More Adventure

It took me 10 years to get my first trip to Africa done correctly.  As it turned out, I didn't have to go far from home as met Wade Nolan at a local Sportsman's Wild Game dinner.  Wade and I are both from Pennsylvania and we knew the struggles of visiting unknown areas outside our state.  I had spoken to Wade from the very beginning about some real adventure in Africa.

I had hoped to photograph as much of the landscape as well as the animals and to have experiences up close with the dangerous game.  I expressed that I wanted to be a "Jim Fowler" for a week and know that Marlin Perkins was nearby!  Wade, being an American Biologist put together the itinerary including a game capture safari with a Limpopo Province Veterinarian named Louis and then we teamed up for an amazing photo safari with Bennie Lottering of Aardvarks Adventures in Kruger National Park. 

Wade worked with Bennie to assemble a safari of all of his favorite places. Being a professional photographer I was anxious to participate in a custom photo safari where I'd have opportunity to see the best Africa had to offer. I was partnered with another adventurer, Mark Hirvonen, for this 20-day trip.  I was concerned with being partnered with someone that I didn't yet know for 20 days, but Wade assured me that we would be a good pair together as he knew us both.  Mark and I spoke by phone prior to the trip and I knew that we would soon become good friends.

The trip started with Mark's and my flights joining in Washington, DC and landing in Johannesburg.  Bennie picked us up.  On day 3 of the trip Jim Fowler would have been proud as we found ourselves in the company of vet Louis for an all-in-one-day ultimate "hands on the horns" game capture of not one, but two Rhinos and a 1600 pound,  42 inch Cape Buffalo.  As I was photographing the first Rhino and as the reversal drug went to work, the click of the camera gathered the Rhino's attention such that she looked like she was unhappy!  I was glad to have the vet Louis between me and the Rhino at that point.

The unparalleled experience of being able to be photographed hugging a Rhino in "The Wild Kingdom" compares to nothing else that you have ever done and I have not heard of any other tour
company offering anything even close to this.

The next portion of the trip was to head across the amazing mountains in the east to Kruger Park.  I could only imagine what was in store.  For a week we explored the best locations in
over 6 million acres that Bennie and Wade knew for finding animals.  Being a professional photographer, it was a dream come true to be up close to animals in their natural environment without
fences to interfere with capturing images.  Especially with animals that have the size and strength to kill you in the blink of an eye.

 Bennie knew just what distance to keep.  Kruger is the promised land for a photographer.  I had seen and photographed more herds of elephants, cape buffalo, zebras, impala and lions than I could count.  I am not certain what images that I will remember most... The sights during the day and night of the wide variety of fauna and flora including the celestial sights of the southern cross, a moon (upside down for us).

The moon illuminating numerous spotted hyenas looking for meals or the sounds of lions, leopards, elephants, hippos.  The night sounds as we slept under clear skies with the "jewel box" of stars and galaxies in the milky way with the grunts and growls of animals that you can't see as they search for food in the brush on the other side of the compound fence!   

Because of Bennie's keen eyes, I photographed 2 different leopards within 30 minutes whose images as they moved quickly, silently and efficiently about will never be erased from my mind.  We lost track of the total number of lions that I photographed and Bennie remarked that this was the most lions that he had ever seen on one safari.  I guess that I had brought the group some good luck.  So, I have now captured the "Big 5" through the lens, up close and personal!

The last 2 days of the trip were well spent at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre http://www.moholoholo.co.za/  The rehabilitation centre was a wonderful education into the struggles of the African wildlife. I will never forget the lion "Big Boy" and the sincere care and love that the staff has for the animals that they rehabilitate.  Shopping at Cambanos was the nicest place to end our trip as we all wanted to bring something back for our family and friends. My items were shipped later without any damage or problems.

All throughout the trip the accommodations were surprisingly clean, comfortable. Grass roofed huts add to the charm of the experience. Great food was prepared over a flickering Mopani campfire
and stories abounded.

I've displayed my photos from this adventure at art exhibits and always get great compliments.  If you're a professional photographer like me, or just an aspiring amateur photographer or even an adventurer with a pocket camera who appreciates a custom experience... this safari is made for you.  Definitely don't leave your camera behind!

Thanks goes to Wade and Bennie for knowing how to set up a get-it-all-done itinerary.

Lastly, would I do it again?  Absolutely!  Also, I can say this for certain... No one knows how or why we travel the paths that we do and encounter the people that we meet except God.
So, I'll start by saying that I left Africa with a heavy heart. I left behind some special friends that have added immensely to my life. I will see them and be with them again, God willing.
Also, for 20 days I lived with and made better friends with 2 great gentlemen, Wade and Mark, and I know we will do more great things together in the future.  I truly hope that Africa will be just one of the places that we will be able continue our friendship together.

 

J. Michael Schirra
Photography by J. Michael Schirra
www.jmichaelschirra.com/africa/

 

 

"I got to go on the most fantastic trip to South Africa!  The animals were incredible, the people we met were wonderful, and the scenery way more striking than I expected.  I had the opportunity to play with baby lions, go on a game capture, and visit in some wonderful homes/safari camps.  I fell in love with giraffes.  It was so neat to be going down the road and all of a sudden a head would be peering at us over the top of the trees!  Our guides were wonderful and knowledgeable, our cook fantastic, and our small group made this a trip of a lifetime. If you have ever considered Africa, this is the way to do it."
 
Judy Walker

 

 

"For a good part of my 74 years, I dreamed of Africa.  The enchantment of that dream came true in the summer of 2009 through the organization and efforts of our American Guide, Biologist Wade Nolan, and African Guide, Bennie Lottering and his staff.  Lodges and outdoor meals were fantastic, but the best was yet to come with the splendor of each magnificent sunrise - a wild ride through the bush on a game capture; playing with baby lions at a camp; experiencing native culture; sitting speechless as an elephant family leisurely lumbered across our road in the wild and giraffes gazed at us through their lovely, long eyelashes and posed for our cameras - and much more  My photo album rivals National Geographic.  Thanks, Wade, Bennie, Gerhardt and Max for an unforgettable adventure!"

 Margit Paulsen
Council Bluffs, IA

 

 

"This safari was the BEST vacation I've ever had!  My favorite things were petting the cheetah and playing with the lion cubs!  And, it was exciting to see a mother hyena & pups playing right beside the road one morning!  Wade's background in biology and his connections provided us the awesome hands on adventure of a game capture!  Getting to participate with the wildlife vets and help move the Roan antelope was awesome. Bennie & his staff are quite knowledgeable about the animals, birds & plants actually they're interpretation made Africa come alive.  They are also very accommodating to your every need...plus for 13 days I never quit smiling. This safari team made the trip better than I ever expected.  The food was delicious - I didn't have a chance to get hungry.  I never thought that I would feel pampered on a safari!  Many thanks for making my dream vacation come true! I didn't know that I could become addicted to adventure."

Lori Shockley
"Lori the cat woman"

 

"When I  think of my favorite thing about our trip to South Africa,  I picture all the amazing  animals, lions, elephants,  beautiful birds, trees and flowers, unique and special people and the outstanding accommodations at every stop. After I got home and began to absorb this unbelievable experience, I realized that I had been to a very unusual school.  Not only did we observe all manner of African wildlife in their natural habitat, but we were constantly learning interesting facts about everything we were seeing.  Wade, Bennie and Gerhardt were veritable walking encyclopedias about everything we came upon.   Their enthusiasm allowed us all to grip the wild country we were traveling and living in. If there happened to be a question asked that they were unsure of, they referred to their always handy/dandy library of books that went with us every step of the way.  When we had a little down time, we found ourselves borrowing these books and trying to learn even more about this wonderful country and its fascinating inhabitants.
Leopards and loins roaring under the cover of darkness as we huddled behind the perimeter fence in front of our campfire may have generated the most lasting impression.

Thank you, Wade, Bennie and Gerhardt, for the trip of a lifetime!"

 

Glenn & Donnie Halter   

 

 

 

I keep waiting for the smile to fade from my face, but the memories of my recent trip to South Africa keep pulling my lips into yet another grin.  The big, expected parts of the trip like the safari drives through Kruger Park were wonderful.  Our days were busy and filled with one wonder after another, however it is the small treasures that keep returning to me.  The soaring fish eagle returning to its huge nest of sticks, the black-backed jackal trotting off in the underbrush, the cheerful weaver working miracles with Mopani silk, my chatting with the Batik artist in Graskop about her unique cloth, watching water cascade into circular potholes in a valley gorge, hearing the thunder of hundreds of hooves from Cape Buffalo moving away from us, and driving the narrow roadway through the majestic Drakensberg Range to mention a few. 
Thank you, Wade, for preparing such a diverse itinerary.  Under black night skies filled to overflowing with stars, you often left us holding our breath during your fireside stories.  My gratitude would not be complete without mentioning our competent, knowledgeable guide with Aardvark Adventurers Bennie and his wonderful staff.  Never was a request too small to be addressed by Bennie.  Good spirits and humor set the tone for our meals over the fire’s coals, local black lore was shared with enthusiasm, and my wine glass was never empty.  What a gem your trip was, a treasure just waiting for others to enjoy.  Thank you!

 

Kathy Negro

 

 

 

"As you know I didn't want to be on a plane for 15 hours, but after encouragement from my wife we decided on this amazing adventure. I must admit that I expected the long flight to overshadow the trip but when we woke up that first morning at Mike and Christy's lion farm I was surprised at how the flight never entered my mind again.  Sure was impressive seeing the white lions and being so close.
I loved the game watching drives seeing so many varieties of antelope that I still can't name them all. The giraffe and zebra turned out to be the safari's favorites and these were first spotted the first day. All of the safari camps were luxurious and the meals and stories around the fire were great.
 I must say that the tent camping in Kruger was the highlight of the trip. If you have never woke up at night to the roar of a leopard just over the fence, you have missed a real adventure. The hyenas staring at us in the darkness while we ate supper made me realize that the food chain here reaches a link or two above me. The amount of wildlife we saw great. The camps and reserves we visited were informative and it was fun petting a cheetah at Moholoholo.
 I can't think of any negatives about the trip... but there was this guy with a camera that on some days we found annoying... but you did tell us in advance that you were going to video the whole experience and I can't wait for my copy.
Bennie, Gerhardt and Max were fun, interesting and knowledgeable guides plus enjoyable to be with. I must admit that I was surprised when they decided to bungee jump off of that cliff! What were they thinking?
The adventure was everything you said it would be, from wonderful meals to shopping to elephants to lion tracks on our back trail. Even though the wildlife was an outstanding part of the trip for me getting to know the people and experience the culture was the best. I would not hesitate to sit on a plane for 15 hours to do it again.
Thank you for inviting us."

 

Jim Walker

 

 

"Capturing a Cape Buffalo and not one, but two Rhino calves in one day would be a fantastic end to any adventure. But, It was the start of the unbelievable adventure that Wade and Bennie set up for us in South Africa in 2008.
 Lions roaring, Hippos grunting, and Elephants trumpeting and serenading you to sleep in the evening. You won't sleep really deep though as the memory of your campfire flicker exposing a massive Hyena staring hungrily at you through the fence that now seems inadequate. Maybe it is the memory of the Elephant you were watching peacefully grazing  as it suddenly disappeared and then  reappeared with dust flying as it false charged the tour van. For me I am still haunted by the way the Cape Buffalo looked at us before, during and after we loaded him in the trailer. If he only knew he was going to a breeding pen.

In the capable hands of Bennie and Wade you know that you are absolutely safe but somehow you can never completely convince your mind of that fact. This is Africa without Tarzan and with cell phones. Every suppressed primitive instinct that is wired in your being will be automatically reactivated and stay that way for the entire journey. No amount of caffeine could replicate the level of natural rush that you will feel during this trip. Deeply etched memories.
 Would I go again? You bet! in fact on my next visit to the Dark Continent the Adventure Tour will be my main objective and if there is time I may even find a day or two to do a little hunting!"

 

Mark Hirvonen

 

"Capturing a Cape Buffalo and not one, but two Rhino calves in one day would be a fantastic end to any adventure. But, It was the start of the unbelievable adventure that Wade and Bennie set up for us in South Africa in 2008...