Far too many people have negative impressions of vultures. If you describe somebody as a ‘vulture’ you are definitely not paying them a compliment. They clearly need better publicity as they are seriously undervalued and under-appreciated, yet play a critical role within an ecosystems rich in apex mammalian predators. White-backed Vultures near Punda Maria waiting to feed - November 2025 © Jeff Clarke Africa is synonymous with vultures, but the truth is that they are in prec

Sometimes I look at a field guide and a creature leaps off the page and explodes inside my imagination. The first time I saw an illustration of a Pennant-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus vexillarius it blew my mind. Seeing one for real was definitely on my bucket-list. However, being a European based naturalist and it being a tropical African species, my chances would be limited. A second visit to Kruger National Park provided that opportunity. The northern rest camp of Punda Mari