I first went to South Africa as an exchange student during college and it was when I was in Cape Town to study business I knew immediately that I was somewhere special. Ever since that trip, I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity to travel.
Joining Audley has offered me the chance to share my experiences and assist others wishing to embark on a trip of a lifetime. During my time here at Audley, I've been able to return to South Africa, visit Victoria Falls, explore the beaches of Mauritius, and see the Great Migration in Tanzania. I've also been lucky enough to swim with whale sharks off of Mafia Island (part of Tanzania's Mafia Archipelago), self-drive through the Namibian desert, sit with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and spot cheetah cubs learning to hunt in the Okavango Delta.
Most recently, I traversed through northern Kenya and island-hopped through the idyllic Seychelles, witnessing the endangered Hawksbill turtles nesting. This region of the world holds so much beauty and it's my passion to now share it with others.
Q&A with Laura
What's the best local dish you've tasted?
In Cape Town, South Africa I visited a food stand above the train station where I joined the locals for a traditional meal of chakalaka, beans, pap and salad. Chef Sandile proved a gracious host and his chakalaka, a spicy vegetable relish, is one of the best in South Africa. Served with baked beans, pap (a maize porridge served as a soft yet sticky white ball that you can pull apart with your hands) and some salad, it was delicious and easy to see why this combination of dishes is the most common comfort food in South Africa.
What's your most vivid travel moment?
While on safari in the Timbavati Game Reserve, our guide asked if we wanted to finish the morning with a bush walk. I was terrified. We had encountered lion, elephant and leopard that morning and the thought of walking in their proximity filled me with fear. We started off on foot and soon spotted a giraffe in the distance. We stopped and waited as the giraffe began to come closer. It felt like the bush stood still, as if I could feel each of the giraffe’s steps as it moved. It was incredible, and while scary, I will never forget it.
Where would you love to travel next?
Botswana is next on my list. Having experienced safaris in South Africa and Tanzania, I’d love to see the waterways and floodplains of the Okavango Delta or the elephant in Chobe National Park, where the herds number tens of thousands. Each location has something special to offer: no two safari trips are ever the same.
