We had hoped to meet in South Africa—Sam and Corbin Maxey leading a safari and wine tour, and me visiting family in Cape Town—but our paths never crossed. Instead, we reconnected back in Idaho, carrying with us the warmth and energy of that extraordinary place. As we talked, it became clear that whether they’re exploring South African vineyards or watching elephants on the horizon, Sam and Corbin’s adventures always circle back to the same place: home.
What they love about South Africa—the wildlife, the wine, the wide-open landscapes—mirrors much of what they love about Idaho. “Yellowstone is the American Serengeti,” Corbin said. “It’s the closest thing we have to a safari, and most people don’t even think of it that way.” Their enthusiasm for wild places is immediate and contagious, whether those landscapes are halfway across the world or just beyond Idaho’s borders.
Corbin’s connection to wildlife began early. He grew up in Robie Creek, a childhood he describes as “the best in the entire world,” surrounded by animals from the start. When his family moved to Meridian at age twelve so he could, as he put it, “become normal,” the effort didn’t take. He quickly turned the bonus room of their new home into a reptile reserve. Some of the snakes he cared for then are still alive today, now in their thirties. His first wildlife show followed in 2003, in Meridian, where he introduced children to animals he still works with.
Their home today reflects that same curiosity. Followers of Corbin’s YouTube channel recognize Soni the alligator, Tank the 170-pound tortoise who attends “family dinners,” and the ever-present reptiles visible from their bedroom window. Wildlife isn’t a backdrop—it’s woven into daily life.
Wine forms the other half of their shared story. They married in Michigan wine country and have explored vineyards across Italy, Bordeaux, Germany, and South Africa. Those travels have only deepened Sam’s connection to Idaho wine. “Idaho wine has sparked much of our travel,” she said. “We grow great Bordeaux varietals here that inspired us to go to Bordeaux. Then you taste something in France and think, ‘This reminds me of Hell’s Canyon Cabernet.’ Idaho shows up in unexpected ways.”
For Sam and Corbin, loving local is less a slogan than a habit. “We should be paid spokespeople for Idaho,” Corbin joked. “Everywhere we go, we’re preaching Idaho—not Iowa.” They talk about the feeling of return—landing at the Boise airport, getting into their own car, seeing the sky. In 2026, that sense of home will take on a new form with the opening of Snake River Cottage, an Airbnb inspired by their travels and set in Idaho wine country—the first home they ever shared.
It’s one more way they bring the world back with them, then choose Idaho again.