Wim is a passionate conservationist, wildlife photographer, wildlife camera operator and filmmaker.After finishing school Wim completed a B-tech degree in Nature Conservation in Pretoria, South Africa. He did his “in-service” training in the Natal midlands, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. ...
Read MoreWim is a passionate conservationist, wildlife photographer, wildlife camera operator and filmmaker.After finishing school Wim completed a B-tech degree in Nature Conservation in Pretoria, South Africa. He did his “in-service” training in the Natal midlands, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.
Intrigued by the secretive brown hyena Wim chose its social structure and feeding ecology as the topic for his research project.
He then joined the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve team (bordering the world famous Kruger National Park) as a field guide and was shortly thereafter promoted to head ranger at SABI SABI Earth Lodge. During his time at Sabi Sabi Wim also completed his FGASA (Field Guides Association of southern Africa) Level 1, 2 & 3 qualifications and discovered a true passion for predators & wildlife photography.As a well-qualified and experienced safari guide and award-winning wildlife photographer Wim started doing freelance photographic safaris to various wilderness destinations in southern Africa. He has always had a great love for wildlife films & documentaries and decided to follow his dream and enrolled in the Natural History Unit Africa’s ‘Wildlife Filmmaking’ course that was held, for the first time, in Botswana.Shortly after completing the film course Wim was sent to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve for 6 months to film a family of meerkats (in 3D) for WildEarth.TV The meerkat project ended in July 2013 and one success lead to another. Wim then joined Aquavision TV Productions in Johannesburg as cameraman. At Aquavision Wim filmed mostly in 4K with Sony F55 cameras using various Canon and Fujinon cine zoom lenses. His work can be seen in productions like: “The Gang series” (Animal Planet), “Caught in the Act S6” (Nat Geo Wild), “Brothers in Blood: Lions of Sabi Sands” (Discovery International) and “African Rivers Wild” (Animal Planet).Working and being based in northern Botswana, just south of the Okavango Delta, has always been part of his plan and March 2016 he moved to Maun where he joined the NHFU Botswana team as wildlife camera operator. Wim worked on two NHFU productions, “Savage Kingdom: Uprising” in 2016 for Nat Geo Wild & “The Flood” for National Geographic in 2017.
At NHFU Botswana Wim filmed predominantly on RED digital cameras with Fujinon or Canon CN20 lenses.Wim entered the freelance market in January 2018 as wildlife camera operator and wildlife photographic guide.During October 2019 Wim & Mags moved to Mashatu Game Reserve in SE Botswana to work on their first self funded wildlife film whilst still doing freelance work for international production companies.Wim & Mags worked, together with Gordon Buchanon, on BBC2's 'Cheetah Family & Me' in 2020 and continued the filming even during the Covid-19 lockdown. “A huge amount of the success of this series is down to you two – your hard work, positivity and skill. I cannot thank you enough. It’s been such a pleasure to work with you both, and for Mark to work with your rushes. You should feel incredibly proud of yourselves… Top Team!” - Nicola Tremain (Series Director)This past year Wim was camera & drone operator on various wildlife productions in southern Africa with the BBC's 'Planet Earth III' shoot being one of the highlights.
"Wim joined my crew to film for the Freshwater episode of Planet Earth III. The subject of the shoot remains under NDA until broadcast, but suffice to say our animal characters were challenging and sensitive. In light of that, Wim was a hugely important member of the team. His experience and natural history expertise were invaluable in the circumstances, and his positivity and good nature were very welcome as the crew battled to build a sequence. And when a hard-won opportunity came his way, Wim delivered some beautiful material of our subjects, which I knew would make the cut as soon as I saw it". - Nick Easton (BBC Natural History Unit).
Read Less