The Safari Guide

#10 - The Kingfishers 01.07.2026 16min

A flash of blue over the water – and then it's gone again. Kingfishers are among Africa's most striking, yet often underestimated, birds. This episode is about much more than just their spectacular colors: Why isn't their blue a pigment? Which species actually hunt fish – and which don't? How do they manage to correct the refraction of light in the water? I'll take you to Africa's rivers and waterholes and show you how kingfishers hunt, why they always swallow their prey headfirst, and what's behind their unusual nests. We'll also discuss the hovering flight of the grey kingfisher, cooperative breeding, sounds in the bush – and how you can reliably identify kingfishers on safari. An episode for everyone who wants to not only see animals, but understand them. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#9 - The Cicada 24.06.2026 12min

A sound you recognize instantly—but can hardly place. It's loud, piercing, and seems to come from all directions at once. And yet, its source usually remains invisible. This episode is about the cicada—one of the loudest insects in the world. I'll explain how this amazing creature produces its sound, why it's so hard to find, and why its life is largely hidden. You'll learn what's behind its sudden silence, why entire landscapes can begin to "sing," and what the final molt is all about. An episode about heat, sound—and an insect you often hear but rarely see. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#8 - The Waterbuck 17.06.2026 14min

Three seconds. That's all it takes. The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. But speed alone doesn't make a successful hunter—and certainly not a sure-footed survivor. This episode explores anatomy at its limits, the perfect approach before the sprint, coalitions and drifters, cubs with honey badger camouflage—and a genetic history that stretches back to the last Ice Age. Why can't the cheetah roar? How does it really hunt? And why, despite its superiority, does it constantly live in danger? An episode about elegance, precision—and vulnerability. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! .............................................................................. An episode about elegance, precision—and vulnerability.

#7 - The Cheetah 10.06.2026 20min

Three seconds. That's all it takes. The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. But speed alone doesn't make a successful hunter—and certainly not a sure-footed survivor. This episode explores anatomy at its limits, the perfect approach before the sprint, coalitions and drifters, cubs with honey badger camouflage—and a genetic history that stretches back to the last Ice Age. Why can't the cheetah roar? How does it really hunt? And why, despite its superiority, does it constantly live in danger? An episode about elegance, precision—and vulnerability. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#6 - The Sicamore Fig & The Fig Wasp 03.06.2026 13min

A single tree can support countless animal species. It attracts birds, monkeys, bats—and sometimes even fish and crocodiles. The sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus) is one of Africa's most important trees. It bears fruit almost year-round and is a central element of many river landscapes in southern and eastern Africa. But inside each individual fig, an invisible drama unfolds. A tiny species of wasp pollinates the flowers inside the fig. Without it, there would be no ripe seeds. And without seeds, no new trees. Tree and wasp are completely interdependent—a so-called obligate mutualism. But inside each individual fig, an invisible drama is taking place. In this episode you will learn: • why figs are not "normal" fruits • how wasps and seeds develop simultaneously inside • why the mother wasp dies inside – yet no remains are found in the ripe fig • why the fig tree is indispensable for entire ecosystems An episode about time, patience – and a partnership that has worked for millions of years. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#5 - The Warthog 27.05.2026 16min

It looks like a caricature of nature: a massive head, thin legs, four curved tusks – and a tail like a small antenna in the grass. But the warthog is anything but ridiculous. It's fast, resilient, adaptable – and perfectly built for life on the African savanna. In this episode, you'll learn: - why warthogs eat on their knees - how their tusks sharpen themselves - why they dash out of their burrows at full speed in the morning - how they cooperate with mongooses - and why their sense of smell saves their lives An episode about an animal that is often ridiculed – but deserves great respect. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#4 - The Puff Adder 20.05.2026 23min

She lies there like a patch of ground—and that’s exactly what makes the puff adder so dangerous. In this episode, I take you along to meet one of Africa’s best-known and best-camouflaged venomous snakes. We talk about its appearance and key identification features, its habitat and daily rhythm—and why puff adders can turn up in camps, along tracks, and even on warm asphalt roads. We also explore its hunting strategy as an ambush predator, its remarkable “scent camouflage,” reproduction and young—and the ecological role of this often misunderstood snake. Plus: three personal encounters from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa & Botsuana) and Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#3 - The Zebra 13.05.2026 18min

Zebras are among Africa’s best-known animals – and yet they are often underestimated on safari. In this episode, it is about far more than just black-and-white stripes: Why are zebras striped? How do they live in their family groups? How do they defend themselves against lions and crocodiles? And what can their mane, belly, and behavior reveal about their state of health? I talk about social structure, digestion, vocalizations, reproduction, and the remarkable strategies zebras use to survive in the savanna. The episode also explores tsetse flies, dust baths, allogrooming, and the question of why zebras may be seen often on safari – but are anything but boring. An episode for everyone who wants not just to look on safari, but to understand. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#2 - The Southern Ground Hornbill 06.05.2026 15min

The Southern Ground Hornbill is one of Africa’s most impressive – and least understood – birds. With its deep, far-carrying call, it shapes the soundscape of the savanna. But behind this striking voice lies much more: a highly social life in family groups, an exceptionally slow reproductive cycle, and an impressive hunting strategy – even when dealing with venomous snakes. In this episode, I explain why ground hornbills can live up to 60 years, why usually only one chick survives, and what crucial role this bird plays in the savanna ecosystem. An episode about an animal that is both powerful and vulnerable – and whose protection goes far beyond a single species. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#1 - The Nile Crocodile 29.04.2026 18min

Nile crocodiles are among Africa’s most fascinating animals: ancient, perfectly adapted, and often invisible at waterholes—until they strike with lightning speed. In this episode, I explain how Nile crocodiles hunt (including the infamous death roll), why their teeth “keep growing back” throughout their lives, how they see underwater, and why they must swallow their prey above the surface. We also talk about reproduction, nest temperatures, and their remarkable parental care—and explore the role Nile crocodiles play in the ecological balance of river ecosystems. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................

#0 - Trailer - The Safari Guide 24.04.2026

There are safaris where, in the end, only your camera’s memory card is full. And there are safaris that stay with you. In this podcast, I take you into the fascinating world of Africa’s animals and plants. Those goosebump moments begin when you start to understand. When sounds, tracks, and behavior suddenly make sense — and what once seemed simply “beautiful” becomes truly “exciting.” I am Frank - The Safari Guide. My life moves between the vastness of Africa and everyday life in Vienna. Out there in the bush. Back here in the city. And if you’re curious, if you enjoy learning, and if you’re ready to embrace those small moments of wonder — then you’re in exactly the right place. .............................................................................. Become my patron on Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership](https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheSafariGuide/membership) Thank you! ..............................................................................