The Nature Diary:  Water for the Future: Rebuilding the Jukskei river and the city

Gugs Mhlungu chats with Resident CSI and conservationist Tim Neary and Romy Stander, Director and co-founder of the NGO, Water for the Future, about their efforts to restore the Jukskei River and improve the health of Johannesburg’s waterways through nature-based solutions. They also discuss the or…

The Nature Diary: The Lowveld Botanical Society – where people and plants meet

Gugs Mhlungu speaks with resident CSI and conservationists Tim Neary and Stephen Mallory, key members of the Botanical Society of South Africa (BotSoc) - Lowveld Branch in Mpumalanga, about the organisation's work in plant conservation, its efforts to protect indigenous flora, environmental educati…

The Nature Diary: Can South Africa lead the world in inclusive conservation?

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and conservationist Tim Neary and Angus Burns, senior manager of WWF’s Land and Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, about what inclusive biodiversity looks like in practical terms. They unpack the importance of active land management by communities and individu…

The Nature Diary: More than a hike – the stories hidden in the Cape Peninsula

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and conservationist Tim Neary, alongside accredited mountain guide, trail designer, and Wilderness Search and Rescue volunteer Tim Lundy, about the updated edition of a beloved hiking guide originally written by Lundy’s father. Having re-walked every route feat…

The Nature Diary: Mother’s Day special – exploring motherhood in the ocean

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and conservationist Tim Neary and Maryke Masson, executive manager of Conservation Education and Communications at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research, about motherhood in the animal kingdom. They explore the parenting behaviours of mar…

The Nature Diary: Fisherman rescues python from the ocean

Gugs Mhlungu chats to Tim Neary, resident CSI and nature conservationist, and snake rescuer Nick Evans about the tale of the ocean-based Python rescue. Gugs Mhlungu is your weekend companion for thoughtful conversations on lifestyle, health, culture, books, food, and everything happening around 70…

The Nature Diary: How drones are saving South Africa’s flamingo population

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and conservationist Tim Neary and Matt Pretorius, Endangered Wildlife Trust's Wildlife and Energy Programme project manager, about a drone-led initiative to fit overhead warning lights onto a municipal power line.  It is aimed at helping protect the local flami…

The Nature Diary: World Earth Day 2026 and the importance of biodiversity

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and conservationist Tim Neary and Angus Burns, senior manager of WWF’s Land and Biodiversity Stewardship Programme, about Angus’s passion for photography and conservation. They discuss the importance of biodiversity and sustainable living in caring for the plan…

The Nature Diary: Can DNA help find animals we haven’t seen in decades?

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and nature conservationist Tim Neary and and Dr Samantha Theron (Mynhardt), conservation genetics researcher, part of the EWT's expert-led eDNA about interesting innovative search systems.  This includes environmental DNA (eDNA) used to trace genetic clues and …

The Nature Diary: Deep dive into Jean Napier Hattingh’s life underwater

Gugs Mhlungu chats with resident CSI and nature conservationist Tim Neary and Jean Hattingh, diver, record-holding spear fisherwoman and author of Against the Tide. Hattingh talks about her journey in spearfishing, the challenges she has faced, including gender discrimination and close encounters…