Mark Ziese

January 18, 2026

Exploring Israel-Palestine, Plants & Animals

“Death in the Pot!”: Solving the Mystery of Elisha’s Poisonous Stew

Mark Ziese

January 18, 2026

Exploring Israel-Palestine, Plants & Animals

What was the "death in the pot" in Elisha's stew? Explore the biblical botany of the Sodom Apple, Colocynth, and Prophetic Cucumber in 2 Kings 4:38-41. . .

Mark Ziese

January 16, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Teamwork in the Wild: The Wattled Starling and the Wildebeest

Mark Ziese

January 16, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the fascinating "teamwork" between the Wattled Starling and the Wildebeest. Learn how mutualistic symbiosis works in the wild and why we work better in teams . . .

Mark Ziese

January 14, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Scavengers of Ngorongoro: Lessons on Energy and Renewal

Mark Ziese

January 14, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Explore the "10 percent rule of energy transfer" in the wild and see how the "clean-up crew" of the Ngorongoro Crater reflects the ancient wisdom of Psalm 104 . . .

Mark Ziese

January 13, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Standing Tip-Toe: The Nimble World of Kirk’s Dik-dik

Mark Ziese

January 13, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover Kirk’s dik-dik, the tiny 18-inch antelope of East Africa. Learn about its "toe-walking" anatomy and how even-toed ungulates achieve incredible speed . . .

Mark Ziese

January 11, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Spotted in the Grass: The Elusive Serval Cat of Ngorongoro Crater

Mark Ziese

January 11, 2026

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Catch a rare glimpse of the elusive serval cat in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater. Learn about the "delicate cat," its unique anatomy, and its survival in the wild . . .

Mark Ziese

December 28, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Sounds of the Spotted Hyena

Mark Ziese

December 28, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Heard the "whoops" and "cackles" of the spotted hyena? Those sounds may be communicating more than you think.

Mark Ziese

November 5, 2025

Exploring Egypt, Plants & Animals

The Hoopoe: The Bird of Kings and Wisdom

Mark Ziese

November 5, 2025

Exploring Egypt, Plants & Animals

Discover the Hoopoe (Hudhud) in Luxor. Explore its royal status in Ancient Egypt, biblical references, and its role as King Solomon’s messenger in folklore.

Mark Ziese

October 30, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Facultative Nomad: Birdwatching in Tanzania

Mark Ziese

October 30, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the unique habits of the Yellow-billed stork, the "facultative nomad" of Africa. Join our waitlist for 2027 Tanzania wildlife safaris.

Mark Ziese

October 28, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Ostrich Brain-to-Body Ratio: Wisdom, Job 39, and the Assfish

Mark Ziese

October 28, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Did you know an ostrich's brain weighs only 1.5 ounces? Explore the "wisdom" of the ostrich and join us on a Tanzanian safari to see them in person.

Mark Ziese

October 23, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Shade Seekers: The Social World of the Giraffe

Mark Ziese

October 23, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover how giraffes communicate through barks, chirps, and signals. Join our 2026 or 2027 Africa safari to see a "tower" of giraffes in the wild.

Mark Ziese

October 21, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Secret of Cheetah Tear Lines: Malar Stripes

Mark Ziese

October 21, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Why do cheetahs have tear lines? Learn how malar stripes reduce glare for these fast felines. Join us for a Central Serengeti safari adventure!

Mark Ziese

October 16, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Giants of Tarangire: Baobabs, Elephants, and the Tree of Life

Mark Ziese

October 16, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the ancient baobabs of Tarangire National Park. Learn why these 1,000-year-old "upside-down" trees are the ultimate "Tree of Life" for African elephants.

Mark Ziese

October 15, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Serengeti Hippo Pool: Bloats, Bacteria, and Safari Perfume

Mark Ziese

October 15, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Experience the chaos of a hippo bloat in the Serengeti. Learn about hippo behavior, from their "windshield wiper" tails to their incredible immune systems.

Mark Ziese

October 14, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Smiling Eland: Secrets of Africa’s Largest Antelope

Mark Ziese

October 14, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the docile "liquid eyes" and spiral horns of the eland. Join our February 2027 Tanzania safari to see these gentle giants in the Serengeti.

Mark Ziese

October 10, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Noble Lappet-faced Vulture: Africa’s Largest Scavenger

Mark Ziese

October 10, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the Endangered Lappet-faced vulture. With a 9ft wingspan and distinctive malar folds, see this "noble" scavenger on our 2026 African Safari.

Mark Ziese

October 9, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Duck-Duck-Goose: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Mark Ziese

October 9, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Is it a goose or a duck? Discover the Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca), its unique "bandit mask," and where to spot them on our 2026 African Safari.

Mark Ziese

October 7, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Fork-tailed Drongo: Africa’s Greatest Kleptoparasite

Mark Ziese

October 7, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the Fork-tailed drongo, the African bird that mimics predators to steal food. Join one of our 2026/2027 safaris to see this "kleptoparasite" in action.

Mark Ziese

October 4, 2025

Exploring Türkiye, Plants & Animals, History & Archaeology

White Storks, Roman Ruins & Biblical History

Mark Ziese

October 4, 2025

Exploring Türkiye, Plants & Animals, History & Archaeology

See White Storks nesting on Roman columns in Ephesus. Join our 2026 Türkiye tours in March, June, or October to explore the New Testament & ancient ruins.

Mark Ziese

October 3, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Little Bee-eater: East Africa’s Most Dazzling Safari Bird

Mark Ziese

October 3, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Discover the Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus) and its unique "superciliary" blue eyebrow. Join our 2026 Tanzania safari to see these emerald gems in the wild.

Mark Ziese

October 1, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

The Secretarybird: Africa’s Fierce Snake-Hunting Raptor

Mark Ziese

October 1, 2025

Exploring Tanzania, Plants & Animals

Meet the Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)—the eagle on crane legs. Learn how this endangered raptor hunts snakes on our 2026 African Safari.