Boyes, founder of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, has dedicated his life to conserving Africa’s wilderness areas and the species that depend upon them. This project involves a multi-year effort aimed at exploring and protecting the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, which is the water source for the world’s largest transboundary conservation area and two-thirds of Africa’s remaining elephants. . Boyes is known for his dauntless explorations of science’s uncharted areas, like a recent voyage to a mythical herd of ‘Ghost Elephants’.

A recipient of the prestigious 2024 Wayfinder Award, Costa has dedicated his career to protecting Angola’s natural and cultural heritage. As the Angola country director for the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project, he led scientific expeditions deep into some of southern Africa’s most remote rivers, while advocating for the powerful role of Indigenous ecological knowledge. Together with Boyes, Costa went on a mission to follow a mysterious herd of ‘Ghost Elephants’ in the jungles of Angola. Their exciting adventures have been featured in National Geographic’s documentary ‘Ghost Elephants’, which premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2025.