Meet the Guide: James Hendry on Two Decades in the Bush
I've spent the best part of two decades working in the African bush - first as a ranger and guide trainer in the Greater Kruger, at Ngala, and later at Londolozi in the Sabi Sand, and for the last eleven years as a WildEarth Presenter-Guide, hosting and producing well over a hundred live safaris and TV shows for broadcasters like Nat Geo Wild, SABC and CGTN. I play the guitar round the campfire, write books and tell stories - all the while hoping my efforts will make people laugh while connecting them with nature. This article is the short version of how I got here - and that one leopard sighting I'll never forget.
Quick Facts:
Role: WildEarth Chief, Presenter-Guide (writer, storyteller and wannabe rockstar)
Experience; Around two decades in the bush and on air
Home Turf: Sabi Sand (South Africa), Masai Mara (Kenya)
Education: Honours in Science (University of Natal), Masters in Development Studies (University of Cape Town)
Languages: English, plus conversational Zulu and Shangane (Xitsonga)
Books: Author of five books, including A Year in the Wild, Back to the Bush, Return to the Wild, Reggie and Me.
Known For: Dry, sharp sense of humour, storytelling, science-based knowledge
How It Started
I grew up in Johannesburg and went to school at St John's College. I was an incredibly enthusiastic and equally incompetent rugby player. Thankfully music, theatre and maths came easier (albeit with less adulation). My family wasn't bushwacked - so I was never going to be a guide or ranger and definitely not a writer. Indeed I wanted to be a rockstar.
When my father removed me from the family payroll, I taught the guitar to some ungrateful children and spent three weeks as a waiter at a steakhouse (a terrible period ended by a three-page letter of complaint listing my myriad failings as a human being). I ended up in the bush quite by accident - a long story involving an aggressive woman and some cowardice on my part. (I'll tell it to you if you come on safari with me.)
Once I'd survived the terror of living and working in African big game country, I found myself in a world of wonder, learning and peace. I spent the first part of my career as a safari guide, head ranger, guide trainer, land manager, lodge manager, and the occasional stint as camp entertainer - I still want to be a rock star.
Finding Londolozi
Five years into my itinerant lodge life, I moved to Londolozi, in the Sabi Sand. I wore a lot of hats there - guide, land manager, guide trainer, entertainer - but the work I found most satisfying consisted of conducting a survey with around 250 of Londolozi's local rural staff. I sat in their homes and heard what the reserve's existence actually meant for their families, and used it as the basis of my Master's thesis on the people who live alongside Africa's protected areas.
From Guide to Presenter
There followed another somewhat poverty-stricken, directionless few years - once again caused by following my hormones, not my brain. I taught the guitar, played for unappreciative audiences and became involved in a doomed conservation project that saw me living in an illegally built backpackers on the banks of the Groot Letaba River with a psychotic local and his equally psychotic pitbull called Shaka - another long story best enjoyed around the campfire with scotch.
Then, finally, I was offered a three-month position as a WildEarth presenter/guide - comfortably the best job I've ever had. Instead of six guests in a vehicle, I had the privilege of a global audience. It's a strange, brilliant kind of guiding - you can't read a viewer's body language, but you're talking to tens of thousands of nature lovers at once (not always to universal appreciation).
I've hosted, produced, written and voiced content across more than a hundred shows for Nat Geo Wild, SABC and CGTN in China, and I now find myself chief at WildEarth, which broadcasts to around 16 platforms worldwide. None of it has dimmed the part of the job I still love best, which is simply telling people about nature in a humorous, accessible way, with an eye to making a genuine contribution to the conservation of Africa's last wild places.
A Moment That Sums It Up
If I had to pick one sighting that captures what this life has given me, it's a morning I spent time with a leopard (now dead) called Xongile. With a superb tracker and a calm camera man, we tracked the young female on foot. After a few hours, Rexon (the tracker) spotted her lying in the grass 20 metres ahead of us. We sat quietly as she emerged, climbed a tree and watched us. Eventually she stood, stretched, yawned, climbed down the tree and sauntered off. It was a rare chance to touch the heart of the wilderness.
What I'm Known For
Two decades guiding and broadcasting in the Greater Kruger, Sabi Sand and Masai Mara.
More than a hundred TV and live-safari credits for Nat Geo Wild, SABC and CGTN.
Author of five books, including the fiction series A Year in the Wild, Back to the Bush, Return to the Wild, and the award-winning Reggie and Me.
Keynote speaker - delivering humorous stories about the human nature connection.
A dry, sarcastic sense of humour that's become part of the WildEarth broadcast style.
Thrashing a guitar around the fire with a good scotch.
Where to Safari With James
These days I split my time between chasing my tail in the WildEarth studios, parenting and private guiding - so the most reliable way to cross paths with me in the wild is to book a bespoke safari with me through WildEarth Travel.
Our Meet the Crew: Sabi Sand safaris are built specifically around time with past and present WildEarth crew - including me, when I'm on rotation - in the reserve that put us on the map. If it's the leopards themselves you're after, ask our safari specialists about current departures. Otherwise, check out the Ultimate Kenya Migration Safari for something completely different.
FAQ
Who is James Hendry?
James Hendry is the WildEarth Chief, Presenter-Guide, producer and author, best known for hosting live safari broadcasts from the Sabi Sand and the Masai Mara, and for his sardonic wit and irreverent style.
How long has James Hendry worked in the wildlife industry?
Around two decades working as a guide, trainer and land manager at lodges including Londolozi, and just over a decade as a presenter and producer for WildEarth.
What is James Hendry known for on WildEarth?
Hosting and producing WildEarth's live safari broadcasts, his storytelling and a humorous presenting style that makes complex ecology and biology accessible to everyone.
Has James Hendry written any books?
Yes - he's the author of five books, including the trilogy A Year in the Wild, Back to the Bush and Return to the Wild. For something else check out Reggie and Me - a semi-biographical novel about growing up during South Africa's tumultuous past.
Can I book a safari guided by James Hendry?
The best route is a bespoke safari through WildEarth Travel's Meet the Crew: Sabi Sand safari, built around time with WildEarth's on-air team. Because James splits his time between broadcasting and guiding, it's worth confirming his rotation with WildEarth Travel's safari specialists before booking if a drive with him specifically is the priority.
Plan Your Own Safari With James
Curious about a safari with me? Chat to one of our safari specialists and we'll build an itinerary around your dates, your budget, and what you most want to see. Otherwise, join us for the Ultimate Kenya Migration Safari .
Author Bio
James Hendry is WildEarth's Chief, Presenter-Guide, producer and author with close to two decades of experience in the African wilderness and broadcast industries. He holds an Honours in Science and a Masters in Development Studies, and is the author of five books. More at jameshendry.co.za.
