There are books you flip through, and then there are books you feel.
EDEN – Soul of Africa, the latest coffee table publication by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Armand Grobler, belongs firmly to the second category.
Created over a year spent immersed in Botswana’s wilderness, the book captures three of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes: the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari, and the Tuli region. Weaving powerful photography with emotional storytelling, the book resonates long after the final page.
HPH Publishing describes it perfectly as:
“A breathtaking visual and emotional journey through the Okavango, the Kalahari and the ancient wilderness that shapes our deepest human memory.”
The Okavango Delta needs little introduction. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the natural wonders of the world, it is a water-laced Eden of winding channels, papyrus-lined floodplains, and astonishing wildlife density. It is where elephants silently cross mirrored lagoons, lions prowl reed islands, and life unfolds in rhythm with the pulse of seasonal floodwaters.
Then there is the Kalahari: vast, soulful, and unexpectedly alive. Here, the wilderness feels ancient and raw. Endless horizons. Sculpted dunes. Star-filled skies. The Kalahari reminds travellers that silence can be powerful, and that wildness is not always loud.
These landscapes are celebrated globally, yet Botswana holds something else. Something far less spoken about, and perhaps even more emotionally stirring.
Last year we had the privilege to host Armand several times at our Koro camps in the Central Tuli Block and experienced his deep passion for nature and nature conservation and his talent for wildlife and landscape photography. With his background as a guide and his keen interest in technology he has created a new style of photography whereby wildlife is seen from a different perspective and often placed in the greater context of the area itself. His drone images showing how leopards hide their kill whilst at the same time the dramatic landscape of Tuli is depicted in all its facets, is in my opinion one of the best representations of this unknown area and the hidden gem it still is. His elephant close ups are unique… But over and above this, this coffee table book is one of the first that shows three major wildlife areas all in one and is not to be missed by anybody who visits Botswana or is involved in tourism in this magnificent country.
For travellers, EDEN – Soul of Africa is pure wanderlust. It’s a book to dream with before a journey, or a treasured keepsake afterwards. For the travel trade, it is an inspiring reminder of why Botswana remains one of the world’s most compelling safari destinations, especially regions like Tuli, which deserve greater awareness.
As Jillian Blackbeard, CEO of Africa’s Eden, notes:
“EDEN highlights not only the beauty of Botswana’s iconic destinations, but also the extraordinary depth found in regions like Tuli. It is a powerful storytelling tool for the travel trade, helping showcase why Botswana continues to lead in authentic, conservation-driven safari experiences that truly connect travellers with place.” With more than 220 pages of cinematic photography and 22,000+ words of storytelling, EDEN – Soul of Africa is a reminder that Botswana is as diverse as it is wild.
