The Wild Eye Podcast

In this episode of the Wild Eye podcast, 3 of our expert guides sit down to chat about the magic that can only come from being on foot in the African wilderness! Don, Andrew and Luke chat about incredible destinations, share wonderful stories and do their best to convice YOU to get out there and get on foot.

In this episode of the Wild Eye podcast, Andrew chats to Johan about his recent and first ever trip to the wilds of Patagonia! They chat about the experience, the wildlife, what to expect and what to watch out for. Looking to plan your own Private Patagonia Safari? Get in touch with Johan via [email protected] to start planning.

In this episode of the Wild Eye podcast, Donovan sits down with Patrick Koriata, safari guide at Kicheche Bush Camp in Kenya, to talk about life in the bush, guiding in the Mara, and what it takes to do this work day in and day out.Visit the Wild Eye website: www.wild-eye.com

In this episode Gerry and Andrew sit down to talk about something that's been fourteen years in the making. What started as an idea scribbled between three people who had no clue what they were doing has grown into something neither of them could have imagined.And now, as Gerry steps back from his operational role at Wild Eye to focus on coaching, speaking and performance work, the two of them get into the why, the what's next, and what stays the same.It's honest with a lot of gratitude for the ride so far and genuine excitement for what's coming.You can see Gerry's video by clicking here.You can visit the Wild Eye website here: https://wild-eye.com

In this episode, Dani and Emma talk about solo travel on safari. They cover why traveling alone doesn't mean being lonely, how lodge environments and game drives naturally bring people together, and why solo travelers often end up having a more immersive experience without the pressure of entertaining others. Emma shares her top destination picks, explains what a single supplement is and how to avoid it, and they discuss the safety side of traveling alone, especially for women. They also touch on how Wild Eye's scheduled safaris are a great starting point for anyone nervous about taking that first solo trip.Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com

In this episode, Andrew and Luke break down Mana Pools - a place everyone gets wrong. Most people think it's just the floodplain with some trees and the Zambezi River in the distance, but that's only 5% of it. The actual park stretches south with baobabs, rocky cliffs, and dense mopani forest most visitors never see. What makes it wild is how you experience it: you're walking through the bush with your guide, tracking elephant behavior or following a lion's footprints, not just sitting in a vehicle. It's remote enough that morning "traffic" at a spring includes elephants, wild dogs, and lions all passing through at once. Whether you're a photographer wanting the best shots of your life or just after a genuinely spiritual safari experience, this place delivers different.Learn about our Mana Pools safari: https://wild-eye.com/trip-report-mana-pools-and-kanga-camp-14824/Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com/

What does it take to fly alongside migrating birds… and then turn your attention to one of the most misunderstood species on Earth?In this episode of the Wild Eye Podcast, Gabby sits down with Sacha Dench - conservationist, adventurer, UN Ambassador for Migratory Species, and founder of Conservation Without Borders. Known globally as “The Human Swan,” Sacha has spent years using extraordinary expeditions to tell the story of migration, climate change and habitat connectivity.From her early life growing up across Australia and Europe, to overcoming a fear of flying and launching world-renowned aerial conservation journeys, Sacha shares how adventure became her vehicle for impact.We explore her latest global mission, Flight of the Vultures - a bold, multi-expedition project highlighting the rapid decline of vulture populations across continents. Why vultures? Why now? And how do we shift public perception of a species that quietly keeps ecosystems healthy, yet faces one of the fastest collapses of any bird group in the world?This conversation dives into resilience, storytelling, global collaboration, and the power of reframing how we see wildlife.Whether you're a photographer, conservationist, field guide or simply someone who cares about wild places, this episode challenges us to look up, look closer, and think differently about the species we often overlook.Visi the YWPSA website: https://www.ywpofsa.co.za/Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com/

In this podcast Don and Gerry pull apart the psychology of spending money, specifically what choosing an experience like a safari over stuff says about who you actually are.They work through why money can buy happiness but only up to the point where basic needs are met, the difference between happiness and contentment, and why chasing something is neurologically more satisfying than having it.Gerry brings in biophilia to explain why Africa hits differently, and why a safari's uncertainty, patience and hardship does more for your head than a passive beach holiday ever will.The episode lands on one clear idea: you're not buying nine days in the bush, you're buying ten months of anticipation and memories people are still talking about a decade later.Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com

Last year Andrew and Luke both visited Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for the first time, staying at Buhoma Lodge as their base for gorilla trekking. In this episode they unpack what makes this place so special, from the location right inside the park boundary to the way the whole operation is built around making your trekking experience as smooth as possible. They also get into the afternoon activities, the Batwa people, the Ride for a Woman initiative, and a few stories you probably won't find in any travel brochure.Find out more about our Uganda safaris: https://wild-eye.com/uganda-photo-safaris/

In this episode of the Wild Eye podcast, Gerry confronts the "identity crisis" currently dividing wildlife photographers. He argues that if you use Lightroom masking, Denoise, or Topaz, you are already using AI. Whether you admit it or not.Gerry explores how synthetic imagery is rapidly consuming the entry-level market and why the "lived experience", the wind on your face and the physical grit of the bush, is your last true differentiator. He provides a practical framework for using captions as "proof of presence" and shares an ethics statement to help photographers draw their own line between technical enhancement and digital fabrication.The episode concludes with a direct challenge: stop the existential crisis, define your "why," and decide exactly where you stand in this new reality.Vsit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com

Grant Marcus has been living and guiding in Madikwe Game Reserve since 2011, so when it comes to knowing this place inside out, he's your guy. In this conversation, Danny and Grant get into what makes Madikwe tick — the dramatic landscape that shifts from Kalahari red sand to Bushveld in a single drive, the extreme seasons that'll either freeze you or cook you, and the wildlife that goes way beyond the obvious. They talk rhinos with full horns, brown hyena den sites, world-class birding, a wild dog chase that didn't quite pay off, and the story of how over 10,000 animals were moved to essentially build this reserve from nothing. If you've never heard of Madikwe or you're still on the fence about going, this one's worth your time.Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com

In this episode Johan and Luke have a conversation about the Lower Zambezi and why it's become one of Wild Eye's key safari destinations over the past few years. The discussion covers how the partnership with Classic Zambia came together, what makes the camps work for photographers, and why this place has quietly overtaken South Luangwa as Zambia's premier photographic destination.They talk about those intense first trips that left everyone shellshocked, the guides who understand photographers and will stay out all day when the moment demands it, and some wild sighting stories, including leopards killing crocodiles in the river. The conversation touches on October's heat, the ethics of getting the shot, and why that winter-thorn forest backdrop makes Lower Zambezi special. Plus why you need to get on the water at least once, even if it means skipping a game drive.Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.comView our Lower Zambezi safaris: https://wild-eye.com/photographic-travel/lower-zambezi-photo-safari/

In this episode of the Wild Eye Podcast, I’m joined by Brent, Mammal and Bird Scientist at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, to unpack what threatened species conservation actually looks like on the ground. From Blue Swallows and vultures to cheetah and elephant management, this is a candid conversation about science, decision-making, and the realities that don’t always make headlines.This episode goes beyond celebration and recognition. It’s about responsibility, accountability, and why the future of our wildlife depends on more than just good data - it depends on bold action.Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.comVisit the YWPSA website: https://www.ywpofsa.co.za

In this episode, Johan and Don share some thoughts on some of the best National Parks in Africa.Read the blog here: https://wild-eye.com/africas-best-national-parks/Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com

Odzala is a vast rainforest national park in the Republic of Congo with some of the world's most critically endangered wildlife including forest elephants, gorillas, chimps, pangolins, and species most people will never encounter anywhere else.In this episode, Andrew interviews his two guides, Dylan and Pedro. They come from completely different worlds - Dylan worked his way through South Africa's top reserves before chasing something wilder; Pedro left a luxury retail job in Brussels after one safari experience, retrained as a guide, and basically rebuilt his entire life around Africa. They talk about what makes Odzala genuinely special (it's wild, you have to work for sightings, there's always something new), the rare species living there, and how the place fundamentally changes how you see nature.Visit the Wild Eye website: https://wild-eye.com/