Magnificent Large Wildlife

A Wild Heart: Experiencing Africa’s Wildlife Up Close

I want a world where elephants, rhinos, lions, giraffes, and gorillas still roam free. Don’t you?

But the reality is sobering. Research from the Stockholm Resilience Centre shows that Sub-Saharan Africa has already lost nearly a quarter of its biodiversity.

Traveling through Africa made that statistic feel very real to me.

I’ve been fortunate to spend time in the savannas of Kenya, the vast plains of Tanzania, the wetlands of Botswana, the river valleys of Zambia, and the misty forests of Rwanda. Each place is breathtaking — and each reminds you how fragile these wild spaces really are.

One experience in particular has stayed with me.

My friend Cristen and I were in the second week of a safari after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, staying in Ndutu, a place our guide described as a purist naturalist destination.

At first, I didn’t quite see it. The conservationist in me noticed safari vehicles driving off road and what looked like disturbed soil. I remember thinking the landscape felt more used than I expected.

Still, there were things I loved immediately — the genets nesting in the rafters at the lodge, the warmth of the staff, and the incredible meals after long days out on the plains.

That evening Cristen and I collapsed into our small cottage, already exhausted. Earlier, we had found ourselves hilariously trying to outrun a very determined bee, and in the chaos Cristen stubbed her toe on the bed frame. By the time we finally settled down, we were ready for sleep.

Then it happened.

Out of nowhere, the deepest, loudest roar of a lion exploded through the night.

For a moment, I honestly wondered if the lion was inside the building with us. The sound was so powerful it seemed to shake the walls. Even more surprising, I could actually feel it reverberate through my chest.

It wasn’t just something you heard. It was something you felt.

Cristen and I just looked at each other like, what the hell was that? And then we started laughing because it was so unbelievably cool.

In that moment, Ndutu suddenly felt a lot less “used” and a lot more wild.

Experiences like that stay with you. They remind you that these landscapes are still alive in a way that’s hard to describe until you feel it yourself.

The good news is that across Africa, passionate people are working every day to protect these places and the wildlife that depend on them.

One organization I’ve witnessed making a real difference is WASIMA, which partners with local communities to promote wildlife conservation, reduce human-lion conflict, and support sustainable livelihoods. Their approach shows that conservation only works when people benefit too.

I also had the chance to volunteer in western Tanzania with WASIMA, where conservation and community go hand in hand. While in Katavi National Park, our guide explained that many of the lions there have shorter manes. He said it’s because the big-maned males had been hunted over the years. I haven’t seen scientific studies to confirm this, but seeing these lions up close, I could tell their manes were noticeably smaller than those in other parks I’ve visited. It was a striking reminder of how human activity can shape wildlife in ways you don’t always see on a map or in a report.

Another inspiring group is the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, working throughout the Zambezi River region. Their efforts include wildlife conservation, ecosystem restoration, and community support around one of the most extraordinary natural landscapes on Earth. Check out this article, DNA fingerprinting convicts Zimbabwe lion poachers in landmark case, to learn more about their amazing work.

I love Africa — not unconditionally, but with caution and wisdom from having been there — and it makes my heart happy to see elephants, lions, and all the wild creatures still roaming free.

Support WASIMA

Close-up of a gorilla feeding in a natural setting.

Three zebras standing in tall green grass in a savannah landscape with trees and hills in the background.

Two giraffes standing in a grassy savanna landscape with scattered trees under a partly cloudy sky.

A group of zebras grazing in a grassy plain with hills and trees in the background.

A young elephant standing next to a larger elephant outdoors in a grassy area with a cloudy sky.

A large adult elephant walking through a grassy plain with trees in the background and a partly cloudy sky.

Steel arch bridge over a lush green landscape under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff surrounded by lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Niagara Falls with lush greenery in the foreground, mist and water cascading down the cliffs, under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

View of a large waterfall in a lush green jungle, with water cascading down cliffs and mist rising from the rushing water below.

Two buffalo lying and standing on green grass near a body of water, with white birds perched on their backs.

Three zebras standing and lying in a grassy field with trees in the background.

A giraffe standing by a waterhole at sunset in a savannah landscape with green bushes and trees.

A large adult hippopotamus and a smaller hippopotamus calf walking on sandy ground.

A hippopotamus resting on rocks near water with a small bird perched on a rock nearby.

A savannah landscape featuring acacia trees, green shrubs, golden grass, and a cloudy sky.

African savannah landscape with acacia trees, dry grass, and cloudy sky.

A herd of African impalas standing in tall dry grass in a savannah with green trees in the background.

A landscape of lush green trees and bushes in a savanna with a partly cloudy sky overhead.

A giraffe walking through a grassy savanna landscape with green bushes and trees, under a partly cloudy sky.

A giraffe walking through a savanna landscape with green trees and dry grass, under a partly cloudy sky.

A herd of deer grazing in a grassy field with trees in the background.

A colorful bird flying in the sky with clouds and tree branches visible in the background

Colorful bird perched on a bare tree branch against a blue sky with some clouds.

A colorful bird with vibrant pink, blue, and green feathers perched on a dead tree branch against a blue sky.

Three zebras in a grassy forest clearing, with trees and green foliage in the background.

Two zebras standing in a grassy area with trees in the background, one adult and one foal.

Group of five lions resting under a large tree in a dry savanna landscape.

A group of five lions resting under a large tree in a grassy area.

A large adult elephant walking through a dry, grassy area with green trees in the background.

Group of elephants in a natural setting with trees and dry grass.

A group of four elephants standing under a large tree in a dry grassy landscape.

Giraffe and zebras in a grassy savannah with trees under a blue sky.

Group of people posing in front of a brown building in a rural setting with trees and hills in the background. Some are sitting on the ground and others are standing, wearing various colorful clothes and holding drinks or bags.

Three zebras grazing in a grassy savanna with bushes and palm trees under a partly cloudy sky.

A herd of black buffalo grazing on a grassy plain with distant trees under a gray sky.

A solitary hippopotamus walking across a flat, grassy plain with distant mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.

A hippopotamus walking on a grassy plain with trees and mountains in the background.

Four giraffes standing among bushes in a savanna landscape with cloudy sky and sunlight filtering through

Three zebras standing on green grass in a savanna landscape with a large palm-like plant and distant trees.

Two giraffes, one adult and one juvenile, standing in tall grass with a few small trees and a clear sky in the background.

A giraffe standing in the grasslands of a savannah, with a cloudy sky and sparse bushes in the background.

Three wild boars walking through a grassy and muddy field with dried plants in the background.

A group of three small wild boars or piglets walking in a line through a muddy, grassy field with tall, dry grass and some green plants in the background.

Black and white photo of an elephant standing among trees and grass.

Two elephants, a larger adult and a smaller calf, standing on the grassy ground with green plants and bushes in the background.

Two elephants, one adult and one calf, walking across a dry grassy plain with lush green trees in the background.

Two elephants, an adult and a calf, walking on a grassy patch with sparse vegetation, dense green foliage, and trees in the background.

A baby elephant walking through a grassy area with trees and bushes in the background.

A herd of elephants standing and walking on a grassy plain near trees and bushes in a natural landscape.

A herd of elephants walking on a dirt path through a forested area, with green trees and bushes in the background.

A hippopotamus and two crocodiles resting on a dirt area in a natural habitat with grass and hills in the background.

A hippopotamus partially submerged in water, with many others resting on a muddy riverbank, surrounded by green bushes.

A hippopotamus standing in water, facing forward, with mud on its skin and partially obscured by a blurred branch in the foreground.

Numerous hippopotamuses gathered in a muddy waterhole in a grassy landscape, with some standing and others lying submerged; a few humans and a vehicle are visible in the background.

A large group of hippos crowded together in a muddy waterhole.

Two birdhouses hanging from a tree in a dry, wooded area with sparse vegetation and green plants.

Caregiver feeding baby elephant milk with a bottle, surrounded by red soil and trees.

A young elephant standing on red soil near a puddle, with trees in the background and a person wearing a green coat observing from a distance.

A cheetah standing in a grassy savannah with scattered trees in the background.

Elephant walking in grassy field with trees and cloudy sky in the background at sunset.

Elephants walking through tall grass and trees

Person in a canoe using a long pole to navigate a waterway in a grassy marshland.

Lion lying in savanna with lightning in the background

A person in a safari vehicle watching an elephant eat leaves from a tree.

A group of elephants walking through a forest path with dense trees and greenery.

Victoria Falls with cascading water and surrounding greenery.

Three people dancing outdoors in front of an audience of children and adults seated and watching, with trees and buildings in the background.

Group of men and women holding blue and black eco-bags, some wearing hats, standing outdoors with trees and a brick house in the background, smiling and posing for the photo.

A man with dark skin painted black, wearing multiple colorful beaded necklaces and a headband made of shells, making a dramatic facial expression with wide eyes and an open mouth. In the background, another person is partially visible wearing traditi

Three Indigenous African men with dark skin and traditional attire, one playing a horn and adorned with necklaces, bracelets, and body paint, standing in front of a brick wall.

A group of indigenous people, likely from Africa, dressed in traditional attire, engaged in a ritual or dance outside a brick building with a straw roof. Some are seated, holding drums, while others are standing, wearing elaborate jewelry and headdre