Africa "She will Leave You Speechless"
“Africa gave me the courage to build Wild Earth Stays. It reminded me what it means to feel small, yet so deeply connected to something bigger. This isn’t just where our journey started, this is where yours begins.” James Papagno, Founder & CEO
Some dreams live quietly inside you for years, until the day the wild calls, and everything finally begins. Africa has always had a hold on me. Not just for its wildlife or landscapes, but for something deeper. Something ancient. Something alive. Back in 2011, I didn’t know exactly what Wild Earth would become. But I knew this much: if I was going to build a collection of stays that meant something stays rooted in soul, purpose, and place. Africa would be the beating heart of it all.
In this business, you don’t build relationships from behind a desk. You build them in the field with your boots in the dust, your eyes wide open, and your heart wide open too. And in 2012, I was given one of those rare opportunities that only fate can deliver: I was invited to Tswalu Kalahari. Tswalu was still new on the scene, raw and untamed. I had no idea it would become one of my favorite places on Earth. But the moment I stepped foot there, I felt it. The silence of the Kalahari. The orange glow of the dunes. The stories hiding in every track on the sand.
And then there was Joffers McCormick,my guide for the trip, and now, my lifelong friend. Over three unforgettable days, we tracked white rhinos on foot, spotted the impossibly rare pangolin, watched lions hunt oryx, and crossed paths with brown hyena. I remember thinking, This isn’t a trip. This is a transformation. Years passed, but the vision kept growing. I returned again and again to Africa, exploring, connecting, learning. Then in 2018, I brought my daughter on her first real journey into the wild. We visited the greats: Singita Ebony Lodge, Ngala Lodge by &Beyond Lodges, & Gibbs Farm and just when I thought the experience couldn’t get more meaningful, we arrived at a camp… and I heard a familiar voice.
I turned to my daughter and said, “I know this guide.” It was Joffers. Seven years later. By fate, by fortune, or just the beautiful mystery of life—we were reunited. And now in 2025, it’s come full circle. Joffers has founded his own guiding company, Captivating Africa, and we’ve partnered once again to create something special: My Epic Africa - a journey handcrafted from friendship, shared purpose, and the deep belief that Africa changes you.
What Is My Epic Africa?
It’s not a tour. It’s not a cookie-cutter safari package. It’s your personal invitation to see Africa through our eyes with the guides who know her rhythms, and the heart behind each journey. This service was born from the wild itself. It’s personal. It’s purposeful. And it’s for anyone who wants to travel not just to see something, but to feel something, and be changed by it. Whether it’s your first safari or your fifth, we’re here to help you go deeper, stay longer, and come home with something more than stories. You come home with a piece of Africa still beating in your chest.
Watch Our Film: My Epic Africa
👉 [Click here to watch]
Let the land speak to you. Let the story begin.
From the Heart
“Guiding isn’t about showing, it’s about sharing. Every guest, every track, every roar from the bush, it all matters. My Epic Africa is about that connection. It’s about you discovering what Africa wants to teach you.”
Joffers McCormick, Founder, Captivating Africa
Ready to Begin Your Epic?
Let us help you create the kind of African journey you’ll talk about for the rest of your life. We’ll pair you with expert guides, purposeful camps, and moments that move you in unexpected ways.
Trust me, Africa has a way of showing you who you really are.
“Some places don’t just change your view, they change your life. Africa changed mine.”
James Papagno
Your story is waiting. Let’s write it together.
