I watched Dereck and Beverly Joubert’s amazing film ‘The Last Lions’ at a trade showing last year and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house – certainly not mine! I write about African safari but didn’t know that lions are endangered in the wild. Their extraordinary film shot in Botswana showed otherwise.

• Best Director of a Wildlife Programme: Dereck Joubert
• Best TV Wildlife Programme, Wildlife Films
• Best Cinematographer of a Wildlife Programme: Dereck Joubert
• Best Editor of a Wildlife Programme: Susan Scott and Candice Odgers

Dereck & Beverly are filmmakers in residence (in Africa) for National Geographic and have won almost every major filmmaking award during their careers. But there are no Hollywood pretentions about them. They are wildlife people, and while they spend months at a time in the wilderness capturing gasp-inducing animal moments on film, they are also people people. Beverly is gorgeous and Dereck is rugged – they are as impressive as their films and the message of ‘The Last Lions’ is conveyed through personal appearances and lectures, but it’s the film that communicates the most poignant  message that African lions have a finite future unless something is done to protect them!

The Joubert’s have launched the Big Cats Initiative with National Geographic to “Cause an Uproar” to help stop the decline of big cats in the wild.

 The Jouberts’ commitment to conservation also led them to create Great Plains Conservation; a conservation tourism business with safari lodges in Botswana and Kenya. It generates revenue for African communities to help care for their natural and wildlife resources and protect land for Africa’s dwindling wildlife populations. It could be considered the ultimate in responsible tourism, not only incorporating local land owners and communities, but providing havens for Africa’s wildlife and gives guests a superb experience. Win win!

See more in this post about Great Plains Ride Kenya. 

Follow the Jouberts on Twitter: @dereckbeverly