Introduction

Jane Goodall’s name will forever echo in the halls of science and conservation. But legacy lives not only in memory, it lives on in new voices. Nick van Lawick is one such voice, her grandson, navigating his own creative and visual path. While many know Merlin and Angel in connection to conservation, Nick is quietly redefining his own role in that legacy, through film, design, and visual media.

Early Life and Background

Nick van Lawick is one of three children born to Hugo “Grub” van Lawick (Jane’s son) and his wife Maria. He grew up in Tanzania, immersed in a world shaped by wildlife, storytelling, and roots. His childhood was framed by his grandmother’s work, his father’s legacy in wildlife filmmaking, and a family culture that valued nature, art, and conservation.

In public appearances, he’s been photographed alongside Jane and Grub, such as at a documentary screening in 2018, where Nick appeared with his mother and grandmother. Those moments offer rare glimpses of his early years. (Image credits in media archives show him in such family settings.)

Family, Parents, and Siblings

• Father: Hugo “Grub” van Lawick, longtime collaborator, photographer, and filmmaker in Jane Goodall’s orbit. His grandparents were Mortimer and Vanne Morris Goodall.

• Mother: Maria van Lawick

• Siblings: Merlin (active in conservation) and Angel (volunteer and youth activist).

Nick belongs to a generation that straddles art, science, and storytelling. His siblings gravitate toward conservation roles; Nick leans into the visual, creative side — bridging his family’s scientific heritage with modern media and expression.

Education

Details of Nick van Lawick’s formal education are scarce in public domain sources. However, his roles in creative media suggest training in visual arts, filmmaking, or media design. In interviews and credits, he is credited as a visual director and photographer, indicating both technical and artistic competence.

Career or Profession

Nick van Lawick is best known as:

• Visual Director / Filmmaker / Photographer

• Co-founder of Kids These Days magazine — a creative media project blending youth culture, visual storytelling, and social issues (as reported in media about his family).

• He also works on music videos, photographic projects, and visual content in East Africa, leveraging both his heritage and his artistic interests.

His work doesn’t always make headlines in conservation circles — but his creative output sits at the intersection of culture, identity, and storytelling.

Relationship or Personal Life

Nick maintains a relatively private personal life. Public profiles (e.g. on social media) describe him as grandson of Jane Goodall, visual director, and creative collaborator. He has posted birthday wishes from Jane, suggesting a close familial relationship.

He appears to use the handle @Chotarra on X (formerly Twitter), where posts celebrate his birthday, family photos, and creative works.

Net Worth

As of now, Nick van Lawick’s net worth is not publicly documented. His sources of income likely include creative commissions, media projects, design work, photography, and collaborations. He is not known to be drawing large inheritance-based revenue; his standing is more in creative capital than financial publicity.

Interesting Facts

• Nick was pictured with Jane Goodall and Grub at the 2018 Jane documentary screening, marking his early presence in family legacy events.

• He is credited as a co-founder or collaborator on Kids These Days magazine — a youth culture and creative media project.

• On social media, Jane once publicly wished Nick a happy birthday, calling attention to his talents in music or design (per a Facebook post).

• Though less active publicly in conservation, his visual storytelling may deepen the narrative family legacy in new media forms.

 

Social Media Presence

• X (Twitter): He uses the handle @Chotarra, with birthday shout-outs referencing his lineage as Jane’s grandson.

• Getty / Photo Archives: He has appeared in editorial photos with Jane and his father at public events, establishing visual records of his presence.

• He does not appear to have major public Instagram or LinkedIn profiles under his name (at present), preferring perhaps a more discreet or curated presence.

 

Recent News or Updates

• With Jane Goodall’s passing in October 2025, media coverage briefly spotlighted Nick among her grandchildren (alongside Merlin and Angel) as inheritors of her legacy.

• In coverage of Grub van Lawick (his father), Nick is mentioned in profiles as a creative media collaborator, reinforcing his identity as one of the van Lawick–Goodall creative generation.

• His projects — like Kids These Days magazine — sometimes appear in family or media interviews, aligning his career direction with narrative media.

 

Why Nick van Lawick Matters

Nick van Lawick matters not because of his lineage, but because he shows how legacy evolves. The world knows him first as Jane Goodall’s grandson. What he is becoming is an artist, visual storyteller, and path-builder. In an era of media, his voice bridges the good work of conservation with creative expression. He reminds us that legacy need not be static; it can adapt, shift, and speak through new media, new generations, new contexts.

His presence — seen in public events, creative work, and familial memory — offers a living snapshot of how the future of the Goodall story may shift more toward narrative, image, and culture.

FAQ

Q: Who is Nick van Lawick?
A: Nick van Lawick is the grandson of Jane Goodall, son of Hugo “Grub” van Lawick. He works as a visual director, photographer, and creative media professional.

Q: What does Nick van Lawick do professionally?
A: He directs visual media, works in photography and creative design, and co-founded Kids These Days magazine.

Q: How is Nick related to Merlin and Angel?
A: Nick is brother to Merlin van Lawick (active in conservation) and Angel van Lawick (volunteer youth activism).

Q: Does Nick van Lawick appear publicly?
A: Occasionally. He has been photographed at public family events (e.g. screening of Jane) with his grandmother and father. He has a social media presence under @Chotarra.

Q: How is Nick impacted by Jane Goodall’s death?
A: With Jane’s passing in October 2025, Nick—like his siblings—is named in media as part of her generational legacy. His role may gain more visibility as the family’s creative voice.