Michael Lorentz is passionate about wildlife, the wilderness and elephants in particular. Many share this feeling and have joined Michael on safari; often walking with a herd of African elephants through Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

Michael was born in South Africa in 1966 and knew from an early age that his true vision of life could only be found where he was able to explore the vast playground of the African wilderness. His bush career started in the Timbavati Game Reserve South Africa, where he trained under the legendary tracker, Jack Matabula.

Michael then moved to Botswana and became Assistant General Manager of a well-known safari company, Gametrackers. After many years of guiding professionally, he established his own business in ecotourism consulting and specialised guide training, before joining Elephant Back Safaris full time. For nine years, as Managing Director, Michael operated within a pristine wilderness concession of half a million acres in the Okavango Delta - home to the elephant family.

In early 2001 he moved to Johannesburg and joined forces with Mike Kirkinis to develop Passage To Africa. Michael now conducts privately guided bespoke safaris throughout Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and East Africa. He is also heavily involved in ecotourism consulting. 

Accomplished naturalist and committed conservationist, Michael provides his safari guests with an unrivalled insight into the intricacies of Africa’s wilderness. Walking is his preferred approach and in the words of a guest, 

"Michael does not take you for a walk in the African Bush; rather he takes you for a walk with it. Until you have experienced the contrast, you won’t know what I am talking about. But believe me; it makes - quite literally - the world of difference. I saw, heard, and smelt, touched and even tasted an Africa that I, a son of the continent, never knew was there"

Mike Kirkinis grew up immersed in the travel industry and, by the age of 18 had lived in many of the world’s great cities; Athens, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Rio amongst them.

After returning to South Africa he joined the family business, Afrolympic Travel, taking over its management in 1988. Under his guidance, the company became a local leader in both retail and corporate travel. This experience was invaluable in providing a thorough knowledge of the inner workings of the travel industry. Mike started Passage To Africa in the early 90’s to cater for the growing luxury safari market, and to allow him the opportunity of spending more time in Africa’s wilderness.

In 1997, along with two partners, he formed Kwando Safaris which owns and operates three luxury tented camps in the Kwando & Okavango Delta regions of Northern Botswana, as well as Songwe Lodge, positioned a few kilometres downstream from the Victoria Falls. Mike's primary responsibility was marketing and sales - a role which he executed with considerable success, soon establishing Kwando Safaris as one of the major lodge operators in the Southern African safari circuit.

Having left Kwando Safaris in 2000 he joined forces with Michael Lorentz to focus on the further development of Passage To Africa. One of the safari industry’s leading personalities, Mike is involved in both the marketing of extraordinary safaris and in consulting to the ecotourism industry. Mike also plays an active role in the development of numerous rural community-based projects.

Equally at home in the bustle of New York and in the vast emptiness of the Makgadigadi pans, Mike is very much the modern bushman. Raconteur, photographer, helicopter pilot, chef extraordinaire and committed conservationist, Mike also guides safaris for those who like the finer things in life. He is a true master in the art of safari