Page 28 - Discover Botswana 2021

Brad Bestelink was born into the Okavango Delta at a time when only the most intrepid of tourists was beginning to explore it. Brought up in safari camps, his extraordinary
childhood bestowed upon him an unrivalled knowledge of the natural world around him. In the middle of a conversation with Brad, he might pause mid-sentence to listen to the soft grunts of a male lion, or point out a rare nesting bird and then rush off to film it. Today, his home is one of the world’s most exclusive safari destinations. Over time, Brad saw that the preservation of the Okavango could only be achieved with the economic empowerment of those living in its environs. Equally, he witnessed the fundamental role that sustainable tourism plays here, in creating livelihoods and thus uplifting the quality of life for the local people. So, in 2010, Brad launched the ‘Natural History Film Unit Botswana’, utilising the medium of film to promote the unmatched beauty and authenticity of the region, with a simple message: ‘see it for yourself ’.
By the time this article is published in early 2021, the rainy season will be underway. Around midday, tempestuous clouds will crowd the sky, sending down thick, swollen drops of rain, that nourish the blossoming wildflowers and grasses below. The Delta’s newborn enter into this season of plenty. Tiny impalas stumble through the undergrowth on their oversized
Previous Pages: The Okavango Delta system is an important stronghold for Lions. An abundance of Impala means they are often preyed upon to sustain these large cats.
Right: A common summer visitor to northern Botswana, Southern Carmine Bee-eaters arrive here in their droves adding a stunning flash of colour to the bush. Often, they will hawk insects using the movement of other animals who flush out insect life.
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