Not everyone has the luxury of time to disengage and spend hours in our hide at Kenya’s ol Donyo Lodge just watching as One Ton the elephant saunters up to drink, or as zebras trot in and carve their way through the family of fringe-eared oryx or eland. They splash and wallow, chase one another, and after dark, strange creatures arrive at this waterhole.
But instead of feeling left out each day after your visit to camp, when you are back home, you can log on and ‘be there’ remotely via our webcam.
I have seen many offices and boardrooms around the world that are permanently live-streaming what is going on at the waterhole. It is like being there without the jet lag.
This webcam has been so successful that we have launched three new locations.
The first is along Zimbabwe’s Zambezi River, offering a completely different style and atmosphere. From Tembo Plains, the gentle movement of the great river is constant and tranquil, interrupted occasionally by the passing of hippos, crocodiles, and flashes of carmine bee-eaters. The river’s steady flow and the soft grunts of hippos are preferred by some who simply want the soundtrack of Africa while they square up against their Excel spreadsheets.
Last week, within the private Selinda Reserve of Botswana, we tested two more cameras for added variety.
One is located at Twin Pan near Zarafa, where thousands of elephants migrate between the seasonal rainwater pans, and a pack of painted dogs stopped to drink and cool their legs before running off. It is also proving to be an excellent spot for birdwatching.
The other, the Oxbow camera, is positioned on the Selinda Spillway, just a short distance from Selinda Camp. Regular herds of elephants and some buffalo are observed visiting here, along with a wide variety of antelope.
Each camera, or as we call them, ‘hidecam’, is a window into its region. As I write this, it is difficult to concentrate because of the zebras slashing and kicking excitedly, while last night a lioness circled a porcupine. All captured on camera.
Enjoy the hidecams and tell us what you think. Each is different, each a little like spending time watching your neighbours, except these neighbours really don’t mind at all.
The virtual experience may entice you to visit us again or be worth sharing with friends who are yet to visit for their first time, giving them a sense of what to expect when on safari with us – the sounds, the breeze in the grass, and the visuals. They will then have to add the extra sensory experiences upon arrival, including the smells of wild sage and elephants, the taste provided by our skilled chefs, and the joy of our family of staff.
