Connoisseur Club travelers reunite after South Africa trip

Nature photography is no easy task — especially on an African safari.

However, Michael and Terri Klauber captured some 16,000 photos during the South Africa trip they led with Malaka and Ryan Hilton of Admiral Travel International this summer through Gulf Coast Connoisseur Club.

"And that’s low for us,” Terri said of the photo count.

As past participants of Connoisseur Club trips reunited Sept. 21 at Michael’s Wine Cellar, said photos took center stage. Several guests crowded around the TV screen at the head of the room to watch Michael Klauber’s slideshow documenting their time at Londolozi Game Reserve and surrounding areas.

“What’s so cool about this is that most of these people didn’t know each other before,” Michael Klauber said.

Participant Michele Beni agrees.

“We have been to three weddings of people we met through this,” she said. “This trip forms such great friendships.”

The event also included dinner and a special visit from Jose Conde from South Africa's MAN Family Wines and Stark-Conde Wines.

Terri Klauber also gave guests information about the All Hearts Fund — a fund underneath the umbrella of the Good Work Foundation — which honors the memory of Leanna Knopik. Knopik wasn’t able to fulfill her dream of volunteering in Africa before she died at the age of 16, so the foundation funds opportunities for African students to travel to larger communities and cities for unique educational and leadership experiences.