Specialties
Regions: East Africa, Southern Africa and Egypt
Travel Types: Luxury Travel, Adventure Travel, Active Travel, Family & Multi-Generational Travel, Romance & Honeymoon Travel, Primate Treks, Safaris, and Special Celebrations.
Special Interests: Beach, City Tours, Conservation, History, Art & Culture, Food & Wine, Nature & Wildlife, Active & Wellbeing, and Photography
Destinations Visited
Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, Botswana, South Africa
Southeast Asia: Bali
Latin America: Mexico
Additional countries: Netherlands, England, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Singapore, Aruba, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, Canada and various parts of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.
Why I’m a Travel Consultant
Growing up with parents who were both teachers gave me the unique opportunity to travel every summer. From those experiences, I developed my passion for travel, wildlife and seeing different landscapes/biomes. I found myself creating my own trip itineraries and started helping friends plan theirs. Seeing that spark of excitement in someone’s eye when they return from a trip is what it’s all about for me. I knew that I wanted to work in the travel industry and help others get the most out of their travel experiences. After using Travel Beyond to plan my honeymoon, I knew their knowledge, service, attention to detail, and passion for travel set them apart from other companies in the industry. I got my dream job at Travel Beyond in 2019. Today, I am thrilled to be a travel consultant, planning custom journeys that immerse clients in our world’s most inspiring destinations!
Career History
I started my career off doing affiliate sales and marketing for a company that is a distributor of television programming networks. I learned a lot about sales and how to tackle numerous different duties that a small company requires. After 11 years, I decided I wanted to make a career change and work in an industry I was more passionate about; travel.
Most Memorable Travel Experience
In October of 2019, my husband and I embarked on a dream trip to Egypt! We wanted to see as much as we could, so we opted to do a cruise on the Nile River and additionally spend two nights in Cairo to see the Great Pyramids. Getting to explore Abu Simbel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, wander some of the many temples located just minutes from the banks of the Nile and visit the tombs of Egyptian rulers scattered throughout the Valley of the Kings and Queens made the cruise an exceptional experience. Ending our trip in Cairo to see the Great Pyramids was eye-opening. I learned that it took around 20,000-30,000 workers to build it and they are much bigger in person. My husband and I left Egypt with more than we bargained for, as it really is a true ancient marvel of the world. To read the full trip details, check out my blog post here.
Most Recent Trips
South Africa
In October-November of 2021, I headed to South Africa where I spent much of my time in the Sabi Sand. The reserve had some of the best and most varied animal viewing, including leopard, which I saw at least once a day! These elusive cats are one of my favorites, and this area is teeming with them. To read more about the Sabi Sand, along with other reserves I visited in the Greater Kruger ecosystem, you can read my blog here.
From the Sabi Sand, I headed to Cape Town and the Winelands. While here, I enjoyed seeing the penguins at Boulder’s Beach, walking along the V&A waterfront, and of course enjoying some wine tastings. My trip ended in the Marakele National Park to with a visit to Marataba Safari Lodge. This is a malaria free area and offers a landscape quite different from the Sabi Sand. The Mathews Mountain Range can be seen from the tents, providing a spectacular backdrop. A highlight here was seeing 18 rhino in one day!
Botswana
In April of 2021, I embarked on a safari to Botswana with the owners of Travel Beyond, Craig and Kay Beal, and my colleague Melanie Reger. Our first stop was the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to catch the tail end of the zebra migration. We also spent time with the habituated meerkats that live near Jack’s Camp, San Camp and Camp Kalahari, all of which have this activity on offer. To read the full details of my experience in the salt pans, check out my blog post here.
From the salt pans, we headed to the Okavango Delta where we enjoyed amazing game drives. We spotted wild dog, a first for me and watched a crocodile attack a baboon. The whole troop eventually helped their fellow member escape the crocodile. We also took a scenic helicopter ride over parts of the Delta, during which we could appreciate the varied landscapes and animals from an entirely new perspective. Another activity enjoyed was a mokoro (dugout canoe) ride through the Delta’s narrow waterways. From here, we got to see small things not normally noticed like frogs and beautiful water lilies. Botswana as a safari destination is exceptional!
Recommended Right Now
What I love about working here at Travel Beyond is that we take the time to really get to know our clients, so what “I recommend right now” is truly what I feel best suits what clients are genuinely looking for. I believe Africa is the gift that keeps giving, you can continue to go time after time and still see and learn something unique and new.
A Southern Africa safari is a personal favorite as you can combine an amazing food, wine and city experience with a well rounded safari. My heart also belongs in East Africa, as I feel it’s really that quintessential Africa trip many are looking for. I have a passion for all things wildlife, so being able to see mountain gorillas or chimps combined with going on safari offers you an incredible immersive experience that is truly wildlife focused.
Favorite Properties
MalaMala Camp, MalaMala Game Reserve, South Africa
Sandwiched between South Africa’s Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand Reserve, MalaMala Camp boasts incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. From leopard and lion to rhino and elephant, each day on safari here is exceptional. If you love leopard, MalaMala has a great track record of providing its guests with sightings. It is perfect for families, single travelers or honeymooners, as they offer two other camp/lodge options within their reserve. There is something that suits everyone. MalaMala also pairs well with Cape Town and the Winelands as it’s a quick easy flight.
Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana
Offering unique and stunning landscapes, the pans are a perfect addition to a Okavango Delta safari. From January to April, this area sees up to 50,000 zebra and wildebeest migrate through it and has distinctive year round wildlife. Jack’s Camp sits on the edge of the pans and has large luxurious tents with activities like quad biking, horseback riding, meerkat encounters, bushman walks and traditional game drives. This area can accurately be described as otherworldly and magical.
Ngare Serian, Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
Nestled in the private Mara North Conservancy and dotted along the riverbank, you’ll find Ngare Serian. With a classic yet a slight bohemian vibe, the large marquee tents have spacious decks that allow for a relaxing space for you to drink your morning coffee while soaking in the sights and sounds of the bush. Ngare Serian prides itself on its lack of WiFi, as it really allows guests to be fully disconnected from the outside world. All guests get private vehicles which is special added bonus when staying here.
Singita Faru Faru Lodge, Singita Grumeti Reserve, Tanzania
Located in the western corridor of the legendary Serengeti, Singita Faru Faru Lodge offers guests world class food and wine, top notch service and gorgeous accommodations. This property is contemporary chic, comfortable and luxurious, all the while offering guests some of the best wildlife viewing in the western Serengeti! I personally love this area of Tanzania and Singita has four other properties within this reserve. So whether you want a tented or lodge style accommodation, you pick that which best suits your needs.
Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, Nile River, Egypt
When going to Egypt, a Nile cruise is a must! This experience allows you access to ancient temples that are not easily reached by road or other modes of transportation. There’s nothing quite like ambling along the river soaking in the sights, sounds and smells of the cities and small town you pass. The knowledgeable Egyptologist guides, delicious food options, luxury rooming and friendly staff make this cruise a comfortable choice. Egypt is the perfect trip for those who have done a few safaris and are looking for a different kind of adventure.