It truly was the trip of a lifetime and it all started at the Northern Alberta Safari Club banquet in 2024.  Our friend Jannie Otto Safaris donated a hunt plus a trip to Victoria Falls.  We were lucky enough to be the successful bidders. After talking to Jannie, we extended our trip to 28 days.  Jannie Otto Safaris handled every detail with perfection. From the safari experience itself to the wildlife adventures of Kruger Park, the most lasting impression was the way we ere treated by everyone we met along the way.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear this would be no ordinary trip.  Jannie Otto Safaris met all of our needs with a level of care and attentiveness that set the tone for the entire trip.  Throughout our stay we had personal guides and dedicated experts who made a point of getting know us and what we hoped to experience

Our time in Kruger National Park, thanks to the expertise of our guide, we experienced what many only dream of, spotting all of the Big Five on a single trip.  Two encounters stood out above the rest.  We were told early on just how rare a good rhino sighting can be.  We saw 4 or 5 across different areas of the park.  From a baby elephant standing on the road waving his trunk around to his momma watching us watch him the giggles and smiles were non stop.

The accommodations were outstanding.  We were truly treated like royalty by every team member.  It’s that warmth and personal attention that that takes a safari from good to truly awesome.  That same team brought real expertise to the hunt it self.  The thrill of the hunt was totally outstanding.  That being said, the evident respect for the land, the animals was amazing to witness.  The ultimate thrill was fulfilling my dream of successfully taking a cape buffalo for my 70th birthday dream and sharing a glass of champagne with the hunting team.

Looking back, what made this trip extraordinary was the people who guided us there, the safety and care they brought to every outing and the deep respect for conservation that ran through everything that Jannie Otto Safaris does.  It’s this that made it a trip of a lifetime, and one we’ll be recommending to fellow Safari Club members for years to come.