As part of a major donation strategy, we donated over 100 African safaris to support PBS TV, NPR radio stations, zoos and other organizations throughout the USA. Here’s what some have to say about us, the way we do business and the effect of the donations.

Michael, it has been an absolute delight to work with you, and especially to share our airtime with the amazing story of the travel adventures that you host

I am just writing to say how happy we are with the results of our Heritage Africa Internet Sweepstakes. We were able to boost our website pledge rate…by 64%…over our December 2000 record…a gain of approximately $46,000 in revenue. The Heritage Africa Pledge promotion was a very exciting start to a new source of funds for WNET.

Thank you again for this wonderful prize… and for your support of public broadcasting.

On behalf of WTTW, I would to thank you again for your generous contribution of a ten-day African safari. As you may remember, we leveraged this as a raffle opportunity during the length of our drive (18 days). Promotion and registration occurred both on-air during live pledging and on our website. Overall results proved to be both worthwhile and mutually beneficial. We garnered just under $1.4M from over 15K pledges. This is a 54% increase in the number of pledges received from our December campaign. Approximately 8,000 new members joined our organization, a 58% increase from the last drive as well. Additionally, the safari incentive helped to increase traffic on our website. On the Internet alone, we raised over $43K from approximately 500 pledges. As we just recently began our web initiative, this was a 62% increase from the norm.

We did extremely well with the Heritage Africa safari. We were thrilled to sell it for $10,100! Everyone was talking about the trip. …Overall, our auction was very successful and raised over $460,000 for Wisconsin Public Television…. Thank you for your generosity.

Thank you so much for Heritage Africa’s generous donation to KERA’s 7th Annual Tour of Taste! … the 10-day Dream Golf, Winelands, and Wildlife Safari for two … sold in the Live Auction for $10,750. Tour of Taste is KERA’s largest annual fund-raising event. This year’s event raised more $235,000 for public broadcasting in North Texas, and we could not have done it without your help! Our mission at Channel 13 is to provide high-quality programming for the entire family that informs, enriches, and entertains. Your generosity and support of this event has helped us, once again, achieve that goal.

All of us at KCSM are very excited to be partnering with you and your organization in making the “Dream Jazz Safari”trips available to our listening audience… so far we have raised $8, 000.

Thank you for your generous donation of a Heritage Africa Dream Safari for WAMU’s 40th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser.

Wow! Keep up the good work!

We are extremely delighted that Heritage Africa has decided to participate and support WETA’s Public Television and Radio programs. Thanks so much for [donating a Dream Safari and] being part of the WETA Sweepstakes!

It was the most lovely, wonderful, spiritual trip of my life. Thank you!

Dear Michael and Bernie,

Boy do we know how much you spoiled us…nothing can put a dampener on our cloud nine heavenly trip to Africa!!

I am dancing with delight over your hard work for us all. Our visit has become a dream come true thanks to you.

Did this glorious trip really happen? We can not ever thank you enough.

Luci Johnson, daughter of the 36th US President.

Thank you for planning an incredible trip for our family. We loved each incredible activity and outstanding accommodation throughout Africa. Every detail was absolutely perfect thanks to you! Thank you again for sharing your beautiful country and extraordinary heritage with us.

Yours truly,
Karen L

Only 2 weeks have passed since our most amazing trip to Africa! We are still talking, sharing, and showing our photos and even dreaming about the experiences. We have travelled and enjoyed fantastic trips in many places around the world including two prior African Safari trips and rate this trip the best we have ever had.

Your responsibility for planning and making sure that our 20 family members’ needs were met far surpassed our highest hopes and expectations! Every request we made, every promise you made was ful lled, and every detail was covered. In addition, the incredible surprises you arranged were so special – the breakfast and birthday dinner in the bush with lodge staff, entertainment by Phinda staff to begin a birthday celebration, and especially the unforgettable community service and interaction with 60 Zulu village children ages 3-8.

We will never be able to thank you enough for your expertise, many phone calls, and numerous e-mails all of which made this our trip of a lifetime. You made us feel that you took on this mighty task as if we were your 20 family members and will be recommending you to anyone we know or meet who want to plan their ‘trip of a lifetime’ with or without a large group such as ours. Our grandchildren, none of whom are married yet, expressed that someday they hope to repeat this trip with their spouses and children. That says it all.

We feel that together, you and we have given our family the best gift imaginable, lifetime memories of togetherness and adventure that could not be experienced anywher”e else on our great planet. Thank you again and again!

I continue to sing your praises!
All the best,

Thanks again for the wonderful trip… and we will keep referring potential clients to you.

Dear Michael,

I have been meaning to write to you to thank you for the most perfectly designed trip imaginable to South Africa.

Although you were recommended by a friend in Los Angeles, we were somewhat hesitant after looking into all of the other options on the Internet. My husband is a travel agent and thought he could book our trip although he had been to Kenya but never to South Africa.

However, after speaking to you initially, we followed our gut and friend’s recommendation and asked you to plan our trip. We should have known our trip would have been fantastic after having spent many hours talking with us about our expectations and standards of travel. You were always responsive and patient with all of our concerns.

Michael, you nailed it! Our accommodations in Johannesburg were perfect for our needs. The variety of 5 safari camps in South Africa and Botswana were each different and overwhelmingly beautiful. Our accommodations in Capetown were also perfect. And we loved our little hotel in Franschhoek with its Michelin starred restaurant. Best of all, was the fact that we were never left to fend for ourselves because we were met and guided expertly every step of the way. And of course, you were in touch with us as we traveled to make sure everything was to our liking.

Attached are just a few of the the hundreds of pictures we took. The leopard who was sleeping in the lean-to at the airport when we reached our first camp at Ebony Singita was surreal. The other pictures speak for themselves. I am going to send you a few more pictures separately. You are welcome to share any pictures or parts of this email with other potential clients and I am happy to speak with them if they have any hesitations.

Thank you so much for making our trip the trip of a lifetime!

Michael and Bernie (and family),

Since arriving home not a day has gone by that I have not thought about and felt this trip in Arica. Each day I think I’ll have more time the next one to express my thanks to you (that I should have done after your perfect speech to all of us at our surprise outdoor dinner on my Mom’s birthday but I was literally in awe that eve and throughout my time there) and as that has not yet occurred I am doing so now.

The care that you put into planning/organizing this experience for our entire extended family was above and beyond! Your choices for us of people, places, and experiences as well as the priceless extras of time with you, hearing your perspectives, our gifts, and the photos and videos that I have not begun to view-was outstanding! I know my parents are ultimately responsible; however, the two of you were also an essential part of this process.

I can not answer anyone who asks me how was it w/out an instantaneous broad smile on my face. I fall asleep each night reflecting about what I had the opportunity to experience from sunrise to late eve every day on that continent, and I feel deep happiness and peace.

That I did this w/ 2 of my daughters, parents, and extended family is something I will forever cherish. Those relationships have been renewed. And my relationship with Africa has only begun-I am already thinking about volunteering there in some capacities and more explorations. Thank you both for all you have done!

With gratitude and love,

Michael,

We are home now and recovered from the jet lag. I just wanted to thank you for your excellent service in planning our trip. We had a wonderful time. You did everything perfectly!! We would highly recommend you to any of our friends planning to make this trip.

You gave us royal treatment, we felt like a king and queen…on a glorious once in a life time journey!

My Heritage Africa safari quite literally changed my life. Not a single day goes by that I don’t think of, dream of African and the adventures I had there.

Thanks so much for the dream experience of a lifetime!

One of my most wonderful trips…unforgettable time, friends, hosts, memories and a wealth of beautiful people.

I was breathless every twenty minutes. It was life changing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you so much for everything. Russell and I loved every minute of our trip. Each of the places you chose for us were surpassingly lovely – the best we have ever had. And somehow there was a bottle of champagne waiting in each of our hotel rooms. Hmm? I can’t say enough about how grateful we are to have had such luxurious treatment. We had a glorious, fabulous, romantic Honeymoon!

You really laid out the red carpet

This is the best trip ever!

Absolutely inspiring experience, delicious food and wonderful people

Thank you for giving us a such a wonderful tour…I truly had a great experience.

God bless you. Exceeded all expectations

I am a believer – Heritage Africa is the best and only way to see South Africa!

We really had the trip of a lifetime and I can’t thank you enough for making it all happen.

Jess and I are still marveling over how great our trip was.

Thank you for your superb service!  You paid attention to every detail, we didn’t have to worry about a thing..

We all had the best time. It was amazing how well everything worked

Thanks for a wonderful journey. You Rock!

Thanks mom and dad. Glad you got back to Colorado safely. We are going to bed soon. Love you both so much and absolutely loved being with you and the entire family. I understand there was a lot of time and many resources put into it and every detail and morsel and activity were absolutely perfect. We love you and miss you (and the game drives and buffets) already!!!

Based on my calculations, we should all be on our afternoon Safari right about now and enjoying another glorious Sunset! Aside from the fact that I truly feel blessed to have experienced Africa with all of you, I find myself in denial that I’m back on US soil being forced to deal with: traffic, preoccupied people, sirens, horns, deadlines, noise, stress, etc. Physically I’m home, but my mind and my heart is still in Africa.

Cooper has been watching Animal Planet on TV ever since we got home and even found a show about the Elephants in Botswana that he had us all watch at 5 a.m. this morning. Ethan made sure we all knew that yesterday was an official Holiday called “World Lion Day”. And Mason, as you all witnessed during the past 12 days, is making sure he doesn’t miss anything!

So many memories to cherish.

Mom and Dad…….Thank you , thank you, thank you for allowing my family to experience this. We are forever grateful and forever changed!

To the rest of the family…….we miss you all (even though it’s only been a day) and loved spending precious time with each and every one of you.

Hi Michael,

We had a trip beyond our expectations and imagination in no small part thanks to you. Your diligence, knowledge, experience and guidance were invaluable.

Yes, my first foray into wildlife photography was, indeed, an exciting and inspiring experience. I look forward to our next visit soon and I think next time Lejla will join me behind the cameras!

With gratitude and appreciation,

Dear Michael

Thanks to you, our trip was great from start to finish. Although logistical arrangements worked perfectly and smoothly. We were extremely pleased with Beyond in terms of the distinctive character, high-quality and comfort of the lodges, the guide services, and the food and service in the lodges. The two Phinda lodges were our favorite because the reserve is so fine and the setting and distinctive architecture of the lodges. We would rate Ngala next. Kirkman’s was perfectly okay, but the rooms were small and the atmosphere generally was, as Ian said, something of the Hamptons. Also the management at Kirkman’s was somewhat amateur and certainly not up to the standard elsewhere.

We had an excellent guides throughout. Our guide at Kirkman’s was Jason, a relatively young man who certainly knew his stuff and was very knowledgeable and communicative. Are other guides were all local people — Dyke at Ngala, Sibu at Mountain, and Sam at Forest, each with over 20 years experience, which is invaluable in being able to find game. Sam was especially exceptional, giving us a short walking safari for white rhino.

Overall we saw every sort of game, including lions, cheetah, and leopards; many young, including a 12 hours old; and at Mountain, meeting leopards all in all it was a great family experience in a wonderful and relaxing experience, notwithstanding early wake-up calls. Especially in Phinda we were totally immersed in the landscape and the ecosystems on our drives, and grateful for watch hours of a high standard of comfort and great food back at the lodges.

Thank you so very much for all that you did for us. We will certainly recommend you to others and would be delighted to serve as a reference.

All good wishes

Michael, our trip was amazing!  Everything you planned for (with) us worked out wonderfully: the airport greeters and transfers, the hotels, the specific lodges, our fantastic guides, Chris and Kenny, the thoughtful selection of sites to experience, everything was so right for us. Plus John and I had such fun at tea with you and Bernadette. You (and everyone you arranged for us to be in contact with) took care of us beautifully.

Most gratefully

Thanks Michael, I am so happy that I went on this trip. It was amazing on so many levels.

It was great to meet you and Bernie and thanks so much for having us all over for dinner and thank you for your expert guidance. This was a trip of a lifetime!

Best

Thanks mom and dad. Glad you got back to Colorado safely. We are going to bed soon. Love you both so much and absolutely loved being with you and the entire family. I understand there was a lot of time and many resources put into it and every detail and morsel and activity were absolutely perfect.

We love you and miss you (and the game drives and buffets) already!!!