"From age 18, Africa took a real hold on me."
About me
I was born in the Philippines with parents who had a real passion for travel and a thirst for adventure. As a child I was taken trekking in the Himalayas on shaggy ponies, climbed volcanoes in New Zealand and sailed around the world. This enthusiasm to explore was installed in me, and from a young age I have always thought about the next place to visit.
Having spent a year in East Africa teaching and travelling aged 18, Africa took a real hold on me and I knew I was eager to go back and see more of what this incredibly diverse continent has to offer. I joined Scott Dunn 5 years ago and have had the great fortune to visit many more areas of Africa. Each time I head to away I am completely mesmerised by the people and culture, the animals, the friendly hospitality and the breathtaking scenery. There is still so much I've not seen and I’m constantly excited about where I may head next!
Favourite places I’ve been
Kenya – fantastic, colourful culture and people, incredibly diverse game reserves.
Tanzania- wide-open plains, wild parks and tropical islands.
South Africa – vibrant Cape Town, sumptuous food and wine and amazing cat sightings in the Sabi Sands.
Mozambique - breathtaking unspoilt islands, barefoot luxury and colourful corals.
Mauritius – world-class hotels, pampering spas, water sports and white beaches.
Travel nuggets
01. Don’t try and do too much in a holiday. The last thing you’ll want to do is spend a considerable amount of your holiday travelling and in airports. Spend longer in places to get a real feel of them, relax and enjoy the people and the culture.
02. Take malaria tablets in the evenings after dinner on a full stomach before you go to bed. Taking them on an empty stomach in the middle of the day and you’ll undoubtedly feel queasy!
03. Did you know you could complete the theory section of a diving PADI course in the UK, and leave the practical part to the Indian Ocean? This is a brilliant thing to do if you’re limited on time and want to make the most of being underwater when you get to the tropical islands!
My hot picks
01. Kizingoni Beach Houses, Lamu, Kenya – the most gorgeous set of 5 houses set right on the beach in Lamu. All are equipped with your own boat captain, speedboat and private chef. They’re the most brilliant set up for a group of adults or a family to enjoy the beauty of Lamu Island in your own private house. Activities are endless and they are brilliant party houses. A perfect choice for a birthday celebration or wedding anniversary!
02. Sand Rivers, Selous, Tanzania – the most breathtakingly beautiful park, it is completely unspoilt, wild and remote. The joy of the Selous is the boat trips down the river and the walking safaris. Sand Rivers is perched right on the banks of the Rufiji River with incredibly open rooms. It’s not for the fainthearted, but for those wanting an adventure, it’s a fantastic experience.
03. Coral Lodge, Mozambique – completely off the beaten track, remote and untouched, Coral Lodge is a new property to this untapped area. Beautiful beaches, pristine corals, rich culture of Ilha de Mozambique and fascinating history, this is more than a beach flop destination.
My blogs
'Maybe tomorrow' - a hidden gem on Lake Malawi
Microlighting over Luangwa
What my guests have said
"Camilla was extremely helpful and responsive to the numerous questions we had. When looking for a bespoke luxury holiday again I would look nowhere else but Scott Dunn."
"Very helpful and friendly service from Scott Dunn especially from Camilla. Very prompt replies to all our e-mails and phone calls. Everything about our holiday was amazing. Thank you for an incredible honeymoon and for sorting everything out for us and making everything so easy."
"Camilla was brilliant! She answered all of our stupid questions in a timely manner. There are no words to describe the experiences we had in Kenya! It was brilliant, amazing, excellent and a real trip to remember!"
"From our initial request to confirming our bookings, emails and phone calls were dealt with promptly and efficiently. The cost was within our budget and there were no hidden extras. Camilla was absolutely brilliant. Any request we made was fulfilled; Camilla ensured we got the best deal, suggested flight upgrades at a minimal extra cost. Only a few days before we were due to travel Camilla managed to secure us VIP passes at The Residence, which saved us a huge amount of money. All in all, she made our holiday a 'holiday of a lifetime'."
"Camilla, thank you again for the most incredible honeymoon I could have ever imagined. I long to go back to Malawi now and see more."
"Thank you so much Camilla for all your help, it was a fabulous trip!”
"Our biggest thank you must go to you Camilla. You were so helpful and helped to make our honeymoon a holiday to remember. Thank you so much!"
"We had the most fantastic honeymoon experience. It was the best holiday either of us have ever been on, outstanding from start to finish! Camilla was superb. Answered my questions and e mails in an efficient and timely manner. Extremely helpful in all areas of our holiday. Your help and service has been nothing-short of outstanding. We will definitely be using your company in the future."
"Camilla has been so helpful - she made our honeymoon a trip to remember for the rest of our lives and I would definitely recommend her. Everything about our trip was just perfect!"
"Camilla was always extremely helpful especially when we had to change dates and plans etc. Our holiday was out of this world, the best we have had, all the little touches eg. the card from Camilla on arrival made it perfect! It will be a hard act to follow! A very big thank you to all involved with making our holiday so great."
"Camilla was amazing, very helpful and patient, made the whole experience very easy! I thought Scott Dunn was very impressive."
"Camilla was very helpful in answering lots of questions and also very good at convincing my parents to actually come on the holiday!"
"Camilla has been fantastic! She worked over the weekend to sort out a new honeymoon after the events in Kenya meant we could no longer go there. She had a fantastic knowledge of the places we were going to and was extremely efficient in getting us new quotes and making changes to our booking. She chose some fantastic places for us and even left us personalised welcome cards when we arrived at each one, which was a lovely touch. Thank you Camilla!"
"Olivia and Camilla have been fantastic, as was our holiday. Unbelievably good experience and great customer service."
"I can't thank you enough for setting up such a truly amazing holiday of unforgettable memories. Everything was fantastic."
"Top quality, excellent service, high standards were met. One of the top trips we have ever made. Different parts of the trip all worked well and execution of flights, transfers, reservations and hotels all were flawless. Will strongly recommend to friends. I like Scott Dunn for suggestions of top destinations, efficient handling of preparation of the trip, and, in the two trips I did with you, execution was flawless. I intend to repeat the experiences."
