News 2-2008 E NEU:News 2/05.2 - Panopa

20 I M P E R I A L S O U T H A F R I C A
Memories of South Africa, Part 1:
Lions and Other Members of the Family...
In 2001, Helmut Schniederjohann, managing director of the Hansmann Logistik GmbH + Co. KG, travelled from
Duisburg to South Africa, in order to get to know the home country of the parent company Imperial Holdings
Limited, which was still quite new at that time. He remembers one impressive encounter:
Helmut Schniederjohann
a week, we had the
opportunity of getting to
“Within
know the country and
the people. During this time, we looked
at a total of 14 companies. But along -
side work, pleasure was also not to be
neglected: for one weekend, we went
on a safari trip – and that was where
the actual adventure began…
The fact that this trip would demand
more adrenalin from us than we had
expected was seen after only a short
time. When we – not expecting anything
bad – were driving through the
steppe and waiting for something to
see, an impressive male lion suddenly
came across us.
This lion was about 30 metres away
from us and was just waiting for its
family, mother and cub, which were
now opposite us. We were on the road
in an open jeep...
Fortunately, the small family did not
feel like playing that day. They also
appeared to have eaten already, with
the result that they did not come closer
than 20 metres away. We were very
astonished about the relaxed way in
which they reacted to visitors. But not
all the animals were so calm on the
Imperial News 2/2008
day, as we were to see later.
The trip led us on through a narrow
pass. But suddenly, in the middle of
the bushes, there was a whole herd of
elephants in front of us: a mother with
her cub and the father next to them.
However, he was not as relaxed as the
lion-cub's father before; trumpeting
and with his ears pricked, he started
tearing the bushes in his vicinity out.
He appeared to be really angry.
Our guide must have noticed this too,
as he said in a friendly, but determined
way: “Don't take photos and keep
calm.” While he started the vehicle
and slowly drove it further back, I
secretly thought: “Why aren't you just
lying at home on the settee in peace
and quiet?”
After we had reached the firm road
again after what had seemed like
hours, our guide suddenly drove off at
full throttle. While he – a non-smoker
–lit up a cigarette and hastily smoked
it, he admitted that something like
that had never happened to him in
three years of safari.
I must admit: since then, I don't get
ruffled that easily any more!”