I’ve been speaking since I was roughly 11 months old. Mainly I asked for food back then.

My speech has become slightly more sophisticated in the intervening years.

Born wild, raised otherwise

A funny, gripping and deeply human keynote about our species' lost connection with the natural world — and the profound need to reclaim it.

Drawing on two decades as a safari guide, wilderness broadcaster and storyteller, James Hendry takes audiences on an extraordinary journey through Africa's wild places, from close encounters with buffalo and charging leopards to moments of quiet wonder among vultures, birds and ancient mountains. Along the way, absurd guest encounters, hard-won field lessons and deeply personal stories of friendship and loss reveal something larger: wilderness is not separate from us, but part of who we are.

Blending humour, adventure and reflection, this is far more than a talk about nature. It is about fear and belonging, disconnection and reconnection, and what the wild can teach modern humans about perspective, humility and being fully alive.

This is a story of wild places — but ultimately, it is a story about us.

For Whom?

Individuals and groups who feel a yen for wilderness or the loss of wild.

• Corporate groups (motivation without twee ‘business messages’)

• Highschool (career guidance, motivation).

• Lunch clubs, book clubs, think clubs,

Bookings/ Costs

Send me a mail on info@jameshendry.co.za and we can discuss dates, formats and the sordid topic of coin.

Where have I spoken?

I’ve spoken to various school groups, literary festivals, bookclubs, lunch clubs and societies including, OM Bank, YPO, NOES, the Franschoek Literary Festival, St John’s College, Hilton College, Westville Girls College, various Writer’s Write events and the Johannesburg Country Club.