Interview
A CONVERSATION
WITH CHRIS &
CHARLOTTE
MCBRIDE
Writer: Leelee Ngwenya Photography: McBrides’ Camp, Joahim Dausch
businessman man originally from Durban. During Chris’s childhood, his father fought the Germans in the desert in World War Two. Chris says, ‘I saw him for the first time after about two or three years when he came back from the war. He and his brother bought a property adjoining the Kruger National Park. They were both keen on wild animals and so I grew up visiting about 10,000 acres of what later became known as the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.’
to her cubs. I often wonder how many charging lions have been shot unnecessarily.’
As an adult, Chris went on to study lions. ‘I did my Master’s thesis (in Wildlife Management/ Natural Resources at Humboldt State University in California) and learned very hen you meet Chris and quickly that lions don’t worry about vehicles. Charlotte McBride you immediately feel Konrad Lorenz, the Austrian founder of the welcome in their home. I visited them at their study of animal behaviour—ethology— very beautiful and serene Lusaka residence theorised that animals work on genetic and was greeted enthusiastically by their programming and learning and that humans rescue dogs. Chris then led me to what can be While enjoying his time in the wilderness, are in the programme and animals fear us. described as an outside tea room where I was Chris became friendly with tracker Jack (There are exceptions, such as man-eating and introduced to his delightful wife, Charlotte. Mathebula. ‘Jack was a brilliant tracker and my imprinting. Imprinting is where a very young We sat and drank coffee while we spoke about sport when I was a teenager was to go with animal, removed from its parents, “imprints” Chris’s native South Africa, and Zimbabwe, on a human as the parent.) him and track lions. He would say to me, where Charlotte is from. “Listen, we are getting close now, don’t look on 'For lions, a human is an upright shape with a the ground, look in front.” We would observe Chris and Charlotte together part-own and run the sleeping lions which we then left alone. certain scent. Vehicles are not threatening to McBrides’ Camp in Kafue National Park and an animal but if you stand up, even in a vehicle, What I learned from him was amazing. Chris’s eyes light up as he speaks about his you are a threat because then you are recoglife and wildlife in particular. Chris is also well ‘On one particular walk we found fresh lion nised as human. You can get as close as you known worldwide for his books about lions like in a vehicle as it’s not in the programme. spoor and there was a lioness that had gone and I was here to delve into the subject of lions through that area. I was with my friend who However, if you chase them in a vehicle, they and writing about them. When Chris speaks will learn instantly that it is a threat, but treat wanted to throw stones to see if the lioness about lions he does so with passion, something was there. He proceeded to throw stones and them gently and they will be fine.’ he shares with his late father, Cyril, explaining, on the third attempt the lioness charged out, ‘My father was fascinated by lions for some We return to the subject of Timbavati. growling thunderously. Jack shouted, “Yima reason and I suppose I got keen on them ungadubuli!” meaning, “Stay still, don’t shoot”. Charlotte remembers their time there with the because he was centred on them.’ The lioness had stopped 25 metres away; she white lions so fondly, telling me, ‘They were a wonderful part of our lives and the book, had charged out of fear for her cubs! We Chris McBride was born in Johannesburg The White Lions of Timbavati, was translated managed to make our escape by quietly where he grew up with his late father, a walking off into the distance and she returned into eight languages and eventually made it to
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