James Kydd

We crossed paths on a frozen stream. He was easily over ninety years old, though the dry winds here will give wrinkles to a child, and make guessing age difficult. I was trailing the hill pigeons and inadvertently followed him to the small adobe building that was his home. We spoke freely without understanding each other’s words, his voice was beautiful and I was perplexed that anyone was living alone so high up in the valley. Both the long key he pulled from his robe and the wooden door it unlocked seemed from another time. I stayed a moment to help him prepare his evening's firewood, he moved slowly but showed remarkable skill splitting kindling with his hand axe. I wonder what it feels like to be there some nights, around that crackling fire when the Himalayas breathe heavy and the wolves howl outside. #snowleopard #himalayas #leh #ladakh #kashmir #meditation #conservationphotogrsphy #indiansafari #wildernessculture #wolves #worlderlust @nikonasia Contact me for our next snow leopard expedition.

Perhaps there will come a time where we preserve great tracts of land not because of their economical, social or even scientific significance, but simply because they are wild, and that is something we value beyond measure. #wild #angola #insidenatgeo #intotheokavango #wildernessculture #natgeo #kembo18 @intotheokavango

Phantoms. 35 x 25 inches. Printed on archival paper, limited edition of ten. Available at the End of Ivory Exhibition, Christie’s Los Angeles (23-25 October) or online. All proceeds go toward elephant conservation with DSWF See catalogue link in bio. #elephants #conservation #dswf #namibia #africa #endivorytrade #giants

“We think of our bodies as being all that we are: I am my body. This thinking helps us disrespect water, air, land, one another. But water is not external from our body, our self. My Elder says, Cut off your ear, and you will live. Cut off your hand, you will live. Cut off your leg, you can still live. Cut off our water, we will not live more than a week. The water we drink, like the air we breathe, is not a part of our body but is our body. What we do to one—to the body, to the water—we do to the other.” ~ Natalie Diaz Keep our wild rivers in your hearts, minds and bodies this World Water Day 🎥 @vos_films Edited by @thescatterbrainza #WorldWaterDay #greatspineofafrica #wildrivers #water

Jungle conversations by @jameskydd 📍 Greystoke Mahale operated by @nomadtanzania . . . #safarious #curiousbynature #onsafari #privatelyguided #wildlifephotography #chimpanzee #tanzaniawildlife #wildafrica #jungleconversation #safarilife #mahalemountains #wildlifephotography #nomadtanzania #greystokemahale #protectprimates #chimptrekking #westerntanzania

Part 3 of our #meetyourguide series 🐆 . . . #safarious #curiousbynature #meetourteam #safariouspartner #safariguide #reconnectwithnature #jameskydd #wildlifephotographer #travelafrica #guidingafrica #conservationmatters #safarilife #panafricanexpertise #natgeowildlife #exploreroftheyear #wildafrica #onsafari #africanwildlife

Next up on #thesafariousfund recipient list is a leading organisation in gorilla conservation, research, and community engagement: @savinggorillas 🦍 In 1967, Dr. Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains to study and protect the resident mountain gorillas. Her tireless fight against poaching and habitat destruction laid the foundation for modern gorilla conservation. Though her life was tragically cut short, her legacy lives on through the Fossey Fund, which continues to protect one of the world’s most endangered species. Thanks to their work, mountain gorillas—once on the brink of extinction—are now the only great ape species increasing in number! Here’s how they’re making a difference: ☑️ Protecting Gorillas – In 2024 alone, their teams removed over 3,500 snares and quadrupled anti-poaching patrols to safeguard gorilla populations. 🔬 Advancing Science – Their research continues to expand knowledge of gorillas, their ecosystems, and conservation strategies for long-term impact. 📚 Training the Next Generation – From local universities to field-based mentorships, the Fossey Fund is shaping future African conservationists. 🏡 Strengthening Communities – Their Village Vitality program helps ensure conservation success is community-driven and sustainable. 🌿 Expanding Protected Areas – Their Nkuba Conservation Area in the DRC was officially recognized as a Key Biodiversity Area, securing more critical habitat. Through The Safarious Fund, we’re proud to support the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and their commitment to protecting Africa’s great apes. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight more our inspiring recipients in the coming weeks! . . . #safarious #savinggorillas #dianfosseygorillafund #conservationimpact #gorillaconservation #primateprotection #conservationinaction #travelwithapurpose

Last week, we introduced #thesafariousfund and how every safari booked with us helps protect Africa’s wild places and uplift the communities that safeguard them. Now, it’s time to meet the incredible organizations making this impact possible. First up: @biglifeafrica, a powerhouse in wildlife conservation and community-driven protection in East Africa. Their approach is simple but powerful: if conservation supports people, people will support conservation. How They’re Making a Difference ⬇️ 🔸 Anti-Poaching & Wildlife Protection
Big Life employs over 550 rangers to patrol 1.6 million acres of wilderness, stopping poachers, preventing illegal trade, and keeping wildlife safe. Their impact? Not a single elephant has been poached in their core area since 2018. 🔸 Reducing Human-Wildlife Conflict
Living alongside lions, elephants, and other wildlife isn’t always easy, but Big Life works with communities to reduce conflict through:
✔️ Predator Compensation Fund – Helping herders recover losses when lions take livestock, preventing retaliation. Thanks to this initiative, the local lion population has grown from 20 to over 250 in 20 years.
✔️ Electric Fencing – Keeping elephants out of farmlands, reducing crop loss and human-wildlife conflict by 90% in fenced areas. 🔸 Safeguarding Critical Habitats
Wildlife needs space to roam, and Big Life helps keep migration corridors open by leasing land from local communities, securing 87,455 acres in 2023 alone. 🔸 Empowering Communities
Big Life knows that conservation only works when people benefit too. In 2023, they:
✔ Funded 770+ student scholarships
✔ Provided 18,713 school meals
✔ Delivered healthcare services to 140,000+ people Why Does It Matter? Through The Safarious Fund, we’re proud to support Big Life Foundation in their mission to protect Africa’s wildlife while empowering the people who share the land with them. Their work proves that conservation isn’t just about saving animals—it’s about creating a future where people and nature thrive together. Stay tuned as we introduce more inspiring Safarious Fund recipients in the coming weeks! . . . #safarious #biglife #biglifefoundation

Introducing The Safarious Fund: where every safari makes a difference 🐾 At Safarious, we believe travel should create lasting impact—not just for travelers, but for the wild places and communities that make these journeys possible. That’s why we created The Safarious Fund, an initiative supporting conservation and community projects across Africa. How does it work? Every safari booked through Safarious automatically contributes a percentage of the total cost to our fund. This ensures each journey directly supports initiatives that protect Africa’s wildlife and empower local communities. Our 2024 Focus: Women in Conservation Last year, we focused on supporting women and girls in conservation—funding education and skills training while championing women-led conservation projects across Africa. Stay tuned as we introduce some of the incredible recipients of the Safarious Fund over the next few weeks! . . . #safarious #thesafariousfund #curiousbynature #travelwithpurpose #ecotourism #sustainabilityandcommunity #responsibletravel #conservationmatters #conservationimpact #wildlifeprotection #saveourwildlife #womeninconservation #impacttravel #discoverafrica #africanwildlife

“The wild places are where we began. When they end, so do we.” - David R. Brower #wildplaces #wildrivers #gorillas #rwanda #volcanoes

The waters of the Lungwebungu, Luena, Chifumage, Kapombo, Luanginga, Cuando, Chobe, and Linyanti all gradually snake their way down and spill into the Upper Zambezi, eventually dropping over a hundred meters as the largest curtain of falling water on Earth, over a mile wide. Known as Mosi-oa-Tunya- or Shungu Namutitima - the thundering smoke, the boiling water- this is a great cauldron of mystery and power, rainbows, moonbows, and ancient volcanic rock. Here, Tonga legend says, is the lair of the Nyami Nyami, god of the river, a great water serpent separated from his wife after the damming of the Zambezi, and who has since withdrawn from the world of humans. #zambezi #victoriafalls #zambia #zimbabwe #greatspineofafrica #mosioatunya #wildrivers #nyaminyami

If I say, “My river is disappearing”, do I also mean, “My people are disappearing?” How can I translate—not in words but in belief—that a river is a body, as alive as you or I, that there can be no life without it? Words by Natalie Diaz #greatspineofafrica #chambeshi #congo #congobasin #zambia #wildrivers #rivers #people #nataliediaz