African virtual reality experience comes to Canberra

The National Museum's new 360-degree video experience is promising summer visitors an African experience like no other.

For the first time in Australia, the museum will host the National Geographic's fully immersive nature documentary Expedition 360: A National Geographic VR Exploration into the Okavango Delta, from Boxing Day.

Through the use of virtual reality headsets, visitors will join the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project led by National Geographic fellow Steve Boyes. Travelling by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) through one of the world's largest wetlands, they will come face to face with the animals that live in the delta including elephants, lions, hippos and giraffe.

Expedition 360: A National Geographic VR Exploration into the Okavango Delta showcases animals from the region including elephants. Picture: Supplied

"Even if you went as a tourist ... I really don't think that you're sitting back in a mokoro watching those elephants go right by you either," museum head of visitor experience Tina Brandt said.

"But virtual reality actually gives us an opportunity to make an experience at the museum more rounded in some ways because we get to take visitors to places that they might not get to go to otherwise."

This is the fourth virtual reality season at the National Museum, with films in the past including The Antarctica Experience andDavid Attenborough's First Life and Great Barrier Reef Dive.

"I think here at the museum we've done more around virtual reality than many other places are doing," Ms Brandt said.

"But I think content is king. It takes a lot of research in the first place to find content that first of all, we think if suitable for our audience but content that also is able to match what the museum's themes and interests are."

The primary goal of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project is to preserve the greater Okavango Basin in its current near-pristine state by establishing a network of new protected areas.

National Museum director Mathew Trinca said the experience tackles pressing global issues and reveals the rich biodiversity of an extraordinary region.

"Virtual reality is an exciting way to explore our global environment and to better understand the animals and habitats around us," Dr Trinca said.

• Bookings can be made at nma.gov.au.