Fiona Walls
Fiona’s knowledge spans East and Southern Africa. She has traveled the continent extensively, getting to know these incredible destinations in depth, and has worked in the luxury safari industry for over 15 years. Today, Fiona uses her broad experience to create bespoke trips for her travellers.
Fiona’s Recent Travel Experience
Fiona’s Most Memorable Experience
“It is so hard to narrow this down! However, I think tracking gorillas in Uganda has to be one of my favourites. We had to work hard to see them, trekking for 3 hours through hot thick forest, up and down steep muddy slopes, clambering over trees, and wading through streams! However, it was worth it, being on foot, having to work for it, and being without the protection of a car makes it even more special! Spending an hour with these incredible rare animals, at times only an arm’s length away, was awe-inspiring, spine-tingling, and slightly scary! They were so human-like, gentle and social with each other, it was easy to forget they are also immensely strong wild animals who deserve respect. An unforgettable experience.
On a visit to Tanzania, I went walking with Maasai guides from the Empakai Crater in the Ngorongoro Highlands, down into Lake Natron. This area is stunningly beautiful, and once you are away from the main crater there are very few people, except the occasional Maasai warrior. This is Maasai land. Learning about the Maasai way of life from the guides whilst walking through this wild, remote area is really special.
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to explore northern Ethiopia by helicopter, which was extraordinary! Flying by helicopter, whilst removing you slightly from the reality of life on the ground, enables you to get to some really remote areas. One great memory was landing in the bottom of an extinct volcano in the Danakil depression, an area very few people reach, swimming in the natural volcanic pools and finding fossils that had been untouched for centuries. Just highlighting the extraordinary diversity that the continent of Africa can offer.”
Fiona’s Bio
Fiona was born in Hong Kong and spent her early years in Venezuela, which sparked her interest in travel and adventure. Whilst studying Geography at Edinburgh University, Fiona was able to make use of the long summer vacations to travel. Her love of Africa started here, when she volunteered in Zambia for a month before backpacking through Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. After university and a stint working in a ski resort, Fiona joined an expedition company planning expeditions for schoolchildren, where she accompanied them on volunteer and trekking projects in various countries in Africa.
From there, she moved into the luxury safari industry and lived in Tanzania for 8 months, working in operations for a safari company, looking after guests and exploring the parks. Returning to the UK, she has worked for a few well-known safari operators and she has been lucky enough to travel back to Africa many times through work and with family, exploring Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Mali.
Expert Destinations
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Tanzania
A classic safari destination home to big game, epic wildlife events, and iconic national parks.
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Kenya
The original birthplace of safari, where world-class wildlife experiences and beautiful beaches meet.
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Uganda
Primate treks, boating expeditions, traditional safaris, and more. Uganda’s safari potential is wonderfully diverse and untapped.
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Rwanda
Gorilla trekking, Big Five safaris, and poignant history. Rwanda is a truly inspiring safari destination.
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Botswana
From dusty salt pans to delta floods, Botswana is a celebration of pristine African wilderness.
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Mozambique
A standout mix of remote, wild spaces and magnificent tropical beaches.
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South Africa
Big Five safaris, lively cities, and dramatic coastlines. South Africa delivers exciting contrasts and variety.
Fiona’s Top Lodges
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Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
From C$1,381 – C$2,278 ppClouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge is an excellent option for keen gorilla trekkers, providing other exciting activities too! This property has a fabulous location on a hilltop, on the south-western side of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Clouds Mountain Gorilla…
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Little Vumbura
From C$2,472 – C$4,059 ppLocated within the Vumbura Concession, on an idyllically remote private island, Wilderness Little Vumbura is a delightful little camp in an area that attracts a diverse spectacle of wildlife. Nestled within 148,000 acres of pristine wilderness, the ancient…
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Somalisa Camp
From C$1,298 – C$2,044 ppFor travellers seeking authenticity in Hwange, Somalisa is hard to beat. The camp accepts children aged 7 years and older and we recommend constant supervision at all times as big game passes through camp!
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Serengeti Safari Camp
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsRun by high-quality safari operator Nomad Tanzania, Serengeti Safari Camp is one of the best mobile tented camps in Serengeti National Park, and it’s fair to say a class act. The focus here is entirely on the Wildebeest Great Migration, and the camp moves…
