22/08/2025
We want to begin by thanking the community for your passionate voices and genuine concerns about what we've all witnessed.
Your commitment to protecting the Great Migration runs as deep as ours, and we're grateful for those who continue to shine a light on practices that threaten this natural wonder. A special thanks to and for sharing the viral footage that has sparked this conversation.
HerdTracker was founded with a simple mission: to share the magic of the Great Migration with the world. We believe that by tracking and sharing the movements of this phenomenon, we can help people connect with one of nature's most extraordinary spectacles.
The heartbreaking footage of safari vehicles blocking wildebeest at river crossings – as well as the most recent footage of tourists getting out of their vehicles, putting their lives and the wellbeing of the animals in danger – forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: the very thing we sought to celebrate and protect is being compromised by overtourism and unethical guiding practices.
We've watched with growing concern as increased visitation to crossing points has led to vehicles forming barriers that disrupt natural behaviour, guides prioritising the "perfect shot" over animal welfare, and visitors treating this natural event as if it were a theme park.
We've implemented a new policy for posting updates: we now deliberately delay posting updates to HerdTracker to prevent any possibility of our posts having an impact on the Great Migration’s movements.
We are actively conducting a review of HerdTracker's role and responsibility in the future of Great Migration tourism. This isn't just about tweaking our platform; it's about fundamentally examining how we can ensure that our passion for sharing wildlife experiences doesn't inadvertently contribute to their destruction.
The Great Migration has survived droughts, predators, and changing landscapes for millennia. It should not be threatened by cameras and vehicles. We’re committed to sharing the wonder of Africa with the world in a responsible way.
We prefer a platform that safeguards our passions over one that unintentionally contributes to its deterioration.
HerdTracker Team
