The Stranded Backpacker

It began in the early 1990s. Wilfried "Willi" Korn arrived in South Africa as a backpacker, expecting a visit, but finding a home. From setting up lodges in the depths of the Amazon Jungle to managing hospitality in the African bush, Willi’s life has always been defined by adventure. But it was here, under the African sun, that he found his true calling.

The Search for "The African Beer"

As a professional Safari Guide specializing in high-end tours across Southern Africa, Willi spent decades showing international guests the magic of the continent. But around the campfire, the same question always arose: "Willi, where is the real African beer?"

There were commercial options, sure. But there was no brand that truly captured the spirit, the style, and the legend of the BIG FIVE.

An idea was born!

The Long Road to Legend

Bringing BIG FIVE Craft Lager to life was not an overnight success; it was a 20-year odyssey. Willi had the vision, but he needed a brewer who understood the soul of the project.

For two decades, he faced rejection. Big brewers were too arrogant to listen to "the German with a vision." Smaller brewers kept him on a string, only to let him down. Between guiding tours through Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, Willi kept pushing, kept negotiating, and kept believing. He never gave up.

The Breakthrough

Perseverance pays off.

Willi eventually found his match with Sabie Brewery in Sabie, Mpumalanga. They didn't just see a beer; they saw the vision. Together, they combined Willi’s decades of bush knowledge with Sabie Brewery craftsmanship to finally bottle the legend.

Today, Willi is proud to call South Africa home and to finally share the beer he always knew this continent deserved.

We believe that BIG FIVE Craft Lager is the perfect start to any story, but it is not the end of ours. Willi’s vision is to create a full circle of African hospitality - from the drink in your hand to the bed you sleep in.

We are hard at work behind the scenes curating the next phase of our brand. Drawing on Willi’s decades of experience in high-end tourism, we will be introducing:

• BIG FIVE Lodges: Exclusive accommodation partnerships that bring you closer to nature.

• BIG FIVE Travel: Customised tours for the discerning traveler, crafted by a guide who knows every road.

• Community & Conservation: A dedicated Social Responsibility Programme to protect the wildlife we love and support the communities that guard them.

Stay tuned. The adventure is evolving.

You’ve read the story. Now taste the legend!