Botswana’s wildlife filmmaking industry is mourning the death of acclaimed cinematographer and conservation storyteller Brad Bestelink, whose work brought the Okavango Delta to audiences around the world.
Bestelink’s death was announced by South Africa’s Old Trevertonians’ Association, which remembered him as a respected filmmaker, talented sportsman and former school cricket captain.
The circumstances of his death have not been made public.
Passion for wildlife
Born and raised in the Okavango Delta, Bestelink developed a passion for wildlife from an early age.
His parents were pioneers of photographic tourism in the region, and he became a professional safari guide at just 16.
He later trained under celebrated wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, working with them for more than a decade.
Bestelink went on to co-found the Natural History Film Unit Botswana, a citizen-owned production company that earned international recognition for its wildlife documentaries.
His film credits included Savage Kingdom, The Flood, Okavango: A Flood of Life, Planet Earth II, Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale, Living with Leopards, Big Cats 24/7, Our Universe and Africa’s Fishing Leopards.
His cinematography earned him a 2024 Primetime Emmy nomination for his contribution to Netflix’s Our Planet II.
Legacy lives on
Beyond his filmmaking career, Bestelink helped train and develop local camera operators, strengthening Botswana’s role in international wildlife documentary production.
His legacy lives on through the wildlife stories he captured, the local talent he helped nurture and his contribution to showcasing the Okavango Delta as one of the world’s great wilderness areas.
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