Roger Strom stands before the podium to show off 100 photos of African wildlife he took on his most recent safari.

MARSHALL – Many retirees like to spend their time relaxing at home or enjoying the little things in life, trying to make things as peaceful and simple as possible. For Roger Strom and Debra Evans, retirement means something else entirely. On Friday, Strom and Evans came to Hill Street Place to show off the 100 animals he saw on his most recent trip to the African safari.

Strom and Evans went to Africa as part of a world cruise ship, which they started traveling on in 2015. Since then they’ve gone on 10 world cruise ships, each of which last about four months. This year in 2026, they participated in 10 individual safaris across Kenya, Namibia and South Africa.

Wildlife and wildlife photography have always been an interest for Strom, who grew up in southwest Minnesota. In 1971, he completed a bachelor of science degree in wildlife biology, which he used for his 25-year career in South Dakota, where he worked as a wildlife conservation officer before retiring in 2001. For him, the passion for wildlife photography never died. He spent many world cruises photographing and learning new information about the various animals he sees on such safaris.

The safari’s main attraction is the African “Big Five,” the most dangerous and sought after animals for any wildlife enthusiast, Strom said, the buffalo, the rhino, elephant, lion, and leopard. Strom showcased the Big Five animals at the start of his presentation, giving information about them and why they have become so recognizable.

“The unpredictable nature and formidable horns have earned them (cape buffalos) a place in the ‘Big Five,'” Strom said. “They are a social animal and can be found in large herds for protection. The adults will form a circle with young inside that circle. By facing outward, they can ward off predators.”

Taking photos of so many animals requires proper equipment for the best photograph. Whenever Strom is out on a safari, he tries to bring the best cameras he can. One camera he brings is a Nikon V850, holding 600mm lens, the camera can take a high quality photo two miles away. Strom took advantage of that fact for some animals that didn’t want to get too close to the safari.

“If I’m taking a photo, I don’t want to blame my equipment,” Strom said. “I get the best camera, so if it turns out bad it’s all on me.”

Debra Evans, Strom’s partner, on the other hand, enjoys world cruises for other reasons. While Strom enjoys taking photographs of the wildlife, Evans — as a former history teacher — sees the cruises as an opportunity to see different cultures and history. Evans and Strom both support each other’s different passions when on the cruise, and it keeps them enjoying the cruises for as long as they have.

“The world cruise thing doesn’t work for a lot of couples, but it has for us,” said Evans.

Strom and Evans don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Despite the cruise’s four-month length, they both still try and do one every single year. In their 10 years, they have traveled to every place that a world cruise can stop. The only continent they haven’t seen is Antarctica.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us,” Evans said. “That’s something I always tell people.”