John hails from the garden province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, son of a British father and Afrikaans mother, he has spent a childhood and more in the bush. After graduating from Stellenbosch University he spent seven years living and working abroad, primarily following his English roots to the UK where he met his wife Natalie.
Africa’s magnetism pulls him harder than most, and so in 2011 John returned to Cape Town to study his MBA at the University of Cape Town. Now, with his MBA and several years of banking and consultancy experience under his belt, he is following his entrepreneurial heart, which has an indisputable passion for Africa – especially Africa’s wildlife. It is this passion that has without doubt been the driving force behind the creation of Tracking the Wild and then more recently Chirp Birding, a niche social network for the global birdwatching community.
John’s love of the outdoors extends beyond that of spotting his next Pel’s fishing owl or side-striped jackal. He has a love for aviation and of watersports, especially sailing, windsurfing and scuba diving. He is also a keen photographer and technology enthusiast, constantly on the look out for a bigger and better lens or a new gadget to try – all product-testing offerings are gratefully received!