SigEp Penn Delta Alumni Quest to Africa

Rob Fuller (’99), Jose Ibietatorremendia (’90), Paul Puleo (’87), Brett Danko (’90), Steve Gresdo (’96).

by Rob Fuller (’99) 

The strength of brotherhood exemplified by Sig Ep continues to be more than any of us could have imagined as undergraduates. We’ve seen brothers rally in support of lost brothers, establish foundations honoring the men who’ve held us together, and keep friendships that have lasted longer than any others. 

Brothers have dedicated their time and resources to keeping Penn Delta strong financially and connected fraternally. Only through this kind of framework could a model be developed to synchronize one brother’s passion for wildlife conservation with the opportunity for SigEp family’s and undergraduates to have life changing experiences. 

“This trip to Africa was transformational for all involved.  It was even more special to share it with SigEp brothers and their families.   I would highly recommend figuring out a way to get brothers from your year/era together and make a trip happen as life is too short.” – Brett Danko 

Only when a brother from the 90’s told a brother from the 60’s who relayed it to a brother from the 80’s did the idea for a SigEp Family Safari with my not-for-profit travel company (Africa 360 Travel) take flight. Dan Olson (’99) promoted our safari in the Delta Penn and also discussed the idea with Conrad Eberstein (’65) who relayed it to current alumni board President Brett Danko (’90). 

I discussed with Conrad and Brett, at SigEp’s Annual Conclave in Houston, the potential of a trip to Africa. Conrad was heavily involved with the SigEp national “Quest to Greece,” and he saw this as a potential expansion in the Sig Ep universe for alumni (and undergraduates) to further the fraternity’s goals of building balanced men and giving back. 

Brett Danko (’90), Jose Ibietatorremendia (’90), and Paul Puleo (’87) all brought their families, and Steve Gresdo (’96) joined myself and my better half, Cathryn, for our two-week adventure. 

Conservation in Action 

Our first stop was Phinda Private Game Reserve. Phinda is home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), as well as 436 bird species. The reserve is particularly well known for close-up sightings of cheetah as well as the rare black rhino. 

With its seven distinct habitats, Phinda is often described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder’, a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and an ancient sand forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes and pans. 

The families initially rode together, and I don’t know if there has ever been a more exciting start to a safari. We saw the Big Five within the first 24 hours, and I was a little worried that we may have peaked making for some dull game drives, but the wildlife did not disappoint. 

We saw a rare black rhino, a mother cheetah with 3 cubs, 2 cheetah brothers scanning the landscape from atop a termite mound, a leopard walking on the road right outside camp, a large pride of lions, sparring elephants, and a male lion feasting on a buffalo carcass. The families dispersed when the six teens formed their own pride. 

“An African Safari is the trip of a lifetime and to enjoy it with lifetime friends is really spectacular – you spend a lot of time together and really appreciate the lasting impact of 4028.” – Paul Puleo

In between the amazing game-drives, we participated in some incredibly important conservation work all funded by our SigEp group. We had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with a rhino while assisting in the conservation of this endangered species. This thrilling experience allowed us to witness the capture and darting of a white rhino with the purpose of trimming both horns (from the sleeping animal) to protect it from poaching and give it an 85% better change of survival. 

Our group also experienced a once-in-a-lifetime pangolin research and monitoring experience to support this groundbreaking initiative to re-establish Temminck’s ground pangolin in a region where they have been locally extinct for decades. This provided a rare view into the world of these shy, elusive and most trafficked mammals on earth. 

Land of Plenty 

After four nights at Phinda, we made our way to Sabi Sands Game Reserve, located west of Kruger National Park, famous for its high concentration of leopard. Our first game drive was high adrenaline as a hyena dragged an impala down a ravine to meet its death. Much to our surprise, a female leopard quickly appeared and it became clear that the hyena stole her prey. 

We all watched in awe as the female hyena feasted on the impala as the leopard (perched above on a rock) helplessly watched her meal slip away. Another hyena approached trying to get some food but the female hyena was not in a sharing mood. Females are dominant in the hyena hierarchy. 

We also had the rare sighting of a hunting pack of African wild dogs (also known as Painted Dogs). This 4-million-year old species once roamed much of Africa in numbers north of 250,000 but today they are endangered with only 6,500 remaining. 

We also spent quality time with a pride of lions with three lionesses and seven young cubs. Nothing is cuter than baby lions and it definitely takes three mothers to care for these demanding future kings and queens. 

“It was a delight to come together with our families and get to enjoy each other’s company in such a magnificent setting. True brotherhood, true friendship, is being able to come together after years apart and pick up as if it had only been a few days.” – Jose Ibietatorremendia

At Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, dining was a culinary experience with the most delectable fare imaginable. Each evening we dined under a million stars in the boma where Chef presented a traditional South African braai (barbeque) complete with fresh venison, vegetarian dishes, coal roasted vegetables, farm fresh salads, homemade soups and deserts made daily from the in-house pastry chef. The stories and conversations around the fire were as diverse and interesting as the delicious food. 

The Smoke That Thunders 

After seven nights in the bush we flew to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the town rightly claims the title of adrenaline capital of Africa. 

Victoria Falls is one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles and the stuff of legends, romance and myth. Long before the Scottish missionary and explorer Dr. David Livingstone ‘discovered’ Victoria Falls in 1855, the local Batonga people had named it Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. It is the greatest curtain of falling water in the world and is located on the Zambezi River, the fourth largest river in Africa, which also defines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

The mile-wide falls (which drops 338 feet at its highest point) throws off a mist that cascades into the air making it look (and sound) like an active volcano with stunning rainbows that seemingly appear. 

In addition to the falls tour, some in our group zip-lined or shopped but I chose the risky option to bungee jump, my second on the continent. Our group also had the special opportunity to meet the resident herd of orphaned elephants for feeding and photos with these gentle giants. 

The Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary and Orphanage has been a safe haven to a mirage of orphaned and injured elephants for over 25 years. They work to rescue, rehabilitate and release. Some elephants cannot be released so they act as ambassadors for their species much to our guests delight. 

Magical Oasis 

Every place we visited was uniquely special with diverse landscapes, abundance of wildlife, and beautiful people but there is something truly remarkable about the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

There is no better place to experience African wildlife in its natural habitat than Botswana. The Okavango Delta is a magical oasis – water in the desert is a truly spectacular sight. The wide, grassy floodplains are host to a magnificent range of wildlife. 

Seasonal rains from the Angolan highlands wash down into the Okavango Delta annually creating an ecosystem of crystal-clear waters unlike any on the planet. It is one of the world’s largest inland deltas. While most river deltas usually lead to an ocean, the Okavango River empties onto the maze of 150,000 islands, all formed from termites. 

Botswana (about the size of Texas) has a smart strategy of limiting tourism and with a small population of only 2 million (of which 1.4M live by the South African border), it creates a truly wild and untouched wildlife experience. 

The floodwaters usher in more than 700 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. African fish eagles soar above prides of lions and the continent’s largest population of savanna elephants. Wild dogs prowl through thorn scrub as cheetahs stalk warthogs and wetland antelopes. Hippos and Nile crocodiles lurk among reeds and papyrus. The delta hums with life. 

“The SigEp Safari was truly the trip of a lifetime.  To observe all of these magnificent animals in their natural habitat was remarkable.” – Steve Gresdo

The group spent our final four nights at Jao Camp taking game drives on the sandy islands, traversing the delta on flat boats, and having guides propel us by wooden poles in their traditional canoes called mokoro. 

We encountered lion, leopard (in a tree), huge herds of buffalo, elephants, and red lechwe and the ever-popular pods of hippos, swimming elephants and countless species of birds. 

A truly special sighting was locating an African wild dog den where we witnessed twelve 2-month old pups emerge from the den to play, feed and explore the outside as they all tried to hone their hunting skills if only for a few brief minutes before being ushered back to the safety of the den. 

On the final night at Jao Camp we sat around the firepit to enjoy sunset and the melodic harmonies of Jao’s staff choir as they performed traditional song and dance. We took time to reflect on our epic journey over the previous two weeks and shared our favorite sightings, funny stories (there were plenty), and the impact this trip had on our lives. It was fondly reminiscent of our time at 4028 Walnut on a Sunday night. 

Protect What You Love 

Africa is a continent filled with beautiful people, breathtaking landscapes, and unique (and endangered) wildlife. Unbeknownst to most safari goers, there is a carefully measured science taking place, behind the scenes, that enables the perfect safari experience. That indescribable magic is made possible by the tireless devotion, unwavering compassion and selfless, around-the-clock teamwork of the incredibly humble and hard-working lodge staff. 

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and like a well-oiled machine, the lodges and staff seamlessly provided flawless service, decadent cuisine, fine South African wines, expert guiding, luxury accommodations and an infrastructure to ensure the certainty of a truly extraordinary safari experience. One that inspires us to leave our world a better place. 

Cathryn and I started traveling to Africa in 2008 and quickly graduated to “conservation in action” when we saw the vast need to support its people, habitats and wildlife. 

It started with a casual plea from a friend to plan a safari “with purpose” after she heard about our hands-on experiences with African wild dogs. She wanted more than just a typical safari. 

“Africa 360 did an incredible job organizing the trip, coordinating every aspect of our travel and activities and ensuring a smooth trip full of once in a lifetime experiences.”  – Brett Danko

Our mission is to raise awareness of successful conservation projects and support the preservation of Africa’s wildlife through travel. We are proud to be the only safari travel company that donates 100% of profits to wildlife conservation + community projects. 

They say once you have stepped on African soil, you are bound to return – again, and again. Join one of our incredible journeys, take away memories of a lifetime and give back to Africa…and the brotherhood of SigEp. 

On behalf of July’s SigEp family safari, Africa 360 has donated the trips profits to the Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter and wildlife conservation nonprofits. To learn more about traveling to Africa, contact me at [email protected], (201) 618-5658, or visit www.africa360travel.com. 

To go on safari is life-changing, but to go on a safari with purpose that contributes to the conservation of Africa’s people, habitats and wildlife is priceless. 

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” 

– Jane Goodall 

Interested in seeing more photos from this trip? Head to this link:  https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0e5aDWbrMQMc4