Photos by Jukka

Would you like to join us in South Africa safari in 2015? How can this rather simply and innocent question change one’s life? I got this question from our Dutch friends Hans & Maud somewhere in 2013 or so. (and how we made friends with them, that’s another story 😊 ). To be honest I needed a few sleeps before I could give them an answer – which was “heck yes!” At that time, I had been at least a decade kinda “back yard”-hobby photographer, mostly shooting images of nature and our Pyrenean mountain dog, Giusto. I think, I had dreamed of traveling to Africa one day, when old, grey and retired, but when I saw Maud’s images from their safaris, I was totally thrilled, and very eager to see, and photograph all that wonderful wildlife by myself.

Fast forward: after that very, very successful Finn-Dutch safari various South African Parks, I and Sari started to plan our own tour. A couple of years later we went self-drive in Kruger Park South Africa, and it was all needed, to get us both hooked. After that we’ve been twice in SA, twice in Kenya (Amboseli, Mara Triangle and Samburu) in Uganda (Chimps and gorillas) and in Botswana. Now (2024) there is maybe something boiling for this autumn and already fixed Zambia in 2025. Ha, also plans for 2026!

The short answer is both! I am serious amateur photographer, having the pro camera gear and wanting to archive the best possible shot. But on the other hand, if I were to decide whether to leave my cameras home for a safari, or not to travel at  all, I would definitely choose to travel without my Canon cameras. I do only still photography, Sari is our safari “videographer” with her iPhone. We both share a high respect for the wildlife and nature in general, and the last thing we’d want, is to make any animal feel uncomfortable of our presence. I think that a good quote for all people going outdoors, here at home or in the African bush, goes like this: A wise man never gets into a situation a clever man has to get out of.  This goes for your personal safety, but also encounters with wildlife. Animals have always their right of way, both in practice and theory. But safaris are more than just wildlife, and photos. It’s about people, both local, but also co-travelers. Just love the chats over the dining table or next the camp fire. It is wonderful how nature and wildlife bring like-minded people together. Making new friends, sharing the same passion.

We have our own business a company called Värikaihdin-Artic Store Hyvinkää, and we work together with blinds and awnings and other solar shading products. I do all our installations while my wife, Sari takes care of sales and showroom. On our free time we may pop in a gym, go for walks, ride bike tours, or for longer breaks go to our Lapland cottage in the northern part of Finland. We live in an old wooden house in the countryside, so there is always something to do or take care of. If not anything else, we can always plan our next safari adventure!

A good question, and sorry, I don’t even have a good answer. Although I have worked all my life with customers, I have been very shy with my photography. Shy and modest in a way like “Oh I’m just an amateur”, and “many people have way better images” or “oh, I’m a guy from up North, how can I have good images of a lion?”
Getting older is no fun (you know: reading glasses and more grey hair!) but it has given me also self confidence to do things I maybe hesitated younger. Simple truth is that I don’t like every photo I see online, and I know that not everyone will like my photos here on this site – and that’s perfectly fine with me. I trust that someone will like these, so I wanted to offer the opportunity to purchase prints for your home or office. And at same time highlight the beauty of Africa. I get that traveling to Africa isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they will appreciate African wildlife framed on the wall…