back

Michael Lorentz

Michael Lorentz is passionate about wildlife, the wilderness and elephants in particular. He was born in South Africa, and knew from an early age that his true vision and happiness in life would lie in the playgrounds of the African wilderness. His bush career started in 1985 in the Timbavati Game Reserve in South Africa where he trained under the legendary tracker, Jack Matabula.

Botswana called in 1986 and became his home for the next fifteen years, firstly as Assistant General Manager of the well-known safari company, Gametrackers; and then as Managing Director of the renowned Elephant Back Safaris and Abu Camp where he was instrumental in creating and managing the lodge, its resident elephant herd and half a million acres of pristine Okavango delta.

In early 2000 Michael moved back to South Africa and joined forces with Mike Kirkinis to develop and expand Passage To Africa. He now lives in Cape Town with his family, and as managing partner steers the Passage to Africa ship.

He is heavily involved in ecotourism consulting and has project-managed numerous developments across the continent. He remains instrumental in developing the private guiding industry, perpetually striving to establish strong industry standards; whilst forging access into remote and unspoilt areas, providing his guest with a rare and utterly private wilderness experience.

Michael is a passionate and award-winning photographer whose work has been featured in several publications, as well as at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. His knowledge of photography combined with his deep understanding of animal behaviour adds a further dimension to his guided safaris as he aids guests in the shot-and-capture of that elusive image.

Having guided for 26 years, this remains his first professional love and he personally conducts privately guided safaris throughout Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda and East Africa. Whilst Michael is a pan-African specialist, he works closely with expert guides in other wilderness areas worldwide, and arranges trips beyond Africa’s shores that could be ticked-off on many a bucket-list, including Antarctica and the Galapagos.

An accomplished naturalist and committed conservationist, Michael provides his guests with a dazzling insight into the intricacies of Africa’s wilderness. 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, smelt, touched and even tasted an Africa that I, a son of the continent, never knew was there.”

Michael Lorentz

Michael Lorentz is passionate about wildlife, the wilderness and elephants in particular. He was born in South Africa, and knew from an early age that his true vision and happiness in life would lie in the playgrounds of the African wilderness. His bush career started in 1985 in the Timbavati Game Reserve in South Africa where he trained under the legendary tracker, Jack Matabula.

Botswana called in 1986 and became his home for the next fifteen years, firstly as Assistant General Manager of the well-known safari company, Gametrackers; and then as Managing Director of the renowned Elephant Back Safaris and Abu Camp where he was instrumental in creating and managing the lodge, its resident elephant herd and half a million acres of pristine Okavango delta.

In early 2000 Michael moved back to South Africa and joined forces with Mike Kirkinis to develop and expand Passage To Africa. He now lives in Cape Town with his family, and as managing partner steers the Passage to Africa ship.

He is heavily involved in ecotourism consulting and has project-managed numerous developments across the continent. He remains instrumental in developing the private guiding industry, perpetually striving to establish strong industry standards; whilst forging access into remote and unspoilt areas, providing his guest with a rare and utterly private wilderness experience.

Michael is a passionate and award-winning photographer whose work has been featured in several publications, as well as at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. His knowledge of photography combined with his deep understanding of animal behaviour adds a further dimension to his guided safaris as he aids guests in the shot-and-capture of that elusive image.

Having guided for 26 years, this remains his first professional love and he personally conducts privately guided safaris throughout Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda and East Africa. Whilst Michael is a pan-African specialist, he works closely with expert guides in other wilderness areas worldwide, and arranges trips beyond Africa’s shores that could be ticked-off on many a bucket-list, including Antarctica and the Galapagos.

An accomplished naturalist and committed conservationist, Michael provides his guests with a dazzling insight into the intricacies of Africa’s wilderness. 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, smelt, touched and even tasted an Africa that I, a son of the continent, never knew was there.”