Campfire Conversations with Brett Horley
By BHS Safari Company
Campfire Conversations with Brett HorleyAug 18, 2020
S4 E8: Destination Zambia (ft. Alaska) with Brett Horley, Jo Cooper & Charlotte Arthun
Our destination of 2024 and 2025 - Zambia - is a "rising giant", an enigmatic safari destination that delivers just as much punch whether it's a first-time or many-time repeat destination. Its alluring national parks are sprawled between major river systems, floodplains, swamps, and ancient trees, and you can explore by boat, on foot, in a canoe, and on game drive. Leopard sightings that match and surpass the Sabi Sand, crazy bat migrations, wild dogs, swamp lions, shoebills, hippos, and elephants that blend into the oversized landscape.
Here to talk with Brett about this wild, wonderful, and vastly underrated safari spot is our BHS safari expert, Jo Cooper, and a repeat podcast guest, professional photographic guide, and eternal adventurer, Charlotte Arthun, who rates this spot higher than the Sabi Sand for predator encounters.
We start off on the banks of the Klaserie River where this conversation over morning coffee is almost drowned out by the dawn chorus, and we discuss the issue of the moment - a 2.8m black mamba in the roof! Jo, Brett, Charlotte and a few of our fellow team members gathered after game drive to talk about what we all truly love - the magic and madness of African nature explorations - and we soon delved into the unique appeal of Mana Pools' northern neighbour, Lower Zambezi, and the Sabi Sand's rival location for leopard photography, South Luangwa.
Liuwa Plains, Kafue, and the Busanga Swamps are fascinating and less explored than the typical two mentioned above, so listen up for some fascinating insights into these hidden gems, and brace yourself for some "horror stories" that come with the territory as Jo looks back on his guiding career and Zambezi canoe excursions.
Brett's regaling tale of an attempted 02h00 escape from Kafue is one for the books (don't mess with off-duty Zambian Game Scouts!)
Before we wrapped up this episode, we changed gears dramatically to talk about another destination that appeals to every nature seeker: Alaska. Charlotte spent 7 months in Alaska and has bear stories that are unbelievable to the inexperienced.
Rule #1: Camp among brown bears and make that morning coffee at your own risk!
Rule #2: Fishermen, beware - hundreds of bears want the fish you're catching.
Rule #3: Pack a bear fence.
We are in awe of places like this where crazy wildlife migrations and seasonal movements invite congregations of different species and create interactions beyond our wildest dreams. Our roots may be in Africa, but our hearts wander far and wide to all corners of this awe-inspiring globe. What a treat to get some insider info into Alaska, and to share some stories about our beautiful Zambia.
Enjoy this episode, reach out with your questions, recommendations, and podcast wish list so that we can keep generating the content and conversations that light you up.
Find us at hello@bhs-safari.co or on Instagram where we share all.
A big thank-you to Karabo Ramuhashi for editing this season of the podcast, and to Trent Ashton for supplying us with his original hand-drum beat for our intro.
S4 E7: Christina "Mufasa" van der Merwe
This episode comes with a PG warning, and it couldn't be more entertaining. These are truly the UNTOLD stories from behind the scenes on safari involving guides, guests, friends, and colleagues in the industry that some might never have considered would make it onto a podcast. But thanks to our treasured friend and superior safari chef, Christina “Mufasa” van der Merwe, we have a no holds barred Campfire Conversation that takes us through reels of bush bloopers that’ll have you belly laughing throughout.
Christina and Brett have a 12 year history together in the Lowveld, working together at some of the camps we’ve visited and loved for the longest time. Over the years, early careers and safari inductions have led to daring escapades and mortifying mishaps that are still remembered today. We’ve tried to remember to leave out names and places for the sake of dignity, but if you’ve crossed paths with these two over the last decade, you’re likely to pick up on a detail here and there as you listen. Shout outs to the mates who have given us the material for these tales - you’ll know who you are!
Accidental rounds fired off, cars stuck on remote bush roads, red-wine walking safaris, rugby tackles around the fire, escape artists and intoxication… These stories just skim the surface of what’s buried in our brain.
There’s no one else on Earth who could have nailed this assignment. It’s colourful and candid and at times we were breathless with laughter, which is all thanks to the entertaining delivery of these stories by our friend, Mufasa. She’s wild and wonderful, and she’s got the charisma and charm that make her irresistible. Above all, she’s a safari chef extraordinaire and the host with the most, and if you’re lucky enough to know her or to have been hosted by her on a BHS safari, you’ve been treated to the best.
This was one or two stories too short, and we’d love to have Christina around our campfire again. So we’ll rope her in for round II one of these days. But in the meantime, if you’re in the Hoedspruit Lowveld and planning a bash, make sure you get Mufasa’s Private Catering involved. If she’s not already booked up by us, she’s our first recommendation to you.
Contact her on mufasasprivatecatering@gmail.com (you can be thankful she’s not on Instagram!)
And let us know if you’re ready for the next instalment…
As always, reach out to us on hello@bhs-safari.co, take a look at our website, or follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop of our never-ending adventures.
Thanks to Karabo Ramuhashi @karaborej who edited this season of the podcast for us, and to Trent Ashton @trent_ashton_nightingale who gave us his hand-drum beat to use in our intro.
S4 E6: Destination Botswana with Brett Horley & Jo Cooper
Welcome to another destination-focused episode of the podcast, hosted by Brett. In this Campfire Conversation, Brett is joined by Jo, who is, by now, a regularly featured safari expert on the pod and who's got bush stories crazy enough to match Brett's. When it comes to Botswana, there are stories upon stories of rogue wildlife in campsites, breakdowns, black-outs, and utterly mesmerising moments in some the world's most pristine natural ecosystems.
Brett travels to Botswana on average 6 times per year, and this is the country Jo has spent the most time in (outside of South Africa) over his 10+ year long career as an overland safari guide.
These are two people who know Botswana extremely well. It it South Africa's northern neighbour, it's wild and unfenced, and emergency radios are a staple in each camp (because WiFi and air-conditioning are not a given!) Botswana offers that curious allure of high-end luxury that is not necessarily dictated by amenities, and rather by total remoteness and wilderness. Roads are flooded, camps are inaccessible other than by air, there are paths shared by humans and animals alike. Then there's the sheer magic of being on the water at sunset.
As one of safari's most celebrated destinations, we talk about Botswana a lot with our guests and our colleagues, and we frequently find ourselves debunking some assumptions about what a Botswana safari looks like. For the rates associated with travel in this country, there's an expectation for what 5-star should be, but what we want our guests to know is that the luxury you're getting is defined by something much greater and deeper than satisfaction at the touch of a button. It's in the exposure to true nature, to age-old tradition, to immersion, to close encounters with the big, wild animals in Africa whose territory you find yourself in. No fences, no signal, and sometimes no ice!
Nothing gets these two more excited than diving into a chat about a place we know well and love even more. This conversation had to be cut purposefully short, but not before we covered some of Brett's and Jo's combined memories of best moments, hair-raising encounters, and plans for exploring more of Bots in the future!
Tune in and enjoy (and if you're a previous Botswana guest of ours, enjoy this reminiscent chat about some epic adventures).
Thanks to Karabo Ramuhashi @karaborej who edited this season of the podcast for us, and to Trent Ashton @trent_ashton_nightingale who gave us his hand-drum beat to use in our intro.
S4 E5: Ambrose Letoluai ft. Charlotte Arthun - Black leopards of Kenya
Seeking out the rare and enigmatic creatures of this wild continent has always been a primary motivator for BHS and speaks right to our Explorer archetype. So, when there was barely a chance (but a chance nonetheless) to see a black leopard in Africa back in 2017, Brett and a couple of die-hard friends set off to meet the researchers and guides who had been tracking these elusive cats in a dramatically vast landscape, and that's when we first crossed paths with the legendary Ambrose Letoluai.
A leopard researcher, National Geographic Explorer, NEWF Fellow, award-winning conservationist, and co-founder of community support initiatives, Chui Mamas and Wildlife Kids Resource Centre, Ambrose is a busy man, but he is a friend of BHS and we love that this guy gave us 30 minutes to chat. Tuning in from his home in Kenya, Ambrose joined Brett and fellow black leopard enthusiast, Charlotte Arthun, who is also a professional photographic guide and at the time of recording was a few days away from her next trip to Laikipia to photograph the famous cats!
Ambrose was part of the team of researchers who named Giza - the now well known black female leopard. His ancestors talked about seeing these black cats living among them, and he was one of the first researchers to report the initial sightings on their camera traps. Now, his career is a dedication to mitigating conflict between rural communities and wildlife, working to keep leopard populations healthily independent so that they don't venture into human farmlands.
His Wildlife Kids initiative is something to be proud of and it speaks right to our belief that environmental education for young members the communities living among wildlife is the key to creating a future of wildlife protectors. Ambrose is the guy who does it all with whatever he's got to give and aside from his "dream job" as a leopard researcher, he is truly making a difference through his community work.
Find out more about his initiatives via the links about and follow Ambrose on Instagram to keep up with his crazy life with black leopards and as a conservationist in Kenya. And check out our privately guided BHS Expedition: The Original Search for the Black Leopard to see what it takes to join us in Laikipia.
Thanks to Karabo Ramahuhashi @karaborej who edited this season of the podcast for us, and to Trent Ashton @trent_ashton_nightingale who gave us his hand-drum beat to use in our intro.
Find us on Instagram, our website, or at hello@bhs-safari.co.
S4 E4: Dr Ian Whyte
Retired animal scientist, elephant specialist, and ornithologist with a career that spanned 37 years at South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr Ian "Masthulele" Whyte has published papers on managing Kruger National Park's elephant population, the value of elephants vs biodiversity, elephants as a keystone species, different contraceptive methods, and translocation issues, to name a few.
This episode is a conversation with a LEGEND. Dr Whyte was one of Brett's earliest influencers and idols, literally "living the wild life" (as is the title of his latest book) as he shadowed iconic wildlife vets conducting groundbreaking work in the 1970s, gained one qualification after the next as a true large mammal specialist, and was integral to the survival and redistribution of oxpeckers in South Africa.
Take a listen to the intro in this recording for a full list of Ian's accomplishments and fascinating career, which all kicked off after he was a self-proclaimed "hopeless case" as a school boy and entered the wildlife research field right at the bottom after being identified during his cricket practice at Skukuza!
Fast forward a few years and Ian and his wife, Merle, were raising their children in the Kruger National Park, following prides of lions and fitting radio collars to track their movement, behaviour, and their impact on other species. From a caravan parked under shady trees, for weeks at a time. A life that would feed any aspiring game ranger's dreams! Working with the likes of Dr Eddie Young, Dr Butch Smuts, and Dr Anthony Hall-Martin.
"Adventure every day and one of the highlights of my life" - Dr Whyte remembers his career among these huge names in wildlife with great fondness.
Ian has been a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's African Elephant Specialist Group since 1992, and a professional member of the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) since 1988. He qualified as a pilot in the early 1990s and became a published author along the way. One of Kruger National Park's great elephant tuskers is even named "Masthulele" in honour of Ian's contribution.
"Living the Wild Life" is his latest book, detailing some of this extensive careers in a way that resounds with a wildlife-loving public. The book has limited availability, so get in touch with Merle on merle.m.whyte@gmail.com to order a copy directly or find a few right here in Hoedspruit at High Tea With Elephants. We gave away some signed copies to some dear friends, followers, and colleagues.
A huge thanks to Ian for navigating Zoom and joining us online to get this conversation recorded!
Find us online at www.bhs-safari.co or @bhs_safarico on social and reach out directly at hello@bhs-safari.co.
Podcast edited by Karabo Ramuhashi @karaborej
Original drumbeat by Trent Ashton @trent_ashton_nightingale
S4 E3: Destination Uganda with Brett Horley & Jo Cooper
This episode is the first in a series of destination-focused episodes we'll be sharing in this season of the podcast. We're re-introducing you to Jo Cooper, who was our very first guest back in 2020 in season 1 - he is a safari guru, overland extraordinaire, an expert at African border crossings, navigating roadside marketplaces in the most bustling cities across southern and eastern Africa, and he's as at home on the beach as he is in the bush.
Since our first chat in 2020, Jo has infiltrated our ecosystem as a resident in the Centre of the Universe (aka. Hoedspruit) and a pro in the guiding and safari travel community with his own overlanding business, Footsteps Through Africa. Earlier in 2023, Jo came on board full time at BHS, sharing the knowledge gained during 13 years on the road in African tourism, and the passion he so undeniably has for the wild and wonderful continent. Sometimes more wild than wonderful - we all agree - but the "wonderful" is worth its weight in gold. Which is why we are all here!
Uganda in particular is a special place to both Jo and Brett, and so we decided to launch the destination series with this spectacular country. Brett and Jo's combined knowledge and experience in Uganda is substantial - each having hiked the volcanic slopes of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, canoed the Delta-like Mabamba Swamp in search of the shoebill, sat in the mesmerising chaos of a chimpanzee community in Kibale, fished for the Nile perch in the river of the same name, and explored the seemingly unending sprawl of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In this informal and entertaining conversation, Jo and Brett revisit some of the best memories, discuss what they've learned about Uganda's lesser known destinations and activities, and ultimately leave you more informed and rearing to press go on that bucket list trip to the equatorial African jungle.
Tune in and enjoy and let us know what you think!
Thanks to Karabo Ramuhashi @karaborej who edited this season of the podcast for us, and to Trent Ashton @trent_ashton_nightingale who gave us his hand-drum beat to use in our intro.
S4 E2: Dr Kyle & Carrie Middleton - Ground-hornbill Conservation
Kyle (recently completing his PhD) and Carrie (currently working on her PhD) have been leading the research and conservation of southern ground-hornbills in the Greater Kruger Park for the last seven years as part of a longterm study run by the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology that has spanned the last 23 years. They've tracked breeding behaviour, group dynamics, vocalisations, and the impact of changing environmental factors on these endangered "thunderbirds" through mannnnnnny hours of field work followed by even more hours spent recording and reporting their findings. It is a true dedication for science and for the bird that so few people even know is threatened.
The combined work installing artificial ground-hornbill nests by the APNR Ground-Hornbill Project and the Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project has resulted in an upward trend in the population growth rate of ground-hornbills in the Lowveld, whereas in other places these birds still exist, their status remains severely threatened.
Kyle and Carrie live in Hoedspruit and are a part of the BHS ecosystem. We've accompanied them in the field, been allowed the unique privilege of peering into an active ground-hornbill nest, observed their careful handling and data capturing of these precious chicks, and had the honour of supporting their passion project (also for conservation), Nature on Tap.
In this episode, you'll hear about some of the WILD stories from their many years walking through the bush, what weird and wonderful discoveries they've made while monitoring these nests, and learn some fascinating truths about these remarkable birds.
During the recording of this podcast, Kyle helped us remove and measure a 2.8m long black mamba skin from the roof of our lodge (we found the actual snake the next day and it is still said to be living in the roof...) and we got to join an early morning "nest check" the next day.
We're delighted to introduce you to some truly lekker people and know that you'll find their stories entertaining and their expertise something to admire.
Definitely find them, follow them, and support them online via these links to the projects in this description. And as always, you know where to find us:
hello@bhs-safari.co
www.bhs-safari.co
S4 E1: Ian Harmer (ft. Jo Cooper)
Devoted Zimbabwean and professional guide of over 34 years, Ian Harmer is an experienced and passionate anti-poaching ranger with a convincing argument for legalising the rhino horn trade. He is a human historian and salt of the Earth human himself who "grew up in the hills" outside Bulawayo and still lives there.
He called in to talk to us from his home in the magical Matobo Hills, while we sat on the banks of the Klaserie River. We shared a couple of Windhoek lagers as we discussed the sustainable utilisation of a wild animal... it's a mind boggling conversation to be having!
Ian's opinion and insights into the rhino poaching problem come from a place of ongoing firsthand experience and personal history on the frontline. Ian believes firmly that the only chance we have of saving the rhino is by legalising the trade of the horn. Listen as he spells out the issue, recounts the history, does the maths, and creates a thought-provoking argument for opening the sustainable trade of rhino horn to the demanding market.
Beyond this controversial issue, we dive into the pure magic and unique appeal of Zimbabwe as an African destination to see. Bushman rock art beyond your imagination, and rhino encounters on foot in an ancient landscape, guided by this true bushveld legend. There are stories upon stories that'll have you holding your breath and conjuring up some safari dreams...
Find Ian and go explore Zimbabwe with him: African Wanderer Safaris wanderer@yoafrica.com
Find us as always at hello@bhs-safari.co, follow us on Instagram, or visit our website.
Podcast edited by @karaborej
Original drumbeat by @trent_ashton_nightingale
S3 E4: Matt Lindenberg & Justin Sullivan
This one's been a long time in the making... What started as an exploratory conversation between Brett and his two guests - friends, Matt Lindenberg and Justin Sullivan - has now (a year later) become a relationship between colleagues and collaborators of BHS in conservation and in epic adventures.
A lot has happened since this recording, including the tragic loss of Anton Mzimba, a friend and an inspiring leader in the treacherous world of anti-poaching. We listen to this with a sense of reflection and respect for this man whose legacy lives on. Linked to Anton is the film RHINO MAN, which we discuss with Matt - lead producer and director - in this episode. The documentary has now been viewed and endorsed by the Prince of Wales and The Royal Foundation. A huge honour and well-deserved spotlight for this locally filmed story of Field Rangers.
You're likely to know both of our guests in their own capacity, and the same goes for the peanut gallery in this episode, which consists of guests and friends who joined us for this fascinating conversation at Serondella in the Greater Kruger!
A bit of background before you get stuck in to listening:
Justin Sullivan. A filmmaker defined by a need for expression and a calling for story-telling and interpretation, Justin is an award-winning creator. He has filmed over 200 rhino dehorning operations, but most of his career has been spent on blazing mountains documenting wildfires. Based in the Greater Kruger, this qualified firefighter & documentarian is honing in on his passion for conservation. When we recorded this conversation, Justin's dream was to go to the Congo. Now, as we publish, Justin has just returned from a second trip to the Congo, documenting a story about Field Rangers marbled with equal parts inspiration and danger.
Matt Lindenberg. The Founder and Executive Director of the Global Conservation Corps (GCC) – a non-profit organisation using education as a way of connecting people and wildlife on the border of the Kruger National Park. His passion for conservation and giving kids the opportunity to learn about and love wildlife comes from his own experience growing up in the little town of Sabie in Mpumalanga. Today, GCC’s Future Rangers Programme works with 20 schools to give 10,000 children each week access to environmental education and experiences.
Along with inspiring chats about challenging work in the conservation space, this episode packs a punch and is marked with sideline comments and interactions from our campfire audience. Be sure to listen out for shout-outs, animal sounds, quick-fire questions and awkward moments, which all weave through the unfolding of our latest episode.
Find more info at these links and make sure you show your support to these legends!
Matt:
https://globalconservationcorps.org/
https://www.instagram.com/rhinomanthemovie/
https://www.instagram.com/theglobalconservationcorps/
Justin:
https://www.justinsullivan.org/
https://www.instagram.com/justin___sullivan/
S3 E3: Jana Meyer
Joining us for the third episode of the podcast is helicopter pilot Jana Meyer who did us the great pleasure of sitting down for a chat after she’d flown in for a rhino dehorning. Just another day in the office for this incredibly hard-working conservation chopper pilot!
Working in wildlife conservation is a big part of her life and something Jana is very well known for here in the Greater Kruger. She started and runs her own conservation and ecotourism flying business, which operates in a great number of wildlife rescues, rhino dehornings, animal collarings, and anti-poaching operations in the Greater Kruger.
Earlier on in her career she studied Nature Conservation, worked in the Kruger National Park as a game capture student, completed her FGASA Level 3 SKS Dangerous Game, and began a guiding career at Singita Lebombo. She’s managed game breeding operations in the Waterberg and after many hours in the passenger seat of a helicopter, the bug bit and she qualified as a commercial helicopter pilot.
She flies hours in and around the Greater Kruger in a tourism and conservation capacity and you can bet she flew herself to her wedding ceremony in her wedding dress!
Jana is a woman of many talents and she is proof that dynamite comes in small packages. It’s an honour to have her on the podcast and to share our space with such a dynamic and admirable woman in conservation. Welcome, Jana!
Find us @bretthorleysafaris and follow Jana on @hope_for_wildlife_helicopter
S3 E2: TJ, Benji, and Alfred - Guides at Serondella Safari Lodge
Episode 2 of this season takes us down to a quiet riverbed in the spectacular Thornybush Private Nature Reserve where Serondella Safari Lodge is located. Brett is joined by three gentlemen who make up the core guiding team on the ground here in paradise, and all four of them feel quite at home with our feet in the sand and the sounds of the late morning bush! What a place to sit and have a conversation about the wilderness that has brought us all to this point, from all our different origins in life.
Togara Joseph (TJ) Charingira is originally from Zimbabwe. He has 10 years of guiding experience under his belt after training under the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority, he's spent parts of his professional career on the Zambezi Escarpment, and has trained under some industry legends and friends of ours: Massimo Rebuzzi, Brenden Pienaar (find him on S1 E2 of our podcast!), Charles Delport, and Trevor Carnaby. Perhaps most significantly in his professional career, TJ earned himself the title of the FGASA Safari Guide of the Year in 2021!
Benji Solms is also sharing our riverbed studio this episode - he is the Assistant Manager and a Guide at Serondella, and this is not our first meeting with him. Brett first connected with Benji on a post-lockdown wilderness trail on the Klein Letaba River with our friend Massi. Benji is most at home when on foot in the bush - something he describes as offering a whole new perspective.
Alfred Ndlovu - our third guest in this episode - has a fascinating history and a career that has evolved within the tourism industry. He has continuously worked and trained under some of the most prestigious establishments on the South African safari scene, taking him from transfer driver, into reserve maintenance, to a position in community health outreach programmes, and eventually training as a tracker and then a guide. Alfred's passion for all the roles he has performed is evident in the way he speaks, and his career transitions have been a result of enthusiasm and determination.
Find glimpses of all three of these guys on social media at @serondella_safarilodge
S3 E1: Trevor Jordan
It's the season three kick-off and we are in the prestigious company of Trevor Jordan - Lowveld legend in the property development and conservation space, and CEO of Thornybush Nature Reserve where this season of the podcast is being recorded!
Just the week before we sat down to have this conversation, Trevor and his wife Lisa had just jumped off a morning flight over Thornybush when they had seen wild dogs, hyena, buffalo, elephant, and more from the air. A testament to the real density and diversity of wildlife here! What a pleasure to have had the opportunity to talk to the man behind some of the most significant moves that have been made in conservation in this area to date.
Trevor’s is a well-known name in the Greater Kruger and beyond. He is a property developer of note, with over 50 years of industry experience. He is a trained military man, a pilot, a very successful businessman, and a passionate wildlife conservationist. Trevor initiated the opening up of the Greater Kruger Park – the removal of the fences between the KNP and the private reserves on its western border – one of the biggest milestones in South Africa’s conservation history.
Some of the properties he has famously developed include Welgevonden Game Reserve, Umbabat, N’tsiri, and Thornybush here in the Greater Kruger; Khaya Ndlovu Game Reserve, Blue Canyon Conservancy, Wild Rivers, and a major part of the residential property in Hoedspruit – the Raptor’s View estates.
The list of contributions to conservation continues, including the founding of Rhino Revolution – the first organisation to pioneer dehorning of rhinos in the area. The Trevor Jordan name is synonymous with the Lowveld, but while these incredibly impressive enterprises continue to spearhead largescale conservation initiatives, Trevor is contributing to our community on a personal level. He has been known to help individuals treat their sick or injured domestic animals, and he has made incredibly generous donations to education on a local level.
There is so much more to this man that we haven’t been able to fit into an intro! We can't wait for you to dive in and hear from one of the most interesting people to have join a Campfire Conversation.
Welcome, Trevor, thank you so much for your time.
S2 E6: Troy Meeser and John Dixon
Our second season of the podcast draws to a close in a spectacular manner, in the company of Lowveld safari legend and return offender on Campfire Conversations, John JD Dixon, and our neighbour here in Klaserie, Troy TC Zambezi Meeser! We sat down under Big Jack - the 400-odd-year-old Jackalberry tree under which some of our guests at Tulela might have enjoyed a bush breakfast - and got down to some seriously good safari stories. Between Brett, JD, and Troy, there are decades worth of guiding wins and epic fails, which let's face it, are more fun to talk about than the wins.
We chat about hair-raising wildlife encounters (thanks Troy!) and talk about the particularly special history and sentimental value of the Klaserie Reserve. Another couple of bonus stories you will love hearing make this episode one of our most entertaining yet!
Both JD and Troy are linked forever to the Lowveld, having spent the vast majority of their lives on these game trails, tracking in these riverbeds, sleeping under these stars, and telling stories around campfires. Finally, we have them here together to tell us a story or two about their eventful lives around this campfire, and we are so happy to put it on record to share with the world.
JD calls himself a 1960s model, and like a fine wine, he really does get better with age. His life and experiences among wildlife in the bush have both aged him and kept him young! He has been professionally involved in safari guiding, elephant and leopard research projects, game capture, wildlife filming and photographic work, lodge development, and... he sings – a talent we were lucky enough to witness in his last appearance on the pod!
Troy arrived on the Manyeleti soil in the 90s as a baby. There was no way Troy wasn’t going to lead a life in the bush given his background, and in fact he and his sister are both incredible guides working in the bushveld neighbourhood they were raised - full circle! Troy has guided all over Africa, including many trips as an overland guide including Namibia, Tuli, Chobe, Zimbabwe, Kafue, Luangwa, and right here in the GK where he is now based at Tuskers with his business partner and friend Brave Dave Hancock.
Please enjoy the authentic connection between these guests and the ease of storytelling they share. Season two has been a whopper - we are looking so forward to what's to come!
Find JD on Instagram at @bush_explorations_africa and Troy at @tczambezi and @natural.earth.safaris
S2 E5: Wild Wonderful World - Michelle Campbell, Grant Pengilly, and Jonty Bozas
We have the team from Wild Wonderful World around our "campfire" this afternoon, which nothing short of an honour! This is by far the most civilised chat we've had - seated in the luxury lounge here at Tulela rather than circled around a fire. Unfortunately the weather wasn't playing along for our recording, so we moved inside, but nevertheless - the Klaserie is all around us and these three guests have some bush stories you won't believe! Settle in and spend an hour listening to hilarious and inspiring tales from all over the African continent where Michelle, Grant, and Jonty have spent a lot of time.
You'll be amazed by Grant's vervet monkey alarm call impersonation and Jonty has a cute joke up his sleeve, but once we get into it you will be enthralled by the stories these guys have to tell. Favourite places in Africa, brand new bird species seen all over the continent, a year spent living in a Land Rover (which made it through the dodgy muddy roads in Uganda!), and rescuing a trapped kudu in a Kalahari fence line. All this and more from conservation-minded couple, Grant and Michelle. Highs, lows, and the truth behind community-led conservation in Africa.
Jonty is someone we've known for a long time and his guiding history is stellar! He is also an entertainer and a lekker chat around the fire. He has led and participated in some incredible journeys driven by the desire to make a difference in wildlife and habitat conservation, and the wellbeing and future security of our communities. He's a collaborator and an ideas man and occasionally dives deep to have a serious conversation before he surfaces to deliver some funnies! What a character and an inspiring member of the bushveld community.
Find these guys on social media and support their very good work @wildwonderful_world and @jontybozas https://www.wildwonderfulworld.com
S2 E4: Michel Girardin
On one side of the campfire, we sit in the esteemed company of safari mentor, doyen, and great friend, Michel Girardin, and on the other, our fellow black leopard enthusiast, powerhouse, and conservation leader, Sharon Haussmann. This is an episode for the nature lovers, the seekers of authenticity, and those of you who might know these famous names in the Lowveld and in the eco tourism industry. Sharon and Mich are old friends of Brett Horley Safaris and we have now introduced them to Tulela - and it did not take long for the campfire conversation to swing from soulful observations to sneaky comments that might be #notsafeforwork!
If you can hear over the dawn chorus of the crested francolins, zebras, and hyenas, you'll hear some awesome stories from Michel, who was in the Sabi Sand in the mid-1980s, at the start of safari in South Africa, where he earned a salary of R250 (only so much because he had a degree in Journalism!) He has since made an enormous impact in the industry, in tourism, training, guiding, and management. This man has some stories. Likewise, Sharon - CEO of GKEPF and Chairperson of the Balule Nature Reserve - is a force, a friend, and an inspiration. Her impressive credentials only speak to a fraction of her capabilities as a woman in a very male-dominated field. She is admired by her peers, she's a very proud parent, and a dedicated dog-mom who never misses a sunset and the chance to sip an excellent whiskey.
Tune in and enjoy hearing from true legends.
S2 E3: Kevin Maclaughlin and Luan Oosthuizen
This is an episode we are happy to have put together after finally convincing these guests to spend an hour in the "spotlight". These two human beings have plenty of stories to tell from their lives working in the bush and we have spent many a night under the stars and around a fire. This time, we recorded the conversation and we promise, you'll thank us. Kevin Maclaughlin and Luan Oosthuizen both started their careers right here in the Klaserie as guides at Africa on Foot. Luan, whose family history in Klaserie dates back to 1948, now runs a walking trails operation in Maseke Game Reserve, while Kevin has spent the better part of the last two years filming the white lion of central Kruger for a National Geographic documentary. These guys have a lot of stories and memorable moments that are both hilarious and breathtaking - some are better left off record but we managed to sneak a couple for a laugh! Some quality listening for the weekend - pour yourself a drink and enjoy!
Follow our esteemed guests on Instagram for some inspiring wildlife feeds @kevinmaclaughlin and @oosthuizenluan and keep up to date with us in our beautiful Place of Peace - Tulela @tulela_za.
Find us at @bretthorleysafaris across all platforms and subscribe to podcast to catch all our other episodes.
S2 E2: Emma Gatland and Rogan Kerr
The boma at Tulela was given its first run as the new podcast location and we were honoured to be in the company of incredible travel, wildlife, and lifestyle photographer, Em Gatland, and machine videographer, Rogan Kerr. These two are good friends of ours and we've shared the wonderful Klaserie with them for many years, but before they were bush bedonnered, they were coastal kids from Natal! We could not have had better quality humans with us to photograph and shoot the complete lodge, and we just knew we had to nail them down for a session of Campfire Conversations. Em has a very entertaining engagement story and Rogan gives us a Pearl Jam rendition you do NOT want to miss. This was a privilege to record. Please enjoy!
And help a brother out and follow @roaming.media so Rogan can catch up with his girlfriend in terms of Instagram followers!
Find Em's sublime photos on the Gram at @emmagatlandphotography
Catch our updates from Tulela at @tulela_za and on @bretthorleysafaris
S2 E1: Ben Muller, Tristan Dicks, Grant Beverley & Michael Grover
This is the first episode of our second season on the podcast, and we are joined by two familiar faces and two new guests! You'll recognise Kruger Park wild dog expert Grant Beverley and ecologist and human-wildlife conflict innovator, Michael Grover. And new to the "campfire" are Tristan Dicks of WildEarth fame, and Ben Muller, who is a wildlife veterinarian who works side by side with Joel Alves (season 1, episode 5) and has recently spent lockdown in Iraq! Tristan "the leopard whisperer" Dicks spends so much time on camera that it's caught him out a few times (Youtube "Tristan falls out of the car at 02:15 - you will not be disappointed). He is also a private guide at Wandering Thru, alongside his girlfriend Ale Olivieri and Tayla McCurdy who were in the hot seat on episode 2. Ben gets up close and personal with Africa's wildest species, flies in planes with sleeping lions, and does bush surgery on the continent's endangered species. He's just spent the better part of a year in the Middle Eastern desert, far away from his dog Roxy in and his better half, Leah.
It was an honour to sit in the company of these four guys early in the morning in the middle of the Klaserie. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
Find our guests on social media:
@tristan_dicks_sa
@ben10_muller
@activ8africa
@knpwilddogs
Catch us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook at @bretthorleysafaris
S1 E6: Shannon Wild & David McLerran
Shannon Wild invited us to her beautiful home in the bush and we did our thing with gin and tonic, local Zwakala lager and a gently smouldering fire! It was a true honour to sit opposite this woman of wildlife and chat to her about her illustrious career behind the lens. She needs no introduction - her phenomenal photography and cinematography speaks for itself, but what we can say is that this Aussie in Africa leads with her heart and integrity in all that she does. She is humble and one of the hardest working people we've met. And don't call her an Influencer! Brett talks about his 3.5-second glimpse of the black leopard in Kenya while Shannon shares about her months spent pursuing the real Black Panther in India for her National Geographic documentary.
Dave McLerran joins us too, all the way from Texas, where we believe he ran away from the President in favour of a quiet life in Africa. Too bad, though, because he has joined Shannon and her husband Russell MacLaughlin in their fast-paced world of wildlife filmmaking! Dave made the big decision to leave his high stress life in the US and pursue his passion for wildlife photography instead. He first met Shannon when he waved at Shannon from a tourist vehicle in India where he too was looking for a glimpse of the rare black panther of Kabini. Now, based in Hoedspruit, he makes sure we are all well fed with Texan slow-smoked meat and he is acing his new life behind the lens in the African bushveld!
Welcome to Campfire Conversations, Shannon and Dave!
Do yourself a favour (if you haven't already) and buy Shannon Wild's jewellery for conservation (Instagram @shannonwildjewellwery); follow her on @shannon__wild and find Dave at @davemacphoto.
S1 E5: Joel Alves & Michael Grover
Dr Joel Alves is a wildlife veterinarian with some WILD stories to tell. You can be sure to see him throughout the Greater Kruger region where he races between numerous rhino dehorning operations and performs life-saving treatments in the field on all sorts of animals, from small antelope species to elephants. He has flown in planes with sedated lions (or not so sedated...) and African wild dogs en route to their new home, and he has had the enormous privilege of working on forest elephants in the Wild West of Africa - the Congo. We spent a few weeks trying to pin him down purely because of his fast-paced lifestyle, which is fuelled equally by passion and his superhuman energy levels, so a big thank you to Joel for joining us for a beer and a chat!
Mike Grover is back for more on this episode, adding insight and perspective from his field of expertise in human-wildlife conflict and environmental health. An invaluable member of this conversation, thank you Mike!
As always, this episode is mingled with a bit PG 13 humour, but most of all we hope it entertains our listeners and stokes that little fire for Africa in our hearts.
Thank you, too, to Katherine Kuntz and John Dixon (guests on episode 4) for joining us again, and a special mention to JD for leading us in song at the end!
Be sure to follow Joel on Instagram and see some of the crazy stuff he gets up to, saving wildlife alongside a team of excellent ground-based and aerial conservationists: https://www.instagram.com/the_conservation_vet/
S1 E4: John JD Dixon & Katherine Kuntz
John Dixon - JD to most - refers to himself as a 1960s model, which means he has decades of safari experience behind him. He is a true legend of the region and knows all the songs to prove his hours spent around campfires! His career spans 35 years and his collection of stories, memories, and (often inappropriate) anecdotes are always told with excellent humour. No one has seen JD's face since the 1980s and we're almost convinced he was born with a grey beard and a cigarette in his mouth. He gave up drinking a few years ago when a bout of malaria knocked his liver for a six and we can say with certainty that trading in the brandy for coke has changed absolutely nothing about JD's fireside manner. What a gem to have on the game viewer and right here on our podcast.
Katherine Kuntz brought her Texan twang to our African campfire, but if we hadn't heard her speak, we'd never guess that this gal wasn't born in the bushveld. Khaki-clad and sporting some quality veldskoen, Katherine is more than ready for her life in the wild. She's a safari guide and a nature enthusiast - something she brings from her childhood appreciation of her native Texan wilderness - and these days she creates journeys for others wanting to travel to the continent. We're in awe of Katherine's Mount Kilimanjaro climb of 2015 and we loved having her around the fire with us, firing off some questions for Brett and JD!
Check out our esteemed guests on their social media accounts:
Katherine Kuntz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopeafricanadventures
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeafricanadventures/
John Dixon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bushexplorationsafrica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bush_explorations_africa/
S1 E3: Grant Beverley & Brian Masters
Get comfortable, pour yourself something cold and join us for this firecracker of an episode of Campfire Conversations: stories from the African continent. Fair warning that this episode is momentarily NSFW about 9 minutes in, but we recommend not missing a minute!
Sitting on the other side of the fire today is Kruger Park's African wild dog expert, Grant Beverley, who is a local celebrity and Endangered Wildlife Trust's wild dog researcher. He is guaranteed to teach you something about these absolutely amazing endangered predators, and you will also be treated to a serenade in his second language, which is an exclusive performance reserved for fireside sessions after at least one gin and tonic.
Sitting next to him is YouTube sensation and undeniably safari's finest funny man, Brian Masters. Don't let his mature-audience joke content fool you, this guy is one of the best field guides out there. Fuelled by passion and armed with encyclopaedic knowledge, Brian's Open Skies Wilderness Expeditions are bound to offer you an insane experience in nature.
We all agree that by going back to nature, as humans, is the most powerful thing we can do for our short lives on this Earth. If you take anything away from this conversation, let it be that you should and must plan another trip to the bush when this is all over. And that now we know who came first, the chicken or the egg.
Follow Grant's work in wild dog conservation at https://www.instagram.com/knpwilddogs/ and support the important work by the EWT at https://www.facebook.com/EndangeredWildlifeTrust
Find Brian and follow his trails adventures and safari expeditions at https://www.instagram.com/openskieswild/ and https://www.facebook.com/openskieswild
As always, get in touch with us about anything you hear on our podcasts or anything safari related on info@bretthorley.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bretthorleysafaris/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrettHorleySafaris
Website: https://www.bretthorley.com
S1 E2: Tayla McCurdy, Ale Olivieri, and Brenden Pienaar
Some would say Tayla McCurdy was born for her role on SafariLive where she guided virtual game drives live-streamed to tens of thousands of listeners around the globe. She is entertaining, quick-witted, kind and energetic. Her (one-sided) dialogue with various animals she encounters in her life as a safari guide makes her Instagram stories addictively amusing, but there is no mistaking her authentic knowledge and passion for nature and wildlife. We sat her in the hot seat for episode 2 of Campfire Conversations, and next to her was Ale Olivieri, who tolerates Tayla as both a friend and a colleague (kidding, T!)
Ale Olivieri is the founder of private safari company called Wandering Thru and while that it familiar territory for us, she is by far the most exotic guest we will have on this show! Half Italian and half Venezuelan, Ale also speaks four languages fluently, as well as Russian, Latvian, Afrikaans and Shangaan conversationally. She is a leopard expert and a baker of delicious things. Her academic qualifications are something to be admired, and her modesty even more so.
Last, but certainly not least is Brenden Pienaar, who is a great friend and mentor and trails guide Ninja! What we learned was that to many school peers, Brenden was known as Bots and nothing else. Growing up in Botswana and South Africa, this man has stayed true to the African roots he was born with. He is obsessed with primitive wilderness trails and is undoubtedly THE person you want to get lost in the bush with. His professional qualifications make him the best in his business, which is the well known and superb walking safari operator, Lowveld Trails Co.
We thoroughly enjoyed sitting around a fire with these legendary humans and recording this episode. Please take a seat and let our campfire conversations entertain you!
Show some support for today's guests and follow their shenanigans on Instagram:
Tayla McCurdy: @tay_mccurdy @tayla_in_real_life
Ale Olivieri: @wanderingthru @aleolivieris
Brenden Pienaar: @loweld_trails_co @africa_trails_co
S1 E1: Jo Cooper & Michael Grover
Walking up the coast of South Africa in a sarong with a 28kg backpack has been a highlight of Footsteps Through Africa founder and safari guide Jo Cooper's career so far. His life and death moments from the journey made for some epic fireside stories to kick off this FIRST episode of Campfire Conversations, hosted by Brett Horley! Sitting alongside Jo is Michael Grover, co-director of Activating Africa and consultant for conservation initiatives that boost socio-economic development in African communities living alongside wildlife areas. Both these guys do incredible work and as good friends we were so thrilled to have them as our first ever guests! Pour yourself a drink and listen to our chat around an African campfire.
Find Jo at @footstepsthroughafrica on Facebook and Instagram and at footstepsthroughafrica.com where you can read about his overland safari tour itineraries and the community projects he is supporting through his safari business.
Find Mike at @ActivatingAfrica on Facebook and track his inspiring work with various conservation organisations initiating community engagement in conservation.
Watch this episode with video on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/_yQDIB4gRDs
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @bretthorleysafaris