Orbis DMC

If you're considering a trip with Orbis Expeditions, I can tell you this: you may come for the wildlife and scenery, but you'll leave talking about the people. This was my first international trip, and I was heading to a part of the world I knew very little about. From the moment we arrived, Inno made us feel welcome, comfortable, and excited for what was ahead. One of the first things he told us was to keep our minds and hearts open—to the experience, to the people, and to the country. Looking back, that simple advice shaped everything that followed. Because of Inno, we didn't just see Malawi and Zambia—we experienced them. We met people doing incredible work in conservation, education, and community development. We visited villages, markets, schools, and communities. We learned history, traditions, and stories. We had conversations that broadened perspectives. We laughed a lot. We learned a lot. And yes, we saw unbelievable wildlife. I got to see elephants in the wild—a dream I've had since I was a little girl. I saw lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos (thank you for that amazing surprise), buffalo, wild dogs, and more hippos than I ever imagined. At one point, an elephant casually wandered by my open-air chalet. That's a sentence I still can't quite believe I get to say. But the thing I'll remember most isn't checking animals off a list. It's sitting around a table talking. It's the stories. It's the questions. It's learning about Malawi through someone who loves it deeply and wants others to love it too. Inno has a gift for helping people see beyond the obvious. You can tell how much he cares about his country, his communities, the children and people that live there, and creating meaningful experiences for the people he hosts. By the end of the trip, I considered Inno a friend - one I will continue to miss and to be so grateful the universe put in my path. And while I'll never forget seeing the Big Five, I'll also never forget the dental formula, endless laughter, and hearing "BRANCHHHHHES!" yelled whenever nature seemed determined to get a little in our way. This trip gave me memories I'll carry for the rest of my life, but maybe more importantly, it gave me a new perspective on the world and the people who share it. Thank you, Inno. I miss our conversations, I think about this trip every day, and I will always be grateful for the experience you helped create.