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Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe.
My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there.
I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you.
For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller.
And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel.
I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller.
https://bigworldmadesmall.com
Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Adventure Travel with Lucinda Rome - Ganders Travel
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Guest Bio
Lucinda Rome is the Founder and Managing Director of Ganders Travel, a bespoke travel company specializing in journeys throughout East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. Her deep connection to Africa began nearly twenty years ago when she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity and followed it with a safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara. What started as a single adventure quickly became a defining turning point in her life and career.
Soon after that first trip, Lucinda moved to Zambia to work in remote bush camps. What was meant to be a five-month experience turned into four formative years working with two of the country’s leading safari operators. After an unexpected injury brought her back home, she redirected her expertise into designing tailor-made African journeys. Drawing on extensive firsthand knowledge and continued travel throughout the continent, she now creates highly personalized itineraries that reflect both the diversity of Africa and the individual goals of each traveler.
Show Summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Lucinda about her journey from early guiding roles to becoming a specialist in African travel and the founder of Ganders Travel. She shares how climbing Kilimanjaro and experiencing safari life firsthand shaped her understanding of what makes travel transformative rather than transactional.
Lucinda offers an honest look at the realities of climbing Kilimanjaro, explaining why success on the mountain depends as much on mindset as it does on fitness. She discusses the critical role of acclimatization, the importance of experienced guides, and the team dynamic that develops during high-altitude treks. Drawing from her years managing safari camps in Zambia, she also reflects on the immersive sensory elements of African travel—from the sounds of wildlife after dark to the distinctive scents of the bush.
The conversation also explores the art of bespoke itinerary design. Lucinda explains why understanding a client’s motivations, expectations, and travel style is essential to creating meaningful experiences. Whether focused on wildlife photography, culinary discovery, or cultural connection, she emphasizes that thoughtful planning is what turns a trip into a lasting memory.
Learn more about the Big World Made Small Podcast and join our private community to get episode updates, special access to our guests, and exclusive adventure travel offers on our website.
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