The Private Safari Experience with Dereck and Beverly Joubert
Legendary National Geographic filmmakers and luxury-safari pioneers Dereck and Beverly Joubert share their stories of adventure, love, and conservation—and their insights on the ultimate private wilderness experiences—from a fascinating lifetime spent in the African bush.
Emmy-award winning filmmakers, conservationists, and luxury-safari pioneers Dereck and Beverly Joubert speak with Bruce about their incredible adventures, their efforts to document and preserve African wildlife, and how to get the very best out of a safari experience.
The Jouberts’ safari company, Great Plains Conservation, manages some of Africa’s most exclusive camps—in locations from Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and the Chyulu Hills of Kenya. Part of the environment—and set on a massive private concessions—the camps offer almost unprecedented access and proximity to animals of all kinds. One such creature, a mother leopard they call Fig, is the star of the Jouberts’ latest film, Jade-Eyed Leopard (narrated by Jeremy Irons). The big cat was so comfortable in the area around Great Plains’ Mara Plains camp that she gave birth under one of the tents.
In addition to prime wildlife viewing, Mara Plains and other Great Plains camps offer an opulent experience for guests, with dining and accommodations that have earned many of them Relais & Chateaux membership. But it is the wildlife experience that stands out most—and the Jouberts explain why. They dive into the benefits of private concessions versus public parks, not only for the safari experience but for the ability for guests to have a more positive impact—and meaningful interactions—with local communities.
Although much of the story revolves around a love of wildlife, the Jouberts’ tale at its heart is a story about their love for each other. Their bond has been forged over years living in the bush. And while they have their own harrowing tales—including near-death experiences that have brought them closer together—their commitment to documenting and conserving African wildlife has never diminished.
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Hosted by: Bruce Wallin
Produced and edited by: AJ Moseley & Darra Stone
Music by: Joey Salvia