Travel Designer

Michelle Waring

Do you want a Travel Designer who knows Africa? Michelle specialises in travel to; Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and South Africa.

My background

Born and raised in South Africa, I enjoyed an adventurous outdoors lifestyle growing up, with many happy family trips around South Africa and Zimbabwe. My first ever trip to Zimbabwe was the catalyst for my love for all things Africa and my passion for travel.

I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.

Ernest Hemingway

After school, I started my career in the hospitality industry, working in hotels while studying to obtain my International Hotel School Diploma. I later progressed into the travel industry, working in retail travel as well as for an event management company before starting my safari career with Wilderness Safaris in 2006.

This is where my love for all things safari and Africa was nurtured, and I was fortunate enough to travel extensively, both personally and professionally, to many of the company’s camps to experience them first hand.

Over the last 12 years, I’ve tailored specialised trips for thousands of travellers to Southern Africa, ensuring high levels of service and professionalism. After moving to the UK in 2018, and settling in for a few years, it wasn't long before my passion and love for Africa inspired me to get back into selling this very special place yet again.

I travel to South Africa annually to visit family, and my last trips were to Botswana and Rwanda in 2023.

My most memorable experience

It’s so difficult to select just one memorable experience, but if I have to choose one that I felt was really impactful, I would have to say the canoe trail I did in Mana Pools. The experience of canoeing down the Zambezi River, being eye-to-eye with wildlife, from hippos to elephants, and close to the beautiful sounds and sights of the river, was life-changing. Physically it was challenging, with tired arms at the end of the day, but truly a spiritual experience, and all worth it when enjoying a glass of wine while watching the sun set over the river.