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Gaby Roslin’s favourite place to visit is Zimbabwe, famed for the Victoria Falls
WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE HOLIDAY?
Zimbabwe holds such a dear place in my heart. It’s my favourite destination and full of memories because I must have been 35 times.
I went every year growing up to visit my grandparents and the rest of the family.
There’s nothing as beautiful as an African sky, it’s so big and so clear and sunset is just beautiful.
When you go to Africa, a little piece of your heart is left there
I’d been telling my girls about Zimbabwe all their lives – they’d go to sleep listening to stories of Africa – but they and David had never been until last year.
When we landed, I felt I was home. Victoria Falls is one of the most remarkable places; there’s nowhere like it. It’s the sight, noise and smell.
We stayed at Safari Lodge where there’s an amazing view over a watering hole and you see elephants and kudu arriving in the evening. Incredible.
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Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is full of fresh fruit and really wild animals
We stayed at Linkwasha Camp in Hwange National Park, too. You go on game drives and see how the animals should be.
The girls’ mouths were on the floor. You eat in season, so you have an avocado or pawpaw straight off the tree.
And the people are so welcoming. I do believe that when you go to Africa, a little piece of your heart is left there.
AND YOUR WORST?
I’ve not had a worst holiday, you make the best of whatever you’ve got. I remember going to Belgium for three days with my friend when I was 16.
We went on the ferry, stayed in a B&B and ate chocolate and lots of chips with mayonnaise. We went to Bruges. Beautiful, but at that age not very exciting. It wasn’t a bad holiday, though.
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY SOUVENIR?
I’ve brought back lots of soapstone and wood carvings from Africa. I’ve a few elephants with their trunks up, that’s good luck, and some beautiful heads of elderly men.
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Gaby has a collection of soapstone and wood carvings from Africa, inspired by the wildlife and land
Pieces that remind me of that place I call home.
BEST HOLIDAY READ?
A book that captivated me on holiday a couple of years ago was The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, about a man’s walk the length of England to save the life of a dying woman.
It was magical to read when I was away because it’s about a journey.
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME ON HOLIDAY?
I’m not good at sitting still, I get itchy. We’ll be lazy in the morning. We’ll sit by the pool in the sun, I do love the sun. At 3pm, we’ll explore.
David and I are mad about old buildings and we’ll go into churches and art galleries.
WHERE WOULD YOU REVISIT?
Africa, again and again, but I do love city breaks, too. I love New York. I’d like to take the girls there. It sends a spine-tingling chill of excitement through me when I arrive.
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If she wasn’t going to Africa, Gaby would take her children with her to New York
It’s like being in a film and I love the movies. I remember the first time I went, I thought: “Oh my God, that’s the place in When Harry Met Sally…”
WHERE NEXT?
I don’t know. We can’t book in advance as I never know my work schedule. We might return to Italy. I love the food, people, buildings, history, sunshine, all of that.
● Gaby is supporting Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March. Information: targetovariancancer.org.uk
