After a dream job as a nanny in Notting Hill, a young Donna Duggan was first lured to Africa by the charms of Zanzibar. She soon fell deeply in love with a local man, Nas, though she could never have predicted the direction their life would take. 

Nas and Donna set up a safari company, on the premise they would give back to the country and community as their business prospered.

They had two children and built a life for their family and their wide network of Tanzanian employees.

Nas was making a short journey for work in 2017 when Donna received word his plane was no longer visible on radar.

Further information

First broadcast April 2019.

Read more about Donna's company Maasai Wanderings.

https://maasaiwanderings.com

This episode was produced by Michelle Ransom-Hughes. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode of Conversations touches on safari, widowhood, widow, two year UK working visa, gap year, death of a spouse, owning a business, running a business, husband and wife team, nurse volunteer, nursing, Brisbane and a plane crash.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.