Beverly and Dereck met in high school, and even then, they both shared a passion and curiosity for Africa. In their early twenties, they started their exploration together, romancing Africa. On their journey through many of the east and southern African countries, they realized that this was more than just curiosity; it was something much deeper.
In 1981, Dereck and Beverly travelled to Botswana and fell in love with the wildness of the place. At first, they worked for the Chobe Lion Research Institute and concentrated on research and photography.
One day, Dereck turned the institute’s film camera on the hippos struggling in a river that was drying up. Dereck quickly discovered he had an aptitude for filming, and the footage from that first day ended up in a National Geographic film they later produced called ‘The Stolen River’. While Dereck filmed, Beverly took to producing, recording sound and photography, which she has continued to do on all of their films and projects together since then.
In 1985, their company, Wildlife Films, was formed in Botswana and a subsidiary in South Africa. For over 40 years, the Jouberts have continued to make award-winning wildlife films for National Geographic and other major International broadcasters.
