Brad Bestelink: A Life Immersed in the Wild
Brad Bestelink was born in Maun, Botswana, and introduced to the Okavango Delta just four days after his birth. As the son of pioneers in Botswana's photographic safari industry, he spent his first 4 years in a camp in the Okavango and has had the privilege of spending most of his life in the pristine wildlife areas of the country.
From a young age, Brad's fascination with the natural world shaped his creative journey. Surrounded by wildlife, his artistic focus was always directed outward, capturing the beauty of nature through drawing, painting, and photography for as long as he can remember.
Brad’s film career began in his teenage years, working with Dereck and Beverly Joubert. For over a decade, he worked with them, living and filming mainly in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, specifically in Savute and Linyanti, before returning with them to the Okavango Delta.
In 2008, Brad founded the Natural History Film Unit (NHFU). Since then, he has filmed, directed, and produced over 35 independent films.
Brad is a celebrated wildlife filmmaker, having been nominated for several prestigious awards, including multiple Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography and a Filmmakers Guild Award for Best Cinematography. The NHFU has garnered numerous international awards, including Best Animal Behaviour, Best Documentary Feature, Best Natural History Film, and Best Story.
Two of Brad’s award-winning films have been narrated by David Attenborough. He has also contributed to landmark natural history series such as "Planet Earth II" and "III," "Our Planet II," "Our Universe," “Our living Planet” and "Hostile Planet.” He has recently completed “Living with Leopards” for Netflix which he narrates.
Alongside his film making career, Brad has always been passionate about his artwork. He expresses visual beauty in both film and art, and for him it centres around light, shadows, and textures. Through his artwork, he aims to capture the nuance and spirit of his subjects, conveying a more emotional resonance to his subjects than is possible in film. He has held four solo exhibitions and maintains a private art gallery in Maun and the Okavango Delta, Botswana, to showcase his current works.
Brad divides his time between film making and painting, seamlessly blending his talents and love for both. He continues to film and paint from his private film camp in the Okavango Delta, a place he calls home.