It’s not unfair to suggest there is a special, indelible bond when it comes to Sir David Attenborough’s relationship with Africa. His name — and voice — has been associated with the exploration of the continent’s natural heritage for over 70 years. And yet the soft-voiced naturalist has gone about his work almost apologetically, with a quiet humility.
“I’ve always said I’m just the conduit,” he said. “I’m in the enviable position of being able to convey and commentate on the best fixture going!”
As for Africa then, where to start? Attenborough first landed on the Mother Continent in 1954. Arriving in Sierra Leone to film the first series of Zoo Quest, he hadn’t even stepped outside of Europe before that, and was only two years into his tenure at the BBC.
“It was a complete gamechanger,” he explained. “You have to appreciate, the Africa we saw back then was in books and newspapers, in black and white photos, or in error-laden descriptions over the radio. You couldn’t possibly imagine the space, the abundance, the variety, the colour… oh and the heat!
“I was just simply blown sideways by what I saw, by the sheer abundance and variety of the natural world that was all around us. I was in love from that moment on. It’s an adoration that’s failed to wane, and every time I’ve been back, it all adds up to the same sensation — it draws the breath out of you… that heady mix of discovery and danger.”
While countless visits since have produced extensive knowledge and insight, in later years Attenborough has switched some of his focus away from animals, instead towards people, tourism and climate change: “My fascination is still in the intricacies of animal communities, living ecosystems and the ecology of these kingdoms they have created for themselves, yet it’s all pointless if we don’t, at some point, address the bigger concerns.
“These things have always been important — we just weren’t aware of them back in the 1950s,” he said, his voice as gentle as a forest stream.
Tourism does have an important role to play, however: “When you lose connection, you run the risk of losing a part of you that cares. The world is absolutely there to be discovered and enjoyed; it’s just about doing it respectfully and carefully.”
Speaking of being careful, Attenborough has long ascertained that the greatest danger comes not from an animal, but from other humans — perhaps a soldier who doesn’t know what you’re doing, and neither of you understand the other’s language.
“People tell me I have been incredibly brave — or incredibly reckless — in some of my adventures. Yet I think, on your travels, any interaction is possible providing you approach with respect.”
To encapsulate what ‘Attenborough’s Africa’ really stands for is difficult, even for the presenter himself: “It’s human nature to have our ‘go-to’ images — the great wildebeest migration of the Maasai Mara and Serengeti, for instance. That thunder of hooves vibrating through the earth beneath my feet will stay with me forever, yet I’ve always been determined to uncover the new, to bring discovery, education — and that’s actually the best way to protect the world.
“I mean, it must have been almost beyond comprehension for those who first discovered [evidence of] a giant lake underneath the Kalahari, with fish present that are absolutely unique to that place.”
He continues: “The rarer finds are always special, such as the Gelada baboons, which are only found in the Ethiopian Highlands. This was an area so remote that only a few explorers have ever been up there, and we arrived to witness these baboons, replete in their shaggy coats glowing gold in the early light, grazing on grass like no other primate does. They live in great herds, communicating with a range of calls, gestures and facial expressions.
“To see them perched on cliff edges with nothing but sky and silence behind them was to witness life adapted perfectly to the mountains.”
Sir David also references the swollen, time-worn baobab trees which can live for thousands of years: “Imagine that — a tree has witnessed the rise and fall of civilisations, the coming and going of countless generations of animals, and humans.
“And then, what about the flamingos of Lake Natron — hundreds of thousands of them gathered in a vast, pink shimmering mass across waters so caustic that few other creatures dare venture near.
“I think through all these encounters I’ve often been left with the thought: ‘My goodness, these incredible creatures are so much smarter than us!’ They just get on with being themselves, and that is wonderful!”
Perhaps one of Sir David’s most notable contributions to our growing knowledge of the continent came via his six-part Africa documentary, broadcast in 2013.
It was to be a celebration of Africa; to show the continent not just as a land of wildlife, but as an ecosystem full of contrasts and incredible diversity.
“I wanted it to call people across, to put aside the negative stereotypes we have about conflict, war, poverty, the struggles; instead focusing on specific places on this sprawling continent, because I do feel we are much too general in our perception of Africa.
“I think the most special experience was the time I spent with the two-month-old blind rhino calf. It’s not unknown for them to be born blind — it’s just a genetic weakness, and this rhino would have very quickly fallen prey to a lion, but in the Kenyan game reserve we could protect and nurture it.
“The staff there adopted it and bottle fed it, and I had some incredible time with this little chap. Though in length he was almost my height, it was like a child in my arms — we really bonded. He made a noise like a baby would and I think of him to this day.”
For Africa, like in every project, Attenborough and his team spent months researching each region they filmed in, getting to know the local cultures, ecosystems and unique challenges of what totalled over 25 countries.
“Filming is often a matter of patience. You can’t rush nature, and sometimes it took weeks just to get the right conditions, or to wait for the animals to appear… and very often there is a surprise that comes along. We’d set out to capture one thing, and then something completely different would unfold right in front of our eyes. For instance, we were filming a pride of lions and expected a fairly standard hunt, but then a huge sandstorm swept in, and we had to stop. Nature never works to a script.”
Elephants have always been very special to Sir David, and he has often remarked on their intelligence and their impressive social structures, as well as an ability to deal with the challenges of life in the wild.
“Their memory is incredible. They can navigate hundreds of miles through dry desert and dense forest, all guided by the matriarch’s knowledge, passed down through generations.
“They can also strike fear into a cameraman, as we discovered on that first trip when one took offence to our guy, who subsequently found himself stuck up a tree for a few hours. It’s all an experience…”
Ultimately, Sir David has now wound down long-distance travel. “I am at least grateful for small mercies,” he said. “I don’t miss sitting on an aeroplane for 14 hours! The best I could do was shut my eyes and pretend it wasn’t happening!”
For others, the invitation to explore is alive and well. “We have the gift of television, the internet and all that, but there is never any substitute for seeing the sun set over the Kalahari, or listening to the haunting, echoing calls of the indri — the largest of the lemurs — reverberating through the morning mist in Madagascar.
“Exploration is an imperative part of who we are — it is in our very DNA to move, to tread new paths, and that can often be for good.”
Perhaps there is no better example of this than in Uganda, where ecotourism has helped to dramatically increase the mountain gorilla population in the last decade: “When I first went to study the gorillas in the 1970s,” recalled Sir David, “they were a species clinging to survival, literally down to three-figure numbers, and being hunted and exterminated at an alarming rate. I do see some wins like this, and it’s wonderful because the animals and landscapes of Africa are an irreplaceable part of our planet’s biodiversity.
“As they say: the day we grow tired of Africa is the day we grow tired of life.”
This article was published in Issue 108 of Travel Africa magazine, in May 2025. For more helpful advice and expert tips, why not pick up a copy of this issue today, or subscribe to Travel Africa by clicking here.
