After driving through 11 African countries and playing 99 rounds of golf, British couple Sarah and Stephen Forrest completed their remarkable 100 Golf Courses in Africa Challenge at Kenya’s Vipingo Ridge, the final and most meaningful stop of their year-long adventure.

Setting off from South Africa in August 2023 in a self-equipped old Land Rover Defender, the couple’s mission was simple but ambitious: to play 100 golf courses across the African continent while experiencing its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures. Fully “bush ready,” the Defender proved to be both their transport and home, navigating rough roads, wildlife crossings and endless miles of African scenery.

“Our goal was to finish in Kenya,” said Sarah, a published golf and lifestyle writer. “It was a country we’d long dreamed of visiting, and we wanted to get to know it properly, meet the people and most importantly play golf.”

The couple’s journey took them through South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and finally Kenya. Along the way, they experienced Africa’s extremes, vast dunes and desertscapes of Namibia, the lush greens of Zambia, the tranquillity of Lake Malawi and the dramatic wildlife encounters of Tanzania’s Serengeti. 

They were chased by bull elephants, battled deep potholes that could swallow a small child and endured countless punctures. But through it all, they shared laughter, companionship and a deepening respect for both the continent and each other.

Their halfway milestone came in Zambia, at the Bonanza Golf Course in Lusaka which was course number 50, there they paused to take stock and plan for their grand finale. With their 100th round now confirmed for the PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge, they pressed on northward with renewed motivation.

“Kenya had always been our dream endpoint,” said Sarah. “It’s a country where expectations were high and indeed met. The views are also amazing. We loved the highlands, mountains, parks and the spectacular Indian Ocean.”

Crossing into Kenya, they played their way through the country’s golf landscape, from tea plantations to coastal resorts, from mountain foothills to city fairways. They camped in game parks, stayed in rustic lodges and coastal hotels, and connected with Kenya’s famously warm and welcoming people.

“In fact, with the exception of South Africa, Kenya was the one country where we played the most golf,” Sarah noted. “Every course had something unique whether it was the scenery, the wildlife, or the people we met.”

Their final stop, Vipingo Ridge on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, was especially symbolic. Having traced the coastline all the way from where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean down south, ending their adventure by the sea felt like completing a circle. “We’d dipped our toes in the Indian Ocean in several countries along the way,” Sarah said. “To finish by the ocean again, at Vipingo Ridge, felt perfect.”

Driving up the long driveway to Vipingo Ridge, they were greeted by sweeping ocean views, lush fairways, and the gentle rustle of wildlife. They explored the resort by bike, mingling with zebra, swimming in the cool pool, practicing yoga on the rooftop, and even joining a mini safari to see the resident giraffes and other wildlife that roam the estate.

Best known as the host of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open and home to the PGA-accredited Baobab Course, Vipingo Ridge provided the perfect setting for their final round. As they teed off, the couple were joined, fittingly, by Kenya’s wild residents.

“The languishing golfers in us weren’t slowed down by play, it was the tourist in us, constantly in awe of the wildlife,” Sarah laughed. “At one point, we saw three giraffes walking across the fairway towards the clubhouse.It was magical!”

The moment proved unforgettable. “We’d seen giraffes across Africa, but never that close,” Sarah said. “One even came right up to our golf cart and peeked in, his huge black eyes and long lashes were unbelievable.”

Their final score? A friendly draw, 50 to 50, after a hundred rounds of golf across 11 countries. “Who would believe that after 100 rounds we’d be even?” Sarah smiled. “But more than that, we were still happily married and that’s what Africa taught us: teamwork, patience, and appreciation.”

As the sun set over the Indian Ocean that evening, Vipingo Ridge hosted the couple at its newly renovated poolside bar. In true Kenyan hospitality, they were surprised with a celebratory cake to mark their 100th round, a simple but heartfelt gesture that brought the journey full circle.

“There were tears of joy and a sense of achievement,” Sarah recalls. “We couldn’t have chosen a better place to end our journey. Kenya was the perfect closing country with nice, helpful people, beautiful landscapes, and a spirit of warmth that stayed with us.”

Sarah Forrest is a contributing writer for Golf Monthly and Golf Digest Global Top 100.
Follow their journey on Instagram and YouTube: @TravelLifestyleGolf or visit TravelLifestyleGolf.blogspot.com.