Wildebeest, zebras and gazelles, oh my! Experience all the excitement of this year's Great Migration season in Kenya virtually, on TikTok, no matter where you are in the world. Together with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and Conservation International, we are bringing this spectacular wildlife event LIVE to our users around the world, and aim to raise awareness around biodiversity conservation and inspire action towards wildlife protection worldwide.

Event details:  Users can catch all the LIVE action of The Great Migration directly from the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya as well as educational videos about the event and Maasai community, as per details below:

  • Where : tune into the official TikTok Africa page
  • When: 25 to 29 August
  • Timings: 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM ZA time (3:30 - 5:00 and 7:30 - 11:00 UTC)

What's more? Content throughout the LIVE will be curated by award-winning wildlife photographer Jeffrey Wu, and experts from renowned local organisations including African Wildlife Foundation, Maasai Mara National Reserve and African Wildlife Foundation will join the sessions to educate those tuning in on the Maasai Mara ecosystem, the impact and importance of tourism on preserving the environment, and the impact of the pandemic, among others.

TikTok LIVE helps to bring together a global community over shared entertainment, educational, and inspiring experiences.TikTok users are encouraged to jump on the challenge and enjoy The Great Wildebeest Migration using the hashtag challenge and custom effect and help raise awareness around biodiversity conservation within their communities.

About the Great Wildebeest Migration:

Branded as Africa's greatest wildlife manifestation, happens because of the change in seasons with millions of animals, mostly wildebeest and zebras, migrating from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya's Maasai Mara where the grassland is much more fertile. The event is a daring and dangerous expedition for the animals as thousands die crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River as well as from other predator attacks.

Quotes:

Boniswa Sidwaba, TikTok's Content Operations Manager for Africa:

"We are delighted to partner with Kenya Tourism Board, IFAW, and Conservation International to bring the Great Migration and the topic of wildlife conservation to our global community. Through TikTok's LIVE feature, we hope to bring this global phenomenon closer to everyone around the world, connecting people with a shared passion for wildlife, nature and conservation."

Dr. Betty Radier, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Tourism Board:

“We recognise the important role TikTok plays in raising destination Kenya’s brand visibility around the globe. We are always looking for strategic collaborations to position the country as a preferred tourist destination and this partnership is a great milestone. Kenya is a rich and diverse country, with an incredible wildlife offering which we want to highlight as well as protect. Together with TikTok we can engage the world with content and experiences from any part of the country and drive more awareness of our country and wildlife, especially during this time when travel is limited with the aim of curbing the spread of the virus. Kenya Tourism Board is keen to ensure MagicalKenya remains top of mind among consumers and the TikTok platform is making this possible.”

Michael O’Brien-Onyeka, Africa field division senior vice president, Conservation International

“Younger generations are pushing for action on climate change and biodiversity loss all over the world, they are the planet’s biggest advocates. We’re excited that TikTok is raising awareness of natural phenomena like the wildebeest migration and amplifying calls to protect wildlife. By giving its millions of users - many of whom are Generation Z - the opportunity to creatively engage with nature from afar, this campaign can be a key tool for change. It’s a new and exciting way to help communities appreciate the value of biodiversity and feel motivated to protect it.”

Stacie Paxton Cobos, Vice President of Brand Communications and Marketing, International Fund for Animal Welfare

IFAW is excited to be part of an initiative that not only supports public awareness of wildlife conservation in Africa but also shows the connection to migrating wildlife across the globe. Land, air and sea are all home to migrating species and raising awareness about the threats they face and how we can work together to mitigate these threats is how we will build a world where animals and people thrive together. I'm hopeful this is the first of many more collaborations with TikTok."