Discovering the Heart of Africa: Jane McCormick's Journey with Mkuu Safaris

Imagine standing on the endless golden plains of the Serengeti, the sun dipping low on the horizon as a herd of elephants ambles past, their trunks raised in silent greeting. The air hums with the distant call of a wildebeest, and for a fleeting moment, the chaos of modern life fades away. This isn't just a safari—it's a soul-stirring re-connection with the wild, a reminder of why our world still holds magic. At Mkuu Safaris, we craft these moments not as luxuries, but as essential experiences. And behind it all is our founder, Jane McCormick, a woman whose life has been a testament to one unshakable belief: Everyone should travel to Africa at least once in their lifetime.

Jane's story isn't one of grand entitlement or inherited privilege—it's the tale of a restless explorer who found her purpose in the cradle of humanity. Born in the dairyland of the Midwest, Jane grew up with tales of far-off lands whispered by her grandfather, an immigrant from Eastern Europe. But it was a chance “self-invited” trip with friends that changed everything. Traveling with experienced safari goers and an open mind to adventure, she flew to South Africa with a dog-eared guidebook and a couple pairs of khaki pants. That was the beginning but not the end!

"I remember the first time I saw Kilimanjaro piercing the clouds," Jane recalls, “It wasn't just a mountain—it was a call to something deeper. Africa didn't just welcome me; it unraveled me, piece by piece, and stitched me back together stronger." That trip, in the winter of 2022, took her from the bustling markets of Zanzibar to the Southern Serengeti (Ndutu) where she witnessed the Great Migration for the first time. Thousands of wildebeest thundering across the plains, a symphony of survival that humbled her to her core. In that moment, Jane realized Africa wasn't a destination—it was a teacher, offering lessons in resilience, community, and the fragile beauty of our shared planet.

But Jane's epiphany went beyond personal wonder. Back home, she couldn't shake the disconnect. Friends buried in spreadsheets and screens, families glued to their routines—none had glimpsed the raw vitality she now carried in her veins. "Africa isn't for the elite or the adventurous few," she'd say passionately at dinner parties. "It's for "everyone". It's the place where you remember you're alive, where you confront your own smallness and emerge boundless. If we all experienced that once, the world would be kinder, wilder, more connected."

This conviction simmered as Jane built a dream into a business which incorporates reaching out to support local tribes and engaging close up with the wildlife.

With a modest savings pot and a trusted local guide, she founded Mkuu Safaris. The name "Mkuu"—Swahili for "majestic"—was a nod to the grandeur she wanted every traveler to feel.

Mkuu Safaris grows not through aggressive marketing, but through word-of-mouth magic. Jane's hands-on approach set the tone: itineraries tailored like bespoke suits, blending adrenaline (hot-air balloon rides over the Masai Mara) with introspection found during quiet times of watching and waiting for herds to move. She insisted on small-group tours to minimize impact, partnering with Maasai communities for authentic cultural exchanges and channeling a portion of every booking into supporting local tribes.

"Travel to Africa should leave you changed," Jane insists, "but the land unchanged."

So, dear reader, if you've ever felt a quiet tug toward the untamed—the rustle of acacia leaves, the early morning stories of Hadzabi hunters—heed it. Let Mkuu Safaris be your bridge. Jane McCormick didn't just find Africa; she found a way to share its soul. And in doing so, she's inviting you to claim a piece of it for your own.

Ready to answer the call? Contact us today