Why Africa should be every New Zealander's next big adventure - and how it might just change you, too.

I’ve lived in New Zealand for most of my life, moved here to Christchurch from South Africa when I was 10, and like so many other Kiwis, I’ve grown up hearing the usual go-to travel plans from friends, colleagues, and that overly chatty lady in the supermarket: Fiji, the Gold Coast, Queenstown, the Cook Islands… maybe Canada if someone’s feeling particularly adventurous. But you know what I never hear? “I’m going to Africa!” Not once. Not a whisper.

Which begs the question, why not?

Is it too far? Is it the safety concerns? Or is it because for decades, Africa has long been wrapped up in this image of danger and chaos, thanks to wild old movies with man-eating lions, shaky media headlines, and stories passed on by expats who share the tougher parts of their experience. But those stories are only one side of a much bigger, more beautiful picture and let me tell you something, Africa is so much more than what you’ve heard.

Watching a crash of rhino along the Sand River - Photo: Singita

Let’s get one thing straight - Africa is wild, yes, but not in the “you’ll-be-eaten-in-your-sleep” kind of way. It’s the kind of wild, soul-stirring beauty that makes your heart race and your jaw drop, and then hits you all over again just when you think you’ve caught your breath.

We Kiwis love the outdoors, right? We go barefoot at BBQs, hike through ancient rainforests, cry happy tears when a dolphin swims past our kayak. So why wouldn’t we want to experience the ultimate outdoor adventure? I’m talking sunrise game drives with coffee in hand, watching elephants stroll past, golden sunsets across the savannah, lion roars echoing through your chest (one of my most favourite feelings), and giraffes casually nibbling trees while you sit there in awe, wondering how on earth you got so lucky. I’m talking about being in the presence of wildlife you’ve only ever seen on David Attenborough documentaries, up close, real, and utterly humbling.

Coming face to face with a male lion on game drive

When I decided to go back to South Africa as a young woman to train as a safari guide, people thought I’d lost my mind. “Aren’t you scared?”“What if something happens?”“Why would you give up New Zealand to go live in the bush!?”

Even my poor mum was a nervous wreck (sorry, Mum), and I don’t blame her, South Africa, and Africa as a whole, doesn’t always get a fair shout in the media. But let me tell you something honest and real, those eight years were the most extraordinary of my life.

I laughed more, learned more, and felt more in those years than in any other time of my life. I was challenged and inspired every single day. And I can’t help but want to share that feeling; that pure, magical, alive feeling with every Kiwi I meet.

Sitting around and enjoying the fire with new friends at Singita Milele - Photo: Singita

Let’s bust a myth while we’re at it. Africa isn’t all tents and mosquito nets and “roughing it.” If that’s what’s holding you back, you’re in for a serious surprise. Sure, you can camp in the bush if that’s your vibe but the truth is, the luxury on safari is next-level.

Think infinity pools overlooking waterholes teaming with wildlife, five-star food served under starlit skies, bubble baths with views over the Zambezi River and hospitality from people who become your best friends. I think that’s what makes it so different from your average island escape. Africa isn’t manufactured, it’s not polished or filtered. It’s raw and real and bursting with beauty that doesn’t need editing.

You don’t just take a trip, you truly feel something. Something deep that I always find so hard to explain, but if there’s one thing I know about us New Zealanders, it’s this:

We love animals. We love wide open spaces. We love a good story, a bit of banter, and we love going where not everyone else has gone before. So why not Africa?

Waking up and taking in the views along the Zambezi River at Mpala Jena

Why not swap the usual beach holiday for something that’ll stir your soul. Why not wake up to the sound of lions roaring instead of your phone alarm. Why not sit around a fire in the middle of nowhere, talking to people who feel like family, looking up at a sky so full of stars that it gives you a whole new sense of who you are and just how vast and beautiful the world can be.

You won’t just come home with great photos. You’ll come home a little different. A little more you.

So if Africa’s calling, and maybe, just maybe, it is - say yes. Because, my dear New Zealanders - it’s bloody brilliant!

Sitting quietly, watching a herd of elephants at sunrise in the Lower Zambezi - Photo: Classic Zambia

And if you’re still feeling a bit hesitant, I get it. Africa can seem like a big leap. It feels far, unfamiliar, maybe even a little overwhelming. But honestly, some of the best things in life start with that one uncertain, slightly sweaty, heart-thumping step. I took it, and I came back with a heart full of stories and a sense of self I didn’t even realise I was missing.

If you're curious but not quite sure where to begin, I’m just a phone call or email away. I’d love nothing more than to help guide you toward your own African adventure, because once you’ve seen it, felt it, lived it... You’ll understand exactly why I can’t stop talking about it!