The steep ravine of Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania lies behind me. Ahead are the plains of the Serengeti, grasses reaching toward the far horizon in a wavering line that finally bends into the curvature of the Earth. It is June, and the Serengeti’s “long rains” have just ended. The air is washed clean by the storms…
In September 2013, we embarked on our most challenging crossing of the Okavango Delta… The research data set we achieved over 15 days and 338km using a bespoke Android App was the most comprehensive ever and was shared in real-time via an open API and up-to-date satellite image. This 10-minute video documents an impossible expedition across dry,…
UNESCO World Heritage Listing for the Okavango Delta would be a massive achievement for Botswana, as well as all the NGOs and individuals that have invested their time in this initiative over the last decade. Most importantly, declaration will highlight the importance of preserving the vast Angolan catchment in its current state, celebrating the Kavango…
The Okavango Delta is Africa’s last-remaining wetland wilderness. From the air this a vast patchwork mosaic of open floodplains, simmering lagoons, never-ending reed beds, waving impenetrable papyrus, meandering channels, and thousands upon thousands of green, palmed islands and tree-lines seem to go on forever. An emerald gem in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. Visible…
A few months ago we brought you the latest explanation of Africa’s mysterious “fairy circles”—circular patterns in the earth that appear across the grasslands of southern Africa and which have intrigued and baffled scientists, earning their rather ethereal name. The newest findings at the time suggested the fantastical formations were the result of termites eating…
Every week, embark with host Boyd Matson on an exploration of the latest discoveries and interviews with some of the most fascinating people on the planet, on National Geographic Weekend. Please check listings near you to find the best way to listen to National Geographic Weekend! HOUR 1 Most people who see a dog misbehave see a poorly trained…