Hotels and parks in Africa offer online safaris due to Corona
African vacations online: parks and hotels in Kenya and South Africa are defying the coronavirus crisis and offering online safaris to travel enthusiasts. The aim is also to generate more support for animal welfare.
"We thought, how can we bring Africa to our guests who can't come here?" said Nicole Robinson, Head of Marketing at AndBeyond. The hotel group recently started streaming safaris in four different reserves in South Africa live twice a day via Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Many people have had to cancel their vacations due to the coronavirus crisis. Safari tourism in countries such as South Africa and Kenya has plummeted. Many protected areas are therefore facing financial difficulties. Around 70 percent of the income of Ol Pejeta, a game reserve in Kenya, comes from tourism, as safari guide Samuel Mbogo said. This also finances the rangers who protect against poaching. "We are concerned about the safety of these animals." Ol Pejeta also streams a live safari once a day via Instagram.
The providers also hope to generate more support for animal welfare after the coronavirus crisis. "We have an opportunity here to bring the voice of nature to the forefront so that when normal life resumes, protecting these wild areas will be a priority," said Robinson. (SDA)
