“With stunning photos and compelling text, this important book not only captures the complexities of this vital ecosystem, but emphasises the urgent need for conservation efforts that combine science and compassion.”
– Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace

About the Book

The Rift is more than a place − it’s a concept. It exists simultaneously as a geological phenomenon and a cultural crucible, a spiritual landscape and a biological archive. Like Schrödinger’s cat, it is cultural, ecological, political and personal − all at once.

This book is not a definitive account, but a dynamic exploration. With contributions from experts like Professor Don Johanson, Daudi Peterson and Valerie Browning AM, it weaves together science, storytelling and photography. Readers are invited to return to these pages often, discovering new insights each time.

The Rift is our origin story, a living laboratory and a mirror to our future. May this book inspire deeper understanding, greater appreciation, and more stories yet to be told.

About the Author

Shem Compion is a South African photographer, filmmaker and naturalist whose work has taken him from volcanic peaks to remote wildlife hides across Africa.

As co-founder and Managing Director of C4 Photo Safaris, he leads photographic expeditions into the continent’s wildest corners. His innovative underground hides have drawn global acclaim, offering rare eye-level views of elephants and birds.

Shem says: “For most people, the Rift Valley is an abstraction, but I hope this landmark book, with its imagery and essays, brings a tangible way of celebrating, educating, commemorating and highlighting the significant history of the Rift, its present and the future.”

Shem’s images have featured in top international competitions and major productions, including BBC Planet Earth and Tales by Light on Netflix. He co-produced the documentary Zero to Zero, capturing South Africa’s Covid-19 story, and has published seven books. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Shem continues to push creative boundaries in nature photography.

For more information, visit: https://www.therift.africa/

You Are Invited

Johannesburg Book Launch

Date: Saturday, 29 November 2025
Time: 14:00
Venue: Wits University – Origins Centre

Cape Town Book Launch

Date: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Time: 17:00
Venue: ORMS – 66 Roeland Street, Gardens

To RSVP for the above events, click here:
RSVP Form