A Personal Odyssey: African Safari Photography and Life Lessons from the Wild

A Journey That Changed Everything

Before we left, I suspected it was going to be life-changing — but I really had no idea. It was my wife Amy’s suggestion, and with copious amounts of airline miles banked from Odyssey Teams travel, I finally had enough to take our family to Africa.

It was our first time on the continent, and we chose South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park for our safari destination. Upon arrival, the camp manager, David Hollingworth, gathered our boys and said:

“The hyenas WILL target YOU. Stay near your parents — and absolutely NO RUNNING in camp.”

At that moment, I knew we weren’t in Alameda anymore.

---

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

Liam and Luke, 12 and 14, listened closely. This was Big Five country — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo — along with a host of deadly creatures that crawl, slither, and fly.

What followed were 20 days immersed in the African bush, surrounded by wildlife we had only seen on television.

I’ve traveled the world with Odyssey Teams, but nothing compares to this kind of wild — this kind of connection — to nature and to my family. It was raw, humbling, and reaffirming.

• Nature-made > Man-made: The rosettes of a leopard moving through dry grass.
• Unexpected beauty: The perfectly twisted horns of a kudu.
• Sensory immersion: The smell of potato bush while tracking lions.

This wasn’t just a “trip of a lifetime.” It was the beginning of something much deeper.

---

My Camera Unleashed an Obsession

When Amy suggested I buy a nice camera for the trip, I didn’t realize she was setting in motion what would become a lifelong African safari photography obsession.

That camera has since clicked over 30,000 times across eight trips. Each photo captures something imperfect but powerful — a pursuit of the “perfect shot” that doesn’t exist but keeps me in awe.

Photography became more than documentation. It became a way to see, feel, and remember the wild.

---

Safari Guide School: Liam’s Journey

The African bush became a classroom for all of us — none more so than for my son, Liam.

• Liam returned to South Africa to attend safari guide school.
• Today, he’s a certified FGASA guide interning at Jackalberry Ridge.
• He’s slept surrounded by lions, survived a Mozambique spitting cobra in his sleeping bag, and can identify nearly 100 birds by their call.

I could not be prouder — or more aware of how African safari experiences transform who we are.

---

How the African Bush Changed Us

We all changed — individually and together. The bush taught us about our own nature, and how closely connected we are to all living things.

• Witnessing these animals makes you want to ensure they remain.
• They belong. And so do we.
• We don’t need to apologize for our nature; we just need to reconnect with it.

This is where my passion for Odyssey Teams and Africa collide — building connection, awareness, and purpose through experience.

---

Favorite Safari Photography Moments

For now, I leave you with a few of my favorite African safari photography moments — images and stories that continue to remind me why this journey matters.

“Make your way to the cradle of mankind — where you’re still on the menu. Just don’t run.” — Roar!

---

📸 Key Takeaway

African Safari Photography is more than capturing images — it’s about rediscovering our connection to the world, our families, and ourselves.