Expanding Horizons – Rachel Williams
Travel has shaped who Rachel Williams is, and now she has the privilege of watching it shape others. From life lessons to the inspiration for her business, this is how travel made Rachel a better human and eventually landed her in Warkworth with her husband and two children.
Years ago, Rachel Williams found herself adventuring through the Sahara Desert. The vastness was awe-inspiring, the silence and solitude overwhelming. As she emerged from the endless dunes and approached the Moroccan border, her group was confronted by 10 men in black uniforms, pointing AK-47s in their direction. However, after offering their best Kiwi greetings, the guards soon realised they were tourists and the tension began to fade.
These guards, stationed at the remote border for four weeks with supplies meant only for two, quickly warmed to Rachel and her companions. Their vehicle was filled with provisions, and soon enough, everyone was sitting together, sharing snacks and a hot cup of coffee. With smiles, hugs, and stamped passports, the travellers left behind some extra supplies, for the grateful guards. What could have been a dangerous encounter instead became an opportunity for connection.
Rachel grew up on the Hibiscus Coast and, like many of her generation, embarked on an overseas experience (OE) to Europe after finishing university. But the allure of more exotic lands soon led her, alone, to the Middle East. At the time, her worldview had been shaped by the adults around her and the New Zealand media - neither of which portrayed the Arab world favourably. “Friends thought I was crazy to go, warning me about how dangerous it was,” says Rachel. But her experience defied all stereotypes.
The Arab world greeted her with kindness, beauty, and a rich cultural heritage; and Rachel quickly realised how isolated and ignorant one can be growing up in a small country at the bottom of the world. Instead of returning home to settle into a ‘real job,’ she spent the next eight years guiding overland tours through Africa and South America.
On one particularly cold day in the Peruvian Andes, Rachel was wearing a pair of Havaiana jandals when an elderly local woman approached her, offering her the shoes off her feet to keep her warm. Though Rachel's jandals cost far more than the woman’s sandals made from old tyres, and though she had plenty of suitable footwear back at her hotel, the woman didn’t know that and was willing to give Rachel the shoes off her own feet. ”I realised in that moment what it really means to give, and how few of us ever really make true sacrifices when giving to others,” reflects Rachel.
While Africa and South America will always hold a special place in Rachel’s heart, one destination stands above the rest: Antarctica. “I have seen many people moved to tears in Antarctica, and most are unable to explain the emotion, but I think it is awe. It’s a feeling of being deeply connected to the world while understanding your own insignificance. In those moments I feel most alive, most creative, and most grateful. It’s a level of awe that I wish everyone could experience more often.”
Today, through her company, Viva Expeditions, Rachel has the honour
of helping others embark on their own enriching, empowering, and meaningful travel experiences. In addition to bespoke itineraries and small group tours, Viva Expeditions offers once-in-a-lifetime adventures with high-profile Kiwis, last year chartering a luxury Antarctica expedition vessel for an exclusive trip hosted by Sir John Key, and recently announcing an epic African rail safari tour with beloved TV presenter Hilary Barry in 2025.
“I strive to open people’s hearts, broaden their minds, and help them experience awe,” notes Rachel. “Hearing their stories upon their return is the greatest reward ever.”