A James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer and teacher, the lovable Andrew Zimmern is
widely regarded as one of the most versatile and knowledgeable personalities in the food and travel world.
With all that said, we just couldn’t pass up the chance to learn more about his favorite spots to explore and
where he likes to go for some well-needed R&R.
ANDREW
ZIMMERN
Q
Andrew, you’ve traveled
the world far and wide.
What are your favorite
places to visit?
It’s hard to choose, but I like
southwestern Africa (Botswana and
Namibia) for adventure travel. The
people there are amazing, and I feel a
peaceful energy there that isn’t
replicated anywhere else I have ever
been — and I’ve traveled to over 130
countries. Uncharted Africa is who I
always work with in that part of the
world. They oer unrivaled bespoke
safari and tented camp experiences,
much more than a simple peek at some
animals. I can’t say enough about that
part of the world.
I also love the ocean and I love
hidden culture. I love journeying to the
last stop on the subway. For getting lost
near a beach and boating, I opt for
southern Cuba and the Garden of the
Queen islands, as well as Lalumanu Beach
in Samoa, Petite St. Vincent, Palawan in
the Philippines, Hawaii, and Oaxaca.
to this day that she thought nothing of
being given to me. Himba women take
many husbands, so I am pretty sure she
found happiness over the years.
Q
Assuming there’s time in
your busy schedule, where
do you go to chill out?
Our family lake home in Central
Minnesota. Cooking dinner each night
over the fire, sailing with my kid, napping
on the deck...that’s heaven!
Q
If you had just one major
trip to plan, what would
that be?
I want to take my son on a trip around the
world when he is 12. I’d take six months to
do it and experience it all through his
eyes. That would be a learning experience
we all should have with our kids.
Q
Where haven’t you
traveled that you would
like to go?
The moon. I live in constant fear that
civilian travel into space won’t materialize
in my lifetime. But on this rock, I want to
spend more time in Eastern Europe. It’s
a gaping chasm of space that I haven’t
spent enough time exploring.
Q
What are some of your
“must-haves” that you
just can’t live without
when traveling?
Cipro, cash, ¼-ounce of gold pieces —
with the places I like to travel to, ya
never know! I also can’t leave home
without all my devices: iPad, iPhone,
laptop, Mophie brick batteries for
recharging. I like to be connected.
Q
What is the most unusual
gift you have brought
home from one of your
journeys
?
I was given a 14-year-old “wife” from a
tribal chieftain in Himbaland one year.
Of course I had to leave her behind
when I left Namibia, but it’s still shocking
RIGHT
Andrew on safari in the beautiful East
African country of Tanzania.
Photo by Josh Cogan
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
35
JOURNEYS magazine
Volume II, 2016
