Travel Designer

Kirsty Downing

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

My background

Whilst I grew up in a family which loved to travel, everything changed for me the moment I stepped foot in Africa. What began as a month-long journey from Cape Town along the Garden Route to the Kruger National park, turned into a lifelong passion, and I have spent almost a decade turning that passion into my profession. I’ve returned to Africa almost every year since (often multiple times a year!) and despite many other parts of the world being on my bucket list, Africa is the place that always draws me back.

Kirsty posing against Franschoek landscape

The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to.

Richard Mullin

In 9 years of working for one of the UK’s leading tailor-made operators, I learned that the best trips aren't just about the lodges, but the memories you come home with. For me, those memories range from the adrenaline of a horseback safari in the Okavango Delta and the patience of tiger-fishing on the Zambezi, to the incredibly special experience of taking my own family on their very first safari in the Sabi Sands. Having seen the magic of the bush through my friend’s and family's eyes, I know first-hand how transformative and soul-stirring these journeys can be.

I truly believe that Africa offers something for everyone, whether you are drawn by the exceptional wildlife, the breathtaking scenery, or the deep history and culture rooted in the continent. Working for Wilderness, I feel incredibly privileged to spend my days creating bespoke, once-in-a-lifetime itineraries that allow others to fall in love with Africa, just as I have.