Central SA
Local filmmaker Darren Britz’s Lion Love goes global─── REFILWE BEKANE 13:00 Tue, 14 Oct 2025

Independent wildlife filmmaker Darren Britz, known on Instagram as Dazmental, has rocketed to global prominence following the viral success of his video, Lion Love.
The post, which initially garnered 150 million views on his personal account, is now estimated to have reached over 400 million views worldwide after being reposted by major accounts and global icons like Justin and Hailey Bieber. Britz, who has spent the last five or six years filming wildlife across Southern Africa, from Tanzania down, shared his shock about the video’s success.
“I had no idea that the video would pop off,” said Britz.
Britz states that the most important thing when working with animals is to have awareness and respect for the environment. Photo: Dazmental
According to Britz, he originally posted an edited version for Lion Day about two years ago, which clocked in around 50 to 60 million views. When he later reposted it as a trial reel, it exploded.
Within a few hours, it had already hit 8 to 9 million views
Discovery Channel honour
The viral sensation swiftly led to another massive career milestone. Britz was approached by Warner Bros. in the U.S. and invited to join a special campaign celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Discovery Channel.
After sending in an authentic, self-recorded 10-minute interview, he was selected as one of only four people worldwide to represent the network. The resulting segment, detailing his journey and real-world impact, has been broadcast globally across 120 countries.
“And then I got the confirmation that they had chosen me, then from there I had an introductory meeting with the Warner Brothers Discovery team, we started discussing what the production would look like,” said Britz
Britz, who also runs a digital marketing agency supporting conservation industries, is actively seeking strategic, long-term partnerships. He hopes to become an ambassador for a cinema camera company, a tech company in the wildlife space, and a brand making sustainable, rugged clothing.
These collaborations would involve producing authentic projects, such as testing new technology in rugged terrain, rather than simple product endorsements.
Furthermore, Britz is championing a CSI initiative, a clinic built in Kusanga, Zambia, to ensure a remote village cut off during the rainy season has access to essential healthcare. He’s looking for organisational partners to help complete the micro hospital project.
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