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

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, were listening 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 that, until then, we’d 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 is supremely more impressive than man-made.

How could I have imagined the rosettes of a leopard moving through dry, blonde grass? The perfectly twisted horns of a kudu? The smell of potato bush while tracking lions?

After experiencing it, I knew this could not just fade as a “trip of a lifetime.” There had to be more. Much more.

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 deep 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.

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 a lodge called 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 more proud — 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.

No one can witness these animals and not 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.

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.