BIG 5 THE VIRTUAL SAFARIS
1 Wild Earth
Drives take place in Djuma Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands Private Reserve as well as in &Beyond Ngala Private Reserve in the Timbavati, both adjacent to the Kruger National Park. They’re live at 6am – 9am and 3.30pm – 6.30pm daily and really manage to create the feeling that you’re on the vehicle too. Send questions via social media and the rangers will answer you there and then. See djuma.com/djuma-waterhole or https://wildearth.tv/safarilive.
2 Tintswalo Safari Lodge
Head guide Neil Jennings and regional manager Alistair Leuner film their daily drive in the Manyeleti Reserve in Mpumalanga, then edit the footage into a six- to eight-minute video and post it on social media. Find links to all their channels at tintswalo.com/safari.
3 Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Head ranger Andrew Kearney is doing a series of “lockdown” episodes, with highlights from his daily walks and drives, along with other titbits such as insights into life at the Eastern Cape reserve. Links to all their channels at shamwari.com.
4 Motswari Private Game Reserve
Motswari in the Timbavati has two guides patrolling daily, and they film their drives and post highlights on Instagram. @motswari_private
5 Singita Sabi Sand
Singita Sabi Sand is live-streaming game drives by resident photographer and former guide Ross Couper twice daily on Facebook and Instagram. The feed is also worth scrolling through for its phenomenal collection of photos from several lodges in Africa. Links to the channels are at singita.com.