The migrating wildebeests is one of the most widely documented phenomenons in nature and a draw for thousands of tourists every year.
But what can you do it you’re a local tour operator that counts on its guests being able to see the animals as they move over Serengeti and Masai Mara?
And how can you lure customers to the region beyond just showing photos of the packs and your services?
Discover Africa has come up with a simple but effective way of using technology to cover off both elements.
Its Herdtracker tool has combined the basic elements of the Google Maps AP, such as map-makers and information windows, with its existing relationships in the region – safari lodges, rangers, guides and local pilots – to discover where the herd is at any given time.
The tool then plots the latest data on a Google Map so visitors and curious onlookers elsewhere around the globe can watch the migrating wildebeests in (almost) real-time.
The company has also created a dedicated Twitter feed (“I’m Conrad, the world’s first tweeting wildebeest”) to chart the progress of the herd and share images and videos, in the first-person (animal!).
Director Andre Van Kets claims the Herdtracker platform has “driven dozens of leads” to its products.
“HerdTracker is a great example how a little bit of tech, combined with long-standing relationships, and a touch of creative thinking, can be leveraged to create a truly useful online resource.
“Not only does it feed people’s curiosity for this already popular wildlife destination/event, it’s a highly practical tool for anyone planning their holiday to the region.”
The migrating wildebeests is believed to the biggest mass movement of animals on the planet, with over two million shifting from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, usually taking place between July and October each year.
