Derek was born in South Africa. A keen naturalist, he has had a strong interest in wildlife (birds in particular) for as long as he can remember. He has a degree in Psychology and Sociology and worked at Europ Assistance International, where he first became exposed to the intricacies of problem solving for clients involved in tricky situations, usually in far flung corners of the globe.
As a result of his long-standing fascination with Madagascar, Derek began his career in travel in 1991. While working in South Africa, he undertook many exploratory trips to Madagascar, as well as to the Mascarene islands, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea. He arranged numerous group tours, designed tailor-made itineraries and co-authored three guidebooks.
In 1992, Derek met UK publisher and travel writer Hilary Bradt. They co-authored the first three editions of 'Madagascar Wildlife: A Visitors Guide', which won The Sunday Times (UK) 'Small Publisher of the Year Award'. He co-wrote the second edition of 'Mauritius, Rodrigues & Reunion: the Bradt Travel Guide' and has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines, including BBC Wildlife and World Birdwatch.
From March 2009 to November 2010 he was part of a voluntary team of individuals including conservationists and biologists from NGOs such as Missouri Botanical Gardens, who were involved in a campaign against illegal logging within protected areas of Madagascar. Their work resumed in 2018 and continues today - papers can be seen on ResearchGate.
Derek’s contributions to books include the Madagascar chapter in the stunning coffee-table book ‘Evocative Africa’, (2013) which took 'the Godfather of wildlife photography', Gerald Cubitt almost a decade to complete. He also contributed to the 'Global Guide to Animal Protection' (2014), an extensive collection of essays on animal welfare and protection around the world.
'While Madagascar will always be my favourite destination, I have had amazing experiences in other African countries', he says. Top of the list among these include attending a Hamar bull-jumping ceremony in Ethiopia, Gorilla tracking in both Rwanda and Uganda, and white-water rafting in Uganda. 'It is experiences like these that you cherish forever. They are a continual source of inspiration at the workplace, and I enjoy facilitating similar experiences for our clients who have a taste for travel to off-beat and unusual countries'.
