My Travel Life: Photographer And Storyteller Lee Litumbe On Her Dream Destinations

Lee Litumbe’s earliest travel memories involve the anticipatory excitement of boarding a plane and getting to eat ice cream during the flight. Her parents had a business centered around travel, so a passion to explore was piqued at an early age. “I became aware that there is a world beyond my immediate surroundings and my curiosity to experience it was spiked,” says Litumbe, who describes herself as “Cameroonian by birth, an American by upbringing, and a nomad at heart”.

It was this childhood spirit of adventure that prompted a grown-up Litumbe to quit a career in corporate finance and embark on solo travels, mainly through Africa, after a particularly captivating trip to Senegal. “I made an intentional choice to prioritize travel within Africa, and it’s something I have become quite passionate about,” she says. “Historically, there are such limited perspectives into the variety of beautiful experiences to be had within the continent, so sharing my once-in-a-lifetime experiences in places like Zanzibar, Mozambique, Namibia and Senegal has been a true highlight over the past five years.”

Now, Litumbe – a self-taught photographer, storyteller and entrepreneur – takes her followers on global adventures via her travel platform, Spirited Pursuit, with the aim of celebrating truly immersive travel experiences.

“I could go back to Zanzibar, Indonesia or India a million times and still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. What most people may not know about Zanzibar is just how rich the culture is, and Stone Town is a great place to immerse yourself in it. The mix of traditional African, Asian and some European influences makes it such a dynamic melting pot – with incredible spices to boot. Stone Town and Nungwi, in the northern part of the island, would be where I’d spend most of my time on my next trip.

“In Indonesia, the ‘Secret Gilis’ were a highlight on my last trip. Skip the tourist traps and enjoy the peace and true paradise of these islands. And, in India, Udaipur is a feast for sore eyes. Though it’s easy to get overstimulated, I would have loved to spend time taking local cooking classes and experiencing more of the incredible history and architecture than my one-week stay allowed me to have.”