Whilst you’re cooped up at home, travelling may simultaneously feel like a distant memory and a faraway future.
Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, has gathered together 8 live streams from around the world, the perfect boredom anecdote to keep you entertained for hours. Sit back as we take you on a journey to visit pandas in China, surfers in Hawaii and thousands of pedestrians at the vibrant Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo - with no passport required!
Laugh at the goofy pandas in China
Loved for their plump round bodies and fuzzy black and white fur, pandas are a family favourite. A live stream from Happiness Village Baby Panda Park in China gives you a glimpse into a day in the lives of these often amusing creatures. The baby pandas spend their days doing roly-polys on the ground and climbing clumsily through the trees, and you can have a front-row seat to this comical action - it’s impossible to not have a smile put on your face by their acrobatics! Watch live on Explore.org here.
Enjoy watching puppies playing in Maryland
Man’s best friend, there are few people who can’t have their heart warmed at the sight of adorable puppies. It’s often said that dog owners are the winners of these lockdowns, constantly having a furry friend to keep them company whilst human interaction is limited. It’s not quite the same but watching a live stream of these puppies is the next best thing we can offer. Warrior Canine Connection in Maryland, USA, has a range of cameras set up in different rooms at their centre and you can watch the cuteness unfold here.
Be amazed as you see brown bears fishing in Alaska
Next up, let’s head to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska. This is known as the best place in the world to witness brown bears catching their lunch! Watch on in awe as you see the bears teetering carefully on the waterfall edge, as the salmon dive into the air and into the mouths of the bears. An experience not many of us will have had before, these cameras let us get up close to nature in high definition. Click here to watch.
Dive underwater with the manatees in Florida
These friendly creatures are often dubbed “gentle giants” due to their slow-moving pace and attraction to human activity. A camera at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park gives viewers a sneak peek into the underwater world of the West Indian Manatee. The sanctuary provides care and safety to manatees with injuries or illnesses preventing them from being able to survive in the wild. Observe as the peaceful mammals slowly bob around in the water alongside a jubilee of fish. Watch live here.
Witness the organised chaos at the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo
Famously known as the busiest road crossing in the world, the Shibuya Crossing sees an average of 2.4 million people make their way across the intersection on a daily basis, equating to a wave of roughly 2,500 pedestrians every time the lights turn red. Not exactly where you want to be during these social distancing times, so viewing the incredible ‘scramble’ from the comfort of your home is the perfect way to enjoy one of Tokyo’s most iconic attractions! Watch online here.
Be impressed by surfers riding the waves in Hawaii
For you thrill-seekers out there, we head now to the Hawaiian shoreline to watch as brave surfers take to the waves. Pipeline in Oahu is regularly listed as the number one destination worldwide for surfing, and whilst you can’t hop on a plane and join the surfers in person, at least you can still watch the action take place from your couch at home. Watch here.
Experience a guided South African Safari
Many of us dream of one day donning our khakis, grabbing some binoculars and heading out on the safari experience of dreams. Sadly, this won’t be happening anytime soon, but thanks to WildEarth, you get the next best thing! With the ambition of providing an authentic experience in nature to all viewers, their live virtual safari tours are interactive and are hosted by expert rangers talking you through the tour and sharing their knowledge about the amazing animals. Expect to see elephants, leopards, lions, cheetah, hippo and many others. So, visit their YouTube page now and travel virtually into the heart of the African wilderness.
Admire the architecture of Milan Cathedral in Italy
Finally, we finish our trip in the stunning city of Milan, Italy. This city is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Europe, welcoming 8.81 million tourists in 2017. The construction of Duomo di Milano, or Milan Cathedral, took nearly six centuries to complete: beginning in 1386, and the final details were completed in 1965. It also holds the title of being the second-largest cathedral in the world. Unfortunately, visiting this architectural beauty in person isn’t an option at the moment, but this live stream lets you have a direct view of the front of the building as you watch the people pass by.
