Listen to the iconic sounds of SA's natural world with WWF's new playlist

The World Wildlife Fund SA (WWF SA) has released a unique and transporting soundtrack to help people stay in touch with SA's great outdoors while leisure travel is out of reach.

The playlist, Bring Nature Inside, is a series of 10 recordings made in various locations to showcase "the unique sounds and features of Africa's natural heritage".

The 10 hours of easy listening include the sounds of a stormy afternoon on the highveld, a picnic in a national park, a beach visit, a wind farm, a walk through a pasture in the Eastern Cape (complete with mooing cattle), a river in the Soutpansberg, a fruit orchard in early spring, a small fishing boat, a Cape sugarbird, and even a black rhino being released back into the wild.

The tracks also highlight some of WWF SA's conservation projects, so each one starts with a narrator briefly painting the scene.

"Close your eyes, breathe in the sea air and listen to the sounds of the ocean," goes the one with the fishing boat. The narrator then describes a related conservation issue ("The ocean is a source of food, a source of oxygen, but it can only continue to provide if it's cared for, if its stocks are fished responsibly and sustainably") and the WWF's work in that area. Then he goes silent, and the natural music takes centre stage.

Justin Smith, head of business development at WWF SA, said the release was partly a contribution to people's mental health.

"With many of us feeling overwhelmed by the current state of the world ... it is imperative for us to take care of our mental and emotional wellbeing. Nature provides the perfect escape that we need during this time . At the same time, we want to highlight that nature still matters. We must continue safeguarding it so that we can all enjoy it together again in the future," said Smith.

• Find the soundscapes on WWF's website. They will also be available on streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer, Google Play and Amazon. A percentage of the royalties goes towards supporting WWF SA's conservation work, at no cost to the listener.