ABOUT
I’ve never been one for the easy route.
Welcome to VivienneGunning.com
Expedition leader. Story-seeker. Photographer of the quiet and the wild.
To travel is not to escape life but for life not escaping us!
I am Vivienne Gunning — senior expedition leader, artist, and observer of the human spirit.
Experience that runs deep
My professional life has unfolded in the field:
on expedition routes, in remote lodges, on airstrips far from infrastructure, and in situations where calm judgement matters more than bravado.
Over the years, my work has included expedition leadership, hospitality and lodge management, aviation-related operational support, crisis coordination, and guest care at a high level of responsibility. These experiences have shaped the way I travel — and the way I guide others.
I don’t rush Africa.
I understand its rhythms, its unpredictability, and the quiet signals that only experience teaches you to read.
Accessible & assisted travel
Alongside expedition work, I specialise in accessible and assisted travel planning and accompaniment, particularly for solo travellers, senior guests, and those with mobility considerations.
This work is grounded in realism, empathy, and experience — not promises or assumptions. With thoughtful pacing, honest assessments, and calm on-the-ground support, travel becomes both dignified and deeply rewarding.
Accessible travel, when done properly, is not about limitation.
It is about possibility, presence, and care.
A digital campfire
This website is my digital campfire.
You won’t find glossy perfection here.
But you will find stories shaped by dust, silence, colour, chaos, heartbreak, and wonder — shared through photographs and words gathered over a lifetime in motion.
Through my work, I explore the quiet dignity of a market vendor in Ethiopia, the wild pulse of a leopard in the Thuli Block, or the stillness of a grounded aircraft on a remote airstrip. Life, unscripted — but deeply felt.
This space is not about travel tips.
It is about what travel does to you.
On photography
Photography is how I pause the world long enough to truly see it.
My photographic work brings together images I’m most proud of — technically, emotionally, and artistically. They reflect professional photographic training, yes, but also instinct, patience, and an emotional response to light and form.
Please note that these images are protected works and may not be downloaded or shared without permission.
On painting
Long before the lens, there was the brush.
Painting is where I first learned to see — not only with my eyes, but with breath, skin, and instinct. These works are not photorealistic; they are interpretations. Emotional translations of places, faces, and moments that stayed with me long after I left.
Some paintings are layered and bold, others spare and still. All are deeply personal. Each brushstroke says: this is how it felt.
Original works and prints are available on request. Commissions are welcomed by conversation.
Thank you for being here
Thank you for stepping into this curated visual journey.
If something resonates, I’d love to hear from you.
📷 You can follow my current work on Instagram:
@VivieGunning | @VNGwild
Facebook: Vivienne Gunning | Vivie Gunning Explorer
Expedition leader. Story-seeker. Photographer of the quiet and the wild.
To travel is not to escape life but for life not escaping us!
I am Vivienne Gunning — senior expedition leader, artist, and observer of the human spirit.
Experience that runs deep
My professional life has unfolded in the field:
on expedition routes, in remote lodges, on airstrips far from infrastructure, and in situations where calm judgement matters more than bravado.
Over the years, my work has included expedition leadership, hospitality and lodge management, aviation-related operational support, crisis coordination, and guest care at a high level of responsibility. These experiences have shaped the way I travel — and the way I guide others.
I don’t rush Africa.
I understand its rhythms, its unpredictability, and the quiet signals that only experience teaches you to read.
Accessible & assisted travel
Alongside expedition work, I specialise in accessible and assisted travel planning and accompaniment, particularly for solo travellers, senior guests, and those with mobility considerations.
This work is grounded in realism, empathy, and experience — not promises or assumptions. With thoughtful pacing, honest assessments, and calm on-the-ground support, travel becomes both dignified and deeply rewarding.
Accessible travel, when done properly, is not about limitation.
It is about possibility, presence, and care.
A digital campfire
This website is my digital campfire.
You won’t find glossy perfection here.
But you will find stories shaped by dust, silence, colour, chaos, heartbreak, and wonder — shared through photographs and words gathered over a lifetime in motion.
Through my work, I explore the quiet dignity of a market vendor in Ethiopia, the wild pulse of a leopard in the Thuli Block, or the stillness of a grounded aircraft on a remote airstrip. Life, unscripted — but deeply felt.
This space is not about travel tips.
It is about what travel does to you.
On photography
Photography is how I pause the world long enough to truly see it.
My photographic work brings together images I’m most proud of — technically, emotionally, and artistically. They reflect professional photographic training, yes, but also instinct, patience, and an emotional response to light and form.
Please note that these images are protected works and may not be downloaded or shared without permission.
On painting
Long before the lens, there was the brush.
Painting is where I first learned to see — not only with my eyes, but with breath, skin, and instinct. These works are not photorealistic; they are interpretations. Emotional translations of places, faces, and moments that stayed with me long after I left.
Some paintings are layered and bold, others spare and still. All are deeply personal. Each brushstroke says: this is how it felt.
Original works and prints are available on request. Commissions are welcomed by conversation.
Thank you for being here
Thank you for stepping into this curated visual journey.
If something resonates, I’d love to hear from you.
📷 You can follow my current work on Instagram:
@VivieGunning | @VNGwild
Facebook: Vivienne Gunning | Vivie Gunning Explorer
