Dave Pepler is one of South Africa's best-known environmentalists, TV presenters, and nature writers. Born on 2 February 1950 in Robertson, Western Cape, he is 76 years old. His face became familiar to millions as the host of Groen, KykNET's flagship nature documentary, which he has presented since January 2004.
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Key takeaways
- Dave Pepler (born 2 February 1950) is 76 years old and from Robertson, Western Cape.
- He has hosted Groen on KykNET since January 2004 — one of the longest-running nature programmes on South African television.
- He holds an M.Phil in Zoology from Cambridge and taught at Stellenbosch University for about 30 years.
- His most recent book is Smelt (2025), a memoir about the history of the braaibroodjie, discussed at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees in October 2026.
- He received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Free State in April 2023.
Dave Pepler's profile summary
Full name | David "Dave" Pepler |
Date of birth | 2 February 1950 |
Age | 76 (as of October 2026) |
Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
Place of birth | Robertson, Western Cape, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Profession | Environmentalist, TV presenter, author, lecturer |
Education | National Diploma in Forestry (University of Port Elizabeth); M.Phil in Zoology (Cambridge) |
Relationship status | Divorced |
Children | Daughters: Sarah and Emma |
Parents | Maggie Pepler (Mother, died in 2013) |
Social media |
Dave Pepler's early life
Dave Pepler grew up in Robertson, a small town in the Klein Karoo. His maternal grandfather, Oupa Boy le Roux, took him into the veld every week. Those outings shaped his entire life. During his UFS doctorate ceremony in 2023, Dave Pepler described his grandfather's influence directly:
He sensitised me to a specific optic of looking at nature. The excitement that he instilled in me has stayed with me to this day. I will never forget the days in the veld with my grandfather, teaching me the ways of the veld.
His mother's unwavering moral compass and his father's selflessness were also formative. As a child, he was quiet, turned to books, and spent long hours exploring outdoors.
Dave's mother, Maggie Pepler, was a chef who cooked for foreign diplomats and Cape vineyards, including the Boschendal Wine Estate. She created the modern recipe for the beloved South African dessert, Malvapoeding (Malva Pudding). Maggie died in 2013 at 87.
Dave's father was a World War II veteran. He passed away in the late 1960s.
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Dave Pepler's family and children
Dave Pepler married, had children, and divorced after returning from Cambridge. His two daughters are Sarah and Emma. Dave announced Sarah's unfortunate death in April 2026 and asked his followers to plant trees in her memory. The environmentalist also has grandchildren.
Dave Pepler's education
Dave Pepler attended Hoërskool Robertson and completed a National Diploma in Forestry at the University of Port Elizabeth. He later earned an M.Phil in Zoology from the University of Cambridge — a distinction that set him apart from most South African scientists of his generation.
Pepler also has an MPhil in Zoology from Stellenbosch University, according to his LinkedIn profile. In April 2023, the University of the Free State conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Zoology upon Dave.
Dave Pepler's career
Pepler joined Stellenbosch University's Department of Environmental Ecology in 1974. He worked there as a senior lecturer for about 30 years before retiring from the university in May 2005. Since then, his career has included:
- Presenting Groen on KykNET (from 5 January 2004 to the present)
- Presenting Groentjie, a children's nature series
- Contributing to the RSG radio programme Hoe verklaar jy dit?
- Environmental consultancy in Uganda, Tanzania, and Chile
- Research Associate at the DST Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch (until 2022)
- Lecturer Extraordinary at the School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University
Dave Pepler has a self-deprecating view of his fame as an ecologist. He shared in his April 2023 UFS ceremony speech:
My interest in ecology is purely incidental. I am infinitely more interested in architecture, philosophy, aircraft.
Dave Pepler RSG
Dave Pepler contributed to the RSG radio programme Hoe verklaar jy dit? (literally, "How do you explain it?"), fielding listeners' questions about the natural world. The programme ran alongside his KykNET television work and brought him to a wider Afrikaans-speaking audience.
Dave Pepler's books
Pepler is a published author. His first book was Immergroen: Stories oor plante (Human & Rousseau, 2009). It tells the stories of South African plants through narrative, with photographs by Lien Botha. The English translation, Forever Green: Plants in the Dream Time, was published in 2010.
Smelt (2025) is Dave Pepler's new book — a memoir about the cultural and culinary history of the braaibroodjie, South Africa's beloved toasted sandwich. He presented the book at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees on 6 October 2026, on the festival's dedicated memoir day.
Dave Pepler's awards and achievements
Pepler has received four major honours for his contribution to South African ecology and science communication:
- Molteno Medal (2001): Cape Tercentenary Foundation, for conservation work
- Stevenson Hamilton Award (2007): Zoological Society of Southern Africa
- South African Habitat Council Life Achievement Award
- Honorary Doctorate in Zoology: University of the Free State, 21 April 2023
Dave Pepler runs specialist nature tours and has led expeditions to some of the world's most remote habitats. Destinations include:
- India and Borneo (wildlife and rainforest tours)
- Réunion and Madagascar
- Iceland — one of his personal favourite landscapes
- Ethiopia, Egypt, and Morocco
- Uganda and Rwanda — he has led gorilla treks to Bwindi 25 times
For current tour dates and bookings, visit his website at davepepler.com or his official Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Latest news
Dave Pepler's new memoir, Smelt, was featured at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees on 6 October 2026, on the festival's dedicated memoir day. He was one of five authors speaking about the memoir form. Earlier in April 2026, Dave Pepler's daughter, Sarah, passed away.
Dave Pepler's net worth
Dave Pepler's net worth has not been officially disclosed. Estimates from various sources suggest he is a millionaire based on his career as a TV presenter, environmental consultant, tour guide, and author. Pepler's sources of income include:
- KykNET presenting fees (Groen, Groentjie)
- Environmental consultancy in Africa and South America
- Nature tour guiding
- Book royalties (Immergroen, Forever Green, Smelt)
- Academic work at Stellenbosch University.
Dave Pepler is active on social media and has over 91,000 Facebook followers, while his Instagram has over 7,000 followers. No public email address has been officially confirmed.
FAQs
- How old is Dave Pepler? Dave Pepler was born on 2 February 1950 and is 76 years old as of October 2026.
- What is Dave Pepler's new book? His newest book is Smelt (2025), a memoir about the history of the South African braaibroodjie. He discussed it at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees in October 2026.
- What happened to Sarah Pepler? Dave's daughter, Sarah Pepler, passed away in April 2026. Her cause of death was not made public.
- What is Dave Pepler's website? His official website is davepepler.com.
- What are Dave Pepler's contact details? The best way to reach him is via davepepler.com and his Facebook page. No confirmed public email address has been published.
- What books has Dave Pepler written? He has written Immergroen: Stories oor plante (2009), Forever Green: Plants in the Dream Time (2010), and Smelt (2025).
- What is Dave Pepler's net worth? His net worth is unconfirmed. He built his wealth from broadcasting, consultancy, and writing.
- What awards has Dave Pepler received? He has received the Molteno Medal (2001), the Stevenson Hamilton Award (2007), the South African Habitat Council Life Achievement Award, and an honorary doctorate from the University of the Free State (2023).
Conclusion
Dave Pepler has spent a lifetime understanding the natural world. The self-described "conservation philosopher" bridges the gap between nature-based scientific research and the general public as the host of Groen on KykNET.
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