For Carol Ofori, travel is growth, connection, and above all, it is a love letter to a continent she believes the world, and Africans themselves, should explore more deeply. She took her family to Kenya for one chapter of that love letter.
How did your love for travel start, and what keeps the fire burning after so many years and so many destinations?
My passion for travel started when my mom gave me the opportunity to see the world as a teenager. We travelled mainly around America and Europe, and those experiences opened my eyes in ways I’ll always be grateful for. Travel exposes you to culture, tolerance, acceptance and constant learning. It’s one of the most beautiful ways to grow as a human being and to develop empathy. After travelling with my family, I moved out, and all I wanted to do was keep exploring. Every December, after seeing so much of the United States and Europe, I told myself I wanted to see more of this continent that I love so much. My first African trip was to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and I was hooked from that moment on.
You’ve visited dozens of countries across Africa and beyond. What is it about travel that still excites you the most?
For me, it’s the learning. I love learning, and visiting a new place allows you to soak up so much knowledge. I enjoy fully immersing myself in experiences because those moments imprint themselves on you. Your travel stories become part of who you are. Through learning, you develop respect for different people and cultures. You begin to appreciate how others live, think and celebrate. That perspective is priceless.
As a mother, how has becoming a parent changed the way you experience and approach travel?
I’ve always wanted my kids to see as much of Africa as possible, but I waited until my youngest was at least five years old. When they’re very young, travelling can be more challenging, and we wanted them to be old enough to truly experience and absorb what they were seeing. Planning trips now requires a completely different lens. You have to consider distance, travel time and health precautions… Safety is also a key factor. One year, we planned to visit Mozambique, but just before we travelled, there was unrest in Maputo, and we had to adjust our plans. As a parent, flexibility is everything.
You recently took the family to Malindi. What made you choose that destination, and how did it compare to your expectations?
It was actually my second time visiting Malindi, and we absolutely loved it. This time, I visited Gold Beach at Che Shale for the first time. It’s a stretch of coastline famous for its shimmering sand. The “golden” effect is caused by mineral deposits, specifically mica and titanium particles, that are washed down from the interior by the Sabaki River before settling along the shore… It was completely mind-blowing to see in person. We also visited the Vasco da Gama Museum, which was fascinating, snorkelled in the warm Indian Ocean, and explored the dunes on quad bikes. The city tour was incredibly interesting, and we even went to Hell’s Kitchen, which looked completely different from when I first visited because of erosion. Experiencing it all again, but this time as a mother, was truly eye-opening.
Was there anything about Malindi that surprised you?
The consistency of the weather! We had hot, 35-degree weather every single day, which is very different from South Africa, where conditions change quickly. That consistency meant we could fully enjoy every activity we planned without worrying about sudden shifts in the weather.
From a cultural and sensory perspective, what stood out most?
The Maasai culture stood out deeply for me. Watching them perform: the jumping, the singing, the pride in their heritage, was incredibly emotional. They are so proud of who they are. As South Africans, we’re familiar with diverse cultures, but experiencing something different firsthand is always special. It’s very different from Zulu or Xhosa culture, for example. Their beadwork is extraordinary and unique to East Africa. What made it special is that while we all share beadwork traditions as Africans, we express them differently. The patterns, colours and techniques vary, and that diversity is beautiful.
You’ve made it a mission to explore as much of Africa as possible. Why is that so important to you?
Simply put, Africa is the best continent in the world. I may be biased, but I truly believe that. If more Africans travelled within Africa, we would appreciate each other more and collaborate more. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to travel across our own continent due to various barriers. If we were able to work together more seamlessly, we could all grow together. A thriving Africa means a thriving South Africa. Seeing the potential across the continent motivates me to explore as much of it as I can. There’s so much opportunity here, and we need to collaborate more with our neighbouring countries.
After Malindi, what’s next on your travel list for 2026?
I would love to do another solo trip, but as a mom of two, that’s not always easy! More than anything, I want to continue exploring Africa with my kids. They are obsessed with travelling the continent, and that makes me so proud. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right as a parent. We haven’t decided where we’re going next just yet, but we’ll be pulling out the map, creating a wish list, weighing up the pros and cons, and then choosing our next adventure together.