Last night I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life – I got to see my hero Sir David Attenborough live on stage, talking about his incredible sixty year career. Sir David’s documentaries have shaped my life in huge ways, from encouraging my fascination with the natural world as well as becoming passionate about animal welfare. It was also because of him that I chose Rwanda as my first overseas travel destination, I remember seeing footage of him and Dian Fossey with Mountain Gorillas and thinking “that’s where I want to go”.
This photo was taken six years ago, and it remains my favourite photo I’ve ever taken. We hiked an hour in the hot, steamy, and downright scary mountains of Rwanda. We arrived at a clearing where we watched a family of twelve play and interact for an hour – I’ve never been so happy in my life.
It was also amazing to see his passion and enthusiasm at 88 years old, while I’ve been grumbling about turning 30 soon. Seeing him speak also made me realise that no matter what your passion is – follow it and it will keep you young. As Sir David said at the end of his talk last night, “It’s a truly wonderful world”