From a Trip to a Project
When the idea of a safari in South Africa first came up, I initially thought of it as just an ordinary travel plan.
I wanted to gather information, compare different regions, find the perfect lodge, and prepare myself photographically for the adventure.
But the more I immersed myself in the subject, the greater the excitement grew.
At the same time, I felt a desire to document the entire journey.
Not just during the safari, but already months beforehand.
The planning, the decisions, the preparation of camera gear, and the many little steps leading up to takeoff are just as much part of the adventure as the trip itself.
That’s how the idea for a dedicated safari project came about.
More Than Just Memories
From the very beginning, it was clear I didn’t want to document the trip only for myself.
I wanted to take photos.
Record videos.
Later, create a detailed travel film.
Maybe even publish a small book about the entire journey.
The longer I thought about it, the more I realized that the real story actually begins long before takeoff.
So why wait to start documenting until I’m in South Africa?
The First Version Was Planned Only in German
Originally, the project website was intended to be solely in German.
After all, German is my native language, and most visitors to my homepage come from German-speaking countries.
But as the planning continued, the same question kept popping up:
Why should this project be available only in German?
Safari Connects People from All Over the World
A safari in South Africa isn’t a topic limited to German speakers.
People from all around the globe travel to South Africa every year to experience its unique wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
Many of the travel reports and sources I used in my research were also written in English.
It became increasingly clear to me:
If you’re interested in safaris, you will sooner or later have to navigate the English language.
Spain, South Africa, and the World
Another thought also played an important role.
I live in Spain.
Many people I meet here speak English far better than German.
At the same time, the trip takes place in South Africa.
Even the staff at the Rhulani Safari Lodge, the rangers, and many others on site speak English.
How wonderful would it be if they could also read my reports later?
Maybe even see the photos and videos from the trip.
Supporting Other Travelers
During my planning, I greatly benefited from the experiences of other travelers.
Travel reports, blogs, videos, and personal stories helped me make many decisions.
From choosing the region to selecting the lodge.
That’s why I wanted to pass along my own experiences later on.
Maybe my reports will one day help another safari newbie find the perfect region or the right lodge.
Maybe my journal answers questions I still find myself asking today.
More Reach, More Possibilities
Of course, having an English version also means reaching far more people.
Not because it’s about racking up visitor numbers,
but because exciting travel stories can connect people regardless of where they come from.
Whether someone lives in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, South Africa, or anywhere else in the world—the fascination with Africa knows no language barriers.
The Technical Challenge
Deciding to make the website bilingual, however, brought a new challenge.
Suddenly, it wasn’t just about writing blog posts.
Every entry also had to be available in English.
Navigations, project pages, newsletters, and many other sections had to be adapted too.
What started as a small travel documentation gradually evolved into a much bigger project.
Looking Ahead
Today, I’m glad I took this step.
The bilingual version makes the project more open, international, and accessible.
It allows people from different countries to follow the journey from the very first idea to the return from South Africa.
And that’s exactly what this project is about.
Not just about experiencing a safari.
But about showing how a dream slowly turns into reality.
Maybe this journey will one day inspire others to make their own dreams come true.
"What started as a travel idea became a project. What started as a project became a bilingual travel journal. And the real journey hadn’t even begun yet."