For more than 2 years I have been contributing back page articles to this magazine and I have also completed a couple of online courses with them.
Is it just me or are many of us still struggling with “Whatever happened to 2020/2021”?
For me, they vanished in a COVID haze and it was only at the beginning of 2022 that I stopped being a non-traveling travel writer and was able to get back on the road once more.
In this is the final compilation of all the 2022 articles I have written, I thought I would take a retrospective look at the stories I have written and why they were meaningful to me and hopefully entertaining for you, the reader.
The adage, ‘back through a tunnel of time’ is most apt in this instance and if you missed any of these articles, they are archived on the WildlifeCampus website.
January: What a way to start the year. ‘View to a kill‘ was the story of a single lion that was able to bring down a pregnant giraffe by itself and eventually form a coalition with another male to share the spoils.
February: This was the hardest and most unexpected story of the year for me. ‘Time to say goodbye’ was my unexpected obituary to the founder of WildlifeCampus, Todd Kaplan, who died of a heart attack in his sleep. Reading my words when putting this overview together once again brought a tear to my eye.
Totsiens (goodbye) Todd, you are missed.
March: Often I have written about the Big 5 or even the Little 5. This month I looked at the scavengers, some of which form part of the Ugly 5, and how their presence affects the wildlife and what a rank-smelling place the wild would be without them. ‘Call in the cleaning crew‘ paid tribute to what it is that they can accomplish in keeping the African plains free of carrion and disease.
April: From bush to beach. ‘Heroes and Villains‘ took a look at the real battle for survival between Ghost Crabs and turtle hatchlings along the Indian Ocean coastline.
May: One of the more difficult articles to write. ‘Losing a life to save a life‘ was about the removal of a baby giraffe that had died in the womb in order to save the mother. Spoiler alert. It does have a happy ending.
June: ‘No wrong answers‘ looked at some of the ridiculous questions that guests pose to field guides…like “Do Zebras moult and lose their strips”? How do guides remain professional and keep a straight face when asked a question like that?
July: ‘Walk this way‘ was about a male leopard that led us on a merry dance for about 40 minutes and then, as if by magic, vanished into the tall grass, never to be seen again during the drive.
August: ‘Safari Guide of the Year 2022‘, presented by FGASA, celebrated the best the industry had to offer. Cameron Pearce walked away with not only the overall title but with several category wins as well. Congratulations Cameron, a well-deserved winner.
September: ‘Hiding in plains(s) sight‘ took a look at how to differentiate cheetah tracks from those of a hyena. I think that the guide responsible for the content of this article is still blushing.
October: ‘A’ is for ants.
‘The Alphabet Game‘…something to keep the children and those young at heart happy when long road trips or hours in the car the in a national park are involved.
November: ‘Gone in a splash‘ was all about the loss of life in the bush and how that can occur in the blink of an eye. Wild dogs, a hyena, hippos, and finally a crocodile were all participants in the final moments of an impala’s life. Not easy to witness, but part of the ebb and flow of life in the wild.
It seems that my year started and ended with a pregnant animal becoming food for apex land and water predators. Such is the circle of life.
December: ‘2022 in my rear view mirror.‘
This is just one of my images that graced the front cover of the magazine during the year…
I do hope that 2022 has been kind to you and that you were able to fulfill some of your goals and aspirations.
Whether it be completing an online course, getting to travel once again or just being able to spend time with friends and family once again.
If you are looking to do an online nature/hospitality course, then this is should be your go-to website. Click on the logo above to visit their website and enroll in the course of your dreams.
For those that were not aware, there is an extension to the Travel & Things Blog in the form of ‘In conversation with‘ a YouTube channel hosted by David Batzofin and filled with a plethora of interesting interviews with a variety of people.
To visit the channel, click on the ‘In conversation with’ image above.
All images, unless otherwise stated, are the copyright property of
and may not be used without permission.
