Tourism & Travel News South Africa

Kenya's wildebeest migration live

From 20 to 25 September, digital spectators can enjoy a live streaming of the wildebeest migration via Facebook and YouTube in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve, made possible by a partnership between WildEarth and HerdTracker.
Wildebeest crossing the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. Image: Stuart Price
Wildebeest crossing the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. Image: Stuart Price

The live broadcasts will be hosted daily on HerdTracker’s Facebook page and WildEarth’s safariLIVE YouTube channel between 4pm to 11.30pm EAT (East Africa Time) and will centre around the wildebeest migration crossing the Nile crocodile-infested Mara River as well as predatory action of lions hunting at night in the Masai Mara.

WildEarth will also be broadcasting live from South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, an excellent Big Five safari destination which shares a border with the Kruger National Park.

Authentic African safari experience

Graham Wallington, CEO of WildEarth hopes to show viewers who tune into the live broadcasts an authentic African safari experience.

“One of the scenes that is brought to mind when people think of Africa, are the vast expanses of open land and myriads of different herbivorous species streaming across these great plains as they follow the torrential rains, always seeking out the best grazing areas. Of course, this is an absolute feast for the predators who really get their claws stuck in after sunset.”

“After the sun has gone down, we are going to be using infrared lighting and thermal imaging for the very first time during our live safaris, so don’t miss out on a second of the action.”

Encouraging international travellers to visit Kenya

Andre Van Kets, creator of the HerdTracker web-app which tracks the wildebeest migration in real-time and removes the fear that travellers have when planning a migration safari, hopes that by broadcasting the wildebeest migration live, it will encourage more international travellers to make Kenya their chosen holiday destination and to experience this natural phenomenon for themselves.

“The wildebeest migration is one of nature’s greatest spectacles. The river crossings are the main reasons why thousands of travellers flock to the Masai Mara every year. We want to show the world just why they need to witness it for themselves here in Kenya.”

In October 2015, HerdTracker in partnership with Make It Kenya hosted #MaraLive - the world’s first live web broadcast of the great wildebeest migration from the Masai Mara, Kenya via Twitter’s Periscope app.

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