Ruben in Namibië: Cindy, the star baboon, and a farmyard full of internet-famous animals
On Simmenau Farm, just outside Windhoek, Namibia, lives Ruben Lambrechts, a young man with a massive digital following: 1.2 million followers on Instagram, over 1.4 million on Facebook and almost 500 000 on TikTok. But it’s not Ruben who steals the spotlight – people can’t get enough of the antics of Cindy Crawford the baboon, meerkats Jerry and Minki, and a host of other animals who call Simmenau home.
On 6 January 2025 at 20:30, viewers can tune in to meet this endearing crew in the first of two episodes of the short documentary series Ruben in Namibië.
Cindy, who celebrated her 30th birthday in 2024, is the main attraction. She was hand-raised as a baby by Ruben’s parents, Barista and Malan. On Simmenau, no animals live in cages, and the Lambrechts family hopes to release some of them back into the wild. The animals are free-range and spend their days hunting and playing carefree in the fields.
In the first episode, we’re introduced to the family: Ruben, his parents Barista and Malan, his twin brother, Tertius, and the farm’s animal residents. These include Zoey the mongoose, warthogs Betsie and Bennie, Rigby the Bavarian bloodhound (Cindy’s best friend), and hal-feral Tewis, whose father is a real African wildcat.
The two episodes, each 48 minutes long, primarily focus on Ruben and Cindy but also address broader topics, such as game hunting and social media criticism from those who disapprove of Ruben’s work. Ruben shares how he became a social media sensation and discusses the Ruben Lambrechts Foundation, launched in November 2024. The severe drought is also part of this story and landscape. The Foundation was established specifically to support Drought Relief Namibia.
The first episode of Ruben in Namibië airs on 6 January at 20:30 on kykNET (DStv channel 144). The second and final episode will screen on 13 January and will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
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