Safari Life with Bobby-Jo

In Part 2 of my chat with Dr. Matt Becker from @zcp_zambia, we're looking at the management challenges, political pressures, and funding hurdles that come with leading a team of 100 people across Zambia's national parks.
Matt shares the exclusive details of his five year collaboration with the BBC on a series that tracks the intersecting lives of dogs, lions, hyenas, and leopards. We're also talking about the resilience of individual animals, from the legendary Lady Liuwa to the alpha male Wild Dog 73, and why objective science is the only way to navigate the heated debates surrounding predators.

Please feel free to reach out on the socials:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris
To explore my upcoming safaris: bobbyjosafaris.com

And of course, if you enjoy the episode, I'd really love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!
This is a Podvan Media production.

I'm coming to you from the stunning South Luangwa in Zambia, where I've spent the last two weeks with my good friend, Dr. Matthew Becker. Matt is the Director of the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), and he's spent the last 17 years dedicated to the conservation of Africa’s most iconic predators.
We're sitting down to talk about the vital work being done across eight Zambian national parks to protect the delicate balance of the ecosystem. You'll hear the raw reality of conservation science, from the way wild dogs use bird-like vocalisations to avoid detection by lions, to the hidden impacts of prey depletion and bushmeat poaching.
We also explore Matt's personal journey, from his childhood in Montana to his early research days in Kentucky and Florida. It's a conversation about the power of mentoring, the importance of giving back to nature, and why we must preserve these wild landscapes for future generations.

Please feel free to reach out on the socials:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris
To explore my upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris
And of course, if you enjoy the episode, I'd really love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

Well Honey Badgers, I'm connecting with you from my lounge room for a very special start to the year. My nieces Layla, Amirah, and Luna have just finished a day at the zoo, but now they're turning the tables to interview me about my life behind the lens.
You'll hear their unfiltered questions about my favourite safaris, the time I got stranded in South Africa, and the reality of fear in the wild. We're talking about the thrill of photographing wild dogs, my toughest photographic challenges, and that elusive 20-second Bongo encounter in Kenya.
This is a personal conversation about rejecting the standard "Book of Life," finding inspiration in family, and which recent moment meant more to me than any photograph.

Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.

I'm in South Luangwa, Zambia, specifically in Mfuwe. I've joined forces with Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). We're racing against the clock because an elephant calf has been stuck in the mud for hours, and its mother is pacing nearby, agitated and protective.
You'll hear the raw audio from the back of the Land Cruiser as the team executes a high-stakes plan. We have to immobilise the mother to get close enough to the calf. We're talking about a tense darting operation, a mock charge that sent us into reverse, and the physical struggle of trying to pull the calf free!
My stomach was full of butterflies the entire time. It's a privilege to witness the skill of the vets and scouts working to save this life.
This isn't just a story; it's a documentation of the adrenaline, the risks, and the sheer strength of these animals.

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!
Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

This is a Podvan Media production.

We're drifting through the dense channels of the Mabamba Swamp in Uganda. It's the final leg of our journey and the stakes are high. We're searching for one of the most elusive and prehistoric-looking birds on the planet.
We're talking about the Shoebill Stork. You'll hear the raw audio from the boat as we search for one (hoping for a glimpse) only to have the most incredible encounter!
We then head to the Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe for a tearful reunion. My guest Maxine reconnects with Sunny (a chimpanzee she cared for years ago) and shares the touching story of seeing her again as an adult.

Get in touch via social media:
Instagram: @bobbyjosafaris
Facebook: Bobby-Jo Safaris

And to explore upcoming safaris: Bobby-Jo Safaris

If you enjoy the episode, I'd love it if you could leave a review, and share it with your fellow safari lovers!

This is a Podvan Media production.