The Africa Channel, celebrating its 20th anniversary, will kick off its holiday programming season by highlighting Wild Africa's wildlife conservation efforts, beginning with support of the organization's annual fundraising gala on Nov. 15.
The channel will continue its conservation focus with the Thanksgiving Day premiere of its new series, "Dr. Mark's Animal Show."
The partnership reflects a shared mission between Wild Africa and The Africa Channel to protect Africa's wildlife and uplift local communities while connecting global audiences to the continent's natural heritage. Over the past two years, the channel has amplified Wild Africa's message through broadcasts of the "Music for Wildlife" concert series, featuring more than 100 African artists.
Guardians of the Wild 2025: An Evening with Wild Africa will be held Saturday at the Casa Del Mar Hotel in Santa Monica. Last year's event raised more than $1 million for wildlife conservation with Bo Derek and John Corbett as hosts.
This year's event aims to surpass that milestone. Derek, a lifelong conservationist and African wildlife philanthropist, returns as host. The evening will celebrate Wild Africa's mission to conserve the continent's iconic wildlife and feature a short live auction, informative presentations and a special performance by international multi-genre DJ and producer Freddy Muks.
Special guests include American actor Josh Pence and Dr. Mark Ofua, Nigerian wildlife veterinarian and presenter of Wild Africa's "Dr. Mark's Animal Show."
Peter Knights OBE, CEO of Wild Africa, said The Africa Channel brings African voices to the U.S., and the organization is proud to partner on wildlife conservation. He expressed gratitude for the channel's support as primary sponsor of the Guardians of the Wild gala, which plays a vital role in funding communication campaigns across 11 African countries.
Karen Juve, vice president of programming and production for The Africa Channel, said the channel is thrilled to continue its work with Wild Africa as official television partner for the annual gala, supporting dedication to showcasing the beauty of Africa's wildlife.
"Dr. Mark's Animal Show," debuting Nov. 27 on The Africa Channel, will lead the channel's Family Co-Viewing block, introducing viewers to animals from chimps to pangolins. Children can learn through playful in-show quizzes and on-screen interactions.
The series premiere will air at 6 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day and will be available on Demand Africa in February. After the holiday premiere, episodes will air from 6 to 7 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Fridays and Saturdays for a 13-week run.
Edited by SMDP Staff