A Life Shaped by the African Bush
For more than 30 episodes of Campfire Conversations, Brett Horley has been the one asking the questions.
This time, the roles are reversed.
Wildlife filmmaker, safari travel advisor, and friend of BHS, Jeff Hyer, takes over hosting duties, placing Brett in the hot seat for a conversation that explores the journey behind BHS Safari Company, a lifetime spent in Africa's wild places, and the experiences that continue to shape the way he travels and guides today.
Recorded in the forests of Magoebaskloof during a BHS team retreat, the conversation moves from childhood memories and first safaris to birding obsessions, favourite destinations, and the people who influenced Brett's career along the way. It is an honest look behind the scenes of someone who has spent more than two decades living and working in Africa's wilderness.
Meet Jeff Hyer
Before turning the tables on Brett, it is worth introducing the man behind the microphone. Jeff Hyer is a Montana-based wildlife filmmaker, safari travel advisor, and creator of one of YouTube's most engaging channels dedicated to wildlife and nature travel. Through his films, destination guides, and safari vlogs, Jeff shares practical safari advice alongside genuine stories from the field, helping travellers better understand Africa's extraordinary landscapes before they arrive. His curiosity, enthusiasm, and passion for conservation have earned him a loyal global audience, making him the perfect person to step into the host's chair for this special episode.
You can explore Jeff's adventures on his YouTube channel and follow his latest travels around the world.
From Six Weeks Old to a Life in the Bush
Brett's first visit to the Kruger National Park came when he was just six weeks old. Since then, there has hardly been a year without returning. Growing up in Johannesburg, weekends were spent outdoors with a father who loved birding, family members who worked in safari, and shelves filled with books that inspired a lifelong fascination with Africa's wildlife.
As Brett tells Jeff:
"I knew by the age of 16 I wanted to go into the bush."
Originally, he imagined a career in conservation before guide training, influential mentors, and countless hours in the field revealed something else entirely: helping people experience Africa was every bit as rewarding as studying its wildlife.
The Places That Shape You
The conversation travels through Brett's early guiding years in the Timbavati and Klaserie, training guides in Botswana's Okavango Delta, and working across northern Tanzania before eventually founding BHS Safari Company.
Jeff also asks a question every safari traveller wants answered: Which places have stayed with you the most?
Rather than choosing the most luxurious camps, Brett speaks about the destinations that continue to pull him back: the Okavango Delta, Bwindi's misty forests, Lake Kariba, Timbavati, and, above all, the Kruger National Park. They are places tied to memories, mentors, friendships, and countless days spent in the bush.
Birding, Mentors & a Few Quickfire Questions
No conversation with Brett would be complete without talking about birds.
Listeners discover why birding has become one of his greatest passions, why he never travels without binoculars, and how the pursuit of new species has taken him to some of Africa's most remarkable places.
The episode also reflects on the guides, mentors, family, and friends who helped shape his career before finishing with a light-hearted round of rapid-fire questions covering everything from lions versus leopards to sunrise versus sunset.
Listen to the Full Conversation
Whether you know Brett through BHS, have travelled with him in the field, or are simply curious about the story behind the company, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear the person behind the microphone.
Listen to the full episode of Campfire Conversations on your favourite podcast platform, and follow us on Instagram at @bhs_safari for behind-the-scenes moments, expedition updates, and more stories from the field.
Listen Now!
