This is Fascinating Africa, my tribute to the wildlife that lives on this vast continent. At the beginning of 2013 I decided to quit my job and head to Africa so I could live my life long dream of being a safari guide. I never knew how easy it would be to realise a dream but it was. I signed up for a 11 month Professional Safari Guide course which included a work placement. My time in Africa was s
imply incredible and I wouldn’t swap if for the world. Fast forward to now and the launch of Fascinating Africa. It’s a way of keeping my African dream alive, a vehicle that will allow me to share what I’ve learnt and continue to learn. During my training I struggled to find one source of short sharp facts that I could use to wow my guests. Instead I trawled through text book after text book looking for the killer ones. I made copious notes and continue to do so. The job is not over yet, now I need your help as prospective or seasoned safari guests. Which of these facts do you find the most fascinating? Let me know by voting for your favourite. The majority of fact based websites that I found were aimed at children and I hope that children enjoy this website too. However, it’s important to engage the adult decision makers of today. Through the voting mechanic I’m confident that I’ve stumbled across an application that will fit neatly into people’s hectic lives. It’s not just about cute meerkats. The website covers many different wildlife categories from reptiles and amphibians to invertebrates and trees. That being said the majority of profiles written so far are for mammals. Rest assured that the content across all categories will grow over time. I’ve not found all the best facts so please let me know any real gems that I may have missed. There’s a simple form to complete. Likewise, if there’s a species you would like me to cover next or if I’ve made an error then do tell me. Fascinating Africa is not just about facts, it’s about bringing a community together that’s interested in learning more about the featured wildlife. Those wanting to delve further should check out the many courses and events that are on offer. From my own personal experience I can highly recommend the Professional Safari Guide course which I opted for as a career break. Please get involved – vote, share, contribute and learn about the fascinating continent that is Africa. Thank you for visiting,
James Bailey