Smart Asspirations With Justin Huff

This week we are joined by Botswana safari icon Mike Myers! Mike has been in the Botswana safari business for 40 years now, and his travels have taken him to every corner of the Okavango Delta. His photography work is legendary, and if you’ve considered a Botswana safari before, you may have already seen his work! Mike is the General Manager of the new, sublime Xigera Safari Lodge in the heart of the Okavango.    Join us as Mike takes us through the process of how Xigera came to be the architectural masterpiece that it is today, what it’s like producing world-class cuisine in a remote environment like the Okavango, and some of the phenomenal wildlife encounters that are happening around the camp!    You can listen to the podcast here as well as watch along on YouTube video here (featuring some of Mike’s amazing photography). To begin planning your safari, please contact us here.

This week I am honored to welcome my friend Amit Sankhala on the podcast. Amit’s family is one of the driving forces behind tiger and community conservation in India as well as the subject of Discovery Channel’s film Tigerland. Additionally, Amit runs the stunning Jamtara Wilderness Camp; Pench National Park’s premier safari accommodation.    Amit and I discuss all of the nuances of how tiger conservation started in India, what a typical day on an Indian safari is like, and how his sustainability model has improved the quality of life of both the wildlife and communities where he operates.    Our fascinating discussion also takes us through a few of India’s most colorful festivals, including the famed Kumbh Mela and Nagaland Hornbill Festival. Finally, we journey into Gujarat; one of India’s off the beaten path gems for pure, original cultural experiences as well as being one of the best destinations on the planet for embroidery.    Check out this fascinating chat by checking out our podcast and don’t miss the incredible photos featured on our YouTube video here! 

Be the first! Delve into a fascinating discussion with myself and African explorer, conservationist, and overall badass Brandon Kemp! Brandon is THE man behind the incredible conservation story of Southern Tanzania’s Usangu Wetlands. Now a part of the epic Ruaha National Park, Usangu is one of Africa’s final unexplored wildlife frontiers. Beckoning savvy travelers for discovery, you’ll learn about the unbelievable game viewing, stunning scenery, and pioneering experience of visiting a far-flung paradise like Usangu. You won’t want to be left out on this awesome chat! Hope you enjoy! Check out this safari gem by checking out our podcast and don’t miss the incredible photos featured on our YouTube video here! 

Leopards falling out of trees! The first podcast guest of 2021 is none other than my friend Jan Scholtz from Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve. Located in the heart of South Africa’s greater Kruger area, the Sabi Sands is such a perfect place to consider for a first safari. Guaranteed epic wildlife viewing combined with natural social distancing in stunning, luxurious accommodations with UNBELIEVABLE gourmet cuisine, you can’t go wrong with Sabi Sabi. Check out this safari gem by checking out our podcast and don’t miss the incredible photos featured on our YouTube video here! 

Take the Polar Plunge! This week, Justin sits down with professional wildlife and landscape expedition photographer Adrian Wlodarczyk. Adrian’s specialty are the most castaway regions on Earth - Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Russian Far East. His private, curated expedition charters are one of a kind, designed to each guests preferences and ensures the utmost in flexibility, privacy, and quality. Learn more about these surreal, captivating destinations and how private charters are the ultimate way to experience each of them!    We hope you enjoy, and as always, you can find all of our YouTube interviews here and our full podcast list here. 

We welcome back the spectacular Zsuzsanna Sarmon this week to learn more about the treasures of Hungary - outside of Budapest! Gorgeous countryside, stunning azure lakes, rolling hills, charming villages, ancient cities steeped in architectural masterpieces...come and learn about the Europe you never knew existed!    We hope you enjoy, and as always, you can find all of our YouTube interviews here and our full podcast list here. 

Hungary! Discover this vibrant and captivating Central Europen destination with Zsuzsanna Sarmon from the Hungarian Tourism Agency! My former home and easily one of my favorite destinations in the world, Hungary is so much more than Budapest. Zsuzanna’s chat is split into two parts - Part 1 explores the rich history of the Hungarians as well as all-things Budapest. Part 2 (next week) will take you outside the capital and showcase Hungary’s incredible countryside as well as its thriving food & wine scene.    We hope you enjoy, and as always, you can find all of our YouTube interviews here and our full podcast list here. 

What a country! This week, Justin sits down with Oman’s top private guide, Qais Al-Balushi, to showcase this unbelievable destination. Where else on earth can you combine snorkeling in crystal clear blue waters, hiking through terraced mountain villages, exploring rich and vibrant markets, discovering ancient castles and forts, bashing through sand dunes in your 4x4, and watching green sea turtles lay eggs? Simply put: Oman is the paradise you never knew existed!   We hope you enjoy, and as always, you can find all of our YouTube interviews here and our full podcast list here. 

Fellow safari expert and global vagabond Brooke Berlin joins me this week to chat about both of our travel experiences to Africa during the pandemic! Between the two of us, we explored Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia! We hope that our firsthand accounts clear up any confusion and misinformation regarding planning a safari during these difficult times. Traveling to Africa now is complete magic - there are zero crowds, and this level of intimate wildlife experience will not happen again! Even if you’re not interested in planning a safari, it’s certainly helpful to catch a glimpse of what international travel is like these days!  We hope you enjoy, and as always, you can find all of our YouTube interviews here and our full podcast list here.

Join us with a rare interview with former legendary guide and business consultant Ivan Somlai! Ivan takes us through his lifes journey from Hungary to Canada and all of the wild destinations he’s visited in between! From Pakistan to North Korea, Ivan’s work experience is unrivaled, and he’s seemingly been to every corner of Nepal, Mongolia and Indonesia as well!    We hope you enjoy, and as always, you can find all of our YouTube interviews here and our full podcast list here. 

This week’s guest is my great friend Zvonimir Androić - Croatian travel expert and owner of our ground handler in Croatia - who joins us from his home in Zagreb. If you’re unfamiliar with Croatia as a travel destination and want to learn more, this is the perfect chat for you!  Want to plan a trip to Croatia? It’s never too late to start the process, and we would love to hear from you. Contact us today at www.swaggyswan.com/contact

What a life! This week Justin chats with legendary guide and adventurer Sanjay Saxena from Nomadic Expeditions. Sanjay takes us through two truly pioneering expeditions throughout Tibet that set records, were inspired by early explorers of the area, and delivered the industry standard for real exploration! First, Sanjay talks about the first descent of the Indian Brahmaputra River and what it was like to do daring, overland journey from Kunming to Lhasa (capital of Chinese Tibet and former home of the current Dalai Lama) during at time where no one explored like this and where modern infrastructure just simply didn’t exist!   Want to plan a trip to Tibet? It’s never too late to start the process, and we would love to hear from you. Contact us today at www.swaggyswan.com/contact :) 

Made you look! Nepal is MORE than Everest! This week we’re joined by Vijay Shrestha Einhaus who is the grandson of one of Nepal’s pioneering families of hospitality and enormous champion of all of the country’s riches and wonder beyond the mountain. Discover the wildlife wonders of Royal Chitwan, imagine the adventure opportunities in the Annapurnas, and learn about the lost Tibetan Kingdom of Lo (aka Mustang) for the first time. I also love the incredible effort’s that Vijay’s family has done to help lift up an entire community devastated by the infamous earthquake of 2015.    Want to plan a trip to Nepal? It’s never too late to start the process, and we would love to hear from you. Contact us today at www.swaggyswan.com/contact :) 

This week, we revisit my second home! Russia is a destination that is so indescribably near and dear to my heart that these words don’t do my passion for the destination justice. My guests this week are Vlad and Anastasia from our ground handler, Miceversa, who chat with me about how life has changed in Russia over the past 12-15 years, introduce both the country’s highlights and off the beaten path destinations, explore the importance of breaking cultural stereotypes, and more! We also laugh a hell of a lot! It is my hope that our chat opens up a new perspective on Russia that you didn’t have previously. Always remember to challenge what you believe to be true - I promise you’ll be surprised at the end of this episode!    Want to plan a trip to Russia? It’s never too late to start the process, and we would love to hear from you. Contact us today at www.swaggyswan.com/contact :) 

It is with a heavy heart that I release this week’s episode. Ian Craddock was the owner of Bushmasters, our ground handler in Guyana, and a truly remarkable human being. In what was supposed to be Episode 3, I included Ian’s chat for the show’s initial launch. Tragically, on what was to be launch day, I learned of Ian’s tragic and unexpected passing two days prior. Out of respect for his family, I took the video off YouTube. Recently, Ian’s family asked me to release the conversation again as a tribute to Ian, which is exactly this. His pioneering spirit and passion are absolutely evident and he takes us through the little lost world of Guyana that was his home. We hope this conversation, which is the last public interview of Ian Craddock, does Ian’s spirit justice…

Fancy a pachyderm? We are thrilled to continue our wildlife theme this week by sitting down with my friend James Wilson, Marketing Director for Desert & Delta Safaris in Botswana, to talk about all-things elephants and why Botswana is such a perfect habitat for them! We talk about encountering these adorable giants by both boat and vehicle as well as the other prolific wildlife you can encounter across Botswana. The human-elephant wildlife cannot be responsibly ignored, so we touch on that as well. Don’t miss the Game of Thrones story either!   If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and YouTube channel and give us a follow on Instagram @smartasspirations and @swaggyswangram.    Want to go to Botswana? We’d love to help - please contact us!

NBC - Nothing But Cuteness! This week, we escape the world of politics, pandemics, and distance learning and enter the world of adorable animals. Justin interviews Tswalu Kalahari’s resident pangolin researcher Wendy Panainao. We learn what pangolins are, what makes them adorable, discuss why they are endangered, and how you can go visit them once this nasty pandemic is at an end.    If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and YouTube channel and give us a follow on Instagram @smartasspirations and @swaggyswangram.    Want to go see pangolins? We’d love to help - please contact us!

We are thrilled to chat with the pioneer of West Africa tourism, Mr. Alberto Nicheli, this week! Alberto joins us live from his home in Lome, Togo to introduce you to the area of West Africa, the fascinating cultural experiences you can encounter throughout the region, and learn how a good Italian boy rebelled against his own culture by boating across the Mediterranean and taking his car from Tunis to Togo! Talk about a trans-Saharan symphony!    If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and YouTube channel and give us a follow on Instagram @smartasspirations and @swaggyswangram.    Want to book a trip to West Africa? We’d love to help - please contact us!

“You went WHERE?” is the reaction most Jicaro Island Lodge guests receive at cocktail parties when chatting about their vacation. Jicaro lies in the heart of Central America in Lake Nicaragua just a stone’s throw away from the colonial splendor of Granada - the oldest Spanish colonial settlement in the Americas! This week’s guest, Hans Pfister of the Cayuga Collection - operator of Jicaro Island Lodge - takes us through the fascinating history of Nicaragua, its boundless opportunities for adventure (including sandboarding down a volcano!) and sustainable tourism, and what a typical journey through Nicaragua would entail. Staying true to our commitment to be different and showcase off the beaten path destination, Nicaragua is a natural gem to highlight!    If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and YouTube channel and give us a follow on Instagram @smartasspirations and @swaggyswangram.    Want to book a trip to Nicaragua? We’d love to help - please contact us!

We welcome back the triumphant return of Alex Walker after last week’s internet (dis)connection! If you haven’t listened to Episode 6 from last week, definitely check that out before delving into this episode as we do pick up right where we left off. Highlights this week include chatting about experiencing the Great Migration in the southern Serengeti plains, cultural interactions, adventure fly camping, safari guide and tracker training, and the joy of not having WiFi on safari! Want to go?? Let’s schedule a time to chat! Please contact us here and check out @swaggyswangram and @smartasspirations on Instagram. We are also on Facebook now! If you enjoyed the chat on YouTube, please subscribe and tell your friends! For more details on Alex’s camps, head over to www.serian.com and check him out on Instagram at @alexwalkerserian! 

This week we have the privilege of hanging out with renowned safari guide Alex Walker! Alex is the owner and operator of the Serian portfolio of camps, which span Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Alex takes you through what it’s like being on a safari in East Africa, what makes slowing down and staying longer so special, and really emphasizes the quality of guiding to the overall guest experience. If you ever wanted to experience the epic Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, this is an excellent starting point to begin the planning process! Want to set up a time to chat? Please contact us here and check out @swaggyswangram and @smartasspirations on Instagram. If you enjoyed the chat on YouTube, please subscribe and tell your friends! For more details on Alex’s camps, head over to www.serian.com and check him out on Instagram at @alexwalkerserian! 

We are thrilled to have CEO and Founder of Nomadic Expeditions and Three Camel Lodge, Jalsa Urubshurow! Jalsa is considered the pioneer of sustainable luxury tourism in Mongolia and mastermind behind Three Camel Lodge, one of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, in the wilds of the Gobi Desert. Join us on a fascinating discussion about Mongolia as a travel destination, Jalsa’s family history and their journey to the USA, the creation of the Golden Eagle Festival, the spectacular Three Camel Lodge, and all of the adventure activities on offer in Mongolia! Please subscribe to the channel if you like what you see! To book a private trip to Mongolia, contact us here and check out Swaggy Swan @swaggyswangram and Smart Asspirations @smartasspirations on Instagram.

In our second chat with Dr. Jack Wheeler, Justin and Jack talk about the one-of-a-kind Himalayan Helicopter Expedition, which is justifiably dubbed, “The Greatest Adventure of a Lifetime…in a Week!” Jack’s moving enthusiasm and passion are nearly palpable as he discusses the history behind the project, lodging, physical requirements, and each area in length. If you never thought you could experience Everest or any of the “achttausenders” in your lifetime, think again!   Want to go? For more details click here: https://himalayahelicopter-wx-swaggy-swan.gr8.com/   See the helicopters in action here!   Check out our travel company @swaggyswangram and podcast @smartasspirations on Instagram!

In the first of a two-part series, Justin sits down with the incredible Dr. Jack Wheeler, CEO of Wheeler Expeditions, to chat about his fascinating life journey. Jack has visited every country on Earth, was the youngest Eagle Scout in American history at 12, was the youngest to summit the Matterhorn at 14, was an architect of the Reagan doctrine, went parachuting at the North Pole, and never stops exploring the most remote corners of the globe. His desire for adventure, discovery, and growth is completely contagious!    Next week, we chat about Jack’s upcoming one-of-a-kind Himalayan helicopter expedition! For more details click here:https://himalayahelicopter-wx-swaggy-swan.gr8.com/   Check out our travel company @swaggyswangram and podcast @smartasspirations on Instagram!

Justin sits down with Cottar’s Safaris CEO and legendary guide Calvin Cottar for an in-depth interview on the human-wildlife conflict in Kenya, romance in the Masai Mara, and the change theory of land management.   Want to go? Let’s chat! Please visit www.swaggyswan.com/enquiries, and we can set up a consultation!    Check out our travel company @swaggyswangram and podcast @smartasspirations on Instagram!

Welcome to Smart Asspirations! In this inaugural episode, Justin details why he created this original travel podcast highlighting the personalities of some of the most exotic destinations across the globe. The goal of the show is to provide you with a sense of escape, hope, and optimism amidst a global pandemic and political desolation. We will laugh, learn, and grow together as we explore destinations, ideas, cultures, creeds, and value systems that may or may not be different than our own. There is no doom and gloom here!    Justin also goes into a bit of his background, why he created his travel company, Swaggy Swan, and briefly touches on his personal life and interests before going into Episode 2.    Inspired to learn more? Check out our website at www.swaggyswan.com or contact us at /www.swaggyswan.com/enquiries, and we can set up a time to chat!   Check out our travel company @swaggyswangram and podcast @smartasspirations on Instagram!