
From the Garbage City of Cairo to the medical frontlines of the DRC, join us as we explore the world in the latest issue of Geographical
In our February issue, find out about the Zabbaleen who process Cairo’s garbage, climb to the summit of Earth’s peaks with Daniel Quinn, and head to the frontline of the DRC to discover how infectious diseases are being fought in an isolated, rural clinic.
Our columnists bring an array of topics to the forefront to help you stay on top of the world: Marco Magrini explains how we may need to rethink our food supply in the face of climate change, while Tim Marshall discusses the possible peace talks over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Andrew Brooks examines why fast fashion may be gearing up in speed, despite the use of popular resale apps like Depop and Vinted.
We celebrate the life and legacy of travel writer Dervla Murphy, whose indomitable journeys by bike, donkey and foot inspired a generation. Busy inspiring the next generation of explorers is YouTuber Paul ‘Barbs’ Barbato – read his travel insights after visiting 99 different countries in our regular Passport column.
This month, Geographical ‘s cover story takes an in-depth look at Singapore. A success story of unbridled modern capitalism, some point out this status has come at the high cost of personal freedom. Katie Burton explores the country’s unique blend of innovation and multiculturalism alongside a tightly controlled social framework, examining the tensions that this may cause.
Bryony Cottam explores how, decades on, from the greatest mass poisoning in history, tens of millions of people are still consuming arsenic-contaminated water across India and Bangladesh.
Rory Walsh discovers a different side to Oxford in the latest instalment of Discovering Britain, while Tristan Kennedy reflects on the remarkable climb performed by an American team up a 7,710-metre-high peak in the Himalayas – and the gear you need for mountaineering.
Our digital edition is out now, and you can not only read all the great stories in that issue, but our app also gives you access to our full archive dating back to 1935 with hundreds of magazines to explore. And if you want to enjoy our beautifully designed and produced print magazine, we can post the next edition to you anywhere in the world. Join us and stay on top of the world!
Singapore: prosperity at a price?

Soaring skyscrapers, glittering wealth, and world-class innovation: Singapore stands as a symbol of economic success and a model for rapid development. Yet, beneath its polished surface lies a nation wrestling with profound contradictions.
As Katie Burton reveals, the city-state’s meteoric rise has come with sacrifices, namely limited personal freedoms, growing reliance on migrant labour, and the pressing challenge of an ageing population.
At its core, Singapore’s story is one of transformation and tension – a society striving to balance progress and tradition in a rapidly changing world. Can it sustain this delicate equilibrium, or is its prosperity masking deeper cracks in its social fabric?
Cairo’s unsung heroes: The Zabbaleen

Amid the sprawling city of Cairo, a remarkable community is quietly transforming the city’s waste into a beacon of sustainability. The Zabbaleen, often overlooked and marginalised, are Cairo’s master recyclers, salvaging up to 80 per cent of the city’s rubbish in a way no modern system can match.
At the heart of their operation lies Mokattam Village, also known as Garbage City, where entire families collaborate to process mountains of refuse. Men navigate the city’s bustling streets, collecting waste from neighbourhoods with donkey carts or trucks, while women and children meticulously sort recyclable materials back in their crowded settlements. Pigs, a rare sight in Egypt, play a crucial role in their efforts, consuming organic waste and producing manure that enriches the local ecosystem.
Yet, life for the Zabbaleen is fraught with challenges. Government policies and attempts to corporatise waste management have repeatedly threatened their way of life. Despite this, their resilience persists. The Zabbaleen embody an important lesson for the world: that sustainability often begins with grassroots efforts, turning what is deemed worthless into something invaluable. Their work is not only a testament to human ingenuity but a powerful call to rethink our relationship with waste and sustainability.
Weather wonders

From the crackle of a lightning storm splitting the sky to the serene swirl of mist over a valley, the Weather Photographer of the Year awards showcase the many faces of weather that shape our planet. In our latest Gallery, we explore the fascinating images from the finalists.
Among these is the haunting image of a lone tree braving the winds of an approaching tornado, its branches stark against the churning storm clouds. Another frame captures delicate frost crystallising on a windowpane at sunrise. Elsewhere, photographers reveal the human relationship to weather, such as a fisherman silhouetted against a monsoon sky, or children leaping joyfully through a downpour in a drought-stricken village.
These photographs are more than art, but a reminder of weather’s immense power and our relationship to it.
The global project redefining mountain mapping

What defines a mountain’s prominence? For Daniel Quinn and his team, it’s a 1,000-metre threshold that reimagines how we see Earth’s topography. Known as a Ribu –Indonesian and Malay for ‘thousand’ – these peaks, numbering 7,150 worldwide, span 145 countries and all seven continents. From iconic summits such as Everest to unnamed, remote giants, Ribus highlight the dramatic rise of mountains above their surroundings.
First conceived in 2009 as a regional list in Indonesia, the concept expanded globally through a decade-long effort by a dedicated team. Using satellite data, GPS records, and trip reports, researchers identified Ribus across diverse terrains, from tropical forests to Antarctica’s ice domes. The result is a detailed catalogue of Earth’s most prominent peaks.
Prominence reveals not just elevation but a mountain’s dominance within its landscape. Peaks such as Kilimanjaro and Denali exemplify this, while even obscure Ribus offer new perspectives on Earth’s geography.
The impacts of malaria in the DRC

In the dense rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, malaria is a relentless adversary. At a remote clinic in the Ituri province, Dr Junior Mudji battles this deadly disease with limited resources and unyielding resolve. The clinic, surrounded by towering trees and a labyrinth of muddy paths, serves as a lifeline for isolated communities where access to healthcare is often a distant dream.
Armed with mosquito nets, makeshift diagnostic kits, and an understocked pharmacy, Dr Mudji and his team confront overwhelming odds daily. Children with fevers above 40°C arrive cradled by desperate mothers who have walked for hours, sometimes days, to reach care. The clinic’s solar panels frequently fail, plunging it into darkness and forcing doctors to work by torchlight as they administer life-saving treatments.
Malaria, though curable, remains one of the leading causes of death in the region, compounded by poverty, conflict, and climate change. Dr Mudji’s clinic is stretched thin, often running out of antimalarial drugs or IV fluids at critical moments.
Yet, resilience defines his team. With the support of NGOs and local outreach initiatives, they’ve distributed thousands of nets and educated villagers about prevention, creating ripples of change.
Ever-faster fashion

The rise of ultra-fast fashion has transformed how we consume clothing, creating a cycle of overproduction, waste, and exploitation. As Andrew Brooks explores, platforms such as Vinted – while promoting reuse – may have inadvertently fuelled this crisis, enabling consumers to quickly discard garments and make space for new, cheaply-made purchases.
Behind the glossy campaigns of second-hand sustainability lies a troubling truth: fast-fashion giants continue to churn out disposable clothing, feeding an endless loop of overconsumption.
Vinted and similar platforms offer a temporary reprieve, but they also mask the deeper problem – an industry teetering on the edge of unsustainability. As trends speed up, so too must efforts to tackle this growing environmental and ethical challenge.