---
name: "Brad Bestelink"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/brad-bestelink"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-17T18:53:17.944530+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Brad Bestelink

Cinematographer. Born in Botswana.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1492139/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1346760

## Streaming the US now

- **Discovery+:** [*Planet Earth II*](https://film.one/tv/planet-earth-ii.md) (86)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Brad Bestelink is a Botswana-born cinematographer, director and producer specialising in natural history films. He grew up in the Okavango Delta and began his career in his teens, working for more than a decade with filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert in Botswana’s Chobe National Park and the Delta.

In 2008 he founded the Natural History Film Unit Botswana (NHFU), where he serves as creative director. He has filmed, directed and produced numerous documentaries, including contributions as cinematographer to *Planet Earth II* (2016) and *Our Universe* (2022). His credits also include *Savage Kingdom* (2016), *Okavango: A Flood of Life* (2021), *Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale* (2022) and *Living with Leopards* (2024), the last of which he co-directed. He has received Emmy nominations for his cinematography.

*Sources: imdb.com, bradbestelink.com, tvtechnology.com, bbc.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Planet Earth II* (2016), Fi1m 86, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/tv/planet-earth-ii.md)

## Complete filmography (23)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Living with Leopards* (2024), Co-Director, Director of Photography
- *Our Universe* (2022), series, Aerial Director of Photography
- *Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale* (2022), Director of Photography
- *Lions: The Hunt for Survival* (2021), Director of Photography
- *Okavango: A Flood of Life* (2021), Director of Photography, Director, Producer
- *Lion Brothers: Cubs to Kings* (2019), Director of Photography
- *The Flood* (2018), Producer, Director
- *Botswana* (2017), series, Director of Photography
- *Battle for the Pride* (2017), Director of Photography
- *Savage Kingdom* (2016), series, Director, Cinematography
- *Planet Earth II* (2016), series, Director of Photography — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/planet-earth-ii.md)
- *Return of the Giant Killers: Africa's Lion Kings* (2015), Director
- *Electric Amazon* (2015), Camera Operator
- *Africa's Fishing Leopards* (2015), Director, Producer, Director of Photography
- *Blood Rivals: Lion vs Buffalo* (2014), Director of Photography
- *Africa's Giant Killers* (2014), Director, Director of Photography
- *Lion Brotherhood* (2013), Director of Photography
- *Underwater Okavango* (2012), Director of Photography
- *Pride in Battle* (2010), Director of Photography
- *Leopards of Dead Tree Island* (2010), Director of Photography
- *Diving with Crocodiles* (2010), as Director of Photography, Associate Producer
- *Natural World* (1983), series, Director, Producer
- *Nature* (1982), series, Director

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/brad-bestelink