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Travelling with a progressive condition forces Tiffany Rose Gambill to move through the world with grit, guided by humour and sharp clarity. Every trip tests her body in ways most travellers never notice, yet she keeps chasing new landscapes because nature steadies her. A wheelchair may shape the route, but never the curiosity that drives her, and she has learned to find colour in places many people hurry past.
There is no hiding the reality of her condition or the effort tucked into every mile. Tiffany speaks openly about shaky hands on a camera, slow fingers on a keyboard, and the fatigue that settles in after a long day outdoors. Still, she searches for beauty in wild places because nature brings a peace rarely found elsewhere. Travel offers an opportunity for connection, she does not see it as an escape: rolling into forests, coastlines, and quiet paths with a body that resists movement, yet without losing the spark for whatever waits around the next bend. Her honesty and humour reveal the unseen work behind each photo and the steady pull of the next horizon.
For Tiffany Rose Gambill, nature offers room to breathe and a chance to show that outdoor travel can welcome every kind of body. Her first-hand insight highlights what wheelchair-centered adventures look like when planning reflects lived reality. She refuses to shrink her world. From cheetah rescues in South Africa to windy ridges in Iceland, she rolls toward places many travellers overlook, transforming outdoor exploration into something bold, achievable and full of colour.
Drawn toward wild places
Nature feels like a reset button for Tiffany Rose Gambill. She says colour pulls her in first: Greens that look like they were painted while the world slept and blues that sit quiet on the horizon. For her these places offer space where she can settle her mind and step out of the noise that often follows wheelchair users.
She prefers spots with fewer visitors because she wants time to take in every detail. When she looks for less touristy corners she leans on two things. The lived experience of other wheelchair bloggers and very specific search words. A quick call to a lodge or park gives her what glossy travel photos never show. She always asks to see a washroom photo because for her that image reveals the truth faster than any marketing claim.
Where new adventurers can begin
Tiffany knows many wheelchair users feel caught between wanting outdoor freedom and not knowing where to start. She felt that same hesitation. Guided wheelchair tours changed everything for her. They introduced her to travellers who understood her needs and never questioned her right to be there. Those early trips included time with Kristin Secor of World on Wheels blog whose kindness and leadership shaped Tiffany’s confidence in ways she still carries. Sadly, Kristin passed away peacefully on November 5, 2024 but you can see some of her travels on her Instagram account, @worldonwheelsblog.
For those who want a first step on their own she suggests National Parks. Many have worked hard to give wheelchair users reliable routes and safe viewpoints. She hopes people treat these parks with care since rising hostility and careless behaviour can put wildlife and landscapes at risk.
Eco Lodges through a real lens
Eco stays can feel dreamlike, but they come with practical challenges. Tiffany urges wheelchair travellers to ask blunt questions. How wide are the doorways. Are the grab bars placed where your body can reach them. Do paths shift from wood to gravel between rooms. She insists that travellers avoid isolated areas without company. She once wandered off a path at a botanical garden in Florida and sank into sand with no cell signal. As she waited, she had one thought that still makes her grin. What if an alligator comes? Thankfully someone walked by before wildlife joined the scene.
Moments that stayed with her
Some memories sit so close she can replay them anytime. In South Africa, she visited a reserve caring for three orphaned cheetahs. She watched staff teach them how to stalk, run and claim their instincts piece by piece.
In Johannesburg she met Jessica the Hippo. Tiffany fed her and brushed her coarse chin hairs which felt nothing like she expected and everything like a once in a lifetime moment.
In Spain she visited a Roman amphitheatre in Tarragona with the Mediterranean right behind it. Her chair kept her from reaching the centre of the arena but standing above it with sea air rising around her felt powerful.
Tools that make rough ground reachable
Before she commits to a trail or overlook, she studies YouTube clips and blogs written by wheelchair users. She wants to see the terrain in motion. Slopes, sand, loose rock and narrow dips that look harmless until you roll them. She says the right search words does half the work. Accessibility labels rarely match the reality on the ground.
Gear that shapes the experience
Her gear stays simple but effective: A compact manual chair that travels well and avoids the airline mishandling common with power chairs and a freewheel attachment that lifts the front end so cobblestones and uneven surfaces do not stop her. She says this small piece of equipment saves energy she would rather spend on wildlife, scenery and photography.
Teamwork when access falls short
Through teamwork and creativity, Tiffany has reached places that were never designed for her body or chair. At Eco Camp Patagonia she took part in a hike thanks to eight porters who carried her in a Joëlette chair. She remembers the determination in their faces and the collective effort that made that moment reachable. She wishes more eco lodges understood how large and growing the disabled travel community is and how small upgrades can shift everything.
Regions that stand out
South Africa ranks high on her list for outdoor accessibility. She felt respected there and noticed a genuine effort to treat wheelchair users as regular travellers. She points out that several countries outside North America are moving faster in outdoor accessibility while the United States could learn from their pace and mindset.
Safety lessons carved into experience
Her safety strategy is built from real trial and error. She travels with a lighter chair and freewheel to navigate uneven paths. She prepares for unexpected weather and stays flexible when conditions change. She remembers Iceland well. Freezing wind cut through her layers yet she still calls it one of her favourite trips. Her mantra guides her through tough moments, it could always be worse. The image that came with it shows a skydiver falling into a dinosaur’s mouth. She laughs every time she thinks of it.
A message for anyone scared to begin
For travellers with disabilities who fear outdoor trips, Tiffany shares a clear invitation. It is not off limits until you ask so ask yourself one simple question: Where do I want to go? From there build your plan with small steps and honest communication. She believes accessibility opens doors for everyone and hopes more people see wheelchair users as regular travellers searching for beauty patience and room to explore.
Tiffany’s Top 5 accessible nature escapes
- Patagonia Eco Camp, Chile
She visited EcoCamp in Patagonia and loved its message that nature is for everybody. Porters carried her in a Joliet chair during a hike which turned a tough route into a reachable moment she still values.
- South African Wildlife Reserve
She stayed at a reserve in South Africa that rehabilitates orphaned cheetahs. Watching young cats learn skills they missed as cubs became a standout experience during her travels.
- Meeting Jessica the Hippo, Johannesburg
This visit was filled with excitement and humour. She fed Jessica and felt the coarse chin hairs that still make her smile. The encounter felt unreal in the best way.
- Tarragona Roman Amphitheatre, Spain
The amphitheatre with the Mediterranean Sea shining behind it was a lovely sight. She could not reach the arena floor with her chair yet the view and history left a deep impression.
- Iceland’s Wild Landscapes
Iceland is one of her favourite trips despite the severe freezing wind. The scenery thrilled her and the tough weather never ruined her time. She keeps this destination close to her heart.
- For more of Tiffany Rose Gambill’s travels, read her blog here: