This blog was written by Theodore Sfiso Mathonsi, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student. Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience. There are moments in the bush that stay with you long after the dust settles, experiences that can never be taken from you. Moments that teach you about wildlife, but also about life itself. My first sighting of African wild dogs was one of those moments. We were out on an afternoon game drive,

Canine anti-poaching units are working dog teams used in conservation areas to support law enforcement and wildlife protection operations. They are deployed in anti-poaching, tracking, and detection roles to help rangers locate suspects, recover illegal items, and secure protected areas more efficiently than human teams alone. These units consist of a trained handler and a working dog. The most commonly used breeds include Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, and Bloodhounds.

On a late-summer morning in the lowveld, you might spot a patch of delicate white flowers curling along sandy paths, almost like a string of tiny stars. Stop and look closely – this is the common string-of-stars, Heliotropium steudneri, a modest but fascinating plant that often goes unnoticed! The common string-of-stars is a perennial herb or subshrub, usually 60–100 cm tall. It’s woody at the base, with softly hairy stems and narrow, alternate leaves. Its signature feature i

This blog was written by Benjamin Loon, a Bushwise Professional Safari Guide student . Each student takes a turn as camp manager, and writing a blog is part of the experience. All images accompanying this blog were captured by Benjamin. Cuckoo wasps are small, mostly solitary wasps best known for their bright metallic, iridescent body colours, which have earned many species the common name “jewel wasps”. However, the more widespread name “cuckoo wasp” comes from their unique