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The giraffe is one of the most breath-taking animals to ever walk planet Earth. Its graceful long neck, slender legs and distinctive spotted coat lend it a majestic presence. Being one of the more familiar large mammals, it is then quite surprising to hear that the giraffe population is now threatened. So, are giraffes considered an endangered species? Let’s look at the facts. Giraffes by the Numbers Less than 100,000 giraffes roam the wild. That number is 40% less than the 157,000 individuals back in 1985. The count back in 2015 was at 97,562 giraffes which was the clincher on why the International Union for the Conservation of Nature or IUCN had to place the tallest mammals in the world on the Vulnerable status. But what does this mean exactly? The IUCN produces a report on the status of animals called the Red List of Threatened Species Report. The report categorises animals from Least Concern status to Extinct status. The giraffes used to be at the Least Concern for extinction status but jumped to Vulnerable to extinction in July 2016 due to the observed dramatic decline in numbers in just over three generations. While not technically endangered yet, this vulnerable status is only one step away from being endangered. This means that if factors contributing to the species’ decline are not stopped, then giraffes could very well be extinct in the wild in just a number of years. In fact, giraffes are already considered extinct in some countries including Eritrea, Guinea, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal. Threats to Giraffes There are different factors that threaten the giraffe population in the wild. The two key threats include poaching and loss of habitat. While giraffe poaching does not make as much noise as rhino or elephant poaching, it is alarming how this illegal activity has become more rampant. Reports of giraffes being slaughtered for their tails have been published as the tails are considered a status symbol in some cultures. Another threat is the loss of habitat for these large mammals. This is often caused by the increasing encroachment of human communities into the giraffes’ habitats. Other factors like deforestation, land use conversion and increase in human population also contribute to this scenario. Conservation Efforts The decline in the number of giraffes was considered a silent extinction because historically, the familiar species were not given much attention in terms of conservation, until it was realized that giraffe numbers were already disturbingly low. After entering the vulnerable status, measures such as habitat management, community awareness, and protection through law enforcement were implemented. At Africa Wild Trails we recognise the importance of protecting these magnificent species. This is the reason why we have worked closely with Dr Peter Calverley from Zingela Safaris and launched a Giraffe Conservation Project which is a scientific field study that takes place in South Africa. Our project’s first step aims to investigate and gather information regarding population size of giraffe in the area, to create an identity kit for individual giraffe and note their annual movement patterns in order to determine the actions to take next. We have concluded our field study and research, and we are now opening our next Giraffe Conservation Project which will take place in July 2019. If you want to learn more about how to take part, email us for more information.

Thinking about taking the venture of a lifetime for you or your group, and traveling to southern Africa to go on a venture, field study or safari? Having trouble choosing a company to travel with? From catchy slogans to the use of photographs taken on previous trips - how do you tell which company to use? A good place to start is their testimonials and standards! At Africa Wild Trails, we let peoples' reviews and professional assessment speak for the experience you can expect to receive when you travel with us to southern Africa for a venture. Thinking about taking the venture of a lifetime for you or your group, and traveling to southern Africa to go on a tour, field study, course or safari? Having trouble choosing a company to travel with? From catchy slogans to the use of photographs taken on previous trips – how do you tell which company to use? A good place to start is their testimonials! At Africa Wild Trails, we let peoples’ reviews speak for the experience you can expect to receive when you travel with us to southern Africa for a tour, course, experience or field study. Here’s a selection of recent testimonials by Africa Wild Trails venture members: Extremely Well Organised ~ A.L. "My trip to South Africa with Africa Wild Trails will stay in my heart and soul forever. I had the pleasure of working with Angus on a trip with the amazing young people that I work with. This was an educational and experiential tri on so many levels not only for the young people but also myself, and I feel so privileged to have been a part of it. I had absolute confidence in Angus' leadership, especially with guiding of young people through the settings that saw them so far out of their comfort zones, both physically and mentally. The stand out part of the tour for me has to be watching our young people meeting the children at the Zulu School, where cultural and language barriers seemed to disappear in the pure enjoyment of the here and now and of meeting each other. The entire tour was extremely well facilitated and organised, and I hope I have the chance to work with Africa Wild Trails again in the future." Overwhelming Experience ~ S.K. "Going to South Africa was a life changing experience, and I'm not just saying that to fill up space; I went there unaware of what I was getting myself into and Left wanting more. Being out there welcomed me to a new world that I didn't know existed, one that I felt I belonged in. Being around the wildlife drew me closer to nature, somewhere I've always believed I should be, but never knew how to get there. Everything I did out there: tracking, hiking, paddling, all of it was phenomenal and only made me want to stay longer. I can't thank Angus and his team enough, and everyone out at the camps who made the experience unforgettable and who taught me things I can't get to learn in the big city." Left Wanting More ~ Y.R.M. "The summer of 2017, I got to experience the amazing culture of South Africa, on this trip I was able to learn about the way people are brought up and the way they live their lives. My favourite part of the trip was when we went to Ntokoza school. On Tuesday, the 8th of August, myself alongside 20+ cadets and adult volunteers set off on a hike up what seemed to me like a mountain! Our goal was to get to the plateau at the top where a school called Ntokoza awaited our arrival. After 3 hours of hard trekking, we arrived where the kids greeted us is the most fantastic way you could ever imagine. They sang a bunch of songs for us and it was an overwhelming experience to be a part of. Then came the serious part, two sports match happened a 5-5 football draw which was a fun thrilling game and also a netball game where the Cadets beat the African girls! Overall it was full of amazing experiences that will stick with me for the rest of my life." Inspirational Experiences ~ WS "Africa Wild Trails' offers a range of truly unique and inspirational experiences. My Daughter was lucky enough to go on one of them and found it to be a truly life-changing experience. Even now we like to look at the exiting trips on offer and hope to go on one together soon. I would highly recommend 'Africa Wild Trails' to anyone thinking of visiting Africa especially for the first time. The experienced and professional staff will soon have even the most nervous travellers soon feeling at ease." Attention to Details ~ K.L "I first met Angus in 2013. Since then we have worked together on my companies Invictus Programme for disadvantaged young adults in the UK and undertaken an 8000km rally in Southern Africa in aid of rural school children. Angus’ understanding of Southern Africa and South Africa in particular, is second to none. His attention to detail and logistics, health and safety, risk management and connections with the right people on the ground, ensure that travelling with Africa Wild Trails is an experience you will never forget and, one that will live with, and inside you, for many years. Angus’ patience, integrity, insight, and understanding of what they are going, and have been through, results in them connecting not only with the physical experience of spending time in Africa. Angus’ passion for conservation, people and education is an incredibly powerful combination, and one that can, and does, transform lives." Educational & Enlightening ~ G.D. "Since I left college, I've always had a dream of working with animals. Last summer I contacted Africa Wild Trails and met Angus the director of the organisation. The meeting was very professional and delivered the best experience up to date and the programme that was arranged for me exceeded my expectations. The people that I met, the places I have been and the things I have done have been amazing. The two months I spent in South Africa was hard work, amazing fun, educational and enlightening. I have done so many things I could never have dreamt of doing, seeing the Big 5 face to face on a Wilderness Trail, seeing so many birds I have never seen before such as a Hornbill, Tiger Fish fly fishing, kayaking on Tugela and Pongola rivers, mountain biking in the bush, hiking, snorkelling in the rivers and sleeping out in the wild under the stars, surrounded by Baboons, Lions, Rhinos, Buffalo, Elephants and more. Thank you to Angus Wingfield and the Wild Trails team."

The loss of 30% of the world’s Giraffe population in the last 30 years has resulted in the species being classified as ‘vulnerable’ on the ICUN Red List. During the next six months, Angus Wingfield (Venture Leader and Africa Wild Trails founder) will be touring the UK delivering free talks to students on Giraffe conservation field work in Africa.

Food is fuel, but is that all you need to achieve your tour or expedition goals... What else should be added to these factors that improve physical performance?

Knowing which boots you need to wear is completely dependent on terrain, duration of use and weather. Boot Fit Try boots on in the afternoon as your feet swell during the day’s activities. Must fit snuggly, without your heal rising when walking and your toes must not touch the end. Water Resistance Allowing water to enter your boots is a cause of blisters, so ensure you waterproof your boots and keep your feet dry. Boot Tongue This prevents sand, small stones and water from entering. The tongue must not be loose but stitched to the bottom and sides. Boot Weight Must be light enough to give you unhindered movement yet sturdy enough for the planned terrain, weather and duration. Boot Socks Wear worn in socks, not new socks when you try out your boots for fit and comfort. Go for synthetic over cotton which are less likely to give you blisters as cotton dries more slowly. Boots online It’s fine to buy online as companies use consistent sizes these days. Choose a company with a good returns policy, just in case. Coming soon: Breaking In Your Boots!

These days your backpack can quickly fill up with heavy items of bulky tech so you need to consider what tech you pack and what you don't. Like most travellers, you are likely to want to use your mobile phone on a venture or expeditions for keeping in touch and taking photos. Harnessing the energy of the sun is a great and green way to generate the power you need to keep your phone charged. This is one tech item to pack! The OLEBR portable solar charger gives maximum support in terms of re-charging when away from power source or outdoors and will charge 3 devices at a time. The LED flashlight feature makes it a great little addition to solve light needs in the dark environment. Big capacity: 24000mAh for outdoor use especially on camping trips and other similar occasions. 3 USB quick charging: 3 ports all of which can be used to charge simultaneously with 2A high-speed charging. Quick charging and suitable for almost all smartphones and tablets etc. Solar: 8% conversion, which offers enough juice for emergency use when outdoors. It is advised to charge fully, before outdoors activities. Small fans: Small USB fans included for cooling when it's hot and humid outside and you are without any other power source.