Brad Bestelink’s death has left a deep sense of loss among those who knew him, particularly two people who helped shape his early years in wildlife filmmaking. For the pair, the loss is deeply personal. They did not simply lose a former student or a talented filmmaker. They lost someone they had watched grow from an ambitious teenager into a man they came to regard as a son.
In a touching tribute, the two former mentors looked back on a relationship that began when Bestelink was just 17 years old. Their memories offered a personal account of the young man behind the camera, recalling his determination, character and the close bond they shared over the years.
It all started with a handwritten letter. As a teenager, Bestelink wrote to them expressing his interest in wildlife filmmaking and asking for an opportunity to learn through an internship. His request eventually brought him face to face with the people who would play an important role in his professional development.
One of his mentors recalled their first encounter and the straightforward response he gave the young aspiring filmmaker. Rather than making a long speech about the opportunity, he told Bestelink to get a haircut, pack a bag and come along. That simple exchange marked the beginning of a relationship that would last for about a decade.
During those years, the mentors wanted him to learn much more than the technical side of filming. They wanted him to become independent, make sound decisions and understand that mistakes were part of learning. They gave him room to grow, knowing that becoming a good filmmaker required patience, discipline and personal responsibility.
Bestelink took those lessons seriously. His former mentors remembered his commitment to the work and the professional standards he maintained as his career developed. They particularly admired his integrity, describing him as someone who understood the importance of doing things the right way.
Although they followed much of his later career from a distance, their pride in him never faded. They continued to take an interest in his achievements and the professional he had become. They also remembered his personality with affection, saying they struggled to think of anyone who did not like him.
Some of their fondest memories came from long days spent waiting beside waterholes and nights following lions in the wild. During those hours, they often talked about the future, the knowledge they had gathered and how younger generations could carry their work forward. They believed Bestelink would become an important part of that legacy.
His death was something they never expected. The thought of losing someone they had known since his teenage years left them struggling to find the right words. What makes the loss particularly painful is that they had watched him develop over so many years and had hoped to see much more of what his life and career would bring.
The mentors also recognized that their grief could not compare with the pain facing his immediate family. They extended their sympathy to his children, parents and other loved ones, acknowledging the enormous loss they now have to face.
Their tribute ended with a message in Setswana: “Tsamaya sentle tsala ya me. Re tla kopana gape.” The words mean, “Go well, my friend. We will meet again.”
For the two people who helped him find his footing in filmmaking, those words carried the weight of years of friendship, shared experiences and affection. Brad Bestelink will be remembered not only for the wildlife stories he brought to the screen but also for the young man who once arrived with a handwritten letter, eager to learn, and eventually became someone they were proud to call family.
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