Africa, experienced from the inside.

Expedition leader • Photographer • Storyteller

More than 30 years leading expeditions across 34 African countries—for National Geographic Expeditions, Bushtracks Expeditions and discerning private travellers.

I’ve never been one for the easy route.

Some lives are planned. Mine has always been an expedition.

Expedition leader. Story-seeker. Photographer of the quiet and the wild.

This website is my digital campfire.

You won’t find glossy perfection here. You will find stories shaped by dust, silence, colour, chaos, heartbreak and wonder—shared through photographs and words gathered over a lifetime in motion.

This space isn’t about travel tips. It’s about what travel does to you.

To travel is not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

For more than three decades, my life has unfolded in the field—leading expeditions across Africa, photographing extraordinary places, working in remote lodges and airstrips, and learning that calm judgement is often the most valuable skill a traveller can possess.

Africa has taught me patience, humility and perspective. It has shown me that the greatest journeys are rarely measured by distance travelled, but by the moments that quietly change us.

Over the years, my work has taken many forms: expedition leadership, hospitality, aviation operations, guest care, crisis coordination, accessible travel and photography. Each has shaped the way I lead, the way I observe, and the way I connect with people.

Whether you’re looking for an experienced expedition leader, an accessible travel companion, or simply wish to experience Africa through my photography and writing, I hope you’ll find something here that inspires you.

If something here resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you.
Email: gunningvivienne@gmail.com

Follow my journey
Instagram:
@viviegunning: https://www.instagram.com/viviegunning/
Facebook:
Vivienne Gunning: https://www.facebook.com/vivienne.gunning.96/
LinkedIn 
Vivienne Gunning
Substack 
Vivienne Gunning

More than three decades leading journeys across Africa.

Expedition leadership is far more than guiding a journey from one destination to the next. It is about reading people as carefully as landscapes, adapting to the unexpected, making calm decisions under pressure, and creating experiences that remain with travellers long after they return home.

From the waterways of the Okavango Delta to the mountain gorillas of Uganda, from the deserts of Namibia to the great wilderness areas of East Africa, my career has been built on helping travellers experience Africa with confidence, curiosity and respect.

Throughout my career I have led more than 100 multi-day expeditions, including over 50 departures for National Geographic Expeditions across Southern Africa. I have worked in 34 African countries with travellers from around the world, each journey presenting its own challenges, cultures and unforgettable moments.

My professional background extends beyond expedition leadership. It includes aviation, hospitality, lodge management and emergency response, giving me a broad operational understanding of travel in remote environments. These experiences have shaped my leadership style: calm, prepared, adaptable and always focused on the wellbeing of my guests.
Today I continue to work with tour operators, private travellers and organisations seeking an experienced expedition leader who combines logistical expertise with genuine storytelling, cultural understanding and a deep love for Africa.

Where I Can Add Value
● Expedition Leadership throughout Africa
● National Geographic-style journeys
● Wildlife and photographic expeditions
● Small group and private departures
● Accessible and assisted travel companioning
● Remote logistics and expedition planning
● Hospitality and guest experience
● Cross-cultural interpretation and storytelling
● Crisis management and operational support

My Philosophy
The finest expeditions are not measured by the number of animals seen or kilometres travelled. They are measured by the moments that cannot be planned: a quiet sunrise in the Delta, conversations around a campfire, the laughter of local children, or the silence shared while watching elephants disappear into the evening light.
Those are the experiences I strive to create—journeys that are authentic, enriching and remembered for a lifetime.

Looking for an experienced expedition leader, private guide or expedition consultant?
I’d love to hear from you.

Follow my current work:
Instagram:
@viviegunning: https://www.instagram.com/viviegunning/
Facebook:
Vivienne Gunning: https://www.facebook.com/vivienne.gunning.96/

SHARE THE THRILLS! Tales of travel, light, and humanity — shared from a lifetime on the road.

Rolling Through the Mother City — A Wheelchair & Mobility Guide to Cape Town Wheelchair & Mobility

KENYA, LAMU — THE GIRL WHO WALKED INTO THE SEA

On the island of Lamu, where narrow streets carry whispers faster than footsteps, there is a story they tell quietly. A girl. A wedding that never happened. And footprints in the sand at Shela Beach that only go one way.

Cape Town — Sir Lowry’s Pass Village — Where Childhood Still Plays Outside

An intimate photo essay from Sir Lowry’s Pass Village in the Western Cape, exploring community life, street art, and childhood play just outside Cape Town.

This is My Story - Our World

In a crowded world where personal space becomes luxury and cities pulse with chaos, Vivie reflects on overpopulation, fading rural rhythms, inequality along Cape Town’s N2, and what true simplicity—space, silence, soil—really means today. A gentle pause from travel to stillness.

Accessible Travel in Africa Is not a Checklist — It is a Way of Being with People

Discover why accessible travel in Africa goes beyond checklists—it’s about real human capacity, dignity, and adapting on the ground for older travelers and invisible needs. Field-grounded insights from Cape Town.

Why Kenya Keeps Calling Me Back

Kenya through my eyes — places I’ve returned to, moments that linger, and why this country keeps drawing me back.

Accessible Travel in Africa: Why It is Different — and Why It Requires Human Judgment

Accessible travel in Africa isn’t about checklists or ramps—it’s about presence, pace, and real human judgment. From hidden needs like fatigue and anxiety to remote bush realities, discover why a calm companion often makes the biggest difference. A gentle reflection on dignity, adaptability, and making Africa’s wild corners truly reachable

The Pyramids of Giza — No aliens required. Just human ingenuity at its finest

The Pyramids of Giza — forget the alien theories. This is a story about human brilliance, effort, and belief.

Cairo International Airport (CAI): First Impressions, Visas & Vital Tips for South Africans and Others

I share what I’ve learned arriving in Cairo — not as a first-timer, but as a traveller who knows to observe before moving.

From Cape to Cairo — Featured in Glow Talks Magazine

I’m honoured to be featured on the cover of Glow Talks Magazine (November 2025 issue). This feature traces my journey from Cape Town to Cairo — through photography, people, and places that leave their mark long after monuments fade. The story is about courage, curiosity, and moving forward with a camera in hand.

"Little" Tut – He Was No Legend

A boy-king, not a legend in gold. Travel writer Vivie unpacks Tutankhamun’s real story – inbreeding, pain, politics and power – from GEM to the Valley of the Kings.

Travelling Light Is a Mindset

Travelling light is more than a packing list – it’s a mindset. Somewhere between Africa, India and Europe I traded bulky suitcases for one 42L backpack that carries everything I need for two months on the road. In this blog I share exactly what I pack, how I stay comfortable and presentable, and why “less” has quietly become “more than enough”.

Senior Expedition Leadership (Africa)

With over 30 years of experience across 33 African countries, I bring unmatched depth of knowledge, cultural understanding, and on-the-ground expertise to every journey.

Accessible & Assisted Travel Companion

Private, realistic itineraries — and optional personal accompaniment — for travellers who need more time, assistance, or reassurance. Travel at your pace, with calm support and on-the-ground experience. Message me on WhatsApp to start.

Learn More

Bespoke African Journeys | Vivienne Gunning

Every journey should tell a story — yours. Whether you seek stillness or thrill, solitude or celebration, I design journeys that mirror your rhythm — handcrafted, considered, and deeply personal. Each itinerary blends discovery with detail, art with logistics, and authenticity with comfort — because travel should feel like it was made for you.

Photography, Talks & Storytelling

Alongside expedition and travel work, I offer travel and wildlife photography, speaking engagements, and field-based storytelling, shaped by decades of lived experience across Africa and beyond. My talks are motivational and experience-led, with a particular focus on encouraging women to discover their own strength, confidence, and independence through travel and life exploration. Drawing on real journeys, challenges, reinvention, and resilience, I speak honestly about fear, courage, self-trust, and the quiet power of stepping beyond what feels familiar. These sessions are not theoretical or scripted. They are grounded in real situations — navigating unfamiliar cultures, remote environments, personal transitions, and the moments that test self-belief. Talks and presentations are suited to: • Women’s groups and clubs • Travel and cultural forums • Corporate or organisational events • Educational institutions and workshops Photography and storytelling elements can be woven into presentations, creating a visual and emotional narrative that connects experience with insight.

ACCESSIBLE & ASSISTED TRAVEL

ACCESSIBLE AND ASSITED TRAVEL

"Accessible travel, when done properly, is not about limitation. It is about possibility, presence, and care."— VIVIENNE GUNNING

Trusted on-the-ground leadership for travellers who need more than a booking

I design and personally accompany accessible and assisted journeys across Africa for tour operators, travel organisations, and private clients.

My work supports guests who require:

MOBILITY SUPPORT
Honest assessments, adapted logistics, and dignified on-ground care.

MEDICAL AWARENESS
Experience with chronic conditions, fatigue, anxiety, and invisible needs.

MEDICAL AWARENESS
Experience with chronic conditions, fatigue, anxiety, and invisible needs.

SOLO TRAVELLERS
A calm, experienced presence for those travelling without companions.

Whether you need a travel companion, full itinerary design, or simply honest advice on what's actually possible — I'm here.

WHAT CLIENTS SAY TRUST BUILT OVER A LIFETIME IN MOTION

Esther Murray: Bbakamemaw@aol.com

Accessible Egypt & Africa itineraries (Age 86)

Vivienne has been Godsend to me. She has helped me accomplish things that I never could have done without her and her expert help. She worked a miracle when it came to me going to Egypt to see the pyramids. That was the last thing on my bucket list and at 86 years old, I thought it was impossible. Not so. Vivi made it possible and in the most wonderful way. She organized and planned every single detail to perfection. Her company and cherry uplifting spirit made it a trip of a lifetime. I have been around the world and in all seven continents and traveled with many people, but if I had my choice to do it over again, Vivi is the one I’d want to do it with. She never lets anything stop her. If something went wrong, I never knew about it. She handled it with grace and knowledge. I’ve taken three trips with her and there was never one minute I felt worried or concerned. Just knowing her has enriched my life.

Suzette Nieuwoudt

Former Interim Executive Director, SADC Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation / Project Coordinator ICAO COSCAP-SADC

Vivienne is a specialist in her field with decades of experience in aviation ranging from finding the best-suited aircraft for “flying safaris”, leading expeditions and managing logistics. Tending to every detail of the tour group’s needs in an artistic manner comes naturally, whilst topping it by sharing her positive energy to round off every expedition and every adventure as a “once in a lifetime experience”! Bravo Vivienne, you lead by example!

David Tett

Founder and CEO, Bushtracks Expeditions

January 30, 2026 Vivienne Gunning Cape Town, South Africa gunningvivienne@gmail.com Dear Sir or Madam, It is a pleasure to recommend Vivienne Gunning, whose outstanding performance and long-standing contribution to Bushtracks Expeditions have consistently exceeded expectations and earned the trust of our most discerning travelers. Over a period of 25 years, Vivienne has demonstrated exceptional versatility, developing management capabilities across a wide range of complex operational, aviation, expedition, and project-based roles within our organization. She initially supported Bushtracks with highly complex ACMI, long-haul, multi-stop airliner charters across Africa, including routes from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa, Cape Town to Casablanca, and a circumnavigation of North Africa and the Sahara aboard a private VIP Boeing 737. Her responsibilities included end-to-end flight planning, securing overflight and landing permits, contracting airport ground handlers, coordinating onboard catering and cabin crew, managing fueling logistics, and maintaining high passenger service standards throughout. Building on her success in aviation charter management, Vivienne progressed to become our most experienced Expedition Leader, completing more journeys, serving more guests, and operating across more destinations than any other leader in our organization. In parallel, she developed strong project management expertise, most notably leading the establishment of a 50-bed Moroccan Caidal tented camp in the Sahara Desert in Niger. This included designing, setting up, and managing a highly successful remote field kitchen capable of delivering high-quality meals to private jet guests in an extremely challenging environment. Vivienne later managed another demanding remote assignment: our contract with Doli (Elephant) Lodge in the Central African Republic. This project required her to plan and source fittings and soft furnishings in South Africa and the CAR, oversee transport into a remote rainforest location, creatively refurbish the lodge and its landscaping within a strict budget, train and uniform staff, and train the chef and kitchen team while implementing a structured weekly menu system. In subsequent years, Vivienne led numerous Southern Africa Private Air Safaris for National Geographic Expeditions, contributing significantly to a highly successful 17-year partnership that concluded in 2024. Most recently, she personally escorted a mature Bushtracks guest with restricted mobility through Egypt, demonstrating exceptional care, sensitivity, and attention to detail—qualities that continue to distinguish Vivienne in the delivery of bespoke, high-touch travel experiences. In summary, I recommend Vivienne Gunning without reservation for a suitable role within the tourism, expedition, or luxury travel industry. She is a deeply committed professional who combines operational rigor with empathy, leadership, and consistent accountability. Sincerely, David Tett Founder & CEO Bushtracks Expeditions