The Wild Eye Podcast

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.com

View 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.com

Visit 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/

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/

In this podcast Johan and Donavan chat about different fishing destination in Africa, why they are amazing and even whether you can combine any of them with a safari experience.

Visit the Wild Eye website here: https://wild-eye.com