Hi, I’m Helen.

Seventeen years ago, I took my first solo trip to Africa. I expected an adventure, but I never expected it to completely change the course of my life.

Today, I’ve spent nearly two decades exploring Africa, built one of the UK’s leading Africa travel blogs, and spent more than 10 years leading tours across 19 African countries. Rock My Adventure was created because I wanted other people to experience the same Africa I fell in love with – authentic, adventurous, welcoming, and far beyond the guidebooks.

2009 – The Trip That Changed Everything

In 2009, I set off on my first big solo adventure through Africa, backpacking, volunteering, and overlanding from Nairobi to Cape Town.

I climbed Kilimanjaro, went on safari, camped in the desert, stood in awe at Victoria Falls, and trekked to see mountain gorillas in the wild. But while those experiences were incredible, it wasn’t the wildlife or landscapes that captured my heart most.

It was the people.

I spent time in local communities, made friends with local people, and was invited to village parties and weddings. It was in those moments – sharing stories, laughter, meals, and everyday life – that I experienced the Africa I had come so far to discover. That’s where the magic happens.

The warmth, resilience, humour, hospitality, and strong sense of community I encountered everywhere I went completely changed my perspective on the continent. I fell in love with Africa and knew it wouldn’t be my last visit.

2013 – Sharing the Africa Nobody Was Talking About

When I returned home, I was surprised by how many misconceptions people had about Africa.

Most people saw it as dangerous, difficult, expensive, or somewhere you only visited on a luxury safari or volunteer project. Yet that wasn’t the Africa I’d experienced at all.

I wanted to show people the cool, vibrant cities, incredible road trips, welcoming communities, stunning landscapes, and everyday adventures that had made me fall in love with the continent.

So I started Helen in Wonderlust.

What began as a personal travel blog soon became a resource for thousands of travellers looking for honest, practical advice about exploring Africa independently and confidently.

2016 – Turning a Passion into a Tour Company

As my blog grew, so did the number of people asking for advice, itineraries, and recommendations.

Then one day, I had a thought: what if I could show people Africa in person?

In 2016 I ran my first tour, ‘This is Kenya’, alongside my Kenyan friends and trusted local partners. Much to my surprise, it sold out.

Watching travellers experience the same magic, excitement, and connection that I’d felt on my own first trip was incredibly rewarding. I realised I wasn’t just passionate about Africa – I was passionate about helping other people discover it too.

2017 – Present

After being made redundant from my marketing job in early 2017, I faced a choice: find another corporate role or take a chance on building something I truly believed in.

I chose Africa and Rock My Adventure was born.

Since then, Rock My Adventure has grown from one small Kenya tour into a well-loved adventure travel company running trips across East, West, and Southern Africa. Over the last decade, I’ve led more than 50 group tours across 19 African countries, helping hundreds of travellers experience the continent in a deeper, more authentic way.

What I’m most proud of isn’t the number of countries we’ve visited or tours we’ve run. It’s the friendships formed, the confidence gained, the memories created, and the incredible community that has grown around Rock My Adventure.

My mission remains exactly the same as it was all those years ago: to help people discover the Africa I fell in love with and create adventures they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.

I hope you’ll join us one day.

Helen x

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