This summer, National Geographic Traveller (UK) Middle East & Africa Collection is showcasing epic safari experiences with a difference, focusing on a new generation of trips that support conservation and have a positive impact on local communities.  

Safaris are soaring in popularity, with global Google searches more than doubling since 2023, according to a report by Go2Africa. More and more, however, travellers are determined to go beyond lions and Land Rovers, wanting experiences that give back. 

Editor Charlotte Wigram-Evans said: “There’s a wonderful breadth of experiences out there that combine the classic thrill of spotting the Big Five in the wild while also making sure our travels count. 

“We head to South Africa to join an anti-poaching unit, where travellers can help the heroes on the ground who’ve contributed to the incredible rise in white rhino numbers in recent years. In the 1930s, around 40 roamed wild across South Africa’s plains. Today, there are more than 16,000. 

“We also venture into Namibia’s Kalahari Desert for a bushwalk with a local tribe, support a school in Uganda and visit a bead factory in Ghana, meeting artisans who create jewellery from recycled glass using techniques handed down through generations.” 

Elsewhere in this edition, we offer inside guides for visitors to the Middle East and Africa’s culture capitals, covering everything from the world’s largest Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi to Cairo’s Museum of Modern Egyptian Art. We also focus on food, with top chef Ali Ghzawi revealing his passion for Jordanian cuisine — from sharing plates to homespun flavours and Ali’s favourite ingredient, the cauliflower. 

All this plus a roundup of the best resorts, hotels and lodges to aid you in planning your next big trip. 

To read a sample of the Lakes & Mountains Collection, click here

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