Kurdt Greenwood: Conservation Survivalist

Kurdt Greenwood, wildlife conservationist and survivalist, inspires audiences with high-stakes adventures and lessons on courage, confidence, and conservation from the world’s most dangerous environments.

Kurdt Greenwood - green-mamba

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • Conservationist and survivalist featured on National Geographic and Deadliest Snakes of South Africa
  • Known for high-risk encounters with lions, sharks, rhinos, and venomous snakes
  • Delivers captivating tales with actionable lessons on resilience, teamwork, and leadership
  • Creator of the Living With series, exploring coexistence with apex predators
  • Advocates for conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainability

Formats: Keynotes (45–60 min), field expedition briefings, breakout sessions, virtual masterclasses

Audience: Corporate leaders, teams, conservation organizations, adventure and tourism industries, schools, and audiences seeking inspiration through extraordinary storytelling

Outcomes:
  1. Learn how to stay calm and confident under pressure
  2. Gain tools for building resilience, adaptability, and teamwork
  3. Discover how knowledge abolishes fear and drives growth
Reviews: (4 reviews)
5/5
  • Travels from: Johannesburg

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

Kurdt takes you into his world of adventure, exploration and wildlife. Facing some of the most dangerous animals in the most hostile environments on the planet. Pushing the human-animal boundaries to a level previously thought impossible. From putting two of Africa’s most deadly cobras to sleep with a gentle touch, to swimming with great white sharks and crocodiles.

With Kurdt’s aim to push human-animal interaction he plans to do a “Living With” series where he survives for a month in the wild with 5 top apex predators, living off the land, and spending every day with one of the 5 species including hyenas, komodo dragons, Nile crocodiles, grizzly bears and lions.

Kurdt aims to demonstrate that even the most deadly animals on the planet are deeply misunderstood and if approached with the right knowledge, skill, and energy, we can learn from them in an interactive way that does not have to be a death sentence. By showcasing the different sides of these feared animals he hopes to inspire people to protect them for future generations.

Kurdt also takes you into the heart of an African lion pride. Analysing their social behaviours and structures after spending over a year with them every day with countless stories of how being confident and calm helped him integrate with the pride. He shares the remarkable lessons he learned about both the lions, and in the process lessons he learned about himself.

Kurdt talks about what it takes to pull off these feats with some of the world’s most dangerous animals. He shares his experiences of how he survived an attack by a 3000 pound black rhino, to being chased by a huge male hippo. There is never a dull moment when it comes to his tales of the extreme animal encounters he has experienced over the last 15 years.

Kurdt breaks down the importance of how remaining calm and confident is key in working with these animals, and how practicing these two factors are not only necessary in the wild, but also in everyday life – whether at home or in the workplace. 

Kurdt explains how to achieve the highest level of calm and confidence when face-to-face with danger and ultimate fear. From physical exercise, to daily meditation, Kurdt shares how he sharpens body and mind to eliminate distractions and focus on the task at hand.

Calm and confident is the story of one man’s remarkable journey going deep into the wild, facing his fears with the world’s most dangerous animals in the most unforgiving landscapes, learning along the way how important it is for survival to stay calm and confident no matter the situation.

Kurdt truly believes that by cultivating a calm approach, and by forging confidence in one’s self, any human can thrive in any environment and achieve the unthinkable. Kurdt inspires his audience to get out there, explore, soak up as much experience as they can, and in the process discover what they’re really made of.

Key takeaways  

  • Learning how to stay calm even in the eye of the storm to achieve new levels of success. 
  • How to push yourself beyond your comfort zone to achieve mental fortitude. 
  • How confidence can help you overcome unpredictable challenges.
  • Facing your fears will help with inner-growth, opening new avenues, and teach a new way to see the world. 
  • Exploring the remarkable connection we have with all animals if we approach with the right mindset.

Ideal Audience : Anyone with a love for nature, adventure and storytelling  who wants to face down their fears and come out more confident and calm  with a deep respect for nature and oneself 

Kurdt has put himself in countless death-defying situations most humans would never dare to enter into, in the name of discovery and learning. Sharing stories of his immense adventures in the wild, Kurdt describes handling the most deadly wild snakes on the planet in hostile locations accompanied by terrified film crews on set of his internationally acclaimed TV show Deadliest Snakes of South Africa.

Kurdt recalls how patience and mental fortitude were of the utmost importance from his experiences tracking cheetahs, swimming with killer whales and sharks, and working with black rhinos deep in harsh African landscapes to document the intricate lives of beautiful creatures for National Geographic. Kurdt brings to life the struggles and lessons on living illuminated by his time building, and residing in, his Afro Montagne forest survivalist dwellings over 2020 lockdown, which became a news sensation.

From constant innovation and adaptation, mastering your environment and circumstance, and having a thirst for a life beyond the conventional – Kurdt is constantly reminded that the treasures of existence are a few feet beyond the boundaries of comfort. 

Kurdt uses his vast observations of animal pack behaviour from his days spent raising lions to discuss the benefit of working in teams. Delving into pack mentality, Kurdt illustrates that you are only as strong as the team that supports you, and how packs in the wild work together in harmony for a common goal. Using his passion for fungi, he explores symbiotic relationships and the ever-evolving adaptability that occurs in nature, and how this can be applied to our personal and professional challenges. 

Kurdt advises on the importance of conserving nature for future generations, and touches on how doing so can be profitable and rewarding for businesses in modern times. 

Kurdt delves into the fear of the unknown, and facing your fears in the name of progress. Kurdt shares tips for fear/risk management in the self ,and how to build mental fortitude and self-reliance. Kurdt’s lifelong philosophy remains that fear can only be abolished with knowledge gained from lived experience and pushing oneself beyond your comfort zone.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • Dynamics of working together in packs/teams for a common goal.
  • Adaptability as the greatest survival and strengthening tactic in the modern world.
  • Abolishing fear with knowledge and lived experience.
  • Developing mental fortitude by pushing oneself beyond fear and self-imposed limitations. – Discovery of the inner-self through adventure and exploration in the one wild life you have been given.
  • Stress management and relief in the natural world. 
  • Resurrecting a sense of childlike wonder and infinite curiosity, where all experience is internalized as information rather than a win/fail mentality.
     

Ideal Audience

Companies needing motivation and inspiration for their teams, who enjoy storytelling of great feats and tales of daring human endeavour. 

Talent Short Bio

Kurdt Greenwood is a conservationist and experienced field guide whose work focuses on practical biodiversity protection, wildlife behaviour interpretation, and nature-based storytelling that moves audiences to act. Kurdt leads expeditions and works with tourism operators, NGOs and corporate teams to show how conservation can be embedded into operations and brand purpose.

In his speaking engagements he draws on firsthand field experience to create memorable, data-informed narratives that connect environmental science to business decisions, community impact and visitor experiences. Kurdt’s talks are suited to conferences seeking tangible conservation actions, corporate sustainability retreats and public forums where the emphasis is on practical next steps rather than abstract theory.

He brings case studies, quick wins for operational change and a call to measurable impact.

Kurdt Greenwood is a young, dynamic naturalist, conservationist, survival expert, and animal behavior specialist with a passion for wildlife that knows no bounds. From an early age, Kurdt has been captivated by the natural world, particularly the most dangerous and deadly creatures that inhabit it.

His enthusiasm for wildlife is infectious, leaving audiences both terrified and mesmerized. With his charismatic personality and profound knowledge, Kurdt has become a sought-after speaker at events worldwide, inspiring others to appreciate and conserve the natural world. Growing up with an insatiable curiosity for wildlife, Kurdt’s journey began at the tender age of four.

His early encounters with nature sparked a lifelong obsession with understanding and protecting the planet’s most perilous creatures. This passion has led him to explore some of the most remote and dangerous corners of the globe, studying animals in their natural habitats and learning firsthand the intricacies of their behavior.

Kurdt’s dedication to conservation is matched only by his desire to educate and engage others in the fight to preserve our planet’s biodiversity. Kurdt’s speaking engagements are renowned for their captivating content and engaging delivery. Whether he is sharing thrilling tales of close encounters with deadly animals or providing insightful analysis on conservation issues, Kurdt Greenwood’s presentations are a unique blend of excitement and education.

Kurdt Greenwood’s expertise in the field of wildlife conservation is unparalleled. With a background that spans decades of hands-on experience, Kurdt has developed a deep understanding of animal behavior, particularly among the world’s most dangerous species. His knowledge is not just theoretical but is grounded in real-world encounters and extensive fieldwork.

Kurdt has spent countless hours observing predators in their natural habitats, learning their habits, and understanding the delicate balance of ecosystems. Kurdt’s journey as a conservationist has taken him to some of the most challenging environments on the planet. From the dense jungles of the Amazon to the arid deserts of Africa, he has faced and studied creatures that most people would never dare to approach. His work has included tracking and studying apex predators like lions, tigers, and crocodiles, as well as venomous reptiles and insects.

His efforts have not only contributed to the protection of endangered species but have also inspired others to join the cause. Kurdt’s work is a testament to the power of passion and dedication in making a difference for the natural world.

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Talent Videos

Kurdt Greenwood — Calm and Confident: Showreel of a Conservation Survivalist

urdt Greenwood takes viewers on a journey into the wild, sharing lessons from close encounters with nature’s most dangerous creatures.

In this dynamic showreel, Kurdt Greenwood invites audiences to follow him into the wild for an extraordinary journey of survival, discovery, and transformation. From the African savannas to the depths of the Indian Ocean, he immerses himself in extreme encounters with some of the world’s most dangerous animals, including cobras, crocodiles, great white sharks, and the infamous black mamba.

Kurdt demonstrates how survival in these environments requires not only skill but also a mindset of calm and confidence. Whether putting deadly snakes into a trance-like state with a touch or swimming alongside apex predators, he emphasizes that facing fear is essential for building resilience and mental fortitude.

Beyond the thrill of danger, Kurdt frames nature as the ultimate teacher. He highlights how observation, patience, focus, and resilience skills honed in the wilderness translate into tools for personal growth, leadership, and high-pressure decision-making. His storytelling also draws from his work with National Geographic and Discovery’s Deadliest Snakes of South Africa, where he shares these moments with global audiences.

Kurdt’s mission is to awaken a deeper love for nature, encourage people to push beyond their comfort zones, and inspire audiences to discover what they are truly capable of. Calm and Confident is not just his personal story of survival, but also a universal lesson: in any environment, cultivating calm and confidence can lead to unimaginable achievements.

Key Moments

00:00–00:25 — Opening: invitation into the wild and encounters with deadly animals
00:26–01:05 — Stories of cobras, sharks, crocodiles, and survival in extreme conditions
01:06–01:45 — Nature as teacher: observation, resilience, patience, and discovery
01:46–02:20 — High-risk encounters for National Geographic and Discovery documentaries
02:21–02:40 — Closing: mission to inspire resilience, courage, and confidence in every audience

Kurdt Greenwood comes face-to-face with Africa’s deadliest snakes, proving that even the most feared creatures can be understood with calm, respect, and skill.

This high-intensity clip from Africa’s Deadliest Snakes showcases Kurdt Greenwood’s extraordinary ability to interact with some of the most dangerous snakes on earth. Filmed across South Africa, the cradle of humankind and home to 12 of the world’s deadliest species, Kurdt demonstrates that even the most feared predators respond to calmness, respect, and a steady hand.

The footage captures Kurdt handling green mambas, black mambas, and deadly cobras, showcasing behaviors often misunderstood as aggression. He explains that many snakes, while terrifying to most people, are incredibly sensitive creatures reacting to threats in their environment. By staying calm and applying gentle techniques, Kurdt shows how it’s possible to move these snakes into a trance-like state, a phenomenon known as thanatosis, or “playing dead.”

Moments of high risk abound, from near strikes to venom-spraying displays, yet Kurdt remains composed, underscoring his core philosophy that knowledge abolishes fear. The segment highlights both the danger and beauty of these creatures, challenging viewers to reconsider myths about snakes and to recognize the importance of conservation.

Kurdt’s encounters remind audiences that courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to engage with it. His mission extends beyond survival: to inspire others to see wildlife not as monsters but as vital members of our shared ecosystem.

Key Moments

00:00–00:20 — Introduction: South Africa, home to the world’s deadliest snakes
00:21–01:10 — Handling green mambas: misunderstood aggression and remarkable sensitivity
01:11–01:50 — Demonstrating trance-like states with cobras and mambas
01:51–02:30 — Close calls with venomous strikes and spraying black mamba
02:31–03:03 — Closing: conservation message—understanding deadly snakes as vital, not monstrous

Kurdt Greenwood connects lessons from the wild to business leadership, urging us to rediscover our link to nature and protect biodiversity.

In this OMAN Talk highlight, Kurdt Greenwood explains how inspiration and success are rooted in our relationship with nature. Raised on a game reserve, he was immersed from childhood in observing animal behaviors and survival dynamics. Today, he uses that foundation to design corporate survival missions and leadership programs that connect business leaders with the raw lessons of the wild.

Kurdt stresses that true inspiration is impossible without feeling good and connected, and nature is a powerful source of that connection. When corporate groups return from expeditions in Africa or the Amazon, they consistently remark on the rediscovery of diversity and their own innate bond with the natural world. He challenges audiences to step away from technology, walk without distractions, and really observe what is happening around them.

He draws a parallel between business and ecosystems: just as every element in nature is interlinked and removing one weakens the whole, every part of a business must be respected and maintained. Neglecting even “small” components leads to collapse.

Kurdt closes with a warning and a call to action: humanity is disrupting ecosystems at an unsustainable pace, and it is “crunch time.” He advocates for respect, love, and stewardship of animals and biodiversity, reminding us that survival depends on keeping the balance intact.

Key Moments

00:00–00:40 — Inspiration, upbringing on a game reserve, and early lessons from nature
00:41–01:15 — Corporate survival missions: reconnecting leaders with diversity and nature
01:16–01:50 — Observing ecosystems and applying the principle to business success
01:51–02:20 — Warning about ecological collapse and humanity’s responsibility
02:21–02:30 — Closing: advocacy for balance, respect, and preservation of wildlife

Kurdt Greenwood reveals what it takes to capture extraordinary animal encounters, blending survival instincts with unmatched knowledge of behavior.

Wildlife Killer Shots pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to capture the natural world’s most breathtaking moments on camera. Featuring animal behaviorist and adventurer Kurdt Greenwood, the series follows him into extreme environments where every shot requires both skill and courage.

Kurdt’s gift lies in his deep understanding of animal behavior, which allows him to anticipate movement and capture rare sequences that most would consider impossible. His narration underscores that getting the perfect shot is more than being fearless—it requires patience, observation, and the ability to remain calm under immense pressure.

From snakes whose venom could scar him for life to apex predators in unforgiving landscapes, Kurdt embraces risk in pursuit of truth and beauty. The series showcases not just the final product but the journey: the planning, the setbacks, and the moments of sheer danger required to achieve “killer shots.”

Ultimately, the project highlights Kurdt’s dual mission—to inspire awe for wildlife while documenting its raw power—and demonstrates why nature’s most dramatic moments should never be taken for granted.

Key Moments

00:00–00:20 — Opening: the challenge of seizing the moment in wildlife filming
00:21–00:50 — Kurdt Greenwood introduced as an animal behaviorist and cameraman
00:51–01:20 — Risks and close encounters: snakes, predators, and survival stakes
01:21–End — Closing: the journey, the challenge, and the pursuit of killer shots

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Talent FAQ's

A: Wildlife conservation, resilience, facing fear, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership lessons from nature.

A: Yes, Kurdt connects extreme wildlife encounters to business challenges, leadership, and team dynamics.

A: Authentic field stories of life-and-death encounters that translate into unforgettable lessons on courage and innovation.

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