Kathryn and Peter Straughan are the General Managers at Leshiba Wilderness, a private wildlife and ecotourism destination located on top of the Soutpansberg Mountains in the Limpopo region of South Africa.&nbsp;On a day to day basis Peter is in charge of reserve management and Kathryn is in charge of hospitality. Featuring rock paintings that were made by local bushmen up to 2000 years ago, Leshiba affords the opportunity to wander among 380 species of indigenous trees and spot 93 documented mammal species, spread across 2500ha of ancient African Wilderness. There’s the chance to learn about local Venda culture and enjoy stargazing, self improvement workshops and hiking, swimming and cycling. They tell host Si Willmore about the arrival to Leshiba that is a crucial part of the experience as well activities on offer: besides the classic hiking and biking, a huge part of the experience centres around the rock art trail that features Bushman (San) paintings. And, naturally, safari game drives are a big draw so Peter tells us what animals we can we expect to see. Kathryn talks about the accommodation which is set in an old Venda village, as well as her work in transformational tourism and tourism that is not focused solely on a safari experience. Kathryn and Peter share tips and advice for people thinking about visiting Limpopo including the Ribolo Art Route, culture and archaeology, birding, and visiting Mapungubwe and Kruger national parks. In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry.

'Trance dance' rock paintings and saliva-powered cars with Leshiba Wilderness

Over a decade ago, Tom Wortley traded the comforts of his UK home for island life in the South Atlantic Ocean. He relocated to one of the world’s remotest islands – St Helena, to start a family with his St Helenian wife. In 2019, Tom opened Rock Mount, a beautifully restored stone cottage offering guest accommodation for tourist and locals. Recently, expanding his venture, Tom launched Rock Mount Walking Tours, where he offers guided hikes of varying difficulty, enabling visitors to explore the island’s natural beauty. Tom tells host Si Willmore about relocating to such a remote island and his first impressions of St Helena. He shares a little about what life is like on St Helena, especially the differences between his experiences growing up in the UK and what he sees nowadays for his own kids -- especially the higher levels of freedom and safety. He discusses his gorgeous off-grid accommodation with 'postbox walks' and recalls how Rock Mount Walking Tours started and shares his favourite hikes to take clients on including Blue Point beginner-level walks in a "geologist's dream land", plus visiting Lot's Wife's Ponds with endemic fish, and the highest point on the walk at 210m above sea level with wonderful views of the Gorilla's Head and Asses Ears rock formations. He shares examples of typical weekends on the island for his family, such as visiting Lemon Valley and diving with whale sharks around ship wrecks made into artificial reefs, and suggests some essential experiences for visitors including 4x4 tours and meeting the famous tortoise Jonathan. In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry.

A Moana story and island fry-ups - with Rock Mount Walking Tours, St Helena

Dickie Ashcroft is the Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda &amp; Rwanda Senior Specialist at <a href="https://www.audleytravel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Audley Travel</a>. Inspired from a young age by the classic stories of the African exploration, after schooling in Shropshire and graduating from university, he packed his bags and headed to the Caprivi Region of northern Namibia to train as a guide. Apprenticing with a safari company operating throughout Namibia and latterly Botswana, he then moved to Tanzania in order to manage a lodge in one of the country's remotest national parks, Katavi.&nbsp;He's one of the first people to successfully kayak the length of Lake Tanganyika, the world's longest lake, completely unsupported -- all in aid of <a href="https://www.dolamchildrenshome.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dolam Children's Home&nbsp;Namibia</a>. Dickie shares some of those early memories of inspirational adventurers and his family's influence, and what it was specifically about Africa that captured his attention. He relives those early days of arriving in Africa for the first time and enormous culture shift between Shropshire and Namibia. He tells host Si Willmore about Caprivi and Katavi national park, including the staggering landscapes and the wildlife we can expect to see if we visited - including "a pile of sleeping crocs" which hibernate in caves. Dickie also recalls kayaking the length of Lake Tanganyika, the world's longest lake, unsupported – including a day where he and his partner were in the boat for the entire day, travelling from sunrise to sunset and not leaving the boat once -- even for a bathroom break! To conclude, Dickie shares some recommended destinations and itineraries in Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda and Rwanda including the inimitable gorillas and chimpanzees in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry.

A pile of sleeping crocs and all-day kayaking - with Audley Travel

Derek Shenton is the Head of Operations at <a href="https://www.shentonsafaris.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shenton Safaris</a> in Zambia. He’s a third-generation conservationist and safari guide who helped to establish Kaingo Camp in 1992 and Mwamba Bush Camp in 2000 and nowadays is involved in everything from camp building, to guide training, to road maintenance. He’s also on the board of <a href="https://cslzambia.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Conservation South Luangwa (CSL)</a>, an organisation established to protect the ecosystem of South Luangwa, also known as The Valley of the Leopard.&nbsp; Derek shares the story of how his grandfather, who was actually born in Leicester in the UK, moved to Johannesburg to 'chase the dream' before moving to Zululand before his father Barry was born in 1929.&nbsp;He tells host Si Willmore about them working in the game department in Northern Rhodesia, operating side-by-side with local Chief Nsefu -- perhaps the first community-based project of its kind. Derek also reminisces about building Kaingo Camp in South Luangwa National Park, known by some as the birthplace of Walking Safaris, with his father. This included felling a massive leadwood tree to build a bar, long before the days of power tools -- with the appropriate approval from the local authorities, of course. He shares some of the experiences available at Mwamba Bush Camp, including the abundant wildlife -- 400 bird species such as Pel's fishing owl and 60 different mammals including elephants, lions and impalas. At Mwamba, the wildlife hides are Derek's own creation; he has chosen each location after years of observation working with his wildlife photographer wife Jules. In the JRNY Podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry.

Walking safaris in The Valley of the Leopard - with Shenton Safaris

Tour operator Cazenove and Loyd -- more commonly, <a href="https://cazloyd.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cazenove+loyd</a> or simply cazloyd -- has been designing personalised itineraries, group trips, and celebrations for over 30 years, providing exclusive access to inspiring people and places.&nbsp;The company specialises in immersive travel that showcases authentic local culture and communities, from popular destinations like India, Kenya and Peru, to hidden gems like Oman's Dhofar Province, Turks and Caicos, and the Pacific Islands.&nbsp; Host Si Willmore speaks to Henrietta Loyd, co-owner and founder, and Terry Moohan, head of division for Africa &amp; The Indian Ocean. Henrietta shares the story of how cazloyd was set up and what it was like for two women in a traditionally a male-dominated industry, while Terry discusses the African countries cazenove+loyd specialises in and the destinations that are the most popular for their clients. Henrietta and Terry both share some of their our standout travel experiences, including recent trips they most enjoyed planning -- including a round-the-world trip and a wild party in the Moroccan desert! -- as well as insights into a typical client and how their needs and expectations are changing. They discuss the art of listening and how to understand the real motivation behind a client's travel ideas, and they muse on what the next five years look might like for cazenove+loyd. Henrietta and Terry close by sharing plans for their next trips, to Botswana, 'the Jurassic Park experience' in Sao and Principe and Bhutan, which is quickly becoming Henrietta's second home. This is series 7 of the JRNY Podcast, where host Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry.

Transporting vodka on a fire engine - with Cazenove and Loyd

A giant bee costume, cycling around LA and Hugh Hefner's conservation efforts with Jason Bowers

Sherry Rupert is the CEO of <a href="https:///aianta.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AIANTA</a>, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association. This organisation serves as a voice for the US$14 billion native hospitality sector and showcases the importance of visiting authentic native destinations. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honours traditional values. Sherry tells host Si Willmore how the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association began, as well as her own background, particularly her work in preserving the site of the <a href="https://stewartindianschool.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Stewart Indian School</a> as a museum and cultural centre. Sherry led the creation of a study called the Economic Impact of U.S. Indigenous Tourism Businesses, the first of its kind, and shares some key findings. She discusses the importance of visiting authentic native destinations, including historic and artistic sites, and what makes a destination authentic, and she highlights some of her favourite destinations and tourism projects in the AIANTA portfolio. In the JRNY podcast, Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season Six is sponsored by Brand USA.

A platform for voices that had been muted with Sherry Rupert

Angela Shen is the founder of <a href="https://savorthewildtours.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Savor the Wild</a> where she takes visitors on tours of Washington state, showing them the best places for mushroom foraging, shellfish harvesting and for visiting pop-up culinary events.&nbsp; After working in Brand Management at Quaker Oats, Angela quit corporate life and headed to Seattle where she originally founded Savor Seattle Food Tours, one of the very first food tours in the United States. Nowadays she also works in consultancy and public speaking and talks on topics relating to entrepreneurship, female leadership and tourism and hospitality trends. She tells host Si Willmore about her 'typical' upbringing, working in family restaurants with her chef father&nbsp;and how that ultimately led her into culinary tourism and entrepreneurship. She shares some of her favourite activities in Washington and outlines options for tours provided by Savor the Wild, which promises a "wild ride through Washington’s tastiest treasures". Angela also also offers business advice, for everyone, calling on her success as an entrepreneur and a minority female business leader. This is the JRNY Podcast, where host Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in the travel industry. Season Six is sponsored by Brand USA.

Easter egg hunts for adults and the sound of mushrooms with Angela Shen

Sophie Morgan is a disability rights advocate, presenter, producer, travel writer and artist. She fronted the travel series <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/living-wild-how-to-change-your-life" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Living Wild; How to Change your Life</a> on Channel 4, and she presents coverage of the Paralympics. Last year she completed a staggering 4000-mile solo trip across the USA. Her memoir '<a href="https://www.sophiemorgan.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Driving Forwards</a>' is available now.&nbsp; She tells host Si Willmore about the car crash that paralysed her and changed her life forever at the age of just 18, but how the accident ultimately made her more determined to follow a career that basically nobody in her position had done before. She recalls the earlier days of life in broadcasting as a female with a physical disability and how she broke through the glass ceiling to launch the travel series Living Wild; How to Change your Life and the recent&nbsp;documentary <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/sophie-morgans-fight-to-fly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fight to Fly</a> as well as her work presenting coverage of the Paralympics.&nbsp; Sophie shares insights into travelling in a wheelchair and the astonishing undertaking of a 4000-mile solo trip across the USA.&nbsp;Sophie also shares her work on the <a href="https://rightsonflights.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rights On Flights</a> campaign and offers advice for people in the travel industry looking to make their offering more suitable for travellers with a disability. This is the JRNY Podcast, where Si Willmore talks with pioneers, trailblazers and thought leaders, who are pushing the envelope in their industry. Season Six is sponsored by Brand USA.

"Literally trying to get in the room" with travel writer and disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan

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The team behind the award-winning JRNY Travel Magazine talk to the travel industry's leading writers and photographers about one destination at a time.

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