brand or a medium priced boot will suffice? While price is often a reflection of quality, this is not always the case. You can find reasonably priced boots that will last you a long time, too. The most expensive model is not always the right pair for you. However, don’t scrimp on ‘fit and function’ the blisters will not be worth it…!!!

In many travel guides and blogs about Africa, one recommendation that is very common is to bring a multi tool. For people who are not familiar with what a multi tool is, it is a compact device that has multiple functions. Depending on the brand, the design and the functionalities also differ. However, most multi tool brands all have the basics like scissors, screwdrivers and knives. Other multi tools include corkscrew, nail file, blades, can opener, tweezers, wire cutters, and more. There are multi tools that even have more than 20 functions. A lot of people are not really sure whether getting one is really necessary when going on an African venture. Is this actually something essential? While there are affordable multi tools in the market, the more popular brands with many functions do not really come cheap. When going in an African adventure, or any outdoor activity for that matter, we at Africa Wild Trails do recommend taking a multi tool. There are many advantages in taking a multi-tool with you especially when hiking or going on a walking tour. Very compact Multi tools don’t take a lot of space. They are often pocket sized so you can take advantage of many functions without the added weight of various tools. You can use it in first-aid and emergency situations If you have a multi-tool with you, you can use it to remove splinters and thorns, cut laces or up bandages in case of any medical emergency. It is often dubbed as a life saver because in case you get lost in the wild, you can use it to help you make shelter and prepare food. You can use it in food prep Multi-tools can be used to slice and peel fruit, open cans and portion food when outdoors. You can also make a fish hook, as well as skin, gut, butcher and clean fish or meat you want to cook. You can use it in shelter building When you’re setting up a tent or a hammock, you can use a multi-tool to cut up rope. You can also use these to cut up shrubs if you want to surround your campsite with branches as well as twigs when looking for wood to build a campfire. You can use it for repairs Your multi tool could help you complete small repairs when you are overseas like maybe fixing your shoes, backpacks, zips or sunglasses. How to Choose the Right Multi-Tool When choosing a multi-tool, it does not really need to be the most expensive or the most high end. However, choosing a trusted brand will typically guarantee durability and reliability. Read reviews online to help you choose which one suits your budget. Africa Wild Trails recommends you choose a multi-tool with blades and tools that can be locked, so that they don’t accidentally close and cause injury. We recommend you avoid pen knives that are not lockable as these have a tendency to close on your fingers if used incorrectly, this has resulted in injuries in during past expeditions. One brand that we recommend is the Leatherman multi-tool because each application on the knife is lockable and there is a very good variety for many applications and budgets. If you want to learn more about wildlife and travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure!

One of the most fascinating stories to hear when travelling to a foreign land is the rich history and heritage the country possesses. For people travelling to South Africa, one interesting topic is when and how European settlers first set foot in the land and their interactions with the locals. For South Africa and its people, the past is not a smooth sailing one as it was filled with wars and conflicts. One of the most historic conflicts that occurred was the Anglo-Zulu War between the British military and the Zulus, a nation of people in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. To learn more about what happened during this period, here are some of the notable highlights of the Anglo-Zulu war in a timeline format. 1652 The Dutch, led Jan van Riebeeck, founded a colony in South Africa. At first, the Dutch people who were referred to as Boers, traded with the native people but they eventually faced conflict. The first war was fought in 1658, which was only the first of many wars. 1795 The British captured Cape Colony but returned it back to the Dutch in 1803. They took it again in 1806. 1820 Approximately 4,000 British settlers arrived in South Africa from April to June 1820. They were granted farmlands but not everyone remained to farm. While there were settlers who remained at the farmlands, many of the settlers were not adept at agriculture. This prompted them to seek better opportunities in surrounding towns. Some of these settlers settled at KwaZulu Natal or Zululand, a land inhabited by the Zulu people and ruled by King Shaka. The settlers were allowed permission by King Shaka to stay at Natal because of the technological advances they were bringing with them. 1872 Cetshwayo ka Mpande became the King of the Zulus, with a well-disciplined army of 40,000 to 60,000 men. When the British became more interested in Zululand, he refused to submit to their demands. The British settlers wanted the Zulu kingdom to provide labour in the diamond fields, abolish autonomous African states, and claim more land territory. 1878 British high commissioner for South Africa Sir Bartle Frere issued an impossible ultimatum to King Cetshwayo. Frere realized that the king is a major stumbling block in the attempt to bring all of Southern Africa under British control and wanted to break his resistance. The ultimatum demanded King Cetshwayo to dismantle their military system within 30 days, handover offenders and pay reparations for alleged insults. This ultimatum was not met as expected, which paved the way for the Anglo-Zulu War. 1879 22 January: Invasion and the Battle of Isandlwana In January 1979, the British troops invaded under the leadership of Lord Chelmsford. On January 22nd, the Zulu army attacked the British troops in Isandlwana which was not usually King Cetshwayo’s style. The king normally preferred a defensive approach by holding back his troops with the hope of negotiating a settlement. The unexpected Zulu attack killed 800 British soldiers and 500 more auxiliary African troops. This was considered one of the worst defeats of the British army especially with the Zulus having inferior weapons. 22 – 23 January: The Battle of Rorke’s Drift Forewarned by the few survivors from the Battle of Isandlwana, some 120-150 British troops successfully defended Rorke’s Drift against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu fighters who attempted to overrun the British depot there. The victory produced distinctive honors for the British troops and eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. 11 February Although the British Army were victorious at Rorke’s Drift, the embarrassing defeat at Isandlwana prompted the British government to go into a full-scale campaign to save face. July – August King Cetshwayo’s forces were defeated and the king was captured and stripped of his position. 1882 King Cetshwayo arrived in London for a month long visit to seek an audience with Queen Victoria. His goal was to plead for the restoration of his kingdom. He was received by Queen Victoria in Osborne House in the Isle of Wight. The meeting lasted for 15 minutes and he was promised that his old powers as king will be restored upon his return to South Africa. After the meeting with the Queen, he was given a tour of the grounds and gardens of Osborne House. What was interesting about his visit was how the British press did a complete 360 turn in depicting King Cetshwayo. While he was considered as a barbarian before, news of his impending visit depicted him as an impressive, dignified figure which fascinated the British public. He was dressed in European clothes which was contrary to what the public expected as they were all expecting him to be a savage dressed in loin cloth. 1883 King Cetshwayo was reinstated as king but only granted a third of his lands. He died in the same year after an attack by his rival Zibhebhu. 2006 King Cetshwayo was commemorated by the English Heritage with a blue plaque at the Kensington House in 18 Melbury Road, Holland Park, where he stayed in 1882.

African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) are the largest land animals on Earth. These magnificent giants are slightly larger than Asian elephants and can be found roaming countries in sub-Saharan Africa. There are many interesting anecdotes about elephants. In some cultures, people consider elephants as a lucky symbol for prosperity and business. This is why many elephant sculptures and paintings are often seen displayed in many homes and commercial establishments. Elephants are also recognized as being among the most intelligent creatures. In fact, researchers in the UK have discovered that African elephants can distinguish differences in human gender, age and ethnicity purely by the sound of a person’s voice. African elephants are also shown to understand human body language, recognize themselves and have long term memory. To learn more about these amazing animals, here are 13 interesting facts about African elephants. The size of African elephants ranges from 8 to 13 feet (shoulder height) and their length can reach up to 23 feet. Asian elephants reach up to 9.8 feet in shoulder height. An African elephant can weigh from 2.5 to 7 tons. African elephants can be identified by their larger ears that resemble the African continent. These ears are used by the elephants to regulate the body temperature by flapping the ears. This cooler blood passes around the body which keeps them cooler in the African heat. The trunks of African elephants have two finger-like (prehensile) features that they use to grab things. This is different from Asian elephants’ trunks which only have one finger. African elephants are herbivores and they consume up to 300 pounds of food in a single day. They feed mostly on roots, grass, fruit and bark. African elephants are not easily domesticated unlike the Asian elephants. The skin of African elephants is more wrinkled than those of Asian elephants. The average lifespan of an African elephant in the wild is up to 70 years. Female African elephants live in a family herd with young elephants, while male African elephants tend to roam on their own only returning to the breeding herd to mate. Currently, African elephants occur in 37 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; but they are already considered extinct in Burundi, Gambia and Mauritania. African elephants can usually be found in dense forests, open and closed savannah grasslands and arid deserts. In 2016, the estimated population of African elephants was at around 415,000. This represents a loss of 100,000 elephants in less than a decade. African elephants are considered VULNERABLE (at high risk of extinction in the wild), which is one step away from being endangered. The primary threats to African elephants are poaching for their ivory tusks, loss of habitat and human conflict. African elephant trivia: Do you know that African elephants are terrified of honeybees? If you want to learn more about wildlife and travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure!

Trekking through the African bush may seem like an exhilarating, once-in-a lifetime adventure for many people. While it is definitely that, being in the wild is certainly not your usual “walk in the park”. What this means is that it is highly important to arm yourself with the adequate knowledge and preparation to support you when undertaking such journey. Even if you are taking the trip with experienced guides, knowing how to look after yourself will always come in handy and make your experience even more enjoyable. Having this information will also give you a better peace of mind and you can avoid panicking in unexpected situations. Here are some of the things you may encounter while hiking the bush and the best way to address these situations. 1. Dehydration Travellers to Africa can often overlook the importance of drinking adequate amounts of fluids. The different climate in the region makes it much more necessary to ensure that you are hydrating and replacing the water your body is losing. While people can survive without food for a maximum of 3 weeks, you can only survive without water for 3 days. How to avoid dehydration: Make sure you drink a litre of water before starting your day, especially if you are hiking. Pack enough water with you and check whether there will be a water source along the way where you can refill. A stainless steel or aluminium bottle is a good idea for remote areas so you can boil and purify natural water. Don’t make the mistake of miscalculating how much water you need to drink because there may not be a safe water source during your journey. 2. Animals Wild animals may seem cute or enchanting from afar but don’t make the mistake of trying to see them up close unless you have an experienced guide who tells you that moving closer is not going to be a problem. The animals you will encounter in the bush are so much different from those you see in the zoos, so be aware that you must protect yourself. Here are some animal examples and how to take care of yourself in case of an encounter. It is generally the case that people cause the problems in the first place, so listen to your guide who will explain the comfort-zones and pressure-zones of all the animals. Lion – Never run or they might think you are prey. Instead, you can stand still until it goes away. If it still tries to charge you, your only chance is to put your hands above you to make you look bigger and make lots of noise to scare it away. Elephant – If their ears are fanned out, that’s a sign the elephant is uncomfortable and it’s time for you to back off. This could also be a sign of a mock charge. If the ears held back when the elephant is stressed then this could mean they are going to charge for real. Do not run but stay close to guide and listen to him/her. Sometimes making yourself bigger and making loud noises can result in the animal moving away. Leopard – Never approach a leopard especially with its cubs, and for that matter, never approach any animal, particularly if it has young. Don’t run because even if you’re a fast runner, you can never outrun a leopard. Making noise and making yourself bigger is also a potential way to ward it off. You can slowly back away while still facing it but stop if it takes a step towards you. Buffalo– Can get very aggressive very quickly but your guide will avoid buffalo encounters when you are on foot, but watching them from a safe distance is an amazing experience. The only way to survive a buffalo attack is if you can climb a tree. It is best to avoid these unpredictable animals altogether when you are on foot. Rhino– Only admire rhinos at a safe distance to avoid confrontation with them. In case you are confronted with a rhino charging, try to put as many obstacles between you and the animal as their eyesight is relatively poor. Black rhino are said to be much more aggressive than the White Rhino. This may be due to the fact that Black rhino are browsers and feed on leaves in the thicker bush. As a result, they are more likely to be startled than a White rhino which is a grazer and feeds on grass in the open. Both are incredible animals to observe, and you can do this relatively closely (50 meters or more) if you are with a guide, very quiet and very still. Crocodiles – Be watchful of crocodiles especially if you are near a water source. Air bubbles in the water usually mean they are nearby. A safe distance from a Nile crocodile is 5 meters away and 2 meters higher than it! Hippopotamus – The deadliest large land mammal in the world. Avoid going between a hippo and their water source and always observe from a distance with your guide. If charged by a hippo, don’t try to outrun it as they can run up to 30 km/hour, instead, find an obstacle where you can go for cover and hide. The best way is to avoid it altogether and retreat at first signs of any hippo around. 3. Bushfires Bushfires can be ignited when the weather is very hot and/or the land is very dry. It can also be caused by human activity. How to protect yourself If you encounter a bushfire, don’t think that you are at a safe distance already. You have to run away as fast as you can and put as much distance as possible between you and the fire. When flames engulf the landscape, wind can make the fire travel very fast. Most well managed game reserves and rural area will create ‘fire breaks’ by deliberately lighting fires in certain locations. These burnt strips of land are excellent at preventing a bushfire spreading. 4. Lost & Stranded If you find yourself away from your group and you are lost in the bush, a lot of things can pose as threats including the threats outlined above: dehydration, animal threats and fires. Sit tight: If you sit tight is very likely that you will be found quickly by the rest of the group or a professional search party, so don’t panic, calm yourself down, check your water and listen for the search party calling you or using their whistle. If you have a whistle, blow three short bursts every minute. The search party will hear the sound of the whistle as they get closer to you. How to source food: If you are not found, you are now in a survival situation and you will have to deal with how to source your food while trying to find your way back. If you’re lucky, you can eat fruits you encounter. A good tip is watch what monkeys are eating to know if they are poisonous or not. If the fruits are unfamiliar, better skip those as food sources as they may be poisonous. Eat ants, insects, worms, frogs and birds as a source of protein, if you can catch them! How to source water: Dry sandy river beds often still flow under the surface, so digging there is a very good idea. This does not use up huge amounts of energy and the sand is a very good filter too. You may need to dig down one, two or three feet to find water. If you find a river or pool, best not to drink directly from it. Dig a small hole about 2 feet from the edge of the water source and let that hole fill. Again, the sand will filter a lot of the impurities. If you have charcoal from your fire, keep it, as that is a very good way of filtering out impurities from the water. The more you filter, the cleaner the water. How to survive the night and find shelter: There is also the threat of having to survive extreme weather conditions especially if it rains heavily or the weather becomes too cold. Dressing in layers is a great idea so you can always remove layers of clothing or add layers clothing when needed. The very best shelter is what nature gives us. As you are walking look for overhanging rocks, small caves or trees with large and thick canopies. These will keep the worst of the weather and wind off you and your trusty campfire. If you can, surround your area with thorny branches by creating a fence-like structure. This thorny obstacle will deter predators. Don’t sleep near a water source as there may be crocodiles lurking especially at night. If you are walking during the daytime, then rest in shade during the hottest part of the day. Additional Tips to Have a Safe African Adventure It is completely possible to have a safe and worry-free trip to Africa. Don’t be dismayed by these things because as long as you prep well, you’ll definitely have nothing to worry about! Don’t forget to pack your personal first aid kit. You don’t need to bring an entire hospital with you. Just bringing a small bag with plasters, gauze, antiseptic wipes, and insect repellent/cream can help a lot. Another helpful tip is having a multi-tools device. AWT recommends the Leatherman multi-tool which is a heavy-duty device you can use to open cans, slice fruits, cut string, remove thorns etc. The most important advice is to only go with experienced guides. Your guide will make or break your African adventure. AWT will ensure these guides are professionals and they know the lay of the land, how to avoid threats and how to act in emergency situations. At Africa Wild Trails, we only employ qualified experts and ensure that guides are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and on how to deliver first aid if there is an incident. If you want to learn more about travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure!

Water is very important for survival. It has been said that while you can survive without food for 7 days, you can only survive without water for 3 days. When you’re going on an adventure in Africa, being highly hydrated becomes much more important. Because of the many visual feasts offered by these ventures, it can be easy to forget to rehydrate. This is the reason why dehydration becomes one of the most common ailments while on tour. So how much water should you be drinking to ensure that you are well-hydrated while hiking in the bush? How to Calculate the Amount of Water to Drink As a guide, the general rule is usually drinking 2 cups or half a litre of water for every hour of hiking. This means that if you are going to hike for 3 hours, you should at least drink 1.5 litres of water. However, the amount of water that you should drink will still depend on many factors such as the weather and the difficulty of the hike. You should also consider your personal level of thirst. Young people are more active and usually, need to drink more water when going on a hike. If the weather is very hot or if you need to do a lot of uphill climbs, then you are more likely to sweat and you would need to rehydrate more often. In cooler weather, you might not need to drink as much but even if you are not particularly thirsty, drinking the minimum amount of fluids is still recommended to avoid risk of dehydration. How to Avoid Dehydration Drink more during temperature and humidity spikes. To avoid dehydration, you should make sure that you are bringing enough water with you during the hike. Check with your guide and find out whether you are stopping at a location with a water source so you are aware whether you can do a refill. You can use the following to pack water with you. Water Bottles Having a lightweight reusable water bottle will be a good choice. You should go for a durable one made of either steel or aluminium as these do not break even when dropped. The great thing with these bottles is that you can use them to boil water to make it safe to drink. The only downside is that most standard water bottles only hold 16 oz. or 24 oz. of water (around .4 -.7 litre) so if you are only bringing one bottle, make sure there is a water source where you can refill. Bladder Packs Hydration bladder packs are usually made of rubber or plastic-like materials with a long rubber hose that you can use to drink from it. The pack is usually flat so you can carry it easily in your backpack, with its weight distributed evenly. A bladder pack usually holds more water (around 2-3 litres) than water bottles so it can be an ideal choice when going on long hikes and you are not sure whether there will be an available water source during your tour. Bladder packs and their hoses are hard to clean so make sure you have a good cleaning kit and regime. Also, bladder pack hoses can freeze during cold mountain phases as the hose is exposed, so not ideal for hiking in temps close to or below zero. Making Sure You’re Drinking Safe Water Before going on a hike, you should drink water as this is a key time to hydrate as water is plentiful in camp. 1 litre prior to leaving camp is recommended, 2 litres is perfect. Adding some orange squash can make a lot of water more palatable and also add some sugars to the drink. You should resupply your hydration system when you stop at a place where there is a water source. However, make sure that the water that you are drinking is safe to consume. For many people, drinking untreated water in a foreign land is a rookie mistake. Locals may have built up immunity from drinking their own local water, but travellers usually do not have the same immunity which can cause illnesses like stomach problems. Even if the water looks clean and fresh, it is better to take preventive measures by treating or filtering the water to purify it. You can use purification tablets which are very portable. These tablets can chemically treat the water and kill bacteria and viruses. Remember for most tablets, you need to wait at least half an hour before the water is ready for consumption. Another option is by bringing portable purification straws. These are pocket-sized water purifiers that filter out impurities rather than chemically treating the water. Because it is a filtering device, you don’t really need to wait before drinking the water – it’s an instant solution. This is good when you want to purify water from a tap water source or from a freshwater source like a spring or a stream. At Africa Wild Trails, we make certain that you are equipped with the adequate amount of water before going on a hike. We also provide proper hydration advice and map out potential water sources available along the route. If you want to learn more about wildlife and travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure!

Going on an African venture is something that is a once in a lifetime experience for a lot of people. This is the reason why the correct clothing is so important. Everyone has different tastes and depending on what type of trip you’re going on, your kit selection may also vary. This is the reason why instead of giving you a packing list, we decided to answer some of the most common questions on what to wear in on tour. Long Sleeves or Short Sleeves? While many people assume that a short-sleeved shirt or a sleeveless top would be the best thing to wear because of the warm weather, wearing a long-sleeved, loose-fitting top made of breathable material instead would be the most sensible thing to do. The long sleeves will protect your arms from the sun in the day and from insect bites at night. If you have sensitive skin and easily gets sunburned, long sleeves will definitely be the best choice. Make sure the fabric is made of light airy material. If the weather is too warm, you can always roll up the sleeves, or layer it over a shirt in case you need more warmth. Shorts or Trousers? Just like long-sleeved tops, long trousers would be a great choice especially if you are taking hiking in the bush. Long trousers will protect your legs not only from insects, but also from bushes and shrubs during your walking tours. If you’re wearing trousers, you wouldn’t need to worry much about scratching your legs from thorns or rocks when hiking or climbing. Trousers also protect your legs from mosquito bites in the evening and the hot African sun during the day. Try to avoid trousers with Velcro that can be noisy and may disturb wildlife. Also avoid trousers with loops or different fastenings on the pockets which might get caught in the bushes. For women, leggings are always a very popular and comfortable option for the day and the evening. But bring a few pairs as they can rip on thorns easily… Do Colours Matter? You may have noticed that people going on safaris wear light, neutral or natural colours. This is because it is important to blend into the environment as much as possible. Plain clothes in colours like khaki, grey, beige, and off-white are recommended. Wearing white is not recommended as your clothes can get dusty and dirty easily during the day and at night time, white attracts insects. Bright, glaring colours may cause wildlife to move away from you unnecessarily. Shoes, Boots or Sandals? Waterproof hiking boots are your best bet when going on tour in Africa. While you might think trainers would do the trick, there’s a high possibility that they won’t be able to survive the elements unless they are sturdy trail running shoes. More importantly, quality hiking boots will protect your feet wherever the journey takes you and a good ankle support will help over rough terrain. Make sure you get a comfortable, well-fitting pair because you will be spending a lot of hours in these walking boots. In the evening, a good pair of trainers are fine and very comfortable. Bringing sandals to air out your feet when you get back to camp and when showering or lounging will also be a good idea. Ensure they have ‘closed toes’ in case of thorns. What Accessories Do I Need? In terms of outfit accessories, here are some suggestions: Sunglasses – to protect your eyes from the glare of the sun Hats or Scarf – to protect your face and head from the sun and to also protect your hair from dust and dirt Sarong – you can use this as a cover up, a scarf, a shawl or as a skirt substitute Warm Jacket – At any time of the year that you’re travelling, the early morning and night can be cool to very cold so it is best to be ready with a jacket to warm you up. Water Proof – A thin waterproof outer shell is essential in case you need to cover yourself from sudden rain or when the wind gets up. Bring some gloves and a beanie hat from June – September too while you’re at it! If you want to learn more about wildlife and travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure!

While leopards can be found in many countries in Africa, a sighting of this awe-inspiring animal never ceases to be an amazing experience, even for wildlife environmentalists. Its beautiful spotted coat and its graceful movements hold a contained power that is unique from other big cats. A few weeks ago, the Africa Wild Trails team discovered leopards in one of the places they have positioned their camera traps. Camera traps are remotely activated cameras equipped with a motion/light sensors used all over Africa to track and understand animal movements. When one of the camera traps caught an image of a leopard, the team was surprised as they initially had no idea that leopards were even in that area. This leopard sighting was the inspiration for this blog post. To learn more about leopards, we’ve gathered answers to five of the most commonly asked questions about this wild cat. Where Do Leopards Live? Leopards have been shown to be highly adaptable to many places, both in warm and cold climates. They can be found in a wide range of habitats including deserts, semi-deserts, savannah grasslands, mountainous environments, rocky landscapes and riverine forests. Because of their adaptability, leopards can be found in many regions of the world including Sub-Saharan Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, India, Russia, Turkey, China, Java Islands and Sri-Lanka. Leopards are native to around 35 countries in Africa. What Do Leopards Eat? Leopards are carnivorous mammals that are not very selective of their meat. They are known to have varied diets as they hunt and feed on pigs, deer, bugs, fish, antelope, monkeys, birds and even rodents! They can feed on pretty much anything available. Because they are skilled climbers, they often drag their prey up into the trees to prevent scavengers stealing their hunt. Why the Leopard Got its Spots? While many children would refer to a famous tale by Rudyard Kipling of the same title, there is no final conclusion yet on the reason why leopards have spots. There have been many theories regarding this conundrum including having spots as a means to attract the opposite sex or as a social signaling function. However, one study that used mathematical analysis on leopard spots arrived at the conclusion that the spots in leopards are closely tied to their environments. This assumes that the complex spots are required by these animals in order to camouflage and blend into their environments for survival. What’s Faster, a Leopard or Cheetah? Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals on earth with a top speed of 112 kilometres per hour. Leopards’ top speed only reaches 88.5 kilometres per hours. While Cheetahs are faster, leopards are much stronger as they are stockier and bulkier. Cheetahs are built for speed which sacrifices their muscles. Are Leopards Endangered? Leopard populations are decreasing and are considered Vulnerable, which is one step away from being endangered. While leopards as a species are not endangered, certain sub-species are critically endangered including populations in North Africa, Middle East and Russia. The primary threats to leopards include loss of habitat, being hunted for their soft fur, and being killed when they become a threat to livestock. If you want to learn more about wildlife and travelling to Africa, send us a message today. We’ll tell you all about how you can plan your adventure!

The bold black and white patterns that swathe a zebra’s coat is nothing short of amazing. While it was previously believed that zebras were white animals with black stripes and underbellies, it has since been concluded that zebras are black with white stripes. This same iconic design has inspired many theories that speculate why zebras have stripes. Even renowned biologists Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace famously debated about this issue back in the 1870s. According to a team of researchers from a university in Hungary, there are as many as 18 theories for the possible functions of zebra stripes. Of these 18 theories, three are more prevalent than the rest. Here are the three popular theories on why zebras have stripes. 1. To regulate body temperature A 2015 research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science reported that the stripes may have evolved to keep zebras stay cool in the midday heat. Because of the zebras’ less efficient digestive ability, they have the need to forage for food at longer periods during the day. This makes it useful for them to have an additional cooling mechanism. The researchers who are from the University of California Los Angeles conducted a comprehensive study that showed how temperature is a critical factor that is most strongly linked to striping. They found that the warmer it is, the more stripes on the zebra. According to the research, the torso stripes help regulate body temperature and that heavily striped zebras have lower skin temperatures(3 degrees Celsius lower) than other non-striped mammals in the same area. However, not all scientists agree with this theory. A 2018 study published in the journal Scientific Reports stated that findings did not support that the stripes have a cooling effect. The team used water-filled metal barrels to test the heat regulation hypothesis and found that zebra-striped barrels did not present a significant difference in temperature than plain covered barrels. 2. To repel insects Another theory propose that the purpose of the zebra stripes is to repel disease-carrying flies. According to experiments, it has been shown that biting flies do not like landing on striped surfaces. A biologist at the University of California Davis, Tim Caro, supports this theory. He said that similar studies that his team conducted have shown that striping is linked to repelling biting flies. Caro added that these flies, like horseflies, can carry really nasty diseases such as equine influenza. 3. Camouflage This reason may seem strange especially for humans who see zebras as stand-out animals. But according to some naturalists, the stripes of zebras can potentially serve to confuse predators. The wavy lines of the stripes enable them to easily blend into their natural habitat like big blades of grass. This is because their main predators, lions, are known to be colour blind. This means that a striped coat with alternating colours may be more confusing than just a single block of colour.

There are various methods wildlife environmentalists employ to strengthen conservation efforts. No one way could single-handedly win the battle against illegal poaching in the same way there isn’t a single solution to climate change. One device that is used in wildlife conservation is the tracking collar. But what is a tracking collar? A tracking collar is a device attached to the neck or to the limb of an animal. It is primarily used to monitor animal location and gather data. There are different kinds of tracking collars: VHF collars that use radio signals, GPS collars, and now - high-tech smart collars. Tracking collars are very important because they provide valuable data to researchers and environmentalists. Collars are used to help track population size, habitat, hunting patterns, and other information that could provide a real glimpse on how animals live and survive in the wild. Knowing this information helps scientists understand how climate change is affecting wild animals helping to determine what steps need to be taken. By providing accurate location of the animals, collars can also help fight poaching, especially in observing animals that are endangered or are in vulnerable areas. How technology is changing tracking methods Tracking collars are not new inventions. For years, VHF and GPS collars have been used in aiding wildlife conservation efforts. But as technology evolves, newer devices are being developed that could detect and collect more sophisticated data. Before, tracking collars were limited to determining the location of the animals. Now, there are collars that could detect information such as animal behaviour, metabolism, range of movement, energy expenditure and the way animals adapt to the environment. These new breed of collars are somewhat similar to fitness trackers that humans wear and connect to their mobile phones to track calories burned, heart rate, steps taken, sleep patterns, etc. This level of detail is now being made available in animal tracking collars, but data collected is customized to suit the information required in wildlife research. One example of these high-tech devices is the SMART collar created by eco psychologist Terrie Williams, wildlife ecologist Christopher Wilmers and computer engineer Gabriel Elkaim. The collar the inventors developed was the first to measure energy expenditure on a terrestrial cat. The SMART collar records different data signatures that shows how fast a wild animal moves, how high it jumps, when it rests, walks, and eats, and how it kills its prey.This was considered a breakthrough that has dramatically improved research. But this technology is not limited to tracking collars alone. Now, tracking devices are becoming increasingly specialized in order to gather data specific to different species. Aside from collars for mammals, there are high-tech tracking devices for other animals like fish and birds. Technology has also shaped newer collars to be less bulky and to suit even smaller species. Camera traps are also a good piece of technology used all over Africa now for tracking and understanding animal movements. This photo of a leopard was taken last month by one of Africa Wild Trails’ partner camera traps and was surprising as we were not expecting to capture this image of a leopard. Sightings of leopard in the area are very rare and only the occasional print would be found. To note it's tracking collar on this camera trap image was surprising and efforts are now being made to establish where this leopard originated. As technology becomes more efficient, the use of tracking collars and other devices will become more effective in helping wildlife conservation.

Technology has enabled many conveniences that help us in our daily lives. One of these innovations that has many applications is drone technology. But do you know that drones could also be used to support wildlife conservation efforts? What is a Drone? A drone is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV. It is also referred to as an RPA or Remotely Piloted Aircraft, which means that it could be flown without any human pilot aboard the vehicle. In simple terms, it is an aircraft that could be controlled remotely. While drones were previously just associated with military use, they are now being used in different industries. Government organisations, private groups and even civilians now use drones for diverse purposes including traffic monitoring, weather monitoring, search and rescue, photography, videography, agriculture, delivery services and yes – wildlife conservation. Drones for Wildlife Conservation Use Drones are now being used in order to promote wildlife conservation. One of the more publicized efforts was when tech giant Google contributed $5 million US Dollars to the World Wildlife Fund in 2012 to purchase drones that could be used to monitor and catch wildlife poachers. This was also followed by another multi-million donation by the Howard G. Buffet Foundation to test new anti-poaching drone technology in South African National Parks. But how exactly do drones assist in these conservation efforts? Drones Could Be Used To Monitor Endangered Habitats Wildlife habitats are vast so unlike a bank or a museum building where you could install CCTV security cameras, it is impossible to effectively monitor such a huge area using ground cameras or people. Drones with cameras attached to them could be used to survey a much larger area and record footage in real time. For example, silent drones together with military-style computer analytics are now being used by the Air Shepherd Initiative to track down and intercept poachers by sending rangers before the poaching incident takes place. In South Africa, drones are equipped with thermal-imaging cameras to scan heat signatures of rhino poachers. Drones are also being used in Belize to monitor illegal fishing and in Indonesia to survey orangutan habitats. Drones Provide a Safer Way to Collect and Monitor Wildlife Data Intercepting poachers is not the only way to drive anti-poaching efforts. One of the first steps is to identify and determine areas where certain species could be found. By collecting this data, it becomes easier for conservationists to narrow down which areas to focus on and protect. Flying in traditional aircrafts used to be the typical way to do so, however, this is not a very safe practice. In fact, aircraft crashes account for 66% of deaths of people in the wildlife industry. This is because aircrafts flown low for environmental purposes results in a relatively high number of accidents. Drones are a much safer option and while they are seen as a cause of disturbance to animal life, they are much quieter than a small plane or a helicopter. Another advantage is that the drone’s small size makes it easier to access areas previously inaccessible by aircraft or by foot. Drones Are More Cost-Effective Than Traditional Aircrafts The lucrative poaching industry provides poachers with sophisticated equipment that hugely surpass the resources of conservationists. This is the reason why the use of more cost-efficient but equally effective conservation methods could really make a difference in combating poaching. Use of a traditional aircraft is undoubtedly expensive, plus it involves a trained pilot, more time, and more resources just for a single flight. If activities such as tracking and monitoring are replaced with drone technology, it could free up resources for the promotion and expansion of other efforts. Using Drones For The Better Drones are increasingly being used for conservation efforts and in 2018 Africa Wild Trails deployed drones sucessfully for the first time during our Nile crocodile and Cape giraffe field study projects in July and August. The footage and images gained enabled us to better complete our initial location work and subsequent census.