Latest news with #KalahariDesert
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Why You Should Go to This African Country for Your Next Safari—According to a Top Travel Advisor
My first safari in Botswana changed everything for me. I still remember gliding through the Okavango Delta in a mokoro (a traditional canoe) at sunrise: the hush of water, the call of a distant fish eagle, and the feeling that I was part of something ancient. That sense of awe became the foundation for my career as a travel advisor and my company, Tribù Travel. To this day, Botswana remains my touchstone for what a truly transformative safari can be. The Okavango Delta is pure magic—an UNESCO-listed wetland where the Kalahari Desert's thirst is quenched by seasonal floods. There, game drives reveal elephants wading through papyrus channels, leopards draped over fig branches, and a dazzling array of birdlife. There are a variety of ways to explore it, including: Mokoros, traditional dugout canoes steered by expert polers, offer a gentle, immersive encounter with the Delta's rhythms. Motorboat safaris and catch-and-release fishing add a dose of adventure in deeper waters. Guided bush walks invite you to track spoor (animal footprints), learn about medicinal plants, and see the bush from a new perspective. For extra'wow' factor, take a helicopter over the floodplains or visit Tsodilo Hills, a spiritual and cultural highlight home to over 4,000 ancient indigenous San rock paintings. Contrast the Delta's lushness with the otherworldly Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, where the horizon stretches in all directions like a white mirage. Here, you can: Quad bike across the pans to the Lost Island of Baobabs. Sleep out under a canopy of stars. Witness the annual zebra migration, Africa's second-largest, as thousands of zebra and wildebeest traverse the pans. Walk with Botswana's indigenous San people and learn ancestral skills: tracking, fire-making, and storytelling that connect you to the land's oldest rhythms. Visit habituated meerkat colonies for up-close encounters that feel straight out of a nature documentary. Botswana's safaris are more than sightings—they're about connection and contribution. Conservation-focused outfitters like Natural Selection Travel and Great Plains Conservation invite guests to: Learn about human-wildlife coexistence from local farmers and conservation experts. Join predator researchers in tracking wild dogs or lions. Support initiatives like African Bush Camps Foundation's Female Guides Program, which empowers women to become safari guides through mentorship and field training, helping shape a more inclusive future for the industry. Botswana's diversity—flooded delta, arid salt pans, teeming wildlife—mirrors the richness of its safari experiences. Whether floating past a kingfisher in the Delta or sharing a fireside tale with a San elder in the Kalahari, you're not just an observer here: you're a participant, a steward, and a storyteller. For travelers seeking a safari that is as meaningful as it is breathtaking, Botswana delivers in ways that linger long after you've returned home. Marni Granston is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in Kenya and Botswana trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Granston by contacting her at marni@ Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
14-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Why You Should Go to This African Country for Your Next Safari—According to a Top Travel Advisor
My first safari in Botswana changed everything for me. I still remember gliding through the Okavango Delta in a mokoro (a traditional canoe) at sunrise: the hush of water, the call of a distant fish eagle, and the feeling that I was part of something ancient. That sense of awe became the foundation for my career as a travel advisor and my company, Tribù Travel. To this day, Botswana remains my touchstone for what a truly transformative safari can be. Botswana's Okavango Delta, seen from a helicopter. Lost Horizon Images/The Okavango Delta is pure magic—an UNESCO-listed wetland where the Kalahari Desert's thirst is quenched by seasonal floods. There, game drives reveal elephants wading through papyrus channels, leopards draped over fig branches, and a dazzling array of birdlife. There are a variety of ways to explore it, including: Mokoros, traditional dugout canoes steered by expert polers, offer a gentle, immersive encounter with the Delta's rhythms. Motorboat safaris and catch-and-release fishing add a dose of adventure in deeper waters. Guided bush walks invite you to track spoor (animal footprints), learn about medicinal plants, and see the bush from a new perspective. For extra'wow' factor, take a helicopter over the floodplains or visit Tsodilo Hills, a spiritual and cultural highlight home to over 4,000 ancient indigenous San rock paintings. A lone baobab tree in the Makgadikgadi Pan. 2630ben/iStockphoto/Getty Images Contrast the Delta's lushness with the otherworldly Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, where the horizon stretches in all directions like a white mirage. Here, you can: Quad bike across the pans to the Lost Island of Baobabs. Sleep out under a canopy of stars. Witness the annual zebra migration, Africa's second-largest, as thousands of zebra and wildebeest traverse the pans. Walk with Botswana's indigenous San people and learn ancestral skills: tracking, fire-making, and storytelling that connect you to the land's oldest rhythms. Visit habituated meerkat colonies for up-close encounters that feel straight out of a nature documentary. Canoeing at the Great Plains Okavango Explorers Camp. Great Plains Conservation Botswana's safaris are more than sightings—they're about connection and contribution. Conservation-focused outfitters like Natural Selection Travel and Great Plains Conservation invite guests to: Learn about human-wildlife coexistence from local farmers and conservation experts. Join predator researchers in tracking wild dogs or lions. Support initiatives like African Bush Camps Foundation's Female Guides Program, which empowers women to become safari guides through mentorship and field training, helping shape a more inclusive future for the industry. Botswana's diversity—flooded delta, arid salt pans, teeming wildlife—mirrors the richness of its safari experiences. Whether floating past a kingfisher in the Delta or sharing a fireside tale with a San elder in the Kalahari, you're not just an observer here: you're a participant, a steward, and a storyteller. For travelers seeking a safari that is as meaningful as it is breathtaking, Botswana delivers in ways that linger long after you've returned home. Marni Granston is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in Kenya and Botswana trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Granston by contacting her at [email protected] .
Mail & Guardian
05-07-2025
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
Sparrow-weaver nests help shape bird biodiversity in the southern Kalahari
Photo by Lesedi Moagi Conducting fieldwork under the blistering 40°C heat of the southern Kalahari, 'Some mornings, by 7.30am, it was already over 20°C,' recalled Moagi, a master's student at the University of Cape Town. 'And the birds were already becoming less active. They have to split their daily activities depending on the temperature.' Moagi's research focused on understanding how the 'We already knew that birds like scaly-feathered weavers, ashy tits and the Acacia pied barbet were roosting in these nests,' she said, noting this behaviour hadn't been studied in detail. The inspiration for the research came from another desert species — the sociable weaver — whose apartment-block-like communal nests are used by a variety of species. That research is well-established, Moagi said. 'With white-browed sparrow-weavers, their nests are also being used by other bird species but this has not been studied deeply and it hasn't been understood as well. That's how the idea came about — that it would be cool to actually try to understand the value that these nests hold in the ecosystem.' (Photo by Azraa Ebrahim) To assess the effect of the sparrow-weaver's nest structures, she observed both naturally occurring nests and those that had fallen in the wind, which she relocated to trees without nests. She then compared bird abundance and species diversity in areas with and without nests. 'We wanted to see if they also affect the overall avian community in the Kalahari to see in an area with more of these nests,' she said. 'We wanted to measure the avian abundance and the number of species that are actually hanging around these nests. We saw their numbers increasing.' Her findings position the sparrow-weavers as ecosystem engineers — species that modify the environment in ways that benefit other organisms. But the sparrow-weaver population itself may be under threat. Once common across the Kalahari, Moagi said fewer sparrow-weavers could mean fewer shelters, which might force other species to expend more energy building their own, or even struggle to survive. 'The physical changes the sparrow-weavers make influence the distribution of the animals. If we have less of these sparrow-weavers, it might affect the number of the species that are using these structures; it might influence their distribution and their movement.' (Photo by Sthabile Khumalo) The ability to find safe, insulated shelter is critical for survival in the harsh Kalahari environment. 'The Kalahari is so hot. Birds can't finish building a nest in a single day because it gets so hot and they need to conserve their energy.' Moagi also placed temperature loggers inside and outside the nests to measure their insulation. The results showed that the nests provided a consistent buffer against extreme temperatures — up to a 4°C difference compared to the surrounding air. In the Kalahari, that kind of thermal stability is crucial. With She suggested practical interventions including providing water points and shaded areas in key nesting zones and preserving grasses used in nest-building.
Travel Daily News
18-06-2025
- Travel Daily News
Botswana voted Africa's Best Safari Country 2025
This year's research analyzed over 3,100 reviews – 1,763 user reviews gathered by between January 1, 2024 and April 9, 2025 and 1,342 reviews written by 26 reputable guidebook authors who work for a variety of publishers including Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer's, Bradt Guides and Footprint. Despite fierce competition among African nations renowned for offering unique wildlife encounters, Botswana emerged as the clear frontrunner. The country's appeal lies in its dramatic natural contrasts – from the arid expanses of the Kalahari Desert to the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's premier wildlife habitats. Botswana's safari experience is deeply rooted in conservation. Its low-impact, high-quality tourism model emphasizes sustainability, which continues to resonate with both first-time and repeat visitors. Notable highlights include opportunities to spot the elusive African wild dog, guided canoe trips through the delta's winding channels, and ancient San rock art sites that add a cultural dimension to nature-based exploration. The comprehensive nature of the survey, combining insights from tourists and seasoned safari experts, reinforces Botswana's standing as a leader in delivering high-caliber, responsible safari experiences on the continent. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for specialized safari tours in Africa. More than 1,500 specialized safari operators from around the world offer their safari tours on the SafariBookings platform. Every year more than 4 million people visit to find their perfect safari.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's 77-Year-Old Mom Says 'I Have To Sleep In The Garage' And On Floor Blankets When Visiting Her Son — Richest Man In The World: 'We Adapt'
Elon Musk is worth over $380 billion, yet when his 77-year-old mother, Maye Musk, comes to visit, she doesn't get a penthouse suite or even a plush guest room. Nope — she sleeps on blankets, couches, or a mattress in his garage. And she's perfectly fine with it. "You can't have a fancy house near a rocket site," Maye explained in a 2022 interview with The Times of London, referencing SpaceX's Starbase launch facility in Texas. "I have to sleep in the garage." Don't Miss: Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — She's not exaggerating. In fact, Maye's made light of the situation multiple times. In an X post the same year, she shared: "Many memories of sleeping on mattresses or blankets on the floor, on couches, or a bed in the garage. This happens to @kimbal @ToscaMusk and me. We adapt. It's still better than sleeping on the ground in the Kalahari Desert with lions or hyenas nearby, which I did as a child."That "we adapt" motto seems to be a Musk family tradition. It's not just Maye. Elon himself has slept in less-than-glamorous spots. Speaking at the 2022 Baron Investment Conference, he recalled sleeping on a factory floor in California and Nevada for three years. "It was damn uncomfortable," he admitted. Trending: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. This all fits Musk's minimalist streak. In 2020, he vowed to sell "almost all physical possessions" and declared, "Will own no house," citing freedom as the goal. He followed through, offloading multiple California mansions. But despite publicly swearing off homeownership, Musk reportedly upgraded to a $6 million, six-bedroom mansion in West Lake Hills, Texas, in 2022 — the same year his mom said she was sleeping in the garage, according to The New York Times. A 16-foot chain-link fence around the property quickly tipped off neighbors that this wasn't just any new arrival. So, yes, while Musk officially claimed to own only a $50,000, two-bedroom tiny home near the launch site, reports suggest he may have had some real estate back in rotation. Whether that house was close enough to the rocket site for Maye's comfort is up for skeptics on X asked Musk in 2023 about persistent rumors of his father's supposed connection to an emerald mine, Elon shot back, "I'd just like to see a picture of this mine. Like, where is it exactly!?" Maye chimed in shortly after, writing, "Me too! And why did we sleep in one-bedroom apartments and on the floor?" effectively shutting down the long-running myth. Whether it's a garage floor, a couch, or the occasional $6 million mansion, the Musk family seems more focused on adaptability than luxury. Read Next:Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year — Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Elon Musk's 77-Year-Old Mom Says 'I Have To Sleep In The Garage' And On Floor Blankets When Visiting Her Son — Richest Man In The World: 'We Adapt' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
