Five reasons why you need to experience this season of Bewonder & Bewaar
Bewonder & Bewaar with Bonné de Bod returns to kykNET with a brand-new season that takes viewers on a breathtaking journey through some of the world’s most iconic and remote wilderness areas. From South Africa’s national parks to Namibia’s coastline, the snow-covered mountains of North America and the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea – this season delivers 13 compelling stories of nature, human dedication and discovery.
Here are five reasons to watch it:
Feel-good TV for the whole family
Each episode follows Bonné into wilderness areas around the world, where she spends time alongside researchers, veterinarians and scientists in their natural working environments.
The series focuses on real human stories of passion and commitment – 13 conservationists who have dedicated their lives to protecting the planet. Bonné’s warm, intimate storytelling style captures the emotion and wonder of these experiences, creating a sense of connection that stays with viewers.
The heroes behind the animals
While the animals and nature remain central, the heartbeat of the series is the people behind the conservation work.
Among them are Cristina Zenato, world-renowned for her remarkable bond with reef sharks; Dr Peter Buss, a legend in wildlife veterinary science in the Kruger National Park, and Wendy Baxter, one of a handful of people globally who climbs giant sequoias to study their ecology. Naude Dreyer’s seal rescue work in Namibia, Samuel Madalane’s K9 unit in the Kruger National Park, and Santosh Bachoo’s nocturnal research on sea turtles also offer a rare glimpse into world-class conservation in action.
Wonders of nature – both big and small
From the largest predators on earth to the smallest and most elusive species, this season celebrates the full spectrum of wildlife.
Viewers will see Bonné diving with sharks and tracking lions at night in the Kruger National Park but also marvelling at the delicate Knysna seahorse and encountering the mysterious elephant shrew (sengi) up close. In the desert, remarkable beetles and other small species perfectly adapted to extreme environments are brought into focus.
An intimate, first-hand experience
Bewonder & Bewaar places viewers right in the middle of the action – whether it is aboard a helicopter documenting the impact of the 2026 floods in the Kruger National Park, night operations with veterinary teams in the field, or underwater in the Caribbean among reef sharks.
The flood episode is told in a deeply personal way by people who were part of the disaster relief efforts. From above, viewers witness the destruction at sites such as the Letaba Bridge and Shimuwini Camp, seeing the impact in a far more powerful way than via traditional news footage.
World-class visual storytelling
Behind the camera is acclaimed director Susan Scott, a SAFTA-winning and internationally experienced wildlife filmmaker. Scott draws on more than two decades of expertise and works with an extraordinary range of techniques and lenses – from 600 mm telephoto shots to macro cinematography, underwater filming, thermal night vision and 8K time-lapse landscapes.
The series was filmed across eight national parks and five nature reserves in four countries, including the Kruger National Park, NamibRand, Dorob National Park, the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the Sierra Nevada and the Bahamas. Each location is captured with cinematic detail, allowing viewers to feel as though they are truly there.
Bewonder & Bewaar with Bonné de Bod is produced by Scott & de Bod Films, also known for doccies such as STROOP, Kingdoms of Fire, Ice and Fairy Tales and documentary series like Africa’s Wild Wonders. The second season of Bewonder & Bewaar was nominated for a SAFTA in the category for Best Natural History and Environmental Programme.
Bewonder & Bewaar met Bonné de Bod premieres on Sunday, 19 April at 20:30 on kykNET (DStv Channel 144) and will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
