Finding the Source of the River:

The Origin of Wild Coolers

The story of Wild Coolers is the story of those who carve out paths for others to follow. It’s also the story of an abiding love of wild places – handed down from one generation to the next.

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The origins lie with a pair of totemic figures with adventure in their blood – Tim Driman and Johnny Uys. Both dedicated conservationists and adventurers who found their life’s purpose exploring and protecting Africa’s untamed spaces.

"Three generations of devotion to our continent was the foundation for Wild Coolers"

Johnny Uys was a pioneering conservationist and game ranger, in the 1950’s, at a time when Africa was still as wild as could be and roads had to be surveyed and cleared by hand. Johnny worked side by side with early conservation legends Barry Shenton and Norman Carr to establish Zambia’s oldest and largest conservancy, Kafue National Park. He lived and breathed ‘the bush’… right up until the day he literally ‘saw the elephant’ and chose to meet his end with an animal he’d worked all his life to protect.
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His brother-in-law Tim Driman was another pioneer in his way, exploring his passions on the unlimited horizons of the big blue as a boy and man (1960’s), fishing and exploring the wild waters of KZN’s coastline. Taking what he’d learned in pursuit of gamefish and reef dwellers, he built the first fishing-ski propelled by surf-ski paddles, SKI 1, which then led to him and his wife, Yvonne, starting Bomber Paddles. Nothing says you’re living your best life like landing a black marlin from a 12-foot paddle ski!
From there Tim and Yvonne’s love for Africa’s wild places saw them become a part owner in the Munywana Game Reserve and Conservancy in northern KZN and travelling Southern Africa by camper, extensively. They passed on their love of the outdoors to their son, Anthony, including a new passion – fly fishing for freshwater trout in the KZN Midlands. Anthony is now handing down that love to his own sons, Myles and Huntley, the latest generation of pathfinders and risk-takers.
Three generations of devotion to our continent was the foundation for Wild Coolers, a journey that began in 1999 and culminated in 2015 when the first product launched. Our mission: to craft an essential piece of gear for anyone who loves adventure. Designed from the ground up and made without compromise to take every kind of punishment. Handed down from generation to generation. Made to last because every resource is precious.
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"Always with the most important lesson in mind: respect the wild places that taught us everything worth knowing."