It’s the circle of life, and it moves us all. But sometimes it doesn’t move us in the direction of Africa — expenses, time, and previous travel plans get in the way — and then we’re left watching reruns of of The Lion King and Big Cat Diary to get our fix of the iconic animals of Africa’s grasslands.
Which isn’t always enough.
Enter Make It Kenya and Herd Tracker, partnering to bring you a world-first: a daily live stream of the wildlife in Kenya’s Mara Conservancy and the Kenya Coast, accessible on your tablet, smartphone, or PC.
Using Periscope, #KenyaLive started streaming on the 7th of January and will continue through the 18th. The goal was to bring the safari experience to internet users around the world, and to “show a global audience the beauty of Kenya.”
According to safari host Andre Van Kets, (co-hosting with Carel Verhoef) “#KenyaLive gives us the opportunity to showcase…majestic animals to the world in a non-intrusive way. Whilst watching the animals in their natural environment, we can also monitor their movements, ensuring their safety and protection from illegal poaching.”
So far, it’s been a rousing and thrilling success. Viewers have already had the privilege of witnessing lions hunt wildebeest to a successful kill, a high speed chase courtesy of the world’s fastest land animal, and the birth of a topi calf, a subspecies of antelope.
If you’re just starting to tune in now, you can look forward to another first: live underwater broadcasts featuring the turtles on the coastal town of Watamu, where the Local Total Trust helps rehabilitate injured reptiles, and returns them to the wild.
Inspired to help African wildlife yourself? Check out Tusk and Racing Extinction.
