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On 9 August 1956, over 20,000 women from diverse backgrounds marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, standing up for their rights. This peaceful protest was organised by the Federation of South African Women (FSAW) and led by notable activists like Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn.

The women delivered petitions with over 100,000 signatures to the Prime Minister's office, standing in silence for 30 minutes and then singing a powerful freedom song with the famous phrase, “Wathint' abafazi, Strijdom! Wathint' imbokodo, uza kufa!” (“You strike a woman, you strike a rock, you will be crushed!”). This slogan has since become a symbol of women's strength and resilience in South Africa.

Poachers beware; for these dogs, their bark isn’t nearly as bad as their bite! At Thornybush Nature Reserve, we have a formidable, expertly trained team of rangers and their dogs, known as the Tango K9 Anti-poaching Unit. Today, on World Ranger Day, we pay tribute to our K9 heroes and their handlers, who play a vital role in protecting vulnerable wildlife species in our reserve.

Welcome to winter in the Lowveld! Your daily forecast for months June through July is as follows:

An icy morning chill from 5am, brisk spring freshness around 10am, glorious midday summer sunshine at 2pm, followed by a brisk autumn chill between 5 and 6pm.

It’s a bit of a weather-y rollercoaster, but it’s easy to add and shed clothes as the temperatures rise and fall, and the predictability to our winter-time weather is just one of the many great reasons this season is a favourite for most international safari-goers. Winter is our dry season, so aside from the occasional misty morning, this time of year delivers the clearest, brightest, bluest skies, and the most extraordinary sunsets.

South Africa boasts a rich diversity of amazing animals that are well-known and universally sought after by safari-goers. Some are unique, others are rare, many are simply beautiful to behold, and all play an important role in our natural ecosystem. But if we adjust our focus and turn our eyes to some of the smaller creatures that share our environment, we find a host of lesser known (and often unloved) species that play such pivotal roles in our ecosystems that we really couldn’t get by without them.

In April, we celebrate World Book Day - a time to reflect on the pivotal role that books continue to play in enriching our lives. We particularly value how books can ignite incredible journeys and deepen our understanding of the environments and creatures we encounter on safari. Whether you’re preparing for your next South African adventure or simply dreaming of the wild from your living room, we’ve curated a list of five essential reads for you to enjoy.