Behind the scenes with the WildEarth crew

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the cameras during a nature documentary? I’m here to give you an exclusive look into the fascinating world of the WildEarth crew.

When you watch a nature documentary, you see the breath-taking landscapes, the magnificent animals, and the thrilling behavior that unfolds before your eyes. But what you don’t see is the incredible effort and dedication that goes into capturing those unforgettable moments.

Being a part of the WildEarth crew is not just a job – it’s a passion. We wake up before the sun rises, driven by our love for the natural world and our desire to share its wonders with you.

Our day starts with careful planning and preparation. We study the behavior of the animals, track their movements, and identify the ideal locations for filming. It’s like putting together a puzzle, where every piece needs to fit perfectly.

Once we’re on location, we set up our equipment with precision. Cameras are mounted on sturdy tripods, microphones are carefully positioned to capture the finest details, and cables are tested to ensure seamless connectivity.

When it’s time to start filming, we wait patiently for the animals to appear. This is the thrilling part – the anticipation of capturing something truly incredible. We stay quiet and still, blending into the environment as much as possible. It’s about creating a comfortable space for the animals, allowing them to behave naturally.

As the animals come into view, our cameras start rolling. We follow their every move, zooming in to capture the intimate moments and zooming out to provide a broader perspective. Our skilled camera operators have an eye for detail, ensuring that every shot is captivating.

But our work doesn’t stop there. After a long day of filming, we return to our base camp and begin the process of reviewing and selecting the footage. This is where the magic happens – piecing together the shots that will transport you to the heart of the wilderness.

It’s a challenging process that requires technical skill, creativity, and an understanding of storytelling. We carefully craft the narrative, ensuring that each scene flows seamlessly into the next. It’s about creating a story that captures the essence of the natural world and leaves you wanting more.

So the next time you watch a nature documentary and find yourself captivated by the beauty of the natural world, remember that behind those cameras are the passionate individuals of the WildEarth crew. We strive to bring you closer to nature, to inspire awe and wonder, and to ignite the conservationist within you.

Hey there! Did you know that over a million people from all over the world tune in to the WildEarth channels each month? They’re just so eager to witness the wonders of the African bush. Well, I was feeling equally curious, so I hopped into a vehicle for a sunset drive with the WildEarth crew to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on.

Hey there! I’m here to tell you about an awesome duo: Sebastien Rombi, the Amera operator, and Tessa Woolgar, the naturalist. These two bring the enchanting world of the bush right into our living rooms, no matter where we are in the world.

Picture this: it’s a scorching late afternoon, just as summer is coming to an end, and all across the Lowveld, safari vehicles are venturing out from their camps. They’re on a mission to uncover the unexpected wonders that the bush has in store for them. While most vehicles roam leisurely, with their guides and trackers bending out to study the tracks, there’s one vehicle driven by the incredible Tessa Woollgar from &Beyond Ngala that’s on a determined path.

“We’re heading out to check on the wounded blonde Ross male,” Tessa announces, shifting gears with a sense of purpose. “We spent some time with him this morning, and our viewers were really worried.”

Hey there! I’m Tessa, a guide at Ngala and also a naturalist for WildEarth. You know, we livestream game drives from five wildlife reserves in South Africa. It’s awesome because we bring the safari experience right to your home. We’ve got viewers from 150 countries, with over a million people tuning in each month!

This morning, while doing our sunrise broadcast, my camera operator, Sebastien Rombi, spotted an injured lion. The poor thing had a big gash on its forehead. When Seb zoomed in on the wound, the comments on our YouTube and Facebook pages were filled with sympathy. People were like, “Ouch! What a painful-looking injury! Poor boy. Did he get scratched or bitten? It looks terrible!” One viewer even speculated that the lionesses in the area might be involved in a fight over a lioness.

When I look for the lion again, I find him right where I left him earlier. It’s amazing to see how devoted our viewers are. They really enjoy getting to know the animals, learning about their behavior and relationships. They develop genuine connections with the big cats, especially.

When you watch the WildEarth cameras, you feel like you’re right there on the game drive. The cameras are fixed and positioned just behind the naturalist, so you get a front-row seat to all the action.

Right now, Tessa isn’t on the air. But she and Seb have their earpieces in, receiving instructions from Jarrett Mukheibir, one of the show’s directors in the Johannesburg studio. He’s letting them know that the current live segment is about a leopard at &Beyond Phinda. Tessa and Seb can’t hear what’s being broadcast, but the director keeps them updated on who’s live and which animal they’re with. When it’s their turn to go live, the director gives Tessa any questions or comments from viewers, so she can answer them in real time.

The interaction between viewers and wildlife drives on WildEarth is what attracts people and keeps them engaged. It’s this connection that makes viewers feel like they are an important part of the experience. The online community that has formed around WildEarth is tight-knit and loyal, and it’s all thanks to the way the channel brings people together.

When I spoke to Jen Rast, a devoted follower of WildEarth, she shared her own experience with me. We sat down for breakfast at &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp, and she expressed how much she enjoys chatting with specific individuals in the live chat. Jen described the feeling of connection she has with other viewers as something special and meaningful.

“This journey with WildEarth has been something I never expected. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and it feels surreal. One of the most significant moments for me was when I saw my first lion in real life. It was one of the Ross males, and he looked so majestic and regal. Even his mane was blowing in the wind,” Jen recounted, her voice filled with awe and admiration.

I want to tell you about a lion named Jen. She is the brother of another lion that we are currently observing. It seems that Jen is the one who caused the gash on her brother’s forehead. It’s a bit of a mystery, but we can only speculate.

Right now, Tessa is positioning our vehicle so that Seb can get a closer look at the wounded lion. Tessa watches the passenger seat screen as Seb zooms in on the wound. She notices that the edges of the gash are starting to scab up, which is a positive sign. She reassures Seb that it’s improving and that the viewers will be relieved to see the progress.

Seb, however, encounters a problem with his communication equipment. He hears Tessa clearly through the earpiece, but his voice isn’t getting through. The lion doesn’t even react as Tessa tries different vehicle positions. Seb checks the WildEarth WhatsApp group, and it turns out that they can’t hear Tessa either. Seb attempts to reboot his equipment, but there’s still no signal.

This is frustrating for Tessa and Seb, as they want to share this incredible moment with the viewers. They’ve put in so much effort to capture this footage, and the technical glitch is disappointing. But they remain hopeful that they will be able to fix the issue and continue the broadcast for the viewers to enjoy.

‘Getting a signal out here is no easy task – we had a strong connection earlier this morning,’ Gabon-born Seb says, shrugging his shoulders. Seb has been traveling around Africa for a decade, filming for esteemed organizations like National Geographic. He’s been part of the WildEarth team for five years. ‘Our signal tends to be better in the winter. During the summer, the thick bushes make it extremely difficult to maintain a stable connection, even though we have two service providers and four connections.’

However, locating a signal is not the only hurdle we face when broadcasting from the wilderness. Our equipment is constantly put to the test – operating for six hours a day amidst the elements. Then there are the spiders that lay eggs in our wiring and the mischievous monkeys that love to pull down our wires. We even have to deal with elephants that dig up the cables at the popular Dam Cam webcam.

The wounded lion would be a great addition, Tessa and Seb think. But they’ve been here long enough. “We should contribute to the show,” Seb says. “It’s time to move on.”

Can’t they just film the lion now, and send it to the studio later when they have a signal? “Absolutely not,” Tessa says, pretending to be horrified by my suggestion. “There’s always something amazing to see in the bush. Whether it’s a golden orb spider in the morning, or a bird of prey, or a mother elephant and her calf. Every broadcast we do is live and completely wild – and that’s what makes it magical.”

What’s the future of WildEarth?

I have a vision, a dream, to connect you with nature and show you how important it is to appreciate the beauty of the natural world. I’m Emily Wallington, and together with my husband Graham, we’ve worked in television and the internet for many years. We both have a deep passion for wildlife. Graham even created Africam!

Back in 2006, we started a channel called WildEarth. It wasn’t easy at first. Traditional TV broadcasters thought our content was boring. But times have changed, and people have come to love our channel. We’ve received so much positive feedback from viewers who appreciate the chance to escape and feel present. Our broadcasts even help reduce their stress!

Guess what? WildEarth is getting so popular that they’re thinking about showing it on TV channels in the Middle East, Finland, and France! How cool is that? And get this – they’re even planning to dub the safaris into French in real time. How fancy!

But wait, there’s more! They’ve also come up with this awesome thing called the Explorers Programme. It’s like a club where you can sign up to become a WildEarth Explorer. And being a part of this club comes with some pretty sweet perks. Not only do you get to have fireside chats with the guides live, but you also have the chance to win cool prizes from their partner locations. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

Guess who you might see!

Hi there! My name is Tristan Dicks, and I’m a naturalist who is absolutely obsessed with leopards. For the past four years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of presenting on WildEarth. Now, I have to confess, I’m usually quite reserved and shy, so when I first started doing live guided tours, I was absolutely terrified! But let me tell you, those fears didn’t last long. In fact, I’ve come to absolutely love it.

There’s something truly magical about being able to explore the wilderness and share that experience with a community of like-minded individuals. It’s such a rewarding feeling, knowing that I can bring the beauty of nature right into the homes of people all around the world.

Hi there! I’m Trishala Naidu, a naturalist.

I’m what you could call a super nerd and super curious. I moved to Melbourne when I was 12, but my love for South Africa and its natural environment brought me back. Science and understanding the natural world have always brought me so much joy. And now, working on WildEarth, I’ve realized how my knowledge and curiosity can enrich other people’s lives.

Hey there! My name is B’kay Uhuru, and I work as a camera operator for WildEarth. I’ve been with the team for two years now, and let me tell you, my love for nature has skyrocketed during this time. It has completely transformed my perspective on life, and people around me have even noticed the change in me.

I’ve come to understand just how crucial nature is and the significant role it plays in our lives. It’s truly fascinating to see the way it maintains a delicate balance, and the interactions between different animals never cease to amaze me.

What the fans say

Beverly Williams,
Lebanon, Oregon, USA
I have some serious stuff going on, like anxiety, depression, and a brain tumor. Watching WildEarth helps me relax, sleep, and it even eases my depression. Plus, since I started tuning in, I’ve noticed a decrease in my seizures. The animals on the show provide me with a sense of purpose; seeing them grow and live their lives inspires me to keep going.

Jen Rast,
Melbourne, Australia
I’ve gained a deeper understanding of nature and how every living thing is connected, thanks to WildEarth. It’s made me appreciate biodiversity even more.

Jackie Boshoff,
Centurion, Pretoria
Every morning, the first thing I do is turn on the TV and watch the beautiful sunrise drive. I’m so captivated by the Djuma Clan and the fascinating dynamics and family trees of the leopards in Djuma and the surrounding areas. It became my source of entertainment during Lockdown, and it continues to bring me joy.

Steven Chinhoi,
Kariba, Zimbabwe
WildEarth has become a family favorite for us. As a safari guide, I have a deep love for wildlife, and watching the animals never gets old. I especially appreciate how they bring in experts to share their knowledge on various subjects, like grasses. It adds so much value to the experience.