Holiday Inspiration
My hand-picked holiday inspiration
Scroll to see my pick of great journeys and experiences across the world.
Head of Marketing
After flirting with a career in human rights and the military, and having graduated from law school and working abroad, I accidentally fell into a role at Steppes Travel. Fast forward many years, and I have come to discover the whole world within our company, in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Travel for me is an adventure into your own mind; exploring and pushing beyond your comfort zone, recognising yourself in others, despite differing tongues and cultures, and constantly feeling the urge to do more, to learn more and be more.
In my time at Steppes Travel I have been privileged enough to experience mosques of Isfahan in Iran, had sundowners amongst a herd of a hundred elephants in Hwange in Zimbabwe, canoed safely away from a crocodile attack on the Zambezi and climbed Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano located in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Back at Steppes HQ I am proud to be leading the Steppes marketing team as we strive to build a brand that has a positive influence in the world of travel and beyond.
Calvet Nkomo, our guide in Hwange, Zimbabwe, looks back at us, his brows furrowed as the dwindling remnants of sunlight drift across the plains of Imbiza, imbuing this almost prehistoric landscape with hues of pink and purple. “I can teach and train for years but some things…’’ Calvet pauses again, glancing over at the silhouette of a herd of elephants in the distance. “Well, some things you just know and feel. They can’t be taught. You can’t Google the bush.’’
The Imam’s plurality was akin with the attitude of the Great Shah Abbas. He too had encouraged religious tolerance. He endeavoured to see Isfahan and the dynasty thrive, just as this Imam seems to wish for the whole of Iran.
Now, more than ever, with the fallout from BREXIT and the outpouring of racially motivated attacks in the UK and the continued reprehensible acts of so-called IS across Turkey, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, our differences must be understood, respected and welcomed. There can no longer be an ‘other’. In a country that has long been seen as exactly that, this initiative of open dialogue and inclusivity is what I see the future of Iran to be.
Elusive, surprisingly well camouflaged, and fiercely independent, tigers are not a guaranteed spot. We were on our third game drive at Pench and so far we had only seen a tiger from afar, striding beyond the teak trees before disappearing altogether along with around seven other safari vehicles all queued up on a single lane track. We yearned for our very own close-up and with at least one of the 53 tigers in the park we thought our luck would be in.
But this is unlike safari experiences in Africa. There is no sense of instant gratification. No guaranteed sightings of game on each drive. Patience is key.
‘’What happens on the river, stays on the river.’’ Canoeing on the Lower Zambezi is definitely a must, however only with a guide. I learnt that lesson the hard way and the paddle with croc teeth scrapes is testament to how hard that lesson was.
As an afternoon excursion, you’ll be witness to an always impressive sunset, border crossings of the elephants and of course the hippos laying wait in the water. Be sure to tap the side of your canoe to let them know you’re in their territory.
See below some of my favourite travel experiences around the world.
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