2025 Wrap-Up: A Year Through Mya in Wild Land's Eyes

Oh wow! What a difference a year can make…

In 2025, Mya turned six... a monumental milestone. A year where something quietly, but powerfully, clicked.

Her confidence grew. Her compassion deepened. And her way of seeing the world became richer, steadier, more intentional - and no less magical than before!

This was a year of stopping. Noticing. Of asking fascinating questions - and learning to truly listen to the wild… to feel grounded in it, connected to it, and part of it.

Mya in Wild Land didn’t set out to chase trends or perfect videos. We followed curiosity and inspiration instead. And more often than not, Mya led the way - determined, wide-eyed, and full of sparkly passion!

This year reminded us that when children are allowed to lead with wonder (and a whole lot of  fun), they don’t just learn about nature… they begin to care for it - they begin to love it.

Loving the Wild Means Wanting to Protect It

This year, our wild journey took us through big moments… and beautifully small ones.

Early in the year, Mya visited the anti-poaching K9 unit at Tango K9. Watching incredibly skilled people and dogs work side by side to protect her wild land was nothing short of awe-inspiring. It opened up a whole new world of conservation for her - teamwork, dedication, and care in action - and naturally set the tone for the year.

Protecting nature, she learned, is a shared responsibility. Every action, no matter how small, has meaning… and can make a difference!

There were breath-holding encounters with the incredible, endangered African wild dogs and rhinos, where Mya gently used her voice to raise awareness for these magnificent wildlife wonders.

She happily busted the long-standing myth that hyenas are the villains of the bush, instead sharing their true story: intelligent, impressive, and vital to the ecosystem.

She brought fresh magic to one of the most commonly seen (and often overlooked) animals on safari - incredible impalas...

and introduced us to her most familiar wildlife visitors at home… her beloved “backyard bucks,” the nyalas.

All of this alongside moments that reminded us just how fragile - and how powerful, the wild really is.

And then there were the "small things"… often her favourites:

• Dung beetles, endlessly entertaining, doing their very important work.

• A real-life Princess and the Frog moment, watching amphibians transform before our eyes.

• Spiders weaving stories in silk - much to her pappa’s fear (eight legs are not his thing), but completely adored by Mya, who loved hunting for them, chatting about them, and proudly introducing them to us.

• Grass - quietly holding entire ecosystems together, unnoticed but essential.

Some lessons were loud. Most were gentle. All of them mattered.

And every single one of them was Mya.

Learning as Play: Where Conservation Begins

2025 was also the year we experimented with something new… learning as play.

Through Tippie the Elephant, we explored how education - and specifically learning how to read - can be joyful, gentle, and deeply connected to nature. Letters became part of stories, stories became part of the wild, and learning was never separated from curiosity.

We came to understand something important: education is the root of conservation. Like the roots of a tree, it’s mostly unseen - but it’s where everything begins. When children learn with nature, rather than just about it, they grow understanding, empathy, and respect. And from that, care - and protection - naturally follow.

Mya loved getting to know Tippie and his friends, learning alongside them through their adventures... stories and lessons woven together with her own moments in the wild.

This was a meaningful chapter for us. One that showed just how powerful learning can be when it’s rooted in wonder instead of pressure. While this won’t be a central focus of Mya in Wild Land in the seasons ahead, it was an important time - a reminder of how naturally children grow when learning feels playful, connected, and inspired by the world around them.

A Few Favorites from the Year…

🦁 Favourite animal moment

There are most definitely too many to choose, but Mya loved watching a pride of lions feed on a buffalo late at night (way past her bedtime) under a full moon, with the bone-chilling calls of a clan of hyenas all around.

💎 Favourite little discoveries

Rocks with pretty colors and textures like quartz! She also never misses the chance to collect porcupine quills and bird feathers.

😂 Favourite laugh

Mya loves making us giggle - especially “bloopers” on purpose while filming her videos. In the wild, she endlessly laughs at elephants and zebras farting!

🌳 Favourite fun activity in the bush

Climbing trees... so high she’s often completely camouflaged (to the worry of her mother). Lately, her absolute favourite is running freely in the summer rain.

📸 Mya's favourite photos 

We would like to give a special thank-you to Young Wildlife Photographers and Canon South Africa for supporting Mya's photography journey since the very beginning. She loves taking photos and she has chosen the following photos as her favorites this year...

📚 Favourite reminder that learning can be fun

Mya realized how much fun learning is when she can share it with others - not just through her videos and the beautiful comments she receives, but also on game drives with her family, where she eagerly shares her knowledge and tries to impress her friends.

🌱 Favourite bush trip

Mya had the wonderful opportunity of revisiting her homeland in the northern Kruger National Park - The Outpost lodge. This is where she spent the first 3 years of her life... in between ancient Baobabs and magical Fever-tree forests.

🎒 Favourite way Mya stayed wild this year

The family went on a “mini backpack trail,” carrying all our gear - tent, sleeping bags, food… and Mya’s teddies too. After a short walk hearing lions roar, spotting striking wildflowers, and discovering interesting dung, we set up a primitive camp. Mya spent her first night sleeping in the wilderness... breathtaking and magical. Packing up and walking home, it became an adventure we'll never forget.

✨ Some moments are too special to choose… and that feels just right.

An Unexpected Honour: Let’s Arise Together

One of the most meaningful moments of the year was Mya being invited as a virtual speaker at the NGO Whisperer Global Summit, hosted in London, UK - themed Let’s Arise Together.

In her pre-recorded five-minute talk, Mya shared how deeply connected nature is… and how we are too. She spoke about ecosystems, interdependence, and our shared responsibility to care for the world around us. She even linked her message to the words of Dr Jane Goodall: that every single one of us has an impact on the world, and it is our choice what we do with that impact.

The experience gave Mya a deeper glimpse into the wider world of conservation - how many people, across countries and causes, are working together to protect what matters. It inspired her and helped her see that her love for the wild is part of something much bigger.

The talk was woven together with little highlights from her earlier videos too - moments captured when she was even smaller - gently reflecting the journey she’s been on and how her voice, confidence, and understanding have grown along the way.

It was a powerful reminder that age does not limit insight… and that young voices can carry important truths. 🌍

From Curiosity to Sharing the Wild

As the year comes to a close, that same curiosity inspired something new - the Wildlander Store, home to Mya in Wild Land merch.

Mya’s favourite things in nature, the rainbow’s colours, the fast-flying dragonfly (featured in her logo), and little glimpses of magic she notices everywhere - all shaped the designs and spirit of the store.

Now, her little friends and big friends alike can share in the fun of staying wild. Every purchase connects them to the joy of discovery, the magic of nature, and the very real work of conservation. A portion of each sale contributes directly to supporting the anti-poaching units that first inspired Mya’s love for protecting the wild.

In this way, curiosity has turned into action, wonder into shared experience, and a year of learning into a whole community of Wild Landers ♥️

Looking Ahead

As we step into a new year, we’re not setting rigid plans or expectations.

We’re choosing curiosity. We’re choosing slowness.

We’re choosing to let Mya lead - and to continue sharing the wild as we experience it: honestly, joyfully, and with open hearts.

We would also like to thank the incredible, like-minded people who have been part of this year - our collaborators, the friends who have sent Mya thoughtful, nature-inspired gifts and books, and those who have supported and encouraged her along the way.

And to each and every one of you who have been staying wild with Mya on this journey... thank you!

For walking beside us and celebrating the small moments. And for helping bring more love for nature into the world, and for one another, through it. 🌿

With love from Mya in Wild Land,

STAY WILD!

See more of Mya's special moments on Instagram ❤️

We'd love to know - what's your favourite memory, video, or lesson you've learned from Mya in Wild Land this year?