In 1988 I took a life changing vacation. An old fencing buddy who was South African invited me to her country. I left for a 3 week trip and ended up staying 3 years. During that time I cooked in a wild game lodge and had the pleasure of raising a cheetah and a lion. What an exciting place to live. I returned to California but just couldn't get Africa out of my mind. It had gotten into my blood. So I returned to stay and work in 1999.