We've hatched a plan!

Live on Monday 17 December - join millions online as The Bearded Heron takes you for a Kruger game drive

Neil Heron (The Bearded Heron), a specialist field guide operating in the Kruger National Park, launches a world first on Monday by bringing the Kruger Park to millions of people.

Neil's highlights of his most recent game drives, bush interpretation and nature guiding go live on YouTube and can be viewed by searching 'Bearded Heron online safari'.

"This is a great beginning, the more I can include millions of people who would love to be in the Kruger but cannot afford it, or cannot get to the Kruger for one reason or another, I will be closer to my goal of giving back the opportunity, love, passion and privilege the Kruger has given me over the years," says Neil.

"My main motivation for conducting game drives on video, and ultimately live game drive feeds, is very simple. I wanted to find a way to bring the Kruger to millions of people without any additional impact on the environment," he says.

"The impact that people have on wildlife in Africa has become a serious issue, and although good and responsible eco-tourism efforts contribute to minimizing negative impact, people still emit green house gases (in the form of aeroplane and vehicle carbons) and their impact on the refuse and other infra-structures required to manage people transported plastics, batteries and often unnecessary waste products."

According to Neil there are many benefits for video streaming his game drives.

"I can broadcast to schools and children who cannot get to the Kruger. Also as far as scientific research is concerned - as I spend about 230 days a year in the Kruger game driving and walking - means I get access to events that happen on the spur of the moment. I see many things that can be recorded and assessed by researchers."

Neil's main aim with this project is to benefit local school children living in the Kruger. Currently there is one school in the Kruger, which means that passionate and dedicated conservationists and staff of the Kruger are faced with two choices - a dedicated life in Kruger, protecting and managing what is in my opinion the greatest natural space on earth, or leaving in order to comfortably send their children to school - schools that are far away.

Neil also intends to develop the video game drives and safaris into live real time events. "I am working with technology partners to bring daily game drives streamed live from my vehicle in real time. They will ultimately be interactive with watchers able to send in their questions and have them answered later on the same game drive or on the next game drive."

Panasonic South Africa has provided Neil with a high definition video camera - an AG -HSC1U, which means that the video is of the best broadcast quality currently available.

Check out Neil's first highlights of his recent 8-day safari, which will be uploaded onto his YouTube channel and on his website www.beardedheron.com on Monday.

The safari includes highlights of an elephant funeral ceremony, lion cubs playing and cheetahs looking for breakfast. Also see amazing footage of a chameleon changing colour, a nervous buffalo and a huge herd of buffalo in the Kruger's savanna.

There is also a comment and questions facility for Neil to answer any environmental or wildlife related questions.