Born in Zimbabwe and grown up in South Africa, where she still resides, Farirai Sanyika loves to travel to scenic destinations in Africa, capture them and share them with her audience across social media and on her website, Gophari. She now also has a business that takes women to these destinations and it’s just the best thing ever! Let’s get to know more about her!

You are a travel writer who has been all over Africa, and you also have a degree in engineering! Please tell us more about how you got into being a travel writer/ entrepreneur and why?

I studied chemical engineering at the University of Cape Town. Upon completion, I worked in a small, industrial town called Secunda in Mpumalanga as a plant support engineer. I didn’t realise that that move would change my life. I had been a city girl – that was what I was accustomed to having grown up in Johannesburg and studied in Cape Town. And so, every weekend, I would drive back to Johannesburg to be in my comfort zone. I saw an image of Blyde River Canyon on Instagram which convinced me that a trip deeper into Mpumalanga would be worthwhile. So, one weekend, I broke my routine of driving to Johannesburg and went on a road trip to check out the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga instead.

I arrived at Blyde River Canyon late and had to run to find the viewpoint. Standing before Blyde River Canyon for the first time slapped me inside out. I was so happy.

That trip made me realise how much I was missing out on in South Africa and that I needed to encourage everyone else to get out and explore too. I started a travel blog which grew so much so quickly. It brought about paying brand collaborations and writing opportunities that allowed me to travel even more and have experiences I could have only dreamt of. It changed my life and gave me the idea and courage to start my own group travel business.

My success through growing Gophari made me realise my strengths in social media and digital marketing. I enjoy continuously getting better at it. I went on to complete a professional certification in digital marketing. I now also freelance as a social media manager for a South African hotel group and am hoping to take on more clients.

Where was your first solo trip to and what was that experience like? Any fun memories?

My first solo trip was to Mauritius. After graduating from UCT I flew there. I was shocked that Mauritius looked just as it did on the internet. I remember continuously posting about how blue the water was. A fun memory was going snorkelling for the first time during that trip. There’s a whole other colourful world under there that everyone needs to see!

What are your tips for the woman out there who wish to travel solo but are afraid?

An obvious point that must always be said is that safety should be a priority for women travelling solo. Always keep your family members updated about your plans and location.

A less obvious tip is to connect with other solo travellers. A common misconception about solo travel is that it means you do everything alone. That’s absolutely not the case. Solo travel encourages a more social experience that is less likely in familiar companies. Those chats with guides and friendships formed during tours are what make solo travel special. Awkward initial conversations with strangers can become emotional goodbyes at the end of the trip. Suddenly, you may have a bunch of like-minded travellers to invite for the next adventure.

You have a wonderful website, Gophari, an African travel website, please tell us more about it, especially the feature that speaks about group travels for women?

On my website, you’ll find a travel blog, consultation services and my group travel offering.

I started a group travel business in 2018 called Gophari Travel. I offer premium group trips for women to African destinations. My proudest moment was executing my first all-women group trip which was to Mauritius. For some women in that group, it was their first trip out of South Africa. Gophari Travel is a safe way for women to travel together as they build their travel confidence. It’s great fun and it works!  Since its inception, all Gophari Travel trips have sold out!

You highlight our country, South Africa, a lot. What are some of your favourite places in South Africa to visit?

I have thoroughly enjoyed travelling South Africa – first over weekends while I was an engineer and now more slowly. The Panorama Route will always be one of my favourites because it sparked my South African travel passion. Another favourite is The Wild Coast in Eastern Cape. Hiking along the cliffs looking down at the ocean en route to the glorious Hole in The Wall was an experience I will always cherish.  Plus, the cows there are like none other -they sunbathe! Now I’m hoping for an opportunity to experience the Northern Cape which is the only South African province I have not yet explored.

We love that you are trying to offer an African perspective on travel, please elaborate on this?

I realised that the best story I can tell is my own and the clearest perspective I can write from is my own. As an African woman, that means my story and my perspective is African and I’m so proud of that.

I started off writing travel guides and tips on my blog but now I’m more drawn to travel stories  – even on my social media. I realised that I have a platform to tell African stories as an African and provide a space for others to share their stories as well. We can tell our own stories the best.

I’m interested in understanding the stories behind the land I’m walking on and the people who have walked it before me when I visit somewhere new.  I’m also interested in starting conversations with my audience through my content. That’s become more meaningful to me.

What has been your favourite international destination to visit and what have you learned from that experience?

I am drawn to tropical islands, which is also why my first Gophari Travel group trip was to Mauritius. I always wonder if it’s normal to think about the beach as often as I do. Jambiani beach in Zanzibar has my heart – it’s simple, undisturbed, the ocean is warm and clear and it’s the most beautiful place I have ever seen. There’s a peace I feel at Jambiani that I now search for when I travel. There’s no major retail along with it. It’s quiet. I learned that the simplest places and can bring the most joy.

What are some challenges that you may encounter when travelling and how do you combat them?

Being made to feel unwelcome when I travel is a challenge for me and other black travellers. The stares in some locations are undeniable. You feel that you’re not wanted.

It’s a difficult one to combat no matter how many times you experience it. Having more content of black travellers enjoying leisure travel is a way of indirectly combatting this challenge. That’s what I do through social media.

It is Woman’s Month, a time to celebrate everything to anything about being a woman, could you please tell us what makes you proud to be a woman?

I’m proud to be a woman because our strength combined with our instinctive compassion is changing the world.

What are some words of encouragement that you can share with all the women out there who are finding their passions and paths?

Be intentional about discovering your genius and strengths. I believe that increasing your self-awareness allows you to focus on work that aligns with what you are most passionate about and make the biggest impact.

Once you decide what you want to put your energy into, remember that you don’t need to figure things out from scratch by yourself. Ask for help from those who are steps ahead of you. Use online information and resources to grow.

Lastly, what are your goals and aspirations going forward?

My goals are to grow my group travel business to offer trips to more countries in Africa, to develop my website, gophari.com, into a collaborative online publication that shares African stories and to offer self-paced learning to aspiring travel content creators.

Words: Thuveshnie Govender | Photography: Courtesy Images