Wildlife Field Guide
Your pocket
wildlife tracker
Already ticked off the Big 5? Try collecting a cheetah mid-hunt, a herd at the waterhole, or wild dogs at play. Photograph any animal and Veld captures the moment, not just the species.
Coming to iOS
See it in action
Name any animal
Photograph any animal and Veld names it within seconds. The AI is informed by where you are, so it prioritises the species you're actually likely to be looking at. When it comes down to a few candidates, Compare helps you nail it.
Log sightings
Record every encounter with location, photos, and notes. Build a personal record of everything you've seen in the wild.
Collect the moment
A lion is one catch. A hunting lion is another. Veld's AI detects behaviour and life stage from your photos automatically, so the same species can surprise you every time.
Your trips and your life list
Start a journey when you travel and sightings belong to that trip. Every catch also rolls up to your all-time life list: your complete record of every animal you've ever seen.
Know before you go
Every destination has a curated pack of iconic species, from Kruger to Yellowstone. Find out what lives there before the game drive starts.
Catch up later
Back from a trip with a full camera roll? Bulk-upload your photos and Veld works through the identifications when you're ready.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work offline?
Not currently. We couldn't find a local model that gave us the breadth and depth we wanted. So, Veld needs an internet connection for logging sightings and AI identification. Who knows, if we make it big, we might ask for permission to make our own model.
Which species does it cover?
Each region has a curated discovery pack featuring the most iconic wildlife you're likely to encounter. But you can photograph any animal and Veld will identify it.
How does AI identification work?
Point your camera at any animal and Veld identifies it within seconds. If it comes down to a few possible species, the Compare feature helps you work out exactly which one you saw.
Is my location data private?
Location is never captured automatically. It's only stored against a sighting if you include it, either from your photo's GPS data or by entering it manually. Your sightings are private to you.
Is it free?
Free to download. A free account includes AI-powered identifications to get you started; watch an optional ad to earn extra. Veld Pro gives you unlimited identifications and removes ads, available as a monthly subscription.
When is iOS coming?
We're working on it! Leave your email above and we'll let you know the moment it's ready.
Who makes Veld?
Veld is built by Simon Thomas, a solo developer. The whole story is below.
The story
Veld started on a two-month trip through southern Africa. The first time we spotted a lion it was electric — then we ticked it off the list and something felt flat. Until we found one hunting. Then one with cubs. One at the waterhole at golden hour. Suddenly a single species became a whole new collection of moments to find.
We were keeping track in a Google Keep note — and even then, a lot slipped through. We also started wondering what we'd been walking past at home all these years. Veld is that Keep note, done properly — built for safari, but just as useful in your own backyard.
— Simon Thomas · LinkedIn