Go on a Safari Without Leaving Your House

Many people dream of going on an African safari. It’s an exotic, bucket-list trip of a lifetime. The average cost of a safari can range anywhere from $300 per person to several tens of thousands for a week-long trip or more. This cost isn’t in most people’s budgets, but there is another option: watch a virtual safari and experience the sights and sounds from your own living room..

While it’s admittedly not the same as being face-to-face with an African lion, it’s still thrilling to watch a live cam. Many safari camps have livestreams that run 24/7, which means you get to observe things that even a safari participant might not see. With so many options available, the following live cams offer the best viewing experiences, locations, and wildlife diversity.

The Hide Safari Live Cam

Located in Hwange National Park, The Hide holds the title of being one of Zimbabwe’s best safari lodges. Its live stream showcases native wildlife up close, providing an immersive experience. Elephants are frequent visitors to The Hide’s watering hole and often appear in herds.

You can watch The Hide’s live cam 24/7, either through their website or YouTube. It broadcasts a live feed directly from Hwange Waterhole, giving you the best views of Zimbabwe’s wildlife. Like many other wildlife cameras, it features night vision, allowing you to observe Zimbabwe’s nocturnal animals.

Great Plains ol Donyo Lodge Hidecam

Located not far from Mount Kilimanjaro, the ol Donyo is in a prime spot for wildlife viewing. Safari fans can watch 24/7 from the Chyulu Hills of southern Kenya. This area serves as a major travel corridor for many of Africa’s most iconic animals.

Viewers can observe fringe-eared oryx, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, big cats, baboons, and tusked elephants. Since the livestream runs 24/7, you might even see some of Africa’s more elusive nighttime residents. You can watch the live cam through their website, which also features a hidecam from neighboring Tempo Plains.

Founders Lodge Live Cam

Founders Lodge by Mantis is considered to be the region’s “birthplace of conservation.” Therefore, it’s fitting that a 24/7 livestream broadcasts directly from South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Many animals stop at this elevated watering hole, including elephants, rhinos, and giraffes.

The livestream is broadcast from the highest point in the region, giving a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding landscape. It’s a haven for South Africa’s most iconic wildlife as they migrate throughout the season. You can watch the stream on their website and check out some of their pre-recorded wildlife highlights.

Lentorre Lodge Wildlife Live Cam

Lentorre Lodge is located in a hotspot for African wildlife. This webcam streams directly from a watering hole in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. At any given time, viewers can see herds of zebras, striped hyenas, caracals, and a variety of nocturnal visitors.

Footage is streamed from the Olkirimatian Conservancy 24/7, so viewers have the chance to tune in any time they want. An array of birds also visit this watering hole, making it an excellent way for birders to pass the time. You can watch the livestream here or through Lentorre Lodge’s YouTube channel.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Live cam

Victoria Falls is often considered one of the natural wonders of the world, and it also has its own webcam. While the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge Live Cam doesn’t feature the falls themselves, it does show off its local wildlife. This wide-frame vantage point offers the chance to see most of what Zambezi National Park has to offer wildlife lovers.

With a view overlooking safari lands, viewers can observe the wildlife that lives only miles from the majestic falls. Many animals gather in herds at the watering hole, including buffalo, elephants, and kudu. You can watch the livestream on the Africam website, where you can also find highlights from previous footage. The Victoria Falls Sky Camera livestream is also available to watch 24/7.

The Fort at Onguma Safari Camp Live Cam

Onguma Safari Camps recently partnered with Africam to encourage environmental stewardship. Their new live cam is an effort to promote sustainability and conservation, showcasing the beauty of Onguma Nature Reserve. The webcam streams from Onguma The Fort, overlooking Fischer’s Pan—a popular rest stop for local wildlife.

Viewers can watch the livestream 24/7 on the Onguma website. This is also where you can find popular highlights from previous footage, featuring wildlife such as elephants, lions, giraffes, secretary birds, impalas, flamingos, and wildebeests.

San Diego Zoo Hippo Safari Live Cam

You don’t necessarily need to be in Africa to appreciate the beauty of its native wildlife. The San Diego Zoo has cameras in all of its popular safari exhibits. Visitors love the hippo exhibit, and footage is streamed during all daylight hours.

After dark, the zoo plays that day’s footage on a loop so that you never miss a moment. Depending on your time zone, this is an excellent option for anyone who wants to watch wildlife during the day. While the Africams have night vision, you’re almost guaranteed to witness something on the San Diego Zoo livestreams. You can watch the live cam on the San Diego Zoo website.

Jabulani Safari Live Cam

Jabulani is famous for its luxury safari accommodations. However, it’s also well-known for its location in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa. Jabulani began as an effort in conservation, rescuing and reintroducing juvenile elephants to herds in the area. These elephants are among the lodge’s most beloved animals and are frequently seen both in person and on their livestream.

The webcam broadcasts 24/7, and you can stream it live from Jabulani’s website or from Africam. Along with elephants, viewers can watch herds of giraffes, warthogs, native birds, and other wildlife as they gather at the watering hole.

Meno A Kwena Safari Live cam

The live cam at Meno a Kwena is relatively new but has been exploding with wildlife activity. It’s been described as offering “raw, untamed” footage on the banks of Botswana’s Boteti River. This remote region of Africa is teeming with life and serves as a popular migration route for many animals.

It’s not unusual to spot different species gathering together at the water’s edge, like monkeys, elephants, giraffes, and zebras. As its name (“teeth of the crocodile”) implies, crocodiles are also frequent visitors on this livestream. With a higher vantage point than many other webcams, this wide-angle view offers incredible wildlife viewing 24/7. You can watch the livestream on YouTube.

Explore Africa Livestream

For those who want the ultimate virtual safari-viewing experience, Explore Africa has 19 live cams to choose from. These cameras cover locations across Africa, from popular watering holes like Rosie’s Pan to bucket-list destinations like Lisbon Falls. These are typically streamed 24/7, and Explore Africa also features popular wildlife highlights on their YouTube channel, as well.

You can watch each livestream on their YouTube channel. Explore also has an app for both iPhone and Android, which is an excellent way to watch wildlife on the go. You can even save your favorite livestreams to your profile so that you never miss a thing.