Our Team
Our Tour Experts
Heroes and Heroines
Holiday Inspiration
My hand-picked holiday inspiration
Scroll to see my pick of great journeys and experiences across the world.
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Head of Marketing
Nadia Shahanaz Hussain
My Expertise
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Democratic Republic of Congo -
Kenya -
Namibia -
Zimbabwe -
India -
Iran
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.
Blog
Pride of Zimbabwe
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.’’
Blog
A close encounter with an imam in Isfahan
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.
Blog
The spirit of the Indian jungle
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.
Experience
Canoeing on the Zambezi
‘’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.
Experiences
See below some of my favourite travel experiences around the world.
Team
Meet the rest of the team
Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their experience and the enthusiasm they bring to their work.
We're waiting to help you
It all starts here
Let’s put that once-in-a-lifetime trip in your hands. Get in touch with the team and we will work with you at every step to make sure that it’s extraordinary.
01285 880 980Get in touch with our travel experts to start
creating your tailor-made holiday.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. A curiosity of the world and of you, and your passions. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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