National Geographic Traveller (UK) July - August 2022

Erin Parisi I was once afraid to go to the grocery store. To go from fearing bigotry in public to becoming the first trans person to climb the highest point in Antarctica was huge for me. I’ve taken that trans flag to a place I could have never seen it raised. MEET THE ADVENTURER P.46 Emma Gregg In spite of the pandemic, Africa’s most imaginative and resilient operators have cooked up a range of contemporary, nature-positive menu of new camps, activities and tours. There’s never been a better time to plan a trip. SAFARI P.70 Lee Cobaj Most visitors to Thailand focus on Bangkok and the beaches, but the countryside — with its ancient monuments, enormous jungles and wonderful wildlife — is just as thrilling. And best of all: you don’t even have to travel…

At a glance, the classic African safari trip hasn’t changed in decades: tented camp, Land Rover Defender, skilled local guide, G&Ts at sundown… But scratch the surface and you’ll find huge innovation, particularly in recent years. From electric vehicles and carbon-neutral lodges, to Indigenous storytelling and cutting-edge conservation initiatives, safari in 2022 is a more pioneering travel experience than ever. As well as offering some of the most beguiling luxury accommodation you’re likely to find anywhere in the world, the best safari operations are a force for good, where game reserves are locally run, tours locally managed and funds are funnelled back into the community, creating the sense of ownership that empowers conservation from the ground up. And beyond the popular destinations — Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana — there’s a wealth…

Our annual awards are back and we’re looking to crown the very best in the travel business. Think back over the past year: has a book, TV show or podcast kept you inspired between travels? Which destinations have topped your wish list? Perhaps an airline has gone the extra (air) mile, or a tour operator has pulled out all the stops? We want to hear from you. Cast your votes and you could win one of 24 incredible prizes — and help your favourites get recognised, too. Vote today at nationalgeographic.co.uk/reader-awards VOTE ONLINE TO WIN ONE OF THESE FANTASTIC PRIZES! THE PRIZES A SEVEN-NIGHT HOLIDAY FOR TWO AT THE LANDINGS RESORT AND SPA, SAINT LUCIA Unwind in style at The Landings Resort and Spa, enjoying the first-class service and facilities this all-villa-suite resort has to offer. landingsstlucia.com A…

Erin Parisi I was once afraid to go to the grocery store. To go from fearing bigotry in public to becoming the first trans person to climb the highest point in Antarctica was huge for me. I’ve taken that trans flag to a place I could have never seen it raised. MEET THE ADVENTURER P.46 Emma Gregg In spite of the pandemic, Africa’s most imaginative and resilient operators have cooked up a range of contemporary, nature-positive menu of new camps, activities and tours. There’s never been a better time to plan a trip. SAFARI P.70 Lee Cobaj Most visitors to Thailand focus on Bangkok and the beaches, but the countryside — with its ancient monuments, enormous jungles and wonderful wildlife — is just as thrilling. And best of all: you…

SNAPSHOT Simon Noble, New Forest A former nightclub promoter, band manager and gardener, Simon was inspired to become a full-time beekeeper in 2014 after finding a wild bee colony in a fallen tree. But what started as a conservation effort has turned into a business, The Noble Bee, and he now has 70 hives across the New Forest National Park and produces natural honey and beeswax candles. He also holds beekeeping experience days every week during spring and summer to spread the word about how essential bees and other pollinators are to life on Earth. tombarnes.com @tombarnesdotcom Shortlisted in the Portraiture category in the Open Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards 2022. worldphoto.org…

Gobi Desert, Mongolia After a long day of travelling through the vast Mongolian countryside, we reached our nomadic homestay in the northwestern reaches of the Gobi Desert. As the sun began to set on another scorching day, Bayarmaa, the grandmother of our host family, was milking the goats with an infectious smile on her face. The nomads’ diet is based largely on milk, so the goats provide an invaluable source of nutrition, and selling the milk can also provide an income. Nearly half of the Mongolian population still lives in this traditional way, their lives shaped by migrations between sheltered pastures in the winter and exposed steppes in the summer. andrewnewey.com @andrewnewey…