Harbaugh: Wolverines will visit South Africa next year

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has taken his team to Rome and Paris for week-long spring trips each of the past two years, and he revealed Monday the Wolverines will be headed to South Africa next year.

Harbaugh, who appeared on WTKA's "The Michigan Insider" show on Monday morning from the Swing to Cure Diabetes golf outing hosted by former Wolverine Rich Hewlett at the Michigan golf course, raved about the team’s most recent trip to Paris and was asked about next year’s trip.

“We’re going to Africa,” Harbaugh said. “Johannesburg, Cape Town and a safari. How about a safari? See the great sharks and the coast line.”

More: Complete coverage of UM football's trip to France

More: Michigan No. 5, MSU No. 12 in Athlon's top-25 college football rankings

Harbaugh had said during the team’s final day in Paris that South Africa topped the list of potential destinations next spring. He also mentioned Greece, Barcelona and Cuba as possible trips.

The Michigan football trips have been funded by donors. Michigan alum Bobby Kotick footed the bill that was approximately $800,000 for the 2016 trip to Rome, while Kotick and alum Don Graham paid for the trip to Paris.

“That was remarkable,” Harbaugh, who left Monday on a mission trip to Peru, said of the recent trip to France. “The entire trip was great. In every way it was a great learning experience, a great team-bonding experience. It was like a family experience. Saw a lot and learned a lot and feel better for it.”

During the Rome trip, Michigan held three spring practices. The Wolverines did not practice in Paris and instead used all the time for sightseeing and team-bonding activities.

“There was more time to see things and do things,” Harbaugh told the show. “Both experiences were unbelievably good.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

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