Thursday Traveler: Heath Ashcroft

Every Thursday, A Dangerous Business will be shining the spotlight on a world nomad, travel blogger, armchair adventurer, or just someone really cool in the travel world. This week, the traveler is Heath Ashcroft of Acacia-Africa. Heath sees himself as a citizen of the world, having worked in five out of the seven continents. A New Zealand upbringing has given him a passion for the outdoors and indigenous cultures.

1. How do you define the word “traveler,” and why would you consider yourself one?

A traveler is someone who spends time in a destination, but it’s the adventurer in you that has an irresistible urge to keep exploring the planet. I guess you have to break away from the traditional forms of travel to find that sense of adventure and head off the beaten path, away from the tourist enclaves. Once the adventure bug claims you, it can become somewhat of an addiction. So yeah, I’m a fully fledged adventurer who now finds it almost impossible to stop planning the next trip as soon as I arrive home. Luckily, I get to see a fair bit of Africa as that’s part and parcel of my job, and I love the unpredictable nature of the continent — it’s the icing on the cake when it comes to unbeatable adventures.

2. What has been your favorite travel experience thus far?

Game viewing in the Serengeti National Park with my girlfriend Kirsty. This was the last of eight game parks on our safari and I was a wee bit nervous. Not because we were camping out in the wilds that night, but because it was Kristy’s last chance to see a leopard. The elusive leopard, an animal I love and hate in equal measure. Love because of its power and hate because of the disappointment I know it can bring when not spotted!

On entering the park proper, the first big predator we come across was the lion, boldly surveying his kingdom on top of a kopjie (rocky outcrop). This was a good start! Shortly afterwards we came across the cheetah, just visible 500 or so metres away. Hey I thought, we are on a roll! And lo and behold, less than an hour later we spotted Kristy’s first leopard, AND it was in a tree!! He had company; a Thompsons Gazelle was lifeless, hanging daintily from the slim branches of a young Acacia tree the leopard had appropriated. I honestly do not know which was better, the sight of the leopard with its kill or the look of astonishment on Kristy’s face! A once in a lifetime priceless encounter!

Flamingos in Kenya

3. How about your proudest travel moment?

Climbing to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, turning in a full circle and knowing that no where on the face of the entire massive African continent was higher than I was at that point in time.

4. Have you had any travel mishaps or bad experiences? If so, have these influenced how you view the place where they happened? Would you go back?

I have been the victim of an attempted mugging in Havana, Cuba, walking down Malecon, the wide seaside boulevard back to our hotel, where I was attacked from behind. The weird thing was that this was in broad daylight and not what I expected from the then-quite strict communist state with police being highly visible. Anyhow, I managed to shake the mugger off and he disappeared down an alleyway with nothing. I definitely wasn’t about to follow! At the time it certainly shook my girlfriend and I up and we were definitely warier when subsequently venturing out in the city. It hasn’t put me off recommending Cuba or Havana as a place to visit as these things can happen anywhere in the world. In fact, it makes me want to go back to Havana as a gesture of defiance and to ‘get back’ some of the lost enjoyment perhaps taken away at the time. I did text my brother in New Zealand immediately after the mugging and his reply was ‘dumb Cubans, don’t they know Maoris don’t have money’! It certainly lifted the spirits.

5. Name one thing you can’t travel without.

It would have be two — a corkscrew and bottle opener!

6. Name one thing you wish you COULD travel without.

Visas and paperwork — wouldn’t it be great if the world was one borderless planet!

Lemur in Madagascar

7. What do you think has been the biggest thing you’ve learned while traveling (about yourself, a destination, a culture, travel itself)?

Always be confident (but not arrogant) whenever in unfamiliar or difficult circumstances and don’t have too many expectations, especially when in Africa as you never know what might happen next. In fact, the unknown is what makes for a great trip. I always aim to be surprised and go with the flow!

8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Cape Town, South Africa. The most beautiful city I have been to. It has a great, intimate vibe when going out, great food and wine and an abundance of outdoor activities/festivals/events happening year round.

9. Name one place you’d like to see or one experience you’d like to have before you die.

Iran. Before it (possibly) turns into an Iraq.

10. If there was one thing you wish somebody would have told you before you started traveling, what would it be?

Just do it — pack as many cultural, social and voluntour experiences into your trip as possible. The memories that leave with you will be life-changing.

Visit Acacia Africa’s site: Acacia Africa
Follow Acacia Africa on Twitter: @AcaciaAfrica
‘Like’ Acacia Africa on Facebook: Acacia Africa

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Are you a travel blogger who has something to say on these topics? Do you know of somebody really interesting in the travel universe that you’d like to see interviewed? Speak up! The Thursday Traveler needs some interview subjects.

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