A few years back, Jessica and Dirk Beamer placed bids on several items at a silent auction and fundraiser for the Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce. They left the event with an African Safari "in the bag." Finding the right time to get away took some work, but last month the Beamers spent 15 days in South Africa. With stops in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and the southern tip of the continent, "It was a trip of a lifetime!" Among the amazing wildlife, they managed sightings of four of Africa’s famed Big Five: Elephants, Lions, Cape Buffalo, and Black Rhinos. The elusive leopard escaped them. Notwithstanding the 22 hour return flight to Detroit via Amsterdam, the Beamers will be more than happy to repeat the trip if opportunity knocks twice!