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.
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Q&A with Laura
What's the best local dish you've tasted?
While in the Seychelles I tried a lot of different seafood dishes and the one that stood out was a whole red snapper with coconut curry. The seafood on the islands is as fresh as it gets and after learning how to make coconut milk earlier in the day, this was an ideal dish to indulge in. Pair this with a South African wine and you're getting the best of the region.
What's your most vivid travel moment?
A major bucket list item for me was gorilla trekking in Rwanda. We spent all morning hiking through Volcanoes National Park, searching for a family of 14 mountain gorillas. Our guide was casually talking about the region when suddenly you could see his gaze shift and his sentence trail off. The family of gorillas was in a clearing not too far from us. As we started to approach, we realized that there were two silverbacks in a contest for power. You could feel the tension between them as we witnessed their physical show of dominance through movements and sound. When it became clear who would remain in charge of the family, we were able to get so close to gorillas of all ages, feeling privileged to be in their presence.
Where would you love to travel next?
I would love to travel to Mozambique or Madagascar next. I absolutely love the Indian Ocean — the diversity of culture, cuisine, and landscapes make these destinations unique and appealing to those looking to get off the beaten path.
