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WildEarth (founded in 2006 by Emily Wallington and Graham Wallington) is a South African broadcasting company primarily based at Djuma Game Reserve[1], part of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, focusing primarilly on the education and conservation of African Wildlife. WildEarth are best known for their three hour live safaris (also known as SafariLive from 2014 to 2019, when they collaborated with Nat Geo Wild) that are broadcast twice a day on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch. The drives take place at Djuma Private Game Reserve, Ngala Reserve, Phinda Reserve, Tswalu Kalahari and Pridelands Reserve, and formerly took place at the Maasai Mara in Kenya from 2017 to 2019, as well as Karongwe reserve in April 2020. As of May 2019, they have over 250,000 subscribers on Youtube, 23,596 followers on Twitch, 31,740 followers on Facebook and 40,900 followers on Twitter, making them one of the most followed broadcasting companies in South Africa. They also operate a 24/7 live camera (set up in 1998 and referred to as "dam cam" by viewers) located at a man-made water hole in Djuma Private Game Reserve, which is viewed by over 43,000 people from around the world. This camera allows viewers to see various animals that live in Djuma and neighbouring reserves. Viewers can also discuss animals seen there via the live chat. The comapny has also been featured on news broadcasts such as CNN[2], The Washington Post[3], NBC News[4], Yahoo![5] and BBC News[6] due to the popularity and viewship of the live drives increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are currently collaborating with AndBeyond[7] at Ngala[8] and Phinda[9] Reserves (starting from April 2019)[10], Eco Training[11], who broadcast the drives from Karongwe Reserve[12] between April 2019 to May 2019 (these drives were prematurely ended, however, due to a hunting incident that took place at Karongwe in 2013)[13] and Pridelands Reserve[14], as well as Tswalu Game Reserve[15] in the Kalahari and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. The first hour of the live drives are now being broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation[16].

Broadcasting

The live drives (which run twice a day) are streamed on various social media platforms, including Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch. The drives take place in various reserves, including Sabi Sands, Maasai Mara, Tswalu Kalahari, Phinda, Ngala and Pridelands. The live drives are also broadcast in joint collaboration with CGTN Africa and SABC. As of August 2020, WildEarth has launched a TV channel, which is currently only available to South-African audiences.

Live Drives

Every morning and evening (Central Africa Time), Wildearth do 3-hour live drives in Djuma and Ngala. These drives feature a driver, who takes you around the area and also provides information about what is being seen, as well as a camera operator, who films the animals that are being seen during the drive. At the start is of each drive is a 45 minute "Kids" segment, where children can ask question via emailing WildEarth. After this segment ends, a 2-hour 45 minute segment starts, where other viewers can ask question via the live-chat. These drives have been broadcast since 2007, and some older drives have been archived by viewers.

WildEarth also upload highlights from drives (such as sightings of cubs) on their Youtube channel.

Animals

Animals featured on the WildEarth include spotted hyenas, lions, leopard, hippopotamus and elephants. Rhinoceros are not shown on the broadcasts except for in Phinda and the Maasai Mara due to threat of poaching.

Some animals featured on the live drives have been named by the guides, lodges and viewers. These include the hyenas, lions and leopards. Some named animals include Ribbon, Corky, Ntima, Ndebele (members of the Djuma hyena clan, with Ribbon as the matriarch), Tingana and Thandi (leopards). These names are used to help viewers and guides indentify different animals featured on both the drives and live camera, and to also form a connection with the animals.

List of named animals:
Animal name Species Status Gender Date born Date died/dispersed Age (approx)
Karula Leopard Deceased Female Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Thandi Leopard Alive Female Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Tlalamba Leopard Alive Female Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Tingana Leopard Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Hukumuri Leopard Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Hosana Leopard Dispersed Male Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Corky Spotted Hyena Alive Female August-September 2009 Surviving 10 years, 8-9 months
Ribbon Spotted Hyena Alive Female Unknown date 2013 Surviving 7 years
Ntima Spotted Hyena Alive Female February 2017 Surviving 2 years, 3 months
Lamula Spotted Hyena Deceased Unknown February 2017 May 2017 3 months
Plonk Spotted Hyena Deceased Male September 2018 August 2017 11 months
Tripod Spotted Hyena Deceased Female Unknown date December 2015 Unknown
No-Tail Spotted Hyena Deceased Male Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Limbani Spotted Hyena Deceased Female May 2017 June 2017 3 years, 6 months
Faulco Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Sotho Spotted Hyena Alive Female December 2018 Surviving 1 year, 5 months
Tswana Spotted Hyena Deceased Female December 2018 November 2018 1 year
Pedi Spotted Hyena Deceased Female February 2019 August 2019 10 months
Ndebele Spotted Hyena Alive Female August-September 2018 Surviving 1 year, 8-9 months
Swazi Spotted Hyena Alive Male August-September 2018 Surviving 1 year, 8-9 months
Basaluka Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Fika Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date 2014 Surviving 6 years
Kikao Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Khosa Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Madame Spotted Hyena Deceased Female Unknown date 2007 April 2017 10 years
Pretty Spotted Hyena Deceased Female Unknown date 2012-2013 November 2019 6-7 years
Ntumbela Spotted Hyena Unknown Male February 2015 Unknown date 2016 5 years, 3 months
Jan Spotted Hyena Deceased Female January 2016 Unknown date 2017 1 year, 2 months
Ary Spotted Hyena Unknown Male January 2016 Unknown date 4 years, 4 months
Dyambu Spotted Hyena Deceased Unknown 10 August 2017 November 2017 3 months
Nweti Spotted Hyena Deceased Unkown August 2017 November 2017 3 months
November Spotted Hyena Unknown Male November 2015 Unknown date 4 years
D1 Spotted Hyena Deceased Female December 2015 January 2017 1 year, 1 month
D2 Spotted Hyena Unknown Male December 2015 Unknown date 4 years, 5 months
Ngwenya Spotted Hyena Deceased Female Unknown date 2004-2005 November 2017 12-13 years
Makwavo Spotted Hyena Unknown Male Unknown date 2013 Unknown date 7 years
Soul Spotted Hyena Dispersed Male February 2015 Unknown date 2018 3 years
Heart Spotted Hyena Alive Female February 2015 Surviving 5 years, 3 months
Teddy Spotted Hyena Unknown Male August 2011 June 2014 8 years, 9 months
Scarback Spotted Hyena Deceased Female Unknown date July 2017 Unknown
Ndapandula Spotted Hyena Deceased Male September 2014 March 2015 5 years, 8 months
June Spotted Hyena Alive Female June 2015 Surviving 4 years, 11 months
Kuma Spotted Hyena Unknown Male Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Floppy Ear Spotted Hyena Deceased Female Unknown date Unknown date 2011-2012 Unknown
Sirhelela Spotted Hyena Unknown Male Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Kala Spotted Hyena Unkown Male Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Comet Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Tsaka Spotted Hyena Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Nkombo Spotted Hyena Unknown Male Unknown date 2013 Unknown date 5 years
Dark Mane Lion Alive Male Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Purple Eyes Lion Alive Female Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Amber Eyes Lion Alive Female Unknown date Unknown date Unknown
Xidulu Leopard Alive Female Unknown date Surviving Unknown
Nghwazi Spotted Hyena Alive Male 27th March 2020 Surviving 4 months
Ximbulu Spotted Hyena Alive Male 27th March 2020 Surviving 4 months

Guides

Over the years, WildEarth has employed numerous guides for the live safari drives. As well as showing the animals to people, they also provide information on what's being seen. The guides will also try and answer questions asked by viewers via live chat on Youtube, Twitch, Facebook and Twitter.

Guides who have presented the safari drives:

Lauren Arthur (current member)

Trishala Naidu (current member)

Jamie Paterson (former member)

James Hendry (current member)

Tristan Dicks (current member)

Steve Faulconbridge (current member)

Brent Leo-Smith (former member)

Tayla McCurdy (former member, but currently features as a guest guide with Eco Training)

Roan Du Plessis (guest guide with AndBeyond Ngala)

Shaun Marshall (guest guide with AndBeyond Ngala)

Eric Exelby (guest guide with AndBeyon Ngala)

Ale Olivieris (former member)

Noelle Van Muiden (former member, sometimes features as a guest guide)

David Hancock (former member, sometimes features as a guest guide)

Sydney Mikosi (former member)

Xoli Tlou (former member)

Jackie Govender (former member)

Patrick Fitzgerald (former member)

David Githu (former member)

Scott Dyson (former member)

Nick de Jongh (former member)

Pieter Pretorius (former member)

Helen Rohrs - de Jongh (former member)

Rexon (former member)

Alex Sletten (former member)

Marco Tonoli (former member)

Angie (former member)

Lieschen (former member)

Ralph (former member)

Patrick Gumede (former member)

Moses Sithole (former member)

Kaiser Charles (former member)

Marc Weiner (former member)

Stefan Winterboer (former member)

References

  1. ^ "Djuma Game Reserve | Vuyatela | Galago Camp | African Safari Game Lodges, South Africa". Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  2. ^ Wild dogs, lions, elephants: See them roam from your computer - CNN Video, retrieved 2020-05-09
  3. ^ Djunga, Heather (2020-05-04). "Go on safari at home with a twice-daily live-stream from South Africa". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  4. ^ "Virtual safari company sees huge increase in business after coronavirus lockdown". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  5. ^ "Virus lockdown boosts South African virtual safari tours". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  6. ^ "Safaris go virtual as coronavirus hits tourism". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  7. ^ "Luxury African Safaris | South America & Asia Tours | andBeyond". Luxury African Safaris,South America & South Asia Tours|andBeyond. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  8. ^ "andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge | Kruger | Big Five | South Africa". Luxury African Safaris,South America & South Asia Tours|andBeyond. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  9. ^ "&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve | South Africa | andBeyond". Luxury African Safaris,South America & South Asia Tours|andBeyond. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  10. ^ "WILDwatch Live | Daily Live Stream Safaris from &Beyond and WildEarth". Luxury African Safaris,South America & South Asia Tours|andBeyond. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  11. ^ "EcoTraining - Guides & Guardians - FGASA Accredited Training Courses". EcoTraining. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  12. ^ "Karongwe Portfolio – safari lodges near Kruger National Park". Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  13. ^ Peter. "WildEarth to stop broadcasting from Karongwe - Graham to hold town hall after the Sunset Drive". WildEarth. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  14. ^ "Pridelands, South Africa". EcoTraining. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  15. ^ "Tswalu - Private Game Reserve in Northern Cape". Tswalu. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  16. ^ "Safari Live SABC3". SABC3.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External Links:

WildEarth (official website)

WildEarth - YouTube (Youtube)

WildEarth (@wildearthofficial) • Instagram photos and videos (Instagram)

[1] (Twitter)

WildEarth.TV (Facebook)

wildearth - Twitch (Twitch)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WildEarth&oldid=975455556"