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A species in a downward spiral. Not cute or cuddly, but vultures play a crucial role as nature's clean-up crew. In this episode, Dr. Gareth Tate, the Birds of Prey Program Manager for the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), chats with Ben Nichol (Conservation Impact Lead for Singita Lowveld Trust) (SLT) about vulture conservation. They discuss their role in ecosystems, the threats they face, and what's driving the alarming decline.
Fast facts:
• There are 23 species of vultures worldwide; 11 migrate through Africa.
• Vultures can clean up an impala carcass (40kg) in just 10 minutes.
• India's vulture population plummeted by 98%.
• In SA, white-backed vultures have declined by 95% in 20 years.
• A single poisoning event can wipe out 50-100 vultures, along with hyenas, jackals, and lions.
• Several species are heading towards extinction and are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered globally.
We spell out the African vulture crisis – the major impact of poisoning (and secondary poisoning); habitat loss; collisions with power lines; and illegal poaching for belief-based medicine. It's not all doom-and-gloom, as Gareth sees real hope for the future.
Hear about EWT's amazing conservation efforts - "vulture safe zones"; rapid response to poisoning; tracking technology (over 400 birds across huge ranges); and a new 'Vulture Ambulance' in the Greater Kruger Park, with an almost 100% success rate with rescued birds.
Every donation funds field staff, poisoning response, rehabilitation, the Raptor Emergency Fund, and tracking satellites. The SLT supports the EWT Large Raptor and Wildlife Poisoning Rapid Response programs. Singita Guides assist with rapid response to poisoning. SLT aims to offer secure habitats, contributing to the Vulture Safe Zone Alliance. www.ewt.org.za EWT Saving a Species: Vultures · Singita Lowveld Trust · Donate to the Singita Lowveld Trust · Saving a Species of Concern · Wildlife reports from Singita Sabi Sand · Vulture Day - Home · Singita website -
Linky Nkuna was born and raised in Justicia, near Singita Sabi Sand, and started her career in education. She is now the Programme Manager for Singita Lowveld Trust’s (SLT) community programmes. Today we are zooming in on one of the SLT’s programmes, Early Childhood Development (ECD), and the 17 centres it supports in communities surrounding Singita’s lodges in South Africa. Linky chats to Elsa Pallett (Marketing Manager for SLT) about the superstar, Frank Makwakwa, and the Practitioners who are driven by their love for children, and all the ways that the SLT adds value for 1,700 children and 70+ Practitioners.
Linky believes the foundations of a child’s education is between the ages 0-5 years old. As if it’s a house, the ECD centres are starting at the foundation. She wants to give back in a more meaningful manner and play her part in getting young kids ready for school and for long-term outcomes in life.
The first thousand days of a child's development are crucial. Did you know that children absorb 85% of their information in these first 1,000 days?
To sum it up, SLT has focussed on resourcing classrooms of the 17 centres (from 0-5 years old) for years. This is complete with tables, chairs, book corners, books in Shangan, board games, puzzles, and musical instruments. They have started a 'Train the Trainer' program where Frank, a former teacher, visits each ECD centre daily to train the Practitioners, driven by his passion for the program.
What’s next? SLT is about to start a Parental Caregiver program.
We can’t do this alone, collaboration is crucial. SLT works with different funds & trusts in these rural communities such as the Department of Education and the Institute of Early Childhood Development, & Africa Foundation, & the Community Works Program under the Bushbuck Ridge municipality.
SLT worked with ECD specialists who advised on the best resources.
The stories are truly inspiring, like the blind girl’s graduation at the ECD. It's incredible to witness the transformation.
Today’s parents are young girls who carry their babies along with their school bag, walking to school. Hence the need for the UNICEF Parental Caregiver program.
If this conversation interests you and you're visiting Singita’s lodges in South Africa, we’d love to host you on a community visit where you can see these ECD centres and the impact on young minds. The Singita Lowveld Trust (Singita's conservation partner in SA) · Singita Lowveld Trust Early Childhood Development programme · Singita Early Childhood Development · Donate to the ECD programme. 500 USD shared music equipment per centre and 6,300 USD would resource the classrooms at one of the ECD centres · Africa Foundation · Singita website -
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A pangolin is poached from the wild every five minutes. It's reached a tipping point and if we don’t act now, they could disappear in our lifetime. So little is known about this enchanting, solitary mammal covered in scales, yet they’ve quickly become the world’s most trafficked mammal.
The IUCN lists the four Asian species as critically endangered, while the four African species, endangered. All face extinction because of the illegal trade – poached for their scales for Asian medicine; or bush meat in Africa; or a delicacy in Asia. Electrocution (fences) and habitat loss also contribute to the decline.
Not many people have seen a pangolin in the wild (let alone spent 365 days with one, like our guest has).
Singita Sabi Sand Field Guide, Lucy Stofberg, chats to Donald Davis (Programme Coordinator at Pangolin.Africa) about a species in crisis. What makes pangolins special, why they're facing extinction, and how we can help? Donald's work is crucial. From rehabilitating pangolins in their natural habitat, to a swift return to the wild. He also deals with pangolins rescued from poachers. The NGO is working to create a pangolin-safe fence, and runs a telephone alert system (Pangolert).
Singita, and other ecotourism operators, have teamed up with Pangolin.Africa to make the 15-minute Pangolin Guardian course available to any staff. Whether you’re a blogger, lodge owner, ranger, teacher, or CEO there are many ways you can get involved. Educating young children is key to saving pangolins.
When you donate you help rescue and rehab efforts, ensuring that pangolins are treated, and released. That’s what “teaming up to save a species’’ means.
https://www.pangolin.africa/donate
Lucy and Donald share stories of their memorable sightings from South Africa to the Congo Basin. Tune in to this fascinating discussion about pangolin conservation. About Pangolin.Africa and its work · Become a Pangolin Guardian (15-minute course suitable for all ages) · Singita Sabi Sand · Watch Eye of the Pangolin Film. This groundbreaking documentary follows two men on a mission to capture the four species of African pangolins on camera. Fall in love with Pangolin. · Help track sightings of pangolins in the wild or report crime. Pangolert Hotline +27(0)72 726 4654 · See the new Singita Ebony · Wildlife reports from Singita Sabi Sand · Singita website -
Get ready to be inspired! In this episode, we're joined by two amazing women from the Grumeti Fund (GF), Singita's conservation partner in Tanzania, Skyler Nuelle (Head - Partnerships & Impact Analysis) and Frida Mollel (Head of Community Outreach Programme).
Frida shares her inspirational story of overcoming cultural barriers to get an education in her Maasai community. Now she's paying it forward, leading programs to transform girls' lives through education in communities surrounding Singita Grumeti, in the western Serengeti.
We're diving into the tough challenges girls here face - from poverty and gender biases favouring boys', to early pregnancy and a lack of mentors. Frida chats about the Grumeti Fund's scholarship program (a game-changer) keeping many more girls in classrooms. They lead empowerment sessions for girls and boys – programs that are completely transforming gender equality in the next generation. The Grumeti Fund also invests in teacher training to improve education.
You'll hear about the epic annual Serengeti Girls Run, where women run through the wilderness to show solidarity and raise funds for women's empowerment.
Join us for an inspiring look at creating change. From Frida's calm grace, to the innovative programs creating opportunities for countless girls in rural Tanzania. This is the power of ecotourism. Follow the Grumeti Fund on Instagram · Read about the GF's community projects in Tanzania supported by Singita · About the Serengeti Girls Run · To support women's empowerment projects, guests can donate here · Singita website -
We meet two dynamic women in senior management at Singita Grumeti, Tanzania. Bronwyn Laing (GM at Singita Serengeti) chats to Joyce Moikangoe (Lodge Manager at Singita Sasakwa Lodge) about female leadership and how they lift others as they climb.
Joyce was born in Tanzania, studied in South Africa, then returned home to give back and be a part of something bigger. She joined Singita ten years ago and became the first Tanzanian female lodge manager. Bronwyn started in pharmaceuticals but fell in love with East Africa on a trip. She also studied rhino conservation and a three-month contract turned into six years and a home-from-home.
Tanzania is led by a female president, and the younger girls at Singita believe they can run the world! The narrative here is changing with female leaders everywhere. Here, Singita now employs 220 women in hospitality, 50/50 split of men and women in management. With the right attitude and hard work, staff can progress, and they take great joy in all promotions.
Hear inspiring stories. Like Joyce helping a banakeli (waitress) get a passport so she can start traveling the world. Hear Gekuli's story - from a scholarship recipient to a senior manager, or Dorine - the first Tanzanian yoga instructor. Both managers demonstrate a graceful, humble leadership style true to the Singita family values. They feel a responsibility to set an example, showing women new possibilities. They touch on the importance of work-life balance, and the sense of family and purpose that is at the heart of Singita’s culture. Given the demands of a 24/7 role, self-care practices like yoga, and CrossFit classes with the anti-poaching team help them recharge.
They feel it's a privilege to work in such a setting and don't forget it for a second. From a wasteland 20 years ago, to one of the greatest conservation success stories, thanks to the work of the Grumeti Fund. They are based at Singita Sasakwa Lodge · Grumeti Fund · Conservation at Singita Serengeti · Grumeti region · Lamai region · Dorine Khambi's journey · Singita Sasakwa Lodge · Singita website -
Ever wonder how Singita transforms Tanzanian nature lovers into the polished, knowledgeable guides leading their exceptional game drives?
Ross Couper (Singita's resident photographer and former guide), sits down with Grant Telfer, the (Head of Singita's Guide Training in Tanzania), to get the recipe. From a Singita field guide in South Africa, Grant’s compass pointed him north to become a lodge manager in Grumeti in 2013. A 6-month stint helping out with guide training led to a 10-year career managing guide training.
When Singita puts out a call for new recruits, they're flooded with hundreds of eager applicants. But it takes more than knowledge to make the cut - Singita's looking for natural communicators with a passion for the wilderness. These lucky locals then embark on an 18-month training programme covering tracking, driving, interpretation and communication.
The result? A team of phenomenal, confident guides who bring the Serengeti to life in a way that enchants Singita's guests - whether it's their first safari or the twentieth. Grant, who's developed over 150 guides in his 10 years, is clearly passionate about providing life-changing opportunities and creating the best guided experiences possible.
Ross and Grant also share their most memorable sightings in this incredible 350,000-acre reserve (protected by the NGO, Grumeti Fund) from dazzling herds of zebra to mongoose ambushing cheetah.
Looks like Singita knows how to spot safari superstars, along with lions, leopards, and Mara River crossings!
Tune in to this fascinating conversation about ranger training. Read more Wildlife Reports from Singita Grumeti · Read more: Bernard Hosea's 20 years as a guide · Singita Grumeti region · Singita Conservation brochure - Tanzania · The Great Migration · Singita website -
In the Western corridor of the Serengeti lies a 350,000-acre game reserve that’s been protected by NGO, the Grumeti Fund, for the last 20 years in partnership with the Tanzanian government, creating opportunities for communities too. (It’s also Singita’s amazing conservation partner in Tanzania.)
The landscape was devoid of wildlife when they started to restore it in 2003, with a small team of ex-poachers. It took ten years for the wildlife to bounce back. Now with a team of 165, the challenges are real – climate change, integrity of the landscape, biodiversity loss – and they take the responsibility seriously.
In this episode, Matt Perry, one of the GMs of the Grumeti Fund, talks to our content creator, Ross Couper, about the various ways they conserve the area, anti-poaching efforts, community projects, and strengthening the ecosystem.
20 years ago, you couldn’t imagine a free-roaming population of black rhino within Grumeti. A few years ago, the team (in partnership with the Tanzanian Government) completed a historic black rhino reintroduction - plus a few births. This is a success story for a critically endangered species - the eastern black rhino. The Grumeti Fund can now prove that zoo stock can be used to produce wild Serengeti black rhino.
You’ll also hear about Eric the rhino, whose long and inspiring journey took him from San Diego Zoo to the grasslands of the Serengeti.
The Grumeti Fund embraces technologies like AI and constant research to enhance efficiencies. The canine anti-poaching unit is another success. The team is tackling aggressive alien invasive plants – a very real threat to wildlife and the agriculture of the neighbouring communities. Matt is looking forward to what the future holds in terms of technological innovation.
Matt and Ross discuss the future of conservation, the vision, the data, and the need to meet human-wildlife conflict and partnering with our communities. Matt believes there aren’t any key species missing from this iconic landscape, as they’ve reached ecological integrity in a short time.
Funds are derived from donations from Singita guests, NGOs, and philanthropists seeking to make a difference in Africa. The Grumeti Fund · Projects of the Grumeti Fund in Tanzania · The Grumeti Fund's Community Projects · Download the regional conservation brochure · Donate to the Grumeti Fund · Rhino relocation 2019 · First Eastern Black Rhino born in Western Serengeti, 2020 · Singita website -
Today, we're taking a trip back to where it all began – Singita Ebony, nestled in the shade of giant trees along the Sand River, in Sabi Sand. It's not just a lodge; it's the beginning of our 30-year journey and a beacon of our 100-year purpose, filled with memories for many people.
Under ancient Ebony trees, the Bailes family brought their dream of preserving wilderness areas to life and established the first commercial lodge in 1993. This planted the seed of what is today 16 award-winning lodges - a collection that represents the best of ecotourism and conservation. A sense of purpose and history is tangible in the spaces at Ebony Lodge.
Ironically, Ebony is undergoing an exciting transformation on our 30th anniversary.
In this lively episode, Georgie Pennington (Singita’s Group Creative Direction) chats with our friend Megan Hesse (Partner & Interior Designer of HK Studio handling interior architecture). They discuss working on the Ebony project together, one which everyone (the staff especially) is very protective of. It was a gentle and respectful process to nudge it forward into modern times. Design-wise, it was important for Ebony to still feel like Ebony and pay homage to history but evolve with modern materials and design – a beautiful balancing act of old and new.
Hear about the new, interactive Conservation Room at the heart of the main area – just like conservation is at the core of everything Singita does. This is a space to extend the game drive. The wine cellar has been moved and the new space is full of narrative, detail, and warmth. Behind every item, there is a story of sourcing locally from African crafters and artisans because our local talent is as strong as anywhere in the world.
Megan and Georgie also worked their magic on Singita Kwitonda Lodge in Rwanda, and at our newest exclusive-use villa in the Serengeti, Singita Milele, where every piece of art or furniture is sourced from Africa.
Join us to hear stories from two dynamic designers who love what they do.
Ebony reopens in April 2024. Singita Ebony Lodge - a return to nature - where the story began · HesseKleinloog - interior architects, designers, and stylists · Singita Ebony Lodge accommodation · Moments of connection and reflection at Ebony · Conservation efforts from Singita Sabi Sand - The Singita Lowveld Trust · Cecile & Boyd · GAAP Architects & Urban Designers · Singita website -
In this episode, we meet Singita’s Head Chef at Singita Volcanoes National Park, in Rwanda. Vanie Padayachee chats to Sharon Machira, a journalist, content creator and Podcaster in Kenya, about a previous visit to spill the beans (and the gooseberries) about the on-site nursery called ‘Akarabo’ (meaning Little Flower) and the food philosophy here.
In an entertaining conversation, they unveil the plant-based menu with ingredients plucked from the lodge garden or sourced from female farmers, and what she does with tree tomatoes. Delicious raspberries, lettuce, green beans, rainbow carrots, and herbs are harvested from the Akarabo garden.
Rwanda’s volcanic soil is so fertile! The team built two mushroom huts which have yielded 1,000kg of oyster mushrooms over time! Other plentiful, year-round local ingredients are passion fruit, strawberries, dodo (spinach), and sugar cane which Vanie turned into cordial and ice cream. She didn’t stop there. She also created a tree tomato jam, which apparently can make you cry.
Sharon takes us down memory lane to the Singita Community Culinary School (SCCS) in Musanze, where she met the students and taught them a TikTok dance challenge! They’ve all become chefs. One student travelled to Cape Town for an internship with Chef Liam Tomlin at Chef’s Warehouse. In SCCS’s third year, applications from the immediate community grew from 100 (in the first year) to 400. This education changes the trajectory of their lives.
They discuss ingredients and sustainability in the kitchen. Vanie explains what activities are available to guests in the nursery – such as yoga, a pottery studio, picking your own ingredients, a running track, visiting the seamstress, or planting a tree.
Guests graze often, just like the buffalo, Golden Monkeys, and Mountain Gorillas. Vanie says we should eat simply, and let the ingredients become the storytellers! The Singita Community Culinary School in Rwanda · Local and Sustainable Food · On-site Akarabo Nursery at Singita Kwitonda Lodge · Explore Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House · Singita website -
We meet two of Singita’s dynamic head chefs based at lodges in Tanzania and Rwanda. While the local ingredients and menus are entirely different, they have a lot in common.
Mia Neethling, Singita’s Executive Chef in Tanzania, and Vanie Padayachee, Head Chef In Rwanda, chat with two lodge managers in Tanzania about the food served at Singita Grumeti (Tanzania) and Singita Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda). Mia and Vanie head up the teams producing exceptional and sustainable food at these award-winning lodges. Irene Diu and Betty Mollel are both lodge managers in Tanzania where they witness the impact our food has on guests every day.
In a lively and entertaining conversation, they discuss how common plant-based menus are, sourcing new ingredients from local female farmers, harvesting fresh produce in the kitchen gardens, and what it’s like to inspire a new era of chefs through the Singita Community Culinary School in each region. They also explore how Singita’s food has evolved over thirty years, in a rhythm that is true to our brand.
The chefs discuss what it takes to produce exceptional food in remote areas, with limited, seasonal ingredients. It takes passion, agility, creativity, innovation, and thinking on your feet. Learn what Vanie does with the 185kg of mushrooms she harvests at Akarabo Nursery! We learn how sustainability is deeply ingrained in all kitchen staff and what this entails, for example, sending all food waste to the local pig farmer (in Rwanda) to make compost.
In this episode, Mia, Vanie, Irene, and Betty also talk about traditional dishes and food trends and tell some hilarious stories along the way. Singita Community Culinary School partners with Prue Leith Culinary Institute · The Singita Community Culinary School Kwitonda · The Singita Community Culinary School Serengeti · Sustainability at Singita · Local and Sustainable Food · On-site Akarabo Nursery at Singita Kwitonda Lodge · Explore all lodges mentioned in this episode -
Conservation success stories from the Ecologist of 27 years.
Singita Photographer and former guide, Ross Couper, chats to Sarah Clegg, Ecologist at Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in Zimbabwe, where Singita has two lodges: Singita Pamushana & Malilangwe House. The Malilangwe Trust is our conservation partner in Zimbabwe, responsible for far-reaching community and biodiversity projects.
Sarah was the first ecologist at the Malilangwe Trust in 1996 and is responsible for establishing the monitoring systems still in use today. The focus is mainly on black and white rhino populations. They discuss conservation success stories from this Reserve - 130,000 acres of protected wilderness – and how it has evolved over thirty years.
As custodians of the reserve, the Malilangwe Trust manages the conservation of 38 habitats. Black and white rhinos were introduced in 1998, it is now a source for translocations elsewhere in Africa. The Trust developed a blueprint for harmony between conservation and community development in neighbouring villages and ensured a sanctuary for wildlife. https://singita.com/conservation/malilangwe
https://www.facebook.com/themalilangwetrust
Sarah joined the Malilangwe Trust as a MSc student studying the effects of perennial water on the vegetation, and wild herbivores. From 2007 to 2020 she worked as a consulting ecologist, where she focused on rhino monitoring, sustainability, and environmental education for children. She is busy with a Ph.D. in the ecology of black rhino but continues to monitor Malilangwe’s rhino, contributing to rhino management and interventions.
In this episode, Ross and Sarah also talk about restocking the reserve; anti-poaching scouts; rhino relocations; community partnership programmes; and the delicate balancing act in this thriving ecosystem. A fascinating conversation with an ecologist with over 27 years of research and success from one reserve. The work of The Malilangwe Trust in this 130,000 acre reserve in Zimbabwe · Discover the hospitality and ecotourism sode at Singita Pamushana Lodge · Our host and Singita Resident Photographer, Ross Couper · Follow The Malilangwe Trust on Facebook · Singita website -
Design and creativity form part of Singita’s DNA. Showcasing the creative talent found in Africa is one of the ways we celebrate the culture and heritage of this continent. Over the last 30 years, Singita has been creating pioneering hospitality experiences, and design has formed a large part of our visible identity. Singita has worked with the same design team for three decades, Cécile & Boyd.
In this episode, host and creative icon, Maps Maponyane, speaks to Geordi da Sousa Costa (co-founder of Cécile & Boyd) and Group Creative Direction at Singita, Georgie Pennington.
In this fascinating and lively conversation, they discuss where the inspiration comes from and how design has evolved naturally at Singita over 30 years, whether that’s new builds or redesigns, and showing off the dynamic creative talent in Africa.
For 12 years, Georgie has been responsible for every detail of the guest experience and delves into what goes into every item that a guest is going to use, which considers all the senses. How's it going to feel? What's the texture going to be? What’s the music or the sound? Or the lack of sound? How does that all fit together? How do we make you feel rested?
The design is always intuitive, considered with an aversion to waste. They discuss how to design with sustainability in mind, or to repurpose and how you open a lodge in Tanzania during a global shutdown.
The African art and design scene is the hero, and both designers source incredible décor and art locally.
Guests either like contemporary or more traditional design and some lodges are on rivers or sandstone cliffs, but it’s the people of Singita and the warm welcomes and teary goodbyes that guests connect with. You can’t describe the feeling you get at Singita.
They also discuss how to design for the future guest and tell some hilarious stories along the way. See more Cecile & Boyd at their website · Follow Cecile & Boyd on Instagram · Singita website -
In this episode, well-known travel journalist Richard Holmes talks to Dr. Andrea Ferry, Sustainability Co-ordinator at Singita. They discuss sustainability in the world of luxury travel, and especially safari travel.
Many travellers don't think too carefully about just what's being done to protect the wilderness areas they visit. Part of the problem is deciding how we define sustainability. Is it about offsetting the carbon from your flight to Africa? Is it about supporting local communities while you're here? Or is it about what powers the light bulbs in your suites and fuels the vehicle fuel game drive?
Take a deep dive into sustainability in the luxury safari industry and hear how far-reaching Singita's sustainability ethos is, and how it's being embedded into every aspect of its business - which now spans four African countries.
At Singita, a sustainable world is one in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness. Singita has also set ambitious goals to further reduce its environmental footprint and play its part in addressing the global climate crisis.
Let's dive in. At Singita Conservation refers to Community, Sustainability & Biodiversity · All Singita's sustainability projects and One Planet Living principles · Click here to browse all Singita's lodges and camps in Africa -
Two seasoned photographers on different continents share their views on the role incredible images and emotive videos play in marketing ecotourism in Africa and how they both stumbled into their current careers, almost by accident.
Ross Couper has been with Singita for ten years and is now the resident Content Creator supplying the Marketing team with high-quality images and videos spanning wildlife, lodge interiors, staff portraits, and orphaned rhino rescue missions. Tara Shupe, in the US, is an international humanitarian photographer and filmmaker.
Despite them being in two countries, they have a lot in common - from the way they fell into their current careers to the way they pack, or approach their emotive work, and their passion for wildlife and protecting wilderness areas in Africa for future generations.
Social media has changed the way photographers and filmmakers create content; and they also compare notes on camera equipment and lenses, especially how to pack for long trips in remote places such as Singita Grumeti, in Tanzania.
Join us for an interesting conversation between two professional photographers, or visual storytellers, with a wealth of knowledge whose paths cross in the conservation industry. Tara Shupe gallery and bio · See Ross Couper's wildlife photography · Singita website -
This is Safari Conversations – the Singita Podcast.
30 years ago, founder Luke Bailes had a dream of creating a pioneering ecotourism brand that could help save pristine wilderness areas in Africa for future generations.
The first chapter in Singita’s story started when Ebony Lodge opened in the Sabi Sand, in 1993. But truly, it began long before that, on a piece of land his grandfather owned and where they spent holidays as a family at Castleton.
So much has happened in the last 30 years, to where we find ourselves now – owning and managing award-winning lodges across multiple countries in Africa.
And, we are looking to expand our conservation impact even further, working alongside conservation NGO partners.
Welcome to our Podcast – where you’ll meet some of the very talented people who make our life-changing safaris a reality. Singita website
