Water shaped every part of this six-night Botswana safari, from the abundance of the Okavango Delta to the raw, heat-driven landscape of the Mababe Depression. At Qorokwe and Mokete, I experienced two very different expressions of the same ecosystem, and a glimpse of what next year's dry conditions could mean for wildlife.

After nine migration seasons in the Maasai Mara, I find myself increasingly convinced that we have become too obsessed with the river crossings. This is a love letter to the wildebeest themselves, and to the extraordinary experience of standing amongst herds so vast they seem to swallow the landscape.

Gorongosa National Park is more than a remarkable conservation success story. After decades in the safari industry, I found myself questioning what safari has become, and discovering in Gorongosa a reminder of what it can still be: wild, uncertain, immersive and deeply meaningful.

Helping shape the next generation of professional safari guides through coaching, storytelling and immersive wildlife experiences. Discover The Ignite Collective and explore what makes a truly exceptional guide.

Modern guides are increasingly being asked to balance guest expectations with ethical decision-making. Every day, they face moments where the right decision may not be the popular one. Whether it is refusing to leave the road for a better photograph, moving away from a crowded sighting or choosing an animal's welfare over a guest's request, these decisions often go unseen and uncelebrated.

For three months, our family has been living in the wild hills of Jawai, where children grow up barefoot, surrounded by stories, community, and curiosity. This is a reflection on family, travel, and why the greatest classroom might just be the world itself.

Seven weeks in SUJÁN Jawai offered a powerful reminder of what long-term conservation can achieve. From leopard dens to returning Nilgai, this season revealed an extraordinary landscape in recovery.

As AI-generated animal videos flood our social media feeds, they’re doing more than entertain — they’re quietly reshaping how millions of people think wildlife behaves. In a world driven by clicks over truth, these digital illusions risk eroding the respect, understanding, and caution that real conservation depends on.

Join Adam Bannister in the Okavango Delta during one of its wettest, most vibrant seasons in decades. From packs of wild dogs in full pursuit to leopards hunting in the trees of Little Mombo, this journey reveals why Botswana remains one of Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations.

In April 2025, Adam Bannister led an intensive 5-day workshop with eight guides at Laikipia Wilderness Camp, tackling the immense pressure they face to deliver sightings of Giza