Phoenix Marshall

I grew up in peaceful and far-flung New Zealand, so by the time I was 18 I was itching to explore the world! I moved to Australia and then the UK; to discover the history and grand architecture of Europe. Being an animal lover, it wasn’t long before my passion for travel began to take me places to witness the wonderous wildlife of the planet. I began with Asian Elephants in Northern Thailand, tracked Tigers in India and orangutans in Borneo. I spent three months on a camping safari in Africa making my way from Cape Town to Kampala, falling in love with this incredible continent and the fascinating fauna it has to offer. There is nothing quite like coming face to face with a Big Tusker on a walking safari!

What is your most memorable wildlife encounter?:

The first time I saw a leopard in South Lwanga, it was the last one of the big five I had been waiting to see, and there was an intense stand-off with a hyena which only made the sighting more dramatic.

Why do you travel?

Well as the old saying goes; travel is the only thing you buy which makes you richer, and as cheesy as it is I really believe it’s true! We only get one shot, so I want to see as many marvels of the world as possible whilst I can.

What do you love most about Africa?

It simply has everything! From hippos wallowing in the waters of the Okavango Delta, to the Mars-like dunes of Namibia, to wild mountains where gorillas hide amongst the lush vegetation - there is so much diversity from the savannah to the sea.

Which little-known creatures turned out to be an unexpected safari highlight for you? Flying squirrels in Borneo. Despite the heavy implication from the name, I really didn’t expect them to fly so well!

Out of all the places you've visited, which one surprised you the most?

Myanmar. From the temple forests to the floating villages and the incredible people, it was an unexpected delight every day.