Hi. You can call me Serena, for now.

Africa runs deeply through me. I’m a small farm-town girl at heart who also appreciates the finer things in life. I love travelling, especially across Africa - not only for the landscapes and food, but also for the stories. I enjoy learning about how places came to be, how people live, and the forces that shape them.

I’m probably most at home somewhere between two worlds: barefoot in a 4x4 somewhere in the Karoo, dust on the road and the wind in my hair, or dressed for dinner in the city enjoying beautiful food, good wine, and even better conversation.

The best company feels effortless. I enjoy the slower, memorable things in life: dinners that stretch unexpectedly long, thoughtful conversation, getting slightly lost on a road trip, floating in a hot tub beneath a cold sky, or sharing a moment of excitement when a shooting star suddenly cuts across the sky overhead.

Food, for me, is one of life’s great pleasures and one of the quickest ways to understand a place or person. I’m insatiably curious about flavour: masala dosa, vada pav, gondhoraj, biryani, chakalaka, paella - or discovering something entirely unfamiliar in a tiny restaurant somewhere unexpected. And yes, every now and then, a flaky croissant, bunny chow, or handful of Jelly Babies or droëwors still wins the day.

I enjoy trying new things and have a keen spot for the occasional adrenaline adventure too. Scuba diving and skydiving are still firmly on the bucket list, so if that sounds like your idea of fun, perhaps we’ll finally tick one off together.

Bonus points if you can fire up a proper wood braai, grill a mean steak, introduce me to an interesting whiskey I’ve never tried before, or give a surprisingly good shoulder rub after a long week.