Was it something you were seeking or something unexpected?
Henrietta: It was totally unexpected.
Amanda: It was completely unexpected if I am honest. I think that sometimes when you live an incredibly busy life, you don’t always make the time to stand back and reflect on your life and your relationships. Forty-eight hours of near solitude was very cathartic, not to say important.
Is it something you will continue to seek in 2019?
Henrietta: Absolutely. I have just got back from Kenya and I will use any excuse to go to Africa or any of our destinations and discover more.
Amanda: I think it is important to occasionally ‘take stock’ but I can’t say I am looking for meaningful change in 2019, just positive evolution. I think travel often acts as a wonderful catalyst though.
If so, where do you hope this will happen? What places are on your radar?
Henrietta: I have never had a particular desire to go to Antarctica or the Arctic but Sarah, who runs our polar regions division, visited the former last year and her feedback just blew me away. She said it was life-changing and, having sat through her three-hour debrief, I can see why. And the Arctic, being nearer, is easier to visit as it is possible to go for a week. It truly is the ultimate expeditionary adventure.
Mozambique is also on my radar; in particular, Gorongosa National Park, which we will be able to send clients to later this year. We are very excited as this is one of Africa’s last wildernesses. And Indonesia is too. The Raja Ampat archipelago is especially beautiful and there are some new and extremely luxurious boats here in which to explore. One of our experts, Antonia, is currently out there and we can’t wait to hear her thoughts.
Amanda: I would love to go to Antarctica. I love being in the elements and I would love to go before it becomes swamped with cruise ships and tourists. We spend quite a lot of time ski-touring and being up on the glaciers in Switzerland and I love the quiet, epic landscapes.