About Me

Hi! My name is Jolene Finn and I am the founder of Authentic South Africa. I have been married to David since April 2009 and we have 2 beautiful boys. We’re a busy household and truth be told, the promise of my next holiday gets me through most days. My story on how I got into the travel industry is a little dull to be honest. There was no “AHA” moment, nor was there any spark during family holidays – simply because there weren’t any of those. Rather my journey began after a gentle nudge from my parents to study something after school. I was young and not really sure what I wanted to do with my life. I did know that there was a whole world ready to be explored and so I set my mind on a life of travel. And so, I went on to get my Diploma in Travel & Tourism. My first time on a plane was the day after I turned 21. I flew to Brazil, all on my own. Was I a little nuts? Absolutely! But that’s when the travel bug bit, and I knew tourism was my calling. It wasn’t until I returned from a year in America a few years later, though, that I realized my true passion wasn’t selling the world to South Africans. Instead, I wanted to create unforgettable memories for the people of the world right here in South Africa. And so, my journey into inbound tourism began; an adventure that started 20 years ago and a passion that continues to this day. South Africa is where you reset your soul, rediscover your path, and feel the irresistible pull to return again and again. I look forward to helping you discover its magic and create memories that will stay with you always.