Connecting people with nature is at the heart of what we do and never was that more pertinent than during a pandemic where people around the world found themselves locked in their homes. For the past 19 months, we have had the great privilege of broadcasting from two unique reserves in South Africa, &Beyond Ngala and &Beyond Phinda. As a result, we’ve been able to share with you, the antics of the rather unique Birmingham Pride with their white lion subadults, as well as some very compelling cheetah, rhino and tree-climbing lion sightings out of &Beyond Phinda.
The WildEarth safaris from these reserves presented an opportunity for &Beyond, as a travel company, to lighten the load of lockdown and keep travel-starved guests all over the world inspired by sharing the wildlife and conservation efforts in their beautiful locations. For WildEarth, it offered us a chance to bring our loyal viewers, the kind of excellent game viewing and diversity of nature subjects you have come to expect from us. Our partnership has proven to be as symbiotic as the examples we see in nature.
But as the COVID-tide slowly turns and the world starts to open to travel once again, it has become increasingly challenging for the &Beyond guides to balance the needs of their real-life safari guests and those that they have entertained and engaged in the virtual safari world. &Beyond strongly feels that it wants to provide only the best possible experiences. They have, therefore, had to decide that they need to pause their involvement in the WildEarth sessions until such time as they are able to provide guides on the consistent basis that you have become accustomed to in the past.
For this reason, &Beyond Phinda and &Beyond Ngala Private Game Reserves will be missing from our screens for the foreseeable future. You may have already noticed that the &Beyond guides haven’t been as present lately as the unpredictability of travel volumes has made it very difficult for &Beyond to adequately plan their guiding resources ahead of time. We are deeply sorry that this has not come with more advance warning, but we’ve been, together, trying hard to find a solution and a way to continue to have &Beyond be part of our daily safaris.
For now, we have not found such a way, but our hope is that once the erratic travel scales settle at a new normal, this will allow &Beyond to again find a balance that includes the &Beyond physical guests and WildEarth’s virtual guests so that broadcasts from &Beyond Phinda and &Beyond Ngala might resume. In the meantime, we would like to bid them goodbye and thank you.
We would also like to thank you, our viewers, for always sticking with us as we navigate all the big and small challenges that broadcasting live safaris into your homes brings as we pursue our mission of connecting you with amazing wildlife and much-loved characters.
Image credit: Sean Messham
So sad. Missing it big time
Is there a way to continue to follow the white lions and Birmingham pride?
My Mom and I started watching WE during lockdown and cant wait for the daily drives. We’really going to miss Phinda ect. But we understand your predicament and know that if you could you would show all the locations. We’ll keep on enjoying what you have to offer us on a daily basis. Just do what you do best and those people complaining……WE is trying their best and unfortunately will never be able to satisfy everybody….my Mom and I LOVE you all to bits.
Not a good news. I love the Birmingham pride and now I can´t follow the beautiful Lion pride anymore!!! So so sad and maybe they would think more about all the people thay have been able to see the animals on TV- safari and never have the chance to travel to South Africa and see the Animals Live! I pray to be able to see the Birmingham pride again, I am very sad.
It seems as though it is just a matter of time before you’ll be canceling Penguin Beach like you have with Sea Forest where you’ve made the choice to not even show repeats of previously recorded episodes. That and you refuse to even explain why Cape town segments were scrapped. Cape town was a refreshing much needed change.
Hello so sad to loose Ngala & Phinda and Tswalu. Luckily Masai Mara will come back next year! I thank all the guides/camera teams for the wonderful safaris at
Ngala/Phinda/Tswalu. Take care – see you again!
Completely understand the problem of guides and the return of tourists to our reserves…we have been so fortunate to have had Phinda and Ngala on board…and now we are fortunate as soon we will have the Mara back
Really miss Phinda, Ngala and Tswalu. I love the penguins but the show is repetitive. Maybe climb the mountain and show us some flora as well?? Despite my comments I am deeply grateful for the Wild Earth programmes.
It’s so sad to lose Ngala, Phinda and Tswalu. Hope we don’t lose Ecotraining, Djuma and the entire Kruger. What life would be like without the live wildlife safari…..
It’s so sad to lose Ngala, Phinda and Tswalu. Hope we don’t lose Ecotraining, Djuma or the entire Kruger. How life will look like without live Wild Earth Safari…
Not a word about Cape Town, or the penguins. the you “pausing” that too?
Is it si difficult to employ naturalists? These very live drives may be what drew local and international interest to the demand you are receiving.
Perhaps the guests might like their safaris brodcast live with camera forward/above – With another great way to save their memories..
I’ve been with Wildearth since 2008. Im so sad to see this happen. You have us as supporters but haven’t started a donation page, why not??
Thank you all so much for what you do and have shared with us so far. I am sorry that some of the WE “family” have only complained about your decisions and how they feel a loss. I am just in awe of what you do as part of your day jobs and am happy that you can return to “normal”. I will happily watch anything that you can share, the advocacy for nature is beyond compare and your work has been a key coping strategy for my family and I as we get through this covid world. Love and best wishes, from the other side of the globe.
Very sad to see them go. Loved the different ares and guides.
Possibly of only seeing same guides and same area becoming repetitive ‽
Dear &Beyond, this is disappointing. It feels like because of international tourists and huge foreign income then you decide to ditch the locals and others on television viewing. Hopefully you can bring in the Ngala sometime soon or perhaps other pvt reserves join in.
Dear &Beyond, this is disappointing. It feels like because of international tourists and huge foreign income then you decide to ditch the locals and others on television viewing. Hopefully you can bring in the Ngala sometime soon.
Thankyou for letting us know…BUT my husband and myself enjoy Daily our WildEarth viewing amd watching the Repeats…PLEASE do not take away all the programmes We draw such pleasure and enjoyment from the guides and camera crew…they are so great to learn such alot from them and the animals bird + reptile Life….Would Hate to miss them…please.
Very disappointing. Not on your part, but that’s just economics I suppose, and there sadness that you feel has changed through. It was abrupt, and you’re feelings are wounded.
When the next wave of the Wuhan hits in the next couple of months, perhaps we can focus more on small wildlife rehab centers, most of which are manned by average schmoes, at their private family farms and homes, consistently operating at a loss, yet out of a sense of love and respect for those who need them to be rehabilitated, and reintroduced into their natural environment.
It’s not always as awe inspiring, but it’s heartfelt and touching, and offers it’s own rewards at scale and out of pocket expense for the greater good.
This is very upsetting. As I have been watching and following all the area RESERVES.
Will miss the Birmingham pride of lions
We will miss the Birmingham Pride, the cheetahs , the Timbavati riverbed, the wonderful Phinda and Ngala landscapes and guides so much, and we just hope they will be back soon …… Thank you WildEarth you have given us all so much to enjoy during these difficult times !
We will miss both reserves especially the white lions, the cheetah and the pangolins. We also miss the Karoo but life goes on. New places like Cape Town and the Penguins are a welcome addition. Not to mention the kelp forests. I look forward to the fynbos and other interesting features coming up like the migration in 2022.
Will there be any Wildearth left in the future? First Tswalu disappeared and now the &Beyonds. I hope this doesn’t mean the beginning of the end.
Hope everything works out, and we can have &Beyond and Tswalu back, in the meantime we are enjoying Pridelands and Djuma, also the new shows.
Thank you Wildearth and thank you to &Beyond
Is it si difficult to employ naturalists? These very live drives may be what drew local and international interest to the demand you are receiving.
Such sad news for all of us WE explorers! We loved Ngala & Phinda!
So so sad to lose them! They have been a huge fabulous addition to WildEarth and also an inducement for me to travel to see the white lions!!