Biography
After graduating from Nottingham University Business School, Abigail resisted the pull of the city and, instead, travelled to India to work with a charity based in the Rajasthani desert. During her year in India she lived with a local family, worked in the villages and sought to understand the culture and language as much as possible. She travelled extensively throughout the country and even embarked on a 3000 km journey from South to North while driving a tuk tuk! Several years on and she is still visiting India regularly to see family, friends and to discover the many corners of India that she has yet to explore.
Abigail's charity work has taken her to South America and Africa but they never quite lived up to her experiences in India. Consequently she joined Audley to combine her travel and work experience. Since then she has returned to India with Audley, travelling the North and Central regions and specialising in Rajasthan and Wildlife trips. Abigail's passions besides travel are food, sports and any activity that combines the two!
My Most Memorable Experience
My most memorable experience of my stay in India was playing Holi in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Having lived there for seven months and experienced many festivals during this time, I was not expecting the crazed atmosphere that Holi created. We got up early in the morning, put on our worst clothes, stocked the car with a boot full of coloured paints and headed on a journey around the city to literally 'target' family and friends. Whenever there was a street gathering we would stop and join in the celebrations which saw everyone, young and old, throwing coloured paints into the crowd! We greeted people at their houses with the same onslaught and continued with the celebrations until it got dark!
My Favourite Destination
Kanha National Park has to be one of my favourite destinations in Central India. Its size and incredible biodiversity makes it a fascinating place to visit. You can see everything from big mammals such as tigers, leopards, deer and jackals, to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles, small mammals and plants. The park is absolutely teeming with life and, as a wildlife enthusiast it is truly a pleasure to visit.
My Favourite Accommodation
Khem Villas in Ranthambhore National Park is a wildlife experience like no other. The lobby and dining areas are open so that you are never apart from the nature around you. In the evening, you gather around a campfire to eat and share your wildlife experiences with other guests. In the night you retire to your luxury tent or cottage and perhaps enjoy a drink on the veranda listening to the sounds of the jungle and staring up at the stars. The outdoor baths in the cottages are lit with candles and can create a very romantic atmosphere. All in all, it is a personal and intimate property with excellent food, prompt service and beautifully kept grounds.