Virtual Safari

Tintswalo Safari Lodge has received wide acclaim for its exciting virtual safaris which have been viewed over the past 2 year by fans locally and all over the world. When level 5 hard lock down first kicked in and its lodges were deserted, Tintswalo acted swiftly and instinctively to find a creative way to continue communication with loyal guests.

In the African bush nature played out as it had since the beginning of time, and the guides of Tintswalo Safari Lodge continued their early morning game drives to monitor animal activity and conservation in the reserve. Getting up at the crack of dawn, they started filming what became known as the Tintswalo Safari Lodge Virtual Safari’s, which were broadcast on social media around the globe.

The first virtual safari went live on 25 March 2020 with 41 092 views. Now, exactly a year and over 240 episodes later, Tintswalo’s Virtual Safaris have received an astonishing 14 million views from followers all over the world.

Says Alistair Leuner, Regional General Manager of Tintswalo’s Safari Operations: ‘During lockdown social media became a lifeline for many people, and so if our guests could not physically go on safari, the bush was brought right into their living rooms, wherever they were’.
Hosted and narrated by experienced guides, each and every virtual safari brought new adventures to the screen. From tracking the day-to-day movements of a herd of elephants and exhilarating sightings of wild dogs passing through the area, to following the Manyeleti’s magnificent Mbiri pride and finding a lion cub in a tree. Heart-warming comments and support poured in daily from fans far afield. This was reality TV at its most authentic best!

The game rich Manyeleti Nature Reserve is known world-wide for its Big 5 sightings, but also for its birdlife and many smaller and other interesting creatures. Tintswalo’s ‘On the Beat’ virtual safaris include video footage of actual sightings, including some of the exhilarating encounters experienced by its game rangers on patrol. Whilst nothing beats going on safari in real life, Tintswalo’s virtual safaris still continue and are said to be an inspiration to viewers to plan that bucket list safari trip of a lifetime.