My holidays: Steve Winter

Photographer Steve Winter in the wild waits to photograph a jaguar in Brazil. Photo / Steve Winter

What was your greatest holiday? Who has holidays? I work for National Geographic, I'm always working, but when you love your job that's okay. My dream holiday is a beach holiday where I can read and surf. Sri Lanka seems perfect for both. My family and I love beach holidays, we also love to scuba dive.

And your worst? Not having one! It's been a looonnnggg time. But as I'm living my dream, I have no complaints.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing? Chilling out reading or watching movies. I love HBO and the BBC, we are currently enjoying Homeland, Orange is the New Black and Game of Thrones. This winter has been pretty cold where I live [New Jersey], so we've had lots of time to catch up on our favourite programmes.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? Somewhere in the South Island, among the mountains. And a beautiful beach in the North Island.

How about for a dream holiday internationally? Anywhere with a beautiful beach, great surf and crystal blue water. Maybe Hawaii - I'm still yet to go.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling? Riding an elephant to get a rhino picture was pretty stupid. I thought I was going to die that day. We were in India with an anti-poaching patrol riding on elephants when we came across a highly territorial rhino. The rhino chased us on elephant-back for over 400m and bit the elephant's trunk. I went flying, and just managed to hold on to a thin bit of cloth. This was just the start of the trip; I had five more weeks in the field. That trip I had to replace my jeep door twice due to rhinos charging.

Complete this sentence - I can't travel without ...: communication to call home. I call home once or twice a day in the field - as to keep the emotional connection to home and my family, I need to hear what is happening at home, share in the joys and problems.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given? Go to the airport early. When on assignment I can take up to 28 bags.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling? When you're out in the field for months at a time, heading back to civilisation and enjoying the simplest of foods is the best. I was recently in South Africa, where I was in the bush for long time. I had to pick my family up from Cape Town airport, and while I was there enjoyed the best cheeseburger with lots of gourmet toppings and a milkshake you had to eat with a spoon. I'll never forget it.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip? I rarely bring mementoes back from trips, but when I was in Burma I purchased this incredible wooden Hindu statue - however, because we don't have room for it in our house its still in storage.

Favourite airport at which to land? Newark Airport because it means I'm home and will see my family. If not, one next to a beach and palm trees.

What's the next trip you've got planned? Sri Lanka. I'll be shooting leopards for National Geographic's magazine and TV channel.

Wildlife photographer Steve Winter features in National Geographic Live at the Aotea Centre, August 5.