Shelly

When I travel, a massive part of it for me is getting as close to wildlife as possible. There’s nothing like seeing animals in their natural habitat. Some of my best moments have been spotting wild orangutans in the jungle, ticking off the Big 5 on safari, and discovering the Borneo 5. I’ve also had unreal experiences swimming alongside sharks, and turtles, which felt surreal. It makes you appreciate nature so much more and reminds you how important it is to protect these incredible creatures and their environments.

Some of the best experiences for me whilst I’ve been on my travels have been the people I have met along the way and adapting to their outlooks on life, which are all about embracing community and living in the moment. One of my favourite encounters was living with a river tribe in Boerno where I learnt all about their way of life, away from all technology and convenience. It was amazing reflecting on my way of living and seeing how happy you can be with simplicity and taking a more relaxed approach to life.

I love adventure travel because it shows me a world far beyond England’s familiar grey skies. Experiencing places like the vibrant Rainbow Mountains in Peru, the surreal blue lava in Indonesia and the clearest waters of the Perhentian islands in Malaysia, has opened my eyes to landscapes I never knew existed. Each journey has pushed me out of my comfort zone, fuelled my curiosity, and reminds me how diverse and extraordinary our planet truly is. This kind of adventure travel collects unforgettable moments that will stay with me long after my return to England.