imagine you’re arts in Africa it’s nighttime you’re sleeping in the back of
nighttime you’re sleeping in the back of
nighttime you’re sleeping in the back of a open vehicle and it’s so hot that you
a open vehicle and it’s so hot that you
a open vehicle and it’s so hot that you have no clothes on and you’re still
have no clothes on and you’re still
have no clothes on and you’re still sweating all you can hear is Justin call
sweating all you can hear is Justin call
sweating all you can hear is Justin call of a hyena
of a hyena
of a hyena an Impala snorting close by and you’re
an Impala snorting close by and you’re
an Impala snorting close by and you’re half asleep but then your car just
half asleep but then your car just
half asleep but then your car just begins to wobble you’re not quite sure
begins to wobble you’re not quite sure
begins to wobble you’re not quite sure what’s going on tilt your head up and
what’s going on tilt your head up and
what’s going on tilt your head up and you look down towards your feet and all
you look down towards your feet and all
you look down towards your feet and all you can make out is your clothes bag
you can make out is your clothes bag
you can make out is your clothes bag sort of on the box next to where your
sort of on the box next to where your
sort of on the box next to where your feet are and it’s just all of a sudden
feet are and it’s just all of a sudden
feet are and it’s just all of a sudden that disappears so quite startled and
that disappears so quite startled and
that disappears so quite startled and set up and grab a torch and you shine
set up and grab a torch and you shine
set up and grab a torch and you shine out into the darkness and all you can
out into the darkness and all you can
out into the darkness and all you can see is a young male line running off
see is a young male line running off
see is a young male line running off into the bush carrying all your clothes
into the bush carrying all your clothes
into the bush carrying all your clothes I I grew up in the bush and now as a
I I grew up in the bush and now as a
I I grew up in the bush and now as a wildlife filmmaker I can continue to
wildlife filmmaker I can continue to
wildlife filmmaker I can continue to spend most of my time out in the wild we
spend most of my time out in the wild we
spend most of my time out in the wild we choose not to have a camp we like to
choose not to have a camp we like to
choose not to have a camp we like to move with the animals and it keeps us
move with the animals and it keeps us
move with the animals and it keeps us close to where they are we sleep where
close to where they are we sleep where
close to where they are we sleep where they are it keeps us in touch with what
they are it keeps us in touch with what
they are it keeps us in touch with what is going on and the filming vehicles
is going on and the filming vehicles
is going on and the filming vehicles that we’ve got a modified for filming we
that we’ve got a modified for filming we
that we’ve got a modified for filming we like to be able to see and smell and
like to be able to see and smell and
like to be able to see and smell and hear everything around us we want to be
hear everything around us we want to be
hear everything around us we want to be as unencumbered as possible so we we cut
as unencumbered as possible so we we cut
as unencumbered as possible so we we cut off the cab we take the doors off and
off the cab we take the doors off and
off the cab we take the doors off and you know fold the windscreen down and
you know fold the windscreen down and
you know fold the windscreen down and the vehicles are just completely open
the vehicles are just completely open
the vehicles are just completely open this little bag incident that happened
this little bag incident that happened
this little bag incident that happened happened last year to us while I was in
happened last year to us while I was in
happened last year to us while I was in savuti filming Savage Kingdom and it was
savuti filming Savage Kingdom and it was
savuti filming Savage Kingdom and it was the young male lion from the marsh pride
the young male lion from the marsh pride
the young male lion from the marsh pride that thought it would be quite funny to
that thought it would be quite funny to
that thought it would be quite funny to sneak in there grab my clothes back and
sneak in there grab my clothes back and
sneak in there grab my clothes back and run off with it it was quite a busy
run off with it it was quite a busy
run off with it it was quite a busy night you know as you do you jump into
night you know as you do you jump into
night you know as you do you jump into the driver seat and you start chasing
the driver seat and you start chasing
the driver seat and you start chasing after the guy and of course you
after the guy and of course you
after the guy and of course you completely naked because now all your
completely naked because now all your
completely naked because now all your clothes are gone and we chased them
clothes are gone and we chased them
clothes are gone and we chased them around for but
around for but
around for but 20 minutes before we managed to manage
20 minutes before we managed to manage
20 minutes before we managed to manage to get all my clothes back I’ve actually
to get all my clothes back I’ve actually
to get all my clothes back I’ve actually I’ve still got my bag I still take it to
I’ve still got my bag I still take it to
I’ve still got my bag I still take it to the bush I still use it quite like this
the bush I still use it quite like this
the bush I still use it quite like this bag
bag
bag despite the sort of holes that he had he
despite the sort of holes that he had he
despite the sort of holes that he had he left in it I come from a long line of
left in it I come from a long line of
left in it I come from a long line of Botswana bush people my
Botswana bush people my
Botswana bush people my great-grandfather was one of the first
great-grandfather was one of the first
great-grandfather was one of the first up there he he was knocking around all
up there he he was knocking around all
up there he he was knocking around all over the place he was a hunter he got
over the place he was a hunter he got
over the place he was a hunter he got mauled by a lion at one point and
mauled by a lion at one point and
mauled by a lion at one point and involved in quite a few other
involved in quite a few other
involved in quite a few other misadventures I believe my grandfather
misadventures I believe my grandfather
misadventures I believe my grandfather who is that man up there he followed my
who is that man up there he followed my
who is that man up there he followed my my great-grandfather into Botswana and
my great-grandfather into Botswana and
my great-grandfather into Botswana and was given the yoke of anger as a hunting
was given the yoke of anger as a hunting
was given the yoke of anger as a hunting concession to shift crocodiles
concession to shift crocodiles
concession to shift crocodiles specifically he was quite an intrepid
specifically he was quite an intrepid
specifically he was quite an intrepid guy a bit of an adventurer so a lot of
guy a bit of an adventurer so a lot of
guy a bit of an adventurer so a lot of time on his own and he used to take
time on his own and he used to take
time on his own and he used to take these little tin boats and carve his way
these little tin boats and carve his way
these little tin boats and carve his way into the Delta and basically shoot as
into the Delta and basically shoot as
into the Delta and basically shoot as many Crocs as he could he could find he
many Crocs as he could he could find he
many Crocs as he could he could find he would go up there with groups of guys
would go up there with groups of guys
would go up there with groups of guys that would do all the skinning and
that would do all the skinning and
that would do all the skinning and prepare the skins and salt them and get
prepare the skins and salt them and get
prepare the skins and salt them and get them ready to be taken back to South
them ready to be taken back to South
them ready to be taken back to South Africa to be exported off to Europe but
Africa to be exported off to Europe but
Africa to be exported off to Europe but he lived a wild life and and really
he lived a wild life and and really
he lived a wild life and and really explored a vast part of the Delta in the
explored a vast part of the Delta in the
explored a vast part of the Delta in the mid 50s and early 60s he was responsible
mid 50s and early 60s he was responsible
mid 50s and early 60s he was responsible for killing probably about 20,000 Crocs
for killing probably about 20,000 Crocs
for killing probably about 20,000 Crocs during his time as a hunter before he
during his time as a hunter before he
during his time as a hunter before he himself was killed by a black mamba on
himself was killed by a black mamba on
himself was killed by a black mamba on one of his hunting trips he he got
one of his hunting trips he he got
one of his hunting trips he he got bitten and and died and now of course
bitten and and died and now of course
bitten and and died and now of course it’s completely safe to swim in the
it’s completely safe to swim in the
it’s completely safe to swim in the Okavango it’s just which is not
Okavango it’s just which is not
Okavango it’s just which is not altogether true but what it did is gave
altogether true but what it did is gave
altogether true but what it did is gave way to another generation of bush people
way to another generation of bush people
way to another generation of bush people my parents then moved up into the
my parents then moved up into the
my parents then moved up into the Okavango they took over what with old
Okavango they took over what with old
Okavango they took over what with old hunting camps and kind of broke the mold
hunting camps and kind of broke the mold
hunting camps and kind of broke the mold a little bit and
a little bit and
a little bit and that of hunting they decided to build
that of hunting they decided to build
that of hunting they decided to build the first photographic tourism camp in
the first photographic tourism camp in
the first photographic tourism camp in the Delta and that was in 1967 a few
the Delta and that was in 1967 a few
the Delta and that was in 1967 a few years later my sister and I were born
years later my sister and I were born
years later my sister and I were born and we were born literally into the bush
and we were born literally into the bush
and we were born literally into the bush and into the wild the story goes that my
and into the wild the story goes that my
and into the wild the story goes that my mother had me in Mau on a small village
mother had me in Mau on a small village
mother had me in Mau on a small village quite close to well the base of the
quite close to well the base of the
quite close to well the base of the Okavango and she figured that it would
Okavango and she figured that it would
Okavango and she figured that it would be safer to take me out into the bush
be safer to take me out into the bush
be safer to take me out into the bush then to leave me in the village so that
then to leave me in the village so that
then to leave me in the village so that four days old she picked me up and did
four days old she picked me up and did
four days old she picked me up and did this long boat journey up to the camp
this long boat journey up to the camp
this long boat journey up to the camp where we were living and as she arrived
where we were living and as she arrived
where we were living and as she arrived at the lodge at the campsite she was
at the lodge at the campsite she was
at the lodge at the campsite she was getting out of the boat and onto the
getting out of the boat and onto the
getting out of the boat and onto the land and she didn’t want to pass me on
land and she didn’t want to pass me on
land and she didn’t want to pass me on to somebody else just as her baby you
to somebody else just as her baby you
to somebody else just as her baby you know protected and climbing out she
know protected and climbing out she
know protected and climbing out she slipped and dropped me straight into the
slipped and dropped me straight into the
slipped and dropped me straight into the river
river
river so I was baptized into the Delta at a
so I was baptized into the Delta at a
so I was baptized into the Delta at a very young age the life the next four or
very young age the life the next four or
very young age the life the next four or five years we grew up on my sister and I
five years we grew up on my sister and I
five years we grew up on my sister and I grew up on this island out in the middle
grew up on this island out in the middle
grew up on this island out in the middle of the Delta my folks used to go into
of the Delta my folks used to go into
of the Delta my folks used to go into town maybe once a month at most to go
town maybe once a month at most to go
town maybe once a month at most to go and get a few suppliers get a bit of
and get a few suppliers get a bit of
and get a few suppliers get a bit of fuel and they we lived a sort of rural
fuel and they we lived a sort of rural
fuel and they we lived a sort of rural life we we lived in small read huts
life we we lived in small read huts
life we we lived in small read huts you know we lived on we slept on the
you know we lived on we slept on the
you know we lived on we slept on the floor under mosquito nets and you know
floor under mosquito nets and you know
floor under mosquito nets and you know bath time was in the river because there
bath time was in the river because there
bath time was in the river because there are no Crocs at the time and in a tin
are no Crocs at the time and in a tin
are no Crocs at the time and in a tin bath next to the fire it was very sort
bath next to the fire it was very sort
bath next to the fire it was very sort of rudimentary and and a great existence
of rudimentary and and a great existence
of rudimentary and and a great existence my folks used to go out and catch fish
my folks used to go out and catch fish
my folks used to go out and catch fish and try and subsist to a large degree my
and try and subsist to a large degree my
and try and subsist to a large degree my mother had a little vegetable garden
mother had a little vegetable garden
mother had a little vegetable garden that she used to the constant war with
that she used to the constant war with
that she used to the constant war with the wildlife you know fight off the
the wildlife you know fight off the
the wildlife you know fight off the porcupines were trying to eat her
porcupines were trying to eat her
porcupines were trying to eat her tomatoes or whatever she was trying to
tomatoes or whatever she was trying to
tomatoes or whatever she was trying to grow but essentially we sort of lived
grow but essentially we sort of lived
grow but essentially we sort of lived off the land my dad got a pot license
off the land my dad got a pot license
off the land my dad got a pot license that he used to have that he could go
that he used to have that he could go
that he used to have that he could go and shoot a few animals that he could
and shoot a few animals that he could
and shoot a few animals that he could then feed his staff or have food in the
then feed his staff or have food in the
then feed his staff or have food in the camp with
camp with
camp with but that really wasn’t my dad’s star he
but that really wasn’t my dad’s star he
but that really wasn’t my dad’s star he he didn’t really like the hunting side
he didn’t really like the hunting side
he didn’t really like the hunting side of things and instead he used to take
of things and instead he used to take
of things and instead he used to take this little yellow short felt best Land
this little yellow short felt best Land
this little yellow short felt best Land Rover that we had and we’ve got trekked
Rover that we had and we’ve got trekked
Rover that we had and we’ve got trekked lines and find the lines and then we’d
lines and find the lines and then we’d
lines and find the lines and then we’d sit on them and follow them for four
sit on them and follow them for four
sit on them and follow them for four hours and eventually they would kill
hours and eventually they would kill
hours and eventually they would kill something a buffalo or parlor or kudu or
something a buffalo or parlor or kudu or
something a buffalo or parlor or kudu or something and then he would use a little
something and then he would use a little
something and then he would use a little Land Rover and push all the lines off
Land Rover and push all the lines off
Land Rover and push all the lines off the kill hop out and Captain Lego for a
the kill hop out and Captain Lego for a
the kill hop out and Captain Lego for a shoulder or piece of meats and then he
shoulder or piece of meats and then he
shoulder or piece of meats and then he would take that home and that’s really
would take that home and that’s really
would take that home and that’s really how we got most of our most of our food
how we got most of our most of our food
how we got most of our most of our food and our meat you can imagine as a little
and our meat you can imagine as a little
and our meat you can imagine as a little toddler how exciting that was that was a
toddler how exciting that was that was a
toddler how exciting that was that was a grand adventure looking back at how I
grand adventure looking back at how I
grand adventure looking back at how I grew up really sort of you know looks a
grew up really sort of you know looks a
grew up really sort of you know looks a little bit like Mowgli in the sort of
little bit like Mowgli in the sort of
little bit like Mowgli in the sort of jungle book story it was it was a wild
jungle book story it was it was a wild
jungle book story it was it was a wild life we we grew up surrounded by
life we we grew up surrounded by
life we we grew up surrounded by predators we had lions hyenas leopards
predators we had lions hyenas leopards
predators we had lions hyenas leopards always around us and a lot of other
always around us and a lot of other
always around us and a lot of other animals that can kill you elephants
animals that can kill you elephants
animals that can kill you elephants hippos Crocs and even snakes like the
hippos Crocs and even snakes like the
hippos Crocs and even snakes like the ones that killed my grandfather
ones that killed my grandfather
ones that killed my grandfather growing up wild like that sort of gives
growing up wild like that sort of gives
growing up wild like that sort of gives you a sense of vulnerability
you a sense of vulnerability
you a sense of vulnerability you’re not top dog you living in a world
you’re not top dog you living in a world
you’re not top dog you living in a world full of predators and it makes you very
full of predators and it makes you very
full of predators and it makes you very aware and very vigilant and you’re
aware and very vigilant and you’re
aware and very vigilant and you’re always very focused on what is going on
always very focused on what is going on
always very focused on what is going on around you and very perceptive towards
around you and very perceptive towards
around you and very perceptive towards the bush and I think that’s where my
the bush and I think that’s where my
the bush and I think that’s where my love for the wildlife and my sort of
love for the wildlife and my sort of
love for the wildlife and my sort of passion and my understanding of the
passion and my understanding of the
passion and my understanding of the predator world really started began
predator world really started began
predator world really started began where it all stemmed from very soon
where it all stemmed from very soon
where it all stemmed from very soon after I left school I joined two great
after I left school I joined two great
after I left school I joined two great people which most of you probably know
people which most of you probably know
people which most of you probably know dereck and Beverly to bear they
dereck and Beverly to bear they
dereck and Beverly to bear they explorers and residents for National
explorers and residents for National
explorers and residents for National Geographic and they lived in the bush
Geographic and they lived in the bush
Geographic and they lived in the bush and they lived where I wanted to be and
and they lived where I wanted to be and
and they lived where I wanted to be and I started an apprenticeship with them up
I started an apprenticeship with them up
I started an apprenticeship with them up until this point the bush and the wild
until this point the bush and the wild
until this point the bush and the wild animals was really just my life it was
animals was really just my life it was
animals was really just my life it was normal I was very familiar with it
normal I was very familiar with it
normal I was very familiar with it I sort of just moved through life you
I sort of just moved through life you
I sort of just moved through life you know not really appreciating that
know not really appreciating that
know not really appreciating that bringing that head and dereck and
bringing that head and dereck and
bringing that head and dereck and Beverly kind of shifted that direction
Beverly kind of shifted that direction
Beverly kind of shifted that direction and made me
and made me
and made me they sort of contextualized the value of
they sort of contextualized the value of
they sort of contextualized the value of my upbringing and the sort of
my upbringing and the sort of
my upbringing and the sort of understanding that I’d naturally
understanding that I’d naturally
understanding that I’d naturally accumulated by being out there they
accumulated by being out there they
accumulated by being out there they allowed me to look at match in a very
allowed me to look at match in a very
allowed me to look at match in a very different way in a much more
different way in a much more
different way in a much more philosophical way and really delve
philosophical way and really delve
philosophical way and really delve deeper into appreciating these animals
deeper into appreciating these animals
deeper into appreciating these animals in the natural world I was working with
in the natural world I was working with
in the natural world I was working with them for about 10 12 years towards the
them for about 10 12 years towards the
them for about 10 12 years towards the end of that time I met my wife who was
end of that time I met my wife who was
end of that time I met my wife who was at the time having her own sort of
at the time having her own sort of
at the time having her own sort of midlife crisis she was giving up her
midlife crisis she was giving up her
midlife crisis she was giving up her life as a lawyer in the big city and
life as a lawyer in the big city and
life as a lawyer in the big city and decided to move out into the middle of
decided to move out into the middle of
decided to move out into the middle of the bush with me so the two of us we had
the bush with me so the two of us we had
the bush with me so the two of us we had a new direction and a new purpose and we
a new direction and a new purpose and we
a new direction and a new purpose and we were determined that we were going to
were determined that we were going to
were determined that we were going to live and stay out in the bush and as it
live and stay out in the bush and as it
live and stay out in the bush and as it happens not long after we did that we
happens not long after we did that we
happens not long after we did that we had some children and we went well we
had some children and we went well we
had some children and we went well we weren’t gonna let that stop us so we
weren’t gonna let that stop us so we
weren’t gonna let that stop us so we moved everybody out into the bush and
moved everybody out into the bush and
moved everybody out into the bush and and we decided to live out there we both
and we decided to live out there we both
and we decided to live out there we both really believe that it’s a gift to grow
really believe that it’s a gift to grow
really believe that it’s a gift to grow up wild
up wild
up wild grow up in the bush and we wanted to we
grow up in the bush and we wanted to we
grow up in the bush and we wanted to we had an opportunity to give that to our
had an opportunity to give that to our
had an opportunity to give that to our children so we’re hell-bent and staying
children so we’re hell-bent and staying
children so we’re hell-bent and staying out there we could slowly teach them
out there we could slowly teach them
out there we could slowly teach them about tracking about the signs of the
about tracking about the signs of the
about tracking about the signs of the wild we could teach them about how the
wild we could teach them about how the
wild we could teach them about how the bigger animals the scary animals are
bigger animals the scary animals are
bigger animals the scary animals are often the more gentle animals and we
often the more gentle animals and we
often the more gentle animals and we wanted them to grow up strong and have
wanted them to grow up strong and have
wanted them to grow up strong and have this intrinsic sense of nature and
this intrinsic sense of nature and
this intrinsic sense of nature and animals sort of embed into them at a
animals sort of embed into them at a
animals sort of embed into them at a very very young age let them develop
very very young age let them develop
very very young age let them develop their own intrinsic understanding and
their own intrinsic understanding and
their own intrinsic understanding and and compassion towards the wildlife and
and compassion towards the wildlife and
and compassion towards the wildlife and luckily those tin baths didn’t evolve
luckily those tin baths didn’t evolve
luckily those tin baths didn’t evolve much in 25 years old very very useful
much in 25 years old very very useful
much in 25 years old very very useful it’s amazing how we often we so often
it’s amazing how we often we so often
it’s amazing how we often we so often follow the path of our parents this is a
follow the path of our parents this is a
follow the path of our parents this is a pic this picture was taken in 1979
pic this picture was taken in 1979
pic this picture was taken in 1979 that’s my my sister and myself getting a
that’s my my sister and myself getting a
that’s my my sister and myself getting a few lessons in life right out in the
few lessons in life right out in the
few lessons in life right out in the middle of the Okavango and this picture
middle of the Okavango and this picture
middle of the Okavango and this picture was taken just over a year ago and he
was taken just over a year ago and he
was taken just over a year ago and he took the picture we were out there with
took the picture we were out there with
took the picture we were out there with our family living the wild life being
our family living the wild life being
our family living the wild life being out there in the bush just in a totally
out there in the bush just in a totally
out there in the bush just in a totally different location
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