Welcome to African Cams Live
Updated March 2020
It’s drizzling in north-eastern South Africa. I can see the droplets hit the edge of the watering hole, sending tiny ripples across the surface. Suddenly I hear the loud call of an exotic bird and it jars me. Reflexively, I jump in my seat.
Nearby a large bull elephant drinks his fill. He rolls his trunk in towards his face and with his head lifted, tilts it back and releases the liquid into his mouth. His tusks, evenly spaced, large and of equal length, remind me of a forklift and I hear that mechanical hydraulic sound in my head.
I’m obsessed.
African Cams are live streams from key locations in Africa where animals frequent such as watering holes and rivers. As with all things wildlife, you may not see something every time but I’d be surprised if you didn’t.
I like to crank up the audio and listen to the sounds of the birds, frogs and wildlife when I’m working or reading. It’s as if the bush is right outside.
Below are three of my favorite African cams for you to enjoy.
Tembe Elephant Park Live Cam
Live around the clock, the camera zooms in and pans a watering hole popular with elephants in the Tembe Elephant Park in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. According to the website, the elephants there are the largest in the world.
This live cam offers crystal-clear audio, so even if I’m not looking at the webpage, the sounds of the bush still float through my apartment. And believe me, there is a lot to hear. In the evenings, the site uses night vision technology and you’ll be amazed at how much you can see.
I’ve seen elephants, impala, and giraffe, and heard all kinds of bird calls. One time, I think a predator was nearby because I could hear the familiar Impala alarm—half grunt, half sneeze—blowing up my speakers. When I looked, a small herd was running for the treeline. I couldn’t see what spooked them, unfortunately.
National Geographic Wild Safari Live
Twice a day (10 am and 11:30 pm EST) National Geographic Wild Safari Live features a variety of rangers from South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara.
The guides discuss what they’re seeing, provide great information, and answer questions submitted in real-time on Twitter. If you want to join the fun, you can ask questions via the @Wildearth Twitter feed and use the hashtag #SafariLive. Or watch the live cam on Twitter if you prefer.
Explore.org
Explore.org offers a few Africams to choose from. You can access Tembe National Park on this feed too in addition to
- Naledi Cat-EYE African Cam — View animals at the eye level of a leopard for a completely different perspective. (According to the website, animals seen here include: cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes, impalas, baboons, warthogs, owls, Egyptian geese, genets, meerkats, waterbuck, and porcupines. (Olifants West Game Reserve, South Africa.)
- Olifants River – Set on the banks of the Olifants river, you’ll see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and giraffes, in addition to other animals like baboon, bushbuck and various bird species. (Naledi Game lodge in the province of Mpumalanga.)
- Rosie’s Pan – Hidden next to a remote watering hole much of the “Big Five” has been found here. Not to mention warthogs and giant kingfishers. (Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa.)
Thumbnail videos enable you to see what’s happening at each location and you can toggle between them as you desire.
Explore also streams live cam feeds from all over the world, including wildlife in Kenya, hummingbirds in California, a chipmunk log in Colorado, a polar bear habitat at a Netherland’s zoo, a coral reef off of Grand Cayman island, and a whole lot more.
Are there are live cams you love to watch? If so, please tell me about them in the comments section.
If you enjoyed this post you may like these
Is an African Safari Right for You? Read This to Find Out
Wildlife Tales (Photos): Discover What It’s Like on a Safari Game Drive
The Everything You Need to Know Safari Packing List
Selinda Explorers Camp: Experience an Unforgettable Botswana Safari
Planning an Okavango Delta Safari? Think Duba Explorers Camp
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Francesca – don’t allow your allergies to put you off going on safari. The majority of the camps, if not all, will ask you before your arrival if you have any food allergies. The high-end lodges especially will go the extra mile for their guests and all of them have qualified chefs. . What’s the bet that if you took some of your own recipes with the chef would prepare the dishes for you!. I did a Chef’s course years ago, and part of the training was that we had to do three two-month long practicals. I chose to do my one practical at a private game reserve, and I can tell you from exprience that the chefs there have plenty of time to prepare special meals because most of the more up-market lodges don’t accommodate vast of guests. So, don’t worry about it too much. Decide where you want to go, and then let the people at the lodge know of your allergies and fears! You simply HAVE to come to Africa on safar – there is nothing, nothing in the world quite like it – it will change you FOREVER.
Susan has already said she will make enquiries, but I am also willing to find our for you!! In fact, I am going to Botswana in June and will be staying in three different camps. Out of curiosity I shall speak to the kitchen and ask them how they deal with allergies.
Also, if you go to the state reserves, such as Kruger National Park, and many others all over Southern Africa, you will be able to cook your own food in self-catering accommodation if you so wish. South Africa is pretty advanced, and the supermarkets here are very well stocked with all kinds of items that you will be familiar with, and thre are also health shops in all the big cities, and even some of the smaller towns.
Here’s another great Webcam, Susan. It is situated at a waterhole in the Tembe Elephant Park in KZN, South Africa. There is often a lot of elephant activity at the waterhole. Elephants can be there any time, and often in the middle of the day when it is very hot. https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwi4kMKt64bLAhXH2hoKHYCvApkQjBAIITAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftembe.co.za%2Fweb-cam%2F&usg=AFQjCNGnlV2kycp21yL9vv2HtBGRjXsH5w&bvm=bv.114733917,d.bGg
I am so addicted to elecam.org and am glad that I got you addicted too. LOL Funny story…On Saturday, I was getting ready to go shopping with my mother and sister. My sister, ever the one who is always in a hurry, came in the house asking what was taking me so long. I had the Tembe Park camera on while I was putting on my makeup. All of a sudden the birds made that call. The “there’s a predator around” call. Then the impala froze and stared. Then they all bolted. Well all of a sudden the camera zoomed in on a lion. I was yelling like a lunatic because I was so excited. My mother and sister thought I had lost my mind when I was yelling “IT’S A LION! A LIONNNNNNNNN! NO ONE IS GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL I GET A SCREEN SHOT FOR SUSAN!” LOL This morning an elephant head butted another elephant. They were in some sort of spat. I sat there frozen to see what would happen next. I can’t explain the feeling that happens when the animals appear on the camera. It’s so different from watching animals in a tv documentary. It feels so different when you watch it all live. You could use any screen shots that I send you. I would love for you to have them. It’s awesome to have a friend who shares the same love that I do.
Yes.. thank you for adding to my Africa addiction! LOL What a fantastic story and I am so glad you sent me that screen shot. Such perfect timing. Have you gone on safari yet? Because if you haven’t you need to go. You will be absolutely blown away.
I want to go on one so bad. But I have a couple of severe food allergies that could kill me. I hardly ever go to restaurants because I can’t be where fish is cooking. I’m not sure how I would manage being in another country with these allergies. There has got to be a way to make this work because a safari is my dream. The only thing I can think of is to bring my own food which is what I do whenever I go away. Do you think that would work?
Let me inquire. Can you give me a better understanding of the allergies so I can ask the right questions? You can give me your email via DM
Thanks so much for sharing this information, Susan! I have already peeked into a couple of them…and love it. Even the sounds alone bring me back to Africa immediately…just wonderful. Wow!
The sounds are especially captivating and so clear too. I was really overjoyed about that. So glad you liked the cams!!!
Speaking of the sounds, if you ever have trouble sleeping, keep the camera on at night. One night, the sounds put me right to sleep. It was heavenly to fall asleep to the sounds of the wild.
I love the Wild Safari cams. such a great way to be there without actually being there!
It’s such a wonderful way for me to enjoy it in a way that goes beyond a produced documentary about Africa. It’s exciting and boring and often there’s nothing happening, just like in the real bush and I love it.
Yes, exactly! I said the same thing in my other comment before I read this one. It’s sooo different from a documentary. I can’t explain it but it’s just so different.
My kids and I will have to check these out. There was one we used to check in on daily about seven years ago that was focused on a watering hole. We loved it, though my kids were disappointed they never saw a crocodile attack a beastie – because there were no crocs in the watering hole.
LOL…I think they’ll like these!