What Is a Virtual Safari and Are You Missing Out?
A virtual safari, as the name suggests, is all about wildlife. Brought to you right out of the magnificent bush of Africa, and pioneered by South African lodges and private game reserves. It's their take on creating a docu-series of all the happenings for you to enjoy at home, wherever in the world that might be.
And things get wild!
From collaring lions:
To physically pulling a bull elephant with a rope in order to save it from a snare:
You never quite know what episode you’re in for, much like a real safari.
Another take on the digital safari is the drives that are streamed live from different properties across South Africa. These are fantastic, complex productions conducted by the company, Wild Earth.
Virtual Safaris differ from live safaris in the sense that virtual safaris are production designed to show you all aspects of the bush, and typically follow a cohesive story structure. Whereas, a live safari operates on a more unscripted, typical safari-like structure, where you, as the viewer, are on a drive with a qualified guide who interprets nature.
Content by David Clode
Who is It For?
The beauty of a virtual safari lies in its versatility. For the most part, they are family-friendly (beware that sometimes they do feature hunts), and can appeal to anyone remotely interested in nature or animals.
But virtual safaris truly shine when it comes to filling that gap when you’re missing the wild. Any safari enthusiast will know of this feeling: an uncontrollable urge to be back in the wilds of the Savanna, with the calls of hyenas and a wholesome bonfire burning gently at your feet.
Which Virtual Safaris to Watch?
If virtual safaris seem to be your thing, many will agree with you; they’re on the rise. Options are always good to have, and to make your experience easier, we highlighted some of our favourites.
The true pioneer of the virtual safari is a subject that is hotly debated. However, it would be a true injustice to talk about virtual safaris without mentioning the work being done by the Tintswalo virtual safari team! And with over 100,000 followers on YouTube, they are rightly one of the biggest.
The Virtual Safari @ Tintswalo is set in the Manyeleti. This is a protected wildlife area that borders the Kruger National Park. Famed for its lion sightings and dynamics.
The Tintswalo team puts out high-quality productions, and you can expect videos of lion pride breakdowns and all of the fantastic work that the lodge does for conservation.
With over 2 million subscribers on YouTube, Londolozi easily lays claim to having one of the biggest wildlife-focused channels in the game! But their following hasn’t come solely from virtual safaris.
The Londolozi team has been telling wildlife stories for years. Based in the Sabi Sands, they’re well-known for their incredible leopard sightings and the strong conservation culture that runs through everything they do.
Their team has an unmatched way of bringing wildlife stories to life. Big cat drama is almost a weekly occurrence. Like this sighting of lions unintentionally ambushing a famous cheetah family.
3. andBeyond
andBeyond is definitely one that we recommend keeping tabs on. They focus on meaningful storytelling, conservation efforts, and creating a deeper understanding of the natural world.
And for a nice spin on things, their virtual safaris focus on marine life too.
Conclusion
Virtual safaris are a great way to keep connected with the wild, even during the hustle of our lives far away. They’re easy to watch, and they always teach you a lot. If you ever find yourself with some free time on your hands, we definitely recommend checking a few episodes out.