Follow in the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough

No one is more closely associated with wildlife documentaries than Sir David Attenborough. His voice is instantly recognizable to millions of people from all backgrounds and age groups, even former U.S. President Barack Obama is an outspoken fan. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, Attenborough has traveled to every corner of the globe, documenting hundreds of species of plants, animals, and marine life. Join us as we step into David Attenborough’s Footsteps, reflecting on his life behind the lens and the extraordinary locations and creatures that came into focus through his camera.

For many, Attenborough is the calming voice that narrates the unfolding drama of the natural world, but his impact on wildlife filmmaking goes far beyond narration. In fact, Attenborough has worked with the BBC for as long as the network has been producing nature documentaries, playing a major role in shaping and advancing the genre. From a young age, Attenborough was fascinated by the natural world. As a boy, he collected newts for his father, a scientist at University College Leicester. He later studied geology and zoology at Cambridge University. What ultimately led him to document wildlife on television wasn’t just his interest in animals, it was a deep desire to explore the world.

“I remember as a teenager, shaking hands with someone who’d been to Singapore. Singapore, the Mystic East…. I had never been outside Europe, I’d only been to France about twice, because of the war and one thing or other. But just the thought of going to foreign parts was so exciting, and birds, and natural history – animals, were the obvious things that could take me there.” 

Follow Sir David Attenborough’s footsteps

Madagascar and the indri

1960: The seventh series of Zoo Quest was set to begin filming, this time focusing on Madagascar and its extraordinary biodiversity. As the oldest island on Earth, Madagascar offered a rare filming opportunity, with 92% of its animal life and 89% of its plant species found nowhere else on the planet. Following in David Attenborough’s Footsteps, the crew was especially eager to locate the island’s largest lemur species, the indri, found in the northeastern forests. Ancient local legends even described the indri as “dog-headed men.”

While hearing the loud calls of these primates was easy, capturing them on film proved far more difficult. The small two-man team, Attenborough and his cameraman, could only shoot two minutes of footage at a time before switching out their film reel. Their cameras had no zoom function, forcing them to get uncomfortably close to their subjects. To make matters worse, the indri were extremely shy around humans and often vanished before the crew could get a proper shot.

Attenborough came up with the idea to record the lemurs’ loud calls and play them back into the forest. This piqued the indris’ curiosity and lured them close enough to be captured on camera. It was the first time these lemurs had ever been filmed alive. Today, these beautiful animals are critically endangered due to deforestation. Wildlife tourism in Madagascar offers hope for the indri and other endangered species, providing a financial incentive for local communities to protect the region’s incredible biodiversity.

The Komodo dragons of Indonesia

Another highlight of Attenborough’s early career was his expedition to Indonesia in search of a mysterious and formidable resident of the country’s southern islands, the Komodo dragon. Found on the islands of Flores, Gili Motang, Padar, Rinca, and Komodo, these giants are the largest living species of lizard, growing up to 10 feet long and weighing around 150 pounds.

“In the 1950s we collected animals for zoos which never bred, or were not likely to breed. And that I regret.”

In addition to making the first filmed documentation of these fierce reptiles, Attenborough and his crew were also tasked with capturing them. Part of the mission involved collecting Komodo dragons to be introduced into zoo breeding programs. In later years, Attenborough expressed regret about this practice.

Today, those wanting to follow in David Attenborough’s Footsteps and see these incredible creatures for themselves can do so in a far more ethical way. Much of Komodo Island is now a national park dedicated to the protection of the dragons, and it welcomes responsible visitors. Beyond Komodo, the Indonesian archipelago, with its thousands of islands, is a paradise for wildlife lovers.

Tanjung Puting National Park on the island of Borneo is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including the endangered orangutan, one of humanity’s closest relatives. The waters surrounding Papua Island, located in the far southeast of the archipelago, host the richest variety of marine life on the planet, making it one of the world’s premier destinations for diving and snorkeling.

Filming the elusive snow leopards of the Himalayas

There’s one animal that has remained elusive to both Attenborough and BBC film crews: the snow leopard. These rare and solitary big cats live in the remote high mountains of the Himalayas, spread across a vast range of over 770,000 square miles. Filming this shy, well-camouflaged predator has proven to be an almost impossible task for the BBC, one that took more than 20 years to achieve.

In 2006, the BBC assembled a far larger team than Attenborough’s classic two-man crew from the 1960s. This time, they deployed three camera operators, two assistants, and eleven local guides, focusing their efforts in the breathtaking Hemis National Park in northern India. The park, the largest in South Asia, plays a crucial role in protecting the endangered snow leopard, as well as other species like the Tibetan wolf and Eurasian brown bear. Over the course of six weeks, the crew captured the most complete footage of snow leopards ever recorded, including the first hunt ever filmed. Justin Anderson, the producer for the shoot, credited their success to the deep knowledge of their local guides:

“We were incredibly lucky to have the guides we had, and they all really became a part of the team. Pretty soon after we arrived we realized that the whole thing just wouldn’t function without them.“

For those hoping to follow in David Attenborough’s Footsteps, it’s possible (but extremely rare) to catch a glimpse of a snow leopard in the wild. While trips to the region are available, sightings remain unlikely due to the animal’s elusive nature. That said, there are countless reasons to visit the “roof of the world.” Northern India’s stunning mountains and valleys are a destination in their own right. Though there are no hotels within Hemis National Park, travelers can stay in traditional homestays offered by the six villages scattered across the area. Meanwhile, conservation efforts to protect snow leopards continue to expand, including the creation of Nepal’s Annapurna Conservation Area Project, another vital step in preserving this magnificent species for future generations.

Marine iguanas and racer snakes in The Galapagos Islands

In recent years, thanks to continual advancements in cameras and filming techniques, the BBC’s wildlife documentaries have reached a cinematic level of quality. Nowhere is this more evident than in the acclaimed series Planet Earth II. Using cutting-edge tools like drones, helicopter rigs, and remote camera traps, the BBC captured animal behavior with an intimacy never seen before. Planet Earth II revisited creatures like the indri lemur, the Komodo dragon, and the elusive snow leopard, showcasing just how far the genre has evolved since the early days of two men and a single 16mm camera.

The pinnacle of this innovation is showcased in one of the most thrilling wildlife sequences in television history: a newly hatched iguana making a desperate dash for survival while pursued by a swarm of racer snakes. Shot on Fernandina Island in the Galápagos, this unforgettable scene marked the first time this dramatic hunt had ever been caught on camera, continuing the legacy of firsts that define David Attenborough’s Footsteps.

Like Indonesia and Madagascar, the Galápagos Islands’ isolation has allowed a rich diversity of unique plants and animals to thrive. The astonishing variety of wildlife has made the archipelago a must-visit for nature lovers and documentary filmmakers alike. Even renowned naturalist Charles Darwin was inspired by the islands. Many of the Galápagos species show little fear of humans, making it one of the world’s best places to observe and photograph wildlife up close.

Make it happen 

Not only have filming technology and techniques advanced dramatically over the course of Attenborough’s career, but public attitudes toward animal welfare have evolved as well. Today, dedicated national parks and conservation programs are helping secure a future for many endangered species through responsible eco-tourism.

If you’re passionate about wildlife and want the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these remarkable animals in their natural habitats, while following in David Attenborough’s Footsteps, consider reaching out to one of our local experts in Madagascar, Indonesia, India, or the Galápagos.