Travel writers from all over the world have inspired me to venture further and deeper into the unknown. Two writers in particular have stuck with me…
Let’s take it back in history. In 1771, the Scottish explorer Mungo Park was born. In 1796, Park set off on an adventure down the Niger River in West Africa. The river runs from the Guinea Highlands near the Sierra Leone Border, across Mali and Niger to meet the border of Benin where it then travels through Nigeria and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. His travels in this region led him to publish his experiences in his influential book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa. I found it a compelling read and it is a must for anyone looking to pursue a future in travel and exploration.

Working with Battleface Insurance; Protection for the Most Dangerous of Journeys

As I prepare for my upcoming trip to Colombia, it is vital that I take all possible precautions. The risks of this journey are numerous including, but not limited to being detained, going missing, and getting injured.

However, I feel as comfortable as I can knowing that I am protected through Battleface Insurance. Their adventure travel and crisis response insurance policies give me peace of mind that whatever may happen while I’m there, they will have my back. In this article, I want to briefly outline the purpose of my trip, provide an in-depth description of how Battleface is keeping me protected, and let you know how you can follow my journey and support me, if you are interested in doing so.

At one point on the expedition, I actually had to move a python from the path in front of me which was surreal, to say the least. On the same day, we also had to wait two hours for a female orangutan to move off our path. It would not have been safe to scoot around her- they are bigger than you think. Eventually, she shifted and we were able to continue with our hike. Seeing the Orangutans close though was an incredible experience…and the excitement didn’t end there. I’ll never forget watching the Macaque monkeys steal our pancakes on my 18th birthday morning. Not very typical for a young man's 18th, but nevertheless, I was over the moon to be chilling out with the Macaques on my birthday.

Envisage your first lads holiday: a quick two-hour flight to Spain, a week of sun, and a load of booze and babes...
Well, I had my sights set on something slightly different for my 18th birthday.
I was 17 years old and had just left my first job at the local zoo. Shortly after leaving, I received a cheque from the taxman for £800. That is a lot of money for a 17-year-old and I had no idea what to do with it.

Those of you who follow my blog will know how much I enjoy travelling to Colombia. The country has had my attention since I first hopped off the plane back in 2014 on just a short layover. Since then, I have been back 4 times…and I am not done with the country yet! In a few weeks’ time I will be hopping on a plane back to Colombia; I cannot think of a better place to start travelling again after COVID restrictions lift!

Making new friends and acquaintances on the road is one of my favourite things about being a solo traveller. I have not only explored all corners of the globe and travelled in the most unconventional ways, to the most amazing places, I’ve also met some of the nicest, kindest people out there. Travelling is not just about how many countries you visit, or how long you spend on a trip, it’s about the people you meet on the way.

Training in winter is never easy, but this year, the added complication of COVID has made getting out in the hills extra hard. Finally, this weekend, after months of delays and cancellations, myself and a friend ventured to Wales to get some training in.
Under UK guidelines, physical training like this is allowed if you gain permission and follow restrictions. So, I waited for the ‘go-ahead’, gathered a friend and headed out to camp in the Brecons for the night. The virus meant not only dates, times, and location of the trip were affected, but so were the number of people who could come, and which friends felt they were up for struggles and hardships of ruthless winter training. Despite the challenges, I was overjoyed to finally have the opportunity to be out in nature again, doing what I love most.

Well, what a year 2020 has been for international travel and explorers like myself.
Unsurprisingly, the travel and tourism industry has been one of the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. It put a halt in so many people’s travel plans, including my own. After many cancellation emails later, I’ve come to accept 2020 was just not the year for international travel. Though it has been disappointing in many ways, 2020 has inspired me to get my head down and make plans for my future trips in the year to come.

So. I am officially an author. I never thought I would say that, but after 9 months of writing, persistence and hard work, I have finally published my first book. It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud to say ‘The Essequibo River’ is now available to purchase on Amazon.

I’m never home for long before I start to feel the urge to go on another adventure. Planning an expedition is a lot of work. These are some of the things that I consider when choosing my next big adventure and prepare for it.