🦁 New Travel Project

South Africa Project 2026

From Dream to Safari

🦁 A safari begins long before the first lion.

How a 52-year-old Swiss man living in Spain gets the idea to travel alone on safari to South Africa – from the first idea and planning to the final travel video and maybe even a paperback book.

Destination Rhulani Safari Lodge
Travel Date 30.08.2026 – 06.09.2026
Focus Photography · Video · Safari
📖 Travel Diary 📊 Project Status

🌍 Begleite das Projekt auch auf Social Media

✈️ 30.08.2026 Departure from Alicante planned 📷 06.06.2026 Nikon Z50 II ordered 🦁 06.06.2026 Trip to Rhulani Safari Lodge booked

Welcome to the Project

This project follows my entire journey from the first idea through research, planning, booking and preparation all the way to the safari in South Africa.

It is not only about the journey itself. I also document how I put together my photo and video equipment, how I train with the new camera and how the material may later become a YouTube video and maybe even a paperback book.

In short: A journey becomes a complete photo, video and blog project.

The Journey

A safari has been booked at Rhulani Safari Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa.

  • Departure Alicante: 30. August 2026
  • Arrival Johannesburg: 31. August 2026
  • Arrival at the lodge: 31. August 2026
  • Stay: 31. August to 5. September 2026
  • Return journey: 5. to 6. September 2026

Travel Diary

The first entries are being created retrospectively. After that, the diary will continue to grow with every new step.

01.05.2026
The Idea Takes Shape

How a thought in Spain slowly turned into the dream of a safari in South Africa.

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03.05.2026
Why the Project Became Bilingual

This travel journal was originally meant to be just a personal record of my safari preparations. But the more the trip took shape, the clearer it became: this project could interest far more people than only German-speaking visitors.

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08.05.2026
Region Chosen

Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa? The decision wasn’t easy – but in the end, a clear favorite emerged.

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09.05.2026
Comparing Safari Regions – The Great Research Begins

Once South Africa was chosen as the travel destination, the real challenge truly began. Which safari area best matched my ideas? Kruger, Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Pilanesberg, or perhaps Madikwe? I dived deep into travel reports, maps, videos, and lodge websites and started comparing the different regions of South Africa.

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10.05.2026
The Search for the Perfect Safari Region

South Africa was a given – but which reserve and lodge would best match my vision for a first safari?

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05.06.2026
Lodge Chosen – Why Rhulani Safari Lodge Came Out on Top

The region was chosen. Now began the search for the accommodation that would become my home during Safari 2026.

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06.06.2026
Trip Booked – The Dream of Africa Becomes Reality

After months of research, comparisons, and decisions, the time had finally come: the Safari 2026 was officially booked.

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06.06.2026
The Search for the Perfect Camera for the Safari

The trip was booked. Now the next important question arose: Which camera should accompany me on my biggest photo adventure?

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Current Milestones

  • 06.06.2026: Trip to Rhulani Safari Lodge booked
  • 06.06.2026: Nikon Z50 II ordered
  • Coming soon: Set up the camera and take the first test photos