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LIFESTYLE
CALL OF THE WILD By Janis Turk
Whether you hunt exotics, or simply aim to shoot great photos,
a wild and wonderful African adventure awaits.
There is perhaps no place quite so civilized drives where guests may see some of the were just going to Africa so they could check
as Africa. world’s most spectacular birds and animals. ‘safari’ off their bucket lists and move on, only
to find it was better than they ever imagined
Deep in the bush, surrounded by wildlife Life in the bush is quiet and restful. A typ- and Africa got under their skin. Then, the
as marvelous and mammoth as the land they ical daily schedule is “eat, see animals, sleep, minute they got home, they began booking
inhabit, travelers soon fall into the easy repeat,” and each evening ends with a “sun- their next trip,” says Katie Rees, a young New
rhythm of life in the wild. downer”: time to toast the sunset and nosh Yorker who has been to many countries in
on snacks as the rose-colored dusk is over- Africa and recently climbed Kilimanjaro in
There, the days are bordered by early sun- taken by the night. Then, relax after supper Tanzania with her boyfriend. She’s so smitten
rises and too-soon sunsets, while carefree af- by a campfire beneath the Southern Cross with Africa that she’s learned some Swahili.
ternoons fly by on the wind as it skips like and watch stars as white as elephant tusks
a stone across hippo-filled rivers. On safari, freefall in the sky. For others, though, Africa is still unchar-
during long game hunts tracking elephant, tered territory; they want to go but feel in-
giraffe, cheetah, rhino and more, hours pass Long ago, Africa was dubbed the “The timidated. They’re not sure where to go, what
at the unhurried pace of clouds casting Dark Continent,” because, in spite of Euro- tour to book, how to get there, whether or
shadows on the brown-striped backs of a pean exploration and colonization, it re- not they want to shoot photos or hunt, what
hundred zebras. mained a place of profound mystery. Today, permits they need, how it all works, and if it
more than a century later, its wild mystique is really safe.
“Out of Africa” author Karen Blixen said it endures.
best: “You know you are truly alive when “No problem,” says Steve Turner, presi-
you’re living among lions.” Texans seem especially drawn to Africa. dent of a unique San Antonio company of-
Wanna-be-cowboys at heart, we’re hard-wired fering a bespoke travel service called “Travel
Whether you’ve heard the call of the wild to love wide open spaces and get the allure of with Guns. “We can help. Our team mem-
and traveled to Africa to capture extraordi- “Big Five” game hunts, tented camps with bers are all experts in airline rules and inter-
nary photos, or you’re there to hunt exotics, mosquito-net canopies, rugged Land Rover national regulations for transporting guns
no other vacation experience rivals an African rides, and Hemingway’s stories of khaki-wear- to hunting destinations worldwide. We’ve
safari adventure. ing, pith-hat-donning hunters. been in this business for ___ years, and
helped __(hundreds? Thousands? ) of trav-
But that doesn’t mean you have to rough Baby Boomers grew up watching Disney’s elers travel with guns worldwide. I’ve lived
it. These days guests can book safari lodges take on Kipling’s “Jungle Book” and “Born and worked in Africa, so I know just what
that may be either as luxurious as a 5-star Free” in the sixties. Then in the 80s, we fell hunters need. We want our guests to enjoy
hotel room or as rustic as a small canvas tent in love with Africa all over again with Robert their trip and have a worry-free, turn-key
with a bucket shower. Stay in one spot, or Redford and Meryl Streep in “Out of Africa.” experience, so we do everything, from ar-
travel to other camps by air or land, and enjoy Fast forward thirty years, and we’re still suck- ranging airline tickets, to handling transient
as many countries and regions as you can. ers for safari romance.
Most all safari lodges offer excellent, highly
trained guides and exciting twice-daily game “I’ve met several travelers who told me they
30 San Antonio Medicine • May 2016
