{"id":15476,"date":"2025-03-13T07:48:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T07:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/?p=15476"},"modified":"2026-03-31T07:27:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T07:27:01","slug":"timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026","title":{"rendered":"All 11 Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#8217;s Top Travel Specialists 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We have some very big news to share with you\u2026For the second year in a row, the Timbuktu Travel experts put their names forward for Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler\u2019s coveted top travel specialists nod \u2014 and all 11 of them were recognised among the world\u2019s best. Needless to say, we\u2019re proud as punch of our team and wanted to shout about them (more of that later).<\/p>\n<p>Every year, Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler recognises the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of the travel industry by naming their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cntraveler.com\/travel-specialists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Top Travel Specialists<\/a>. These are the experts who don&#8217;t just book trips &#8211; they create unforgettable adventures. To be selected, they must complete a comprehensive application outlining their inner workings, clientele, and what makes them stand out from the pack. Then the CNT editorial team gets to work, sifting through the applications to handpick just 420 of the very best from around the globe. The chosen few are those blessed with the ultimate combination of insider knowledge, exclusive access, and an instinctive knack for crafting the most extraordinary experiences.<\/p>\n<h3>A little about Timbuktu<\/h3>\n<p>Our pioneering \u2018trip planner\u2019 technology transforms the entire planning and booking process, allowing travellers to mix and match itineraries, destinations and hotels on the website in a completely transparent and flexible way. But we also have an incredible team of global travel experts on hand to give advice, refine the details and add the finishing touches that make a trip truly WOW.<\/p>\n<p>Meet our specialists below and reach out for expert advice on your next trip with Timbuktu!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15483\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jonty-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3024\" height=\"4032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jonty-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=720,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jonty-CNT.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=500,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jonty-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=1024,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jonty-CNT.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3024px) 100vw, 3024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/jonty-medcalf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Jonty Medcalf<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cMy biggest piece of advice would be to travel with an open mind and heart. In an ideal world, I would travel slowly with limited pre-planning and simply let the experiences unfold.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>From sailing down the Nile to sipping coffee in the shadow of the Andes, Jonty&#8217;s passport reads like a love letter to the world. With 45+ countries under his belt (and counting), there&#8217;s nowhere he wouldn&#8217;t go \u2013 especially if it means sharing the adventure with his wife and daughters.<\/p>\n<p>Whether tracking forest elephants in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/republic-of-the-congo-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Congo<\/a> or dreaming of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/chad-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chad&#8217;s<\/a> wild frontiers, Jonty&#8217;s happiest when uncovering off-the-beaten-track destinations and creating unforgettable journeys for others. Ask him about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/antarctica-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Antarctica<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/madagascar-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Madagascar<\/a>, or the best spot for a beach proposal \u2013 he\u2019s got a story (and probably a packing tip) for everything.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15482\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Joanna-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"976\" height=\"1300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=599,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Joanna-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=721,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Joanna-CNT.jpg 721w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=499,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Joanna-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=1023,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Joanna-CNT.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Joanna-CNT.jpg 976w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/joanna-rigby-jones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Joanna Rigby-Jones<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cI love helping people bring their dream trips to life. So often, we&#8217;re planning &#8216;once in a lifetime&#8217; trips and it&#8217;s exciting to be a part of that with my guests. I also love hearing from my travelers when they return, and learning about all of the things they saw and did!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Joanna\u2019s first foray into Africa involved hiking across northern <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/tanzania-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tanzania<\/a> for weeks\u2014no running water, no electricity, and definitely no five-star comforts. Did it put her off? Not a chance. Instead, she retrained as an Africa Travel Specialist and has been crafting extraordinary trips ever since. She\u2019s swum in the Devil\u2019s Pool at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/victoria-falls-safari-zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Victoria Falls<\/a>, tracked lions in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/serengeti-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Serengeti<\/a>, and planned riding safaris in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/kenya-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kenya<\/a>\u2014all in a day\u2019s work.<\/p>\n<p>Now based in Maine, she\u2019s got a serious soft spot for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/colombia-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Colombia<\/a> (just try stopping her from going back) and dreams of galloping across Mongolia\u2019s wild landscapes. Whether it&#8217;s a gorilla trek, a private stargazing proposal, or a secret foodie haunt in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/cartagena-tours-and-trips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cartagena<\/a>, Joanna\u2019s here to make your adventure happen\u2014ideally with a bit of spontaneity and a very well-planned dinner reservation.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15479\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Cath-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Cath-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=720,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Cath-CNT.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=500,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Cath-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=1024,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Cath-CNT.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Cath-CNT.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/catherine-soares-de-melo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Catherine Soares de Melo<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cThe best part of being a travel specialist is having the ability to merge personal experience with exceptional places, and deliver an exciting plan that you know is going to tick every box and long-held wish for the guest, based on what they are most looking forward to! It is deeply satisfying and rewarding.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Born and raised in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/cape-town-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cape Town<\/a>, Catherine has Africa in her blood\u2014and a soft spot for a sunset and an alfresco shower. Though she\u2019s now settled in Lisbon, her heart (and passport) are always set on adventure. From the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/serengeti-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Serengeti<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/sri-lanka-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sri Lanka<\/a>, she\u2019s explored far and wide, constantly seeking out the most extraordinary experiences.<\/p>\n<p>With 17 years of crafting journeys under her belt, Catherine is the go-to for seamless, stylish, and deeply personal trips. Whether it\u2019s a bush breakfast with elephants, a private wine-tasting in the Cape, or a surprise birthday celebration under the Serengeti stars, she thrives on making travel dreams a reality. No detail is too small, no request too big\u2014just don\u2019t ask her to say no to another trip to Africa. It\u2019s simply not possible.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15478\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Carola-CNT-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3024\" height=\"4032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Carola-CNT-2.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=720,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Carola-CNT-2.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=500,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Carola-CNT-2.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=1024,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Carola-CNT-2.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3024px) 100vw, 3024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/carola-fresno\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Carola Fresno<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cI studied art and used to paint. Creativity is in my blood. What I like the most about being a travel specialist is how you can create amazing experiences. And if you add a bit of creativity to each itinerary, they all turn out to be very unique.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Born and raised in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/chile-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chile<\/a>, and now living in Northern Patagonia, Carola has spent over 15 years turning wild dreams into extraordinary journeys. She started her career as a guide in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/torres-del-paine-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Torres del Paine<\/a> (aka her favourite place on earth) and has since explored Latin America\u2019s most remote corners\u2014from Ecuadorian beaches to the depths of the Bolivian salt flats.<\/p>\n<p>With a background in Fine Arts and Travel Journalism, Carola approaches trip-planning like an artist, curating adventures that are as unique as her travellers. Whether it\u2019s a multi-day trek across the Northern Patagonia Ice Fields, a 45-day odyssey through South America, or a last-minute heli-drop on a glacier, she makes the impossible happen. Her secret? A deep love for adventure and a knack for finding the best local partners \u2014 plus always, always packing her trail running shoes.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15487\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Tessa-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=800,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Tessa-CNT.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1280,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Tessa-CNT.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=281,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Tessa-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=338,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Tessa-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=576,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Tessa-CNT.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/tessa-dancer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Tessa Dancer<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cI love helping to create a trip of a lifetime filled with special memories! My advice to guests is to always travel with an open heart and mind to new experiences they\u2019ll have along the way.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>After dabbling in interior design, Tessa finally gave in to her first love\u2014travel\u2014and hasn\u2019t looked back since. With years spent living in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/south-africa-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">South Africa<\/a> and a passport packed with African adventures, she\u2019s swum with dolphins in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/mozambique-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mozambique<\/a>, trekked with gorillas in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/rwanda-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rwanda<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/uganda-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Uganda<\/a>, and somehow found herself skydiving over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/cape-town-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cape Town<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now based in the Czech Republic, Tessa spends her time crafting once-in-a-lifetime journeys across Africa and Japan, blending adventure with deeper connections\u2014like arranging for a family to ship desks to a Kenyan school they visited whilst on safari. Whether it&#8217;s a beach escape in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/seychelles-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seychelles<\/a> or a last-minute trip to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/masai-mara-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Masai Mara<\/a> (because who could say no?), she\u2019s here to make travel magic happen.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15485\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kristin-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=800,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kristin-CNT.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1280,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kristin-CNT.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=281,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kristin-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=338,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kristin-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=576,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kristin-CNT.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/kristin-jessup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kristin Jessup<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cIt is incredibly fun sharing my passion for Africa with our guests as they design their ideal safari trip, one they have often dreamed of for years. The excitement builds before their journey begins, but hearing on their return how Africa has captured their hearts between the wildlife and the warm hospitality they meet along the way, is why I have continued planning trips for over a decade.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Kristin\u2019s first taste of Africa? Working in the US Embassy in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/ethiopia-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ethiopia<\/a>\u2014closely followed by swimming with whale sharks in Djibouti and tracking lions in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/kenya-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kenya<\/a>. Needless to say, she was hooked. Since then, she\u2019s explored over 10 countries across East and Southern Africa, from the wilds of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/botswana-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Botswana<\/a> to the beaches of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/seychelles-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seychelles<\/a>, always on the lookout for incredible wildlife encounters (and the best local cuisine).<\/p>\n<p>Now living in Florida, Kristin spends her days crafting safaris that go beyond the ordinary. Whether it\u2019s arranging a private big cat bush walk in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/hwange-national-park-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hwange<\/a>, fine-tuning the perfect balance of scenery, wildlife, and food, or simply sharing her own love for Africa, she makes sure every trip is nothing short of extraordinary. Oh, and if you ever need a recommendation for the best tacos in the USA? She\u2019s got you covered.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15486\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Meg-CNT.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"2048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Meg-CNT.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=720,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Meg-CNT.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=500,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Meg-CNT.jpeg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=1024,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Meg-CNT.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Meg-CNT.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/meg-yash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Meg Yash<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cI love it when a traveler is open to ideas and suggestions, a blank slate where we can be creative and go off-the-beaten-path. That always makes my job so enjoyable and fun!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Meg caught the travel bug early\u2014and hasn\u2019t stopped since. From hiking the trails of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/bhutan-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bhutan<\/a> to backpacking through South America and tracking chimps in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/mahale-mountains-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mahale Mountains<\/a>, she\u2019s explored some of the most remote and spectacular corners of the globe. But if you ask her, nothing quite compares to the untamed magic of Africa (with a handy kikoi always in her bag, of course).<\/p>\n<p>With over 15 years of experience crafting unforgettable journeys, Meg has a knack for turning wild dreams into seamless adventures. Whether it\u2019s a slow, immersive safari in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/zambia-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zambia\u2019s<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/kafue-national-park-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kafue<\/a>, a hidden gem in the Peruvian Andes, or a last-minute visa miracle to save a gorilla trekking trip (yes, she\u2019s done that), she\u2019s always up for the challenge. Based in Encinitas, California, she\u2019s ready to put her insider knowledge\u2014and a little bit of travel magic\u2014to work for you.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jenna-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=800,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jenna-CNT.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1280,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jenna-CNT.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=281,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jenna-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=338,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jenna-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=576,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jenna-CNT.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/jenna-coiley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Jenna Coiley<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cI\u2019m not sure what\u2019s more special\u2026Departure calls when the excitement is practically beaming through the phone or the emails on a guest\u2019s return saying, \u2018there are no words to describe how incredible that was!\u2019. These are once in a lifetime journeys and hearing the pure anticipation before they depart is inspiring.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jenna\u2019s love for travel runs deep, from studying in Budapest to fly camping in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/botswana-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Botswana<\/a>. She\u2019s explored the souks of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/morocco-tour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morocco<\/a>, the fjords of Iceland, and the latest luxury lodges in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/tanzania-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tanzania<\/a>, but nothing makes her happier than planning unforgettable journeys for others. With eight years in the travel industry, she knows exactly what it takes to craft the perfect safari\u2014whether it\u2019s a surprise birthday party in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/moroccan-desert-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Moroccan desert<\/a> or the ultimate adventure in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/kenya-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now living in New Hampshire, Jenna balances life between planning dream trips, perfecting her latest recipe, and daydreaming about taking her daughter on her first safari. She believes the best journeys are the ones you savour, and if you call her to plan your next trip, expect a virtual glass of wine and plenty of safari talk\u2014because nothing beats the magic of Africa.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kevin-CNT.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2944\" height=\"2208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=800,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kevin-CNT.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1280,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kevin-CNT.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=281,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kevin-CNT.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=338,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kevin-CNT.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=576,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Kevin-CNT.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2944px) 100vw, 2944px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/kevin-zimmermann\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Kevin Zimmerman<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cI love taking people&#8217;s visions of trips and making them a reality. Some of the most special memories of people&#8217;s lives will happen on these trips. I love working hard to make sure the trip is everything they dreamed it to be.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Ever since Kevin\u2019s first safari in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/tanzania-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tanzania<\/a> when he was 13, he was hooked. Since then, he\u2019s walked with rhinos, trekked with gorillas, swum with sharks, and even earned the Maasai nickname Mganga (summoner) because wildlife seemed magnetically drawn to him. Now, as a seasoned travel specialist (and part-time digital nomad), he spends his time crafting epic adventures for others, from private conservation safaris in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/zambia-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zambia<\/a> to remote <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/okavango-delta-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Okavango Delta<\/a> getaways at his very own camp.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re dreaming of tracking lions with anti-poaching teams, bungee jumping in the mist of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/victoria-falls-safari-zimbabwe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Victoria Falls<\/a>, or simply enjoying world-class food in the middle of the wilderness, Kevin\u2019s got you covered. His mission? To take your wildest travel ideas and turn them into reality\u2014minus the stress, plus a whole lot of adventure.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-15488\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=900,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=900,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png 900w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1440,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png 1440w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=250,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=300,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=512,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png 768w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Jess-CNT-fotor-202503109427.png 858w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/jessica-klauzenberg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Jessica Klauzenberg<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cIt is a dream to pursue my love of travel, but by far, the best part of my job is creating unique and special trips for guests and seeing their pictures once they\u2019re actually on the trip.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Based in the mountains of Vermont but always dreaming of her next adventure, Jessica has explored 49 countries (and counting!). After earning a Master\u2019s in Teaching English as a Second Language, she set off to immerse herself in Asia, from skiing in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/japan-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Japan<\/a> to cruising the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/mekong-river-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mekong<\/a> and scouting out the best street food in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/vietnam-trip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vietnam<\/a>. Now, she\u2019s an expert in crafting trips that blend adventure, culture, and those once-in-a-lifetime moments\u2014like a helicopter proposal over Tokyo Bay or a hot air balloon engagement at Angkor Wat (both successful, by the way!).<\/p>\n<p>Jess believes the key to a perfect trip is listening\u2014really listening\u2014to what travellers want (and what they don\u2019t). Whether it\u2019s a fast-paced itinerary packed with temple-hopping and food tours, or a leisurely escape with just the right amount of beach time, she\u2019ll make sure every detail is unforgettable. And with her little girl already obsessed with sushi and pho, it\u2019s safe to say the next generation of explorers is in good hands!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15491\" src=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Annie-CNT-fotor-20250310101950.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"3206\" height=\"2138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=900,height=600,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Annie-CNT-fotor-20250310101950.png 900w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1440,height=960,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Annie-CNT-fotor-20250310101950.png 1440w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=375,height=250,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Annie-CNT-fotor-20250310101950.png 375w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=450,height=300,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Annie-CNT-fotor-20250310101950.png 450w, https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=768,height=512,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2025\/03\/Annie-CNT-fotor-20250310101950.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3206px) 100vw, 3206px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/team\/annie-irankunda\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Annie Irankunda<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><em>\u201cThere&#8217;s nothing more inspiring than hearing my guests rave about their trips and knowing that every detail we planned contributed to their perfect experience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Born in Burundi and raised in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/kenya-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kenya<\/a>, Annie grew up immersed in different cultures\u2014and with a serious case of wanderlust. Inspired by her father\u2019s globetrotting ways, she set herself the ambitious goal of visiting every continent (she\u2019s working on it!). With 13 countries under her belt and East Africa holding a special place in her heart, Annie has crafted dream trips for more than 6,000 guests, making safari magic happen one itinerary at a time.<\/p>\n<p>Her personal travel highlights? Spotting a rare blue-eyed leopard in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/country\/botswana-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Botswana<\/a>, climbing off-the-beaten-path mountain trails, and catching golden-hour sunsets in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/region\/masai-mara-safari\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Masai Mara<\/a>. Whether it\u2019s planning a mother-and-son adventure years in the making or perfecting the balance between thrill and relaxation, Annie loves nothing more than turning travel dreams into reality. Just don\u2019t be surprised if she nudges you toward Botswana\u2014she\u2019s already plotting her next trip back.<\/p>\n<p>We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed \u2018meeting\u2019 our travel specialists\u2014and agree that they\u2019re pretty top-notch. Please don\u2019t hesitate to get in touch for more of their expert guidance and a good dollop of inspiration for planning your next trip!<\/p>\n<div id=\"timbuktu_shortcode\" class=\"alternate is-active\"><div id=\"timbuktu-wp\"><link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css?family=Merriweather:700|Open+Sans:300,600\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/wizard\/start?action=StartTheWizard&wId=001\" class=\"no_underline timbuktu-test-class\" target=\"_blank\"><div class=\"timbuktu_banner_container image-included\"><div class=\"timbuktu_banner \" data-entity-type=\"country\" data-country-id=\"10000001\">\n                    <figure><img src=https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/images\/affiliate\/start-africa-safari-wizard-timbuktu-travel.jpg?w=500&h=634&auto=format&fit=min&dpr=2&q=50&crop=center center data-country-id=\"10000001\" class=\"timbuktu_desktop_image\" alt=\"Wizard Image\"><img src=https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/images\/affiliate\/start-africa-safari-wizard-timbuktu-travel.jpg?w=768&h=309&auto=format&fit=min&dpr=1&q=50&crop=center center data-country-id=\"10000001\" class=\"timbuktu_mobile_image\" alt=\"Wizard Image\"><\/figure><div class=\"timbuktu_banner_copy\"><div class=\"timbuktu_banner_heading\">Not sure where to go?<\/div>\n                        <span class=\"timbuktu_works\">Answer a few simple questions to get instant trip recommendations<\/span>\n                        <div class=\"timbuktu_button\" style=\"background-color:#128d8d\">Start the wizard<\/div>\n                        \n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We couldn&#8217;t be prouder!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":17650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[8996,8994,8998,8997,8993,9000,8992,8995,8999,8991,8988],"class_list":["post-15476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-timbuktu-team","tag-annie-irankunda","tag-carola-fresno","tag-catherine-soares-de-melo","tag-jenna-coiley","tag-jessica-klauzenberg","tag-joanna-rigby-jones","tag-jonty-medcalf","tag-kevin-zimmermann","tag-kristin-jessup","tag-meg-yash","tag-tessa-dancer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>All Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#039;s Top Travel Specialists 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Every single one of Timbuktu Travel&#039;s specialists have received this accolade from Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"All Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#039;s Top Travel Specialists 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Every single one of Timbuktu Travel&#039;s specialists have received this accolade from Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Timbuktu\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/timbuktutravel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-13T07:48:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-31T07:27:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1440,height=810,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2026\/03\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"810\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Timbuktu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@timbuktu_travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@timbuktu_travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Timbuktu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Timbuktu\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/88be6ff63366302bf83eb7a1d655e839\"},\"headline\":\"All 11 Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#8217;s Top Travel Specialists 2026\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-13T07:48:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-31T07:27:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\"},\"wordCount\":2387,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/cdn-cgi\\\/image\\\/quality=50,format=auto\\\/https:\\\/\\\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Annie Irankunda\",\"Carola Fresno\",\"Catherine Soares de Melo\",\"Jenna Coiley\",\"Jessica Klauzenberg\",\"Joanna Rigby-Jones\",\"Jonty Medcalf\",\"Kevin Zimmermann\",\"Kristin Jessup\",\"Meg Yash\",\"Tessa Dancer\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Timbuktu Team\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\",\"name\":\"All Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler's Top Travel Specialists 2026\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/cdn-cgi\\\/image\\\/quality=50,format=auto\\\/https:\\\/\\\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-13T07:48:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-31T07:27:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Every single one of Timbuktu Travel's specialists have received this accolade from Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/cdn-cgi\\\/image\\\/quality=50,format=auto\\\/https:\\\/\\\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/cdn-cgi\\\/image\\\/quality=50,format=auto\\\/https:\\\/\\\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg\",\"width\":2240,\"height\":1260},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"All 11 Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#8217;s Top Travel Specialists 2026\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Timbuktu\",\"description\":\"Stories from Africa\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Timbuktu Travel\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timbuktutravel.imgix.net\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/logo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/timbuktutravel.imgix.net\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/logo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1\",\"width\":696,\"height\":696,\"caption\":\"Timbuktu Travel\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/timbuktutravel\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/timbuktu_travel\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/timbuktu_travel\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/88be6ff63366302bf83eb7a1d655e839\",\"name\":\"Timbuktu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/bb6646d3a66630873088dcd2a575b89e54ad9c05ba11ecb7c0cd39d1cfdf3ba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/bb6646d3a66630873088dcd2a575b89e54ad9c05ba11ecb7c0cd39d1cfdf3ba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/bb6646d3a66630873088dcd2a575b89e54ad9c05ba11ecb7c0cd39d1cfdf3ba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Timbuktu\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/www.timbuktutravel.com\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"All Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler's Top Travel Specialists 2026","description":"Every single one of Timbuktu Travel's specialists have received this accolade from Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"All Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler's Top Travel Specialists 2026","og_description":"Every single one of Timbuktu Travel's specialists have received this accolade from Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026","og_site_name":"Timbuktu","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/timbuktutravel\/","article_published_time":"2025-03-13T07:48:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-31T07:27:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1440,"height":810,"url":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1440,height=810,fit=crop,quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2026\/03\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Timbuktu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@timbuktu_travel","twitter_site":"@timbuktu_travel","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Timbuktu","Estimated reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026"},"author":{"name":"Timbuktu","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/88be6ff63366302bf83eb7a1d655e839"},"headline":"All 11 Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#8217;s Top Travel Specialists 2026","datePublished":"2025-03-13T07:48:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:27:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026"},"wordCount":2387,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2026\/03\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg","keywords":["Annie Irankunda","Carola Fresno","Catherine Soares de Melo","Jenna Coiley","Jessica Klauzenberg","Joanna Rigby-Jones","Jonty Medcalf","Kevin Zimmermann","Kristin Jessup","Meg Yash","Tessa Dancer"],"articleSection":["Timbuktu Team"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026","url":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026","name":"All Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler's Top Travel Specialists 2026","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2026\/03\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg","datePublished":"2025-03-13T07:48:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:27:01+00:00","description":"Every single one of Timbuktu Travel's specialists have received this accolade from Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler for the second consecutive year.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2026\/03\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/quality=50,format=auto\/https:\/\/assets.timbuktutravel.com\/2026\/03\/Newsletter-CNT-Announcement-2026.jpg","width":2240,"height":1260},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/timbuktu-travel-experts-named-conde-nast-travelers-top-travel-specialists-2026#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"All 11 Timbuktu Travel experts named Cond\u00e9 Nast Traveler&#8217;s Top Travel Specialists 2026"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/","name":"Timbuktu","description":"Stories from Africa","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Timbuktu Travel","url":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/timbuktutravel.imgix.net\/2025\/08\/logo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/timbuktutravel.imgix.net\/2025\/08\/logo.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.1","width":696,"height":696,"caption":"Timbuktu Travel"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/timbuktutravel\/","https:\/\/x.com\/timbuktu_travel","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/timbuktu_travel"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/88be6ff63366302bf83eb7a1d655e839","name":"Timbuktu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bb6646d3a66630873088dcd2a575b89e54ad9c05ba11ecb7c0cd39d1cfdf3ba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bb6646d3a66630873088dcd2a575b89e54ad9c05ba11ecb7c0cd39d1cfdf3ba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bb6646d3a66630873088dcd2a575b89e54ad9c05ba11ecb7c0cd39d1cfdf3ba6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Timbuktu"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15476"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17701,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15476\/revisions\/17701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.timbuktutravel.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}