Testimonials

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Michael Power | Strategist, Ninety One

‘Africa is not for sissies’... at least so says the T-Shirt.

In just five words, there lurks here both a big lie as well as an essential truth. Firstly, there is no such thing as ‘Africa’: rather it is a continent-wide jigsaw puzzle composed of thousands of pieces, each very different from the others. That said, Africa – or at least travelling within this vast continent – is not an easy proposition… at least not until you are accompanied by someone like Michael Lorentz.

The genius of a safari with Michael is that he takes care of all the complicated logistics so well that he makes travelling to the remotest corners of this ever-hypnotic continent straightforward almost to the point of being effortless.

The genius of a safari with Michael is that he takes care of all the complicated logistics so well that he makes travelling to the remotest corners of this ever-hypnotic continent straightforward almost to the point of being effortless. Sure there will be heat and dust but somehow Michael obscures these nuisances by diverting your attention and uncovering the magic of what lies beneath. And in this regard, I have encountered no one more capable of revealing the beauty of many of those puzzle pieces. His knowledge of Africa’s flora and fauna as well as more tangential topics like the geology, the weather and the seasons is peerless. A trip with Michael leaves you educated without at any stage making you feel like you have been to school! Oh yes, and it leaves you elated too! I am what some call an Old Africa Hand. I grew up in Kenya. I have been on safari in over a dozen east, central and southern African countries. I thought I was pretty much ‘done’ when it came to new safaris and would have to focus on going back to my favourite places. Then Michael suggested visiting Zakouma in south-eastern Chad. Initially, I thought he was kidding. Chad? Michael said ‘Trust me: you will see both a new part of Africa and experience the bush as it once was and is rarely found elsewhere.’ I was intrigued. I went. It was the best safari of my life. And that experience captured the essence of what a safari with Michael delivers: one of the best experiences you can have in Africa…or indeed, any continent.

Stephen Cunliffe | Founder and CEO, Natural Capital

The consummate professional, Michael is a rarity: a private guide of the highest standing and broadest knowledge.

But Michael’s immense African travel experience and safari expertise are, in truth, only a fraction of what makes this man tick. Spanning the divide between nature-based tourism and conservation, Michael is unique in that he operates at the nexus of hospitality, business and conservation with his soft-spoken manner, passion for the natural world and deep knowledge, which make him a world-renowned and highly sought-after private guide.

It has been an honour and a privilege to work alongside Michael for the past 15 years and I very much look forward to continuing to collaborate on conservation investments and other projects of mutual interest going forward.

While Michael carefully curates bespoke safari itineraries, purposely tailoring each and every trip to his guests’ specific interests and wishes, he also fully appreciates that these customised high-end safari experiences are inextricably linked to wilderness, and completely reliant upon the longevity of our natural world. As such, Michael weaves into every safari the importance of nature to humanity, along with recognition of our planet’s rapidly diminishing natural capital. But he achieves this in a skilful way, creating awareness without descending into doom and gloom. This approach has proven highly effective in promoting well-informed philanthropy and targeted investments into worthy African conservation projects. Michael always ensures that his clients have an unforgettable safari experience but he also makes sure that they gain an understanding of the natural world’s importance to humanity, as well as exposing them to the rejuvenating – and almost spiritual – effect of being immersed in nature. Over and above recognising that wilderness and wildlife are the bedrock of every great safari experience, his guests gain a broader realisation that we all depend on nature for our spiritual renewal and ultimate survival.

Karen Moriarty | Chief Executive Officer, Carillon Assisted Living

Several years ago, we decided to attempt a first-time family (elementary age to pre-teens) trip to Africa.

With the daunting number of Africa guides out there, we relied heavily on a personal recommendation when choosing to work with Michael. Many trips and experiences with him later, we consider ourselves fortunate to have created such a personal and trusted relationship. Michael has played an integral role in our variety of trips to Africa since that first – the big guided family trips across several countries, solo trips when a brief escape was needed, and even “invitationals” to more exotic, off the beaten path destinations, often with conservation as the particular highlight. When not personally available, Michael and his team have also done a wonderful job of arranging unguided, full service itineraries to magical and unique destinations. No detail however small is unanticipated, and small unexpected touches abound throughout Michael’s itineraries.

Whether to seasoned Africa hands, first time travellers or those somewhere in between, we couldn’t recommend Michael and his team more highly or imagine travelling with anyone else!