NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has launched a new daily wildlife livestreaming initiative giving audiences around the world real-time access to wildlife and conservation activities in the country’s national parks.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has partnered with WildEarth to launch KenyaLIVE, an initiative that will broadcast unscripted footage from Kenyan parks across more than 16 global platforms.
The broadcasts will capture animals and conservation activities as they happen, without scripts or retakes, giving viewers a real-time experience of Kenya’s wildlife.
Kenya takes wildlife tourism online
The initiative is being rolled out during World Tourism Week, which culminates in World Tourism Day on September 27.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the livestreams would allow Kenyans and international audiences to experience the country’s wildlife and landscapes regardless of where they are.
“We are inviting Kenyans to come and enjoy our wildlife. That is why this year we will be showcasing our wildlife virtually to Kenyans and the world, wherever they are,” Miano said.
The broadcasts are also intended to give potential visitors a preview of Kenya’s wildlife attractions before travelling to the country’s parks.
Nairobi National Park hosts launch
KenyaLIVE was launched at Nairobi National Park, Kenya’s first national park.
Established in 1946, the park has retained its original acreage despite the rapid expansion of Nairobi around it.
Its location on the edge of the capital makes it one of Kenya’s most accessible wildlife destinations and a prominent showcase for the country’s conservation efforts.
The park is also an important centre for rhino conservation, hosting populations of both black and southern white rhinos.
Kenya records 2,102 rhinos
The 2025 National Wildlife Census recorded a total of 2,102 rhinos in Kenya.
The population included:
- 1,059 black rhinos
- 1,041 southern white rhinos
- The world’s remaining two northern white rhinos
The figures highlight the progress made in rebuilding Kenya’s rhino population following decades of severe poaching.
The country’s rhino population suffered major losses during the 1970s and 1980s as poaching and habitat loss intensified.
From thousands of rhinos to fewer than 20
The scale of the decline was particularly severe in the greater Tsavo ecosystem.
More than 8,000 black rhinos were estimated to have lived in the area in the early 1970s.
By 1989, poaching and habitat loss had reduced the population to fewer than 20.
Conservation measures have since helped populations recover, although wildlife authorities continue to face threats including habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict and pressure on rare species.
Livestreams to promote Kenya tourism
Miano said KenyaLIVE would also form part of the country’s efforts to promote tourism ahead of the 2029 World Athletics Championships, which Kenya is scheduled to host.
The championships are expected to bring international visitors to the country, providing an opportunity to showcase Kenya’s wildlife, culture and other tourism attractions.
The livestreams could allow potential visitors to experience Kenya’s parks before making travel plans while also giving people unable to visit the country an opportunity to observe its wildlife remotely.
Real-time view of conservation work
Unlike traditional wildlife documentaries, KenyaLIVE will use an unscripted format, meaning viewers will see events as they unfold rather than through pre-recorded and edited footage.
The broadcasts will cover wildlife encounters as well as conservation activities, offering audiences a closer look at the work involved in protecting Kenya’s natural heritage.
The initiative gives KWS another platform for telling Kenya’s conservation story while expanding the reach of the country’s wildlife tourism brand beyond visitors physically present in its national parks.
With wildlife now being streamed directly to audiences worldwide, Kenya is seeking to turn its national parks into a 24-hour window into the country’s wildlife and conservation efforts.
