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In March, I had the amazing opportunity to attend a business retreat with Virgin Mobile & Airlines founder Richard Branson on his private island in the Caribbean, Necker Island. At the retreat, the entrepreneur attendees shared valuable business lessons and made strong connections through our relevant career and life experience. A genuine connection that I made was with my roommate, Etienne Pretorius, a native of South Africa. Our relationship would lead me to an amazing journey to South Africa.
Etienne invited me to come and stay with his family on a life changing adventure in South Africa over the summer. Here in the states, I’m used to being at the ‘top of the food chain,’ as a successful business owner. In Africa, however, I found myself at the bottom of the food chain because even a gazelle can easily outrun me if a lion is tracking the two of us.
I stayed on Etienne’s 8,000-acre property next to Kruger National Park –a beautiful, expansive park that is northeast of Pretoria, close to South Africa’s border with Mozambique. His family has an arrangement with the park that allows for an unfenced area between their property so wild animals roam freely across the land. This permits the family and their guests to observe animals much closer than they would normally be able to on a regular safari. It was an extremely unique opportunity and offered a very different experience than the typical safari trip that most American families book.
We drove within 20 feet of rhinos, and parked underneath a tree with a leopard eating its prey perched above us. Lions moved close enough to our safari truck that we were within touching distance – not that I’d ever want to pet a lion, but it lent itself to the fabulous overall experience. The safari experience was almost like the difference between seeing a concert from the general admittance lawn seats to having a backstage pass to the show.
Etienne and his family were very welcoming and showed us such incredible hospitality. We went on over 20 safaris in 10 days, stopping only to eat and sleep. In the evenings you could hear hyenas roaming right outside our huts. The entire trip was an unbelievably sobering experience to feel almost like a ‘meat Popsicle’ knowing that at any given time a lion could take an effortless swipe at you— the circle of life is evident in just about every aspect of the culture of our safari.
I couldn’t have ever imagined having the chance to go on such a breathtaking and out-of-this-world vacation experience when I was younger. . It would have cost a fortune, and without those local connections, I would have been lost on where to go or what to see.
As you get older, the connections you make in life create greater and more fulfilling relationships that allow for experiences like my trip to South Africa. The relationship I developed with Etienne, not only created a new friendship, but it also created opportunities for new and exciting journeys for the both of us.
by Ken Jennings, CEO and president, Mr. Rekey
Ken Jennings started Texas Rekey Locksmith Service from the trunk of his car in 1995. The company was rebranded as Mr. Rekey Locksmith® Services when it expanded outside of Texas 10 years later.
During the last 35 years, Ken has founded more than 40 businesses and spent time studying the success of other business leaders in thriving industries and applying them to his own business ventures. He also mentors numerous entrepreneurs in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
Ken has two children who both play an active role in his organizations. He enjoys traveling with his wife Vicki and playing tennis.
October 9, 2023
