Q&A: CLAIRE FAWBERT

NAME: CLAIRE FAWBERT

OCCUPATION: HEAD OF DESIGN AND DELIVERY, INSPIRING VACATIONS

CITY: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

What’s been your favourite holiday so far?

This is a tough one! Every holiday is so special in its own way. A stand-out would be the first time I went to New York with my family. It's amazing how much you can see and experience in a short time in this city. My brother and I explored every nook and cranny that we could, trying different foods, visiting museums and galleries and hanging out in time square. It was a few days of wandering around fuelling our souls with new experiences.

What’s your favourite, or most frequent, destination?

Chobe, Botswana (see sunset photo)! After camping through Botswana for a month in 2010 we meandered through the Okavango Delta up to Chobe and the Caprivi strip before heading off to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Botswana is breathtakingly beautiful and every day was an adventure. We were so blessed to see an abundance of wildlife and meet some amazing locals and other travellers. After my first trip I went back every year; it's my favourite place on earth. I even got engaged in this very spot a few years later.

You hail from one of our most popular destinations— South Africa—what’s your number one tip for visitors?

What makes Africa hum are its people and the unique African bush. So make sure you step out into the African wild with a local guide, some mozzie repellent, a hat, some binoculars and a sundowner, and you will quickly create memories of a lifetime.

Which famous person would you most love to travel with?

I love to explore the local culinary delights when I travel so I think travelling with someone like Jamie Oliver who loves food and exploring the world would be fun.

Where else would you most like to live in the world?

This is tough but I am drawn to the outdoors where wildlife is everywhere so I naturally gravitate to places with large natural ecosystems and an abundance of animals. I could see myself working from any wildlife reserve as long as it's not too cold and I have good wifi.

Where are you off to next?

We are moving to the Sunshine Coast shortly and I can't wait to explore a new area in Australia. I am hoping to get to Japan sometime soon and will also be doing a relaxing getaway in Thailand in November. New Zealand was always on my bucket list and was my first adventure holiday after moving to Australia. Lake Wakatipu is breathtakingly beautiful especially with the snow-capped Southern Alps behind it. I loved the food and we would take a daily walk along the lake and stop for fresh pancakes from a little stall overlooking the view—I can't wait to go back.