Social media adventurer puts spotlight on Cape Town
LOUIS Cole is living his dream.
From a helicopter circling over Cape Town he operates a hi-tech camera‚ capturing his latest adventure for fans all over the world.
The social media star is back in the city for a new series of posts across his platforms‚ and this time he has brought a team of travel “influencers” who are using the opportunity to hone their own skills.
“Cape Town is one of my favourite cities‚” Cole said.
Often featured wearing a bandana to pull back waist-length dreadlocks‚ Cole is a travel fanatic who began posting daily video diaries‚ or vlogs‚ of his nomadic lifestyle five years ago.
Since then he has racked up two million subscribers on his YouTube channel and has 1.5 million followers on Instagram.
Last year he circumnavigated the globe in a fourseater plane‚ and this year he has turned his sights on Southern Africa‚ where he has spent the past two months creating content that showcases the region.
“Cape Town‚ Best City in the World” is his latest offering‚ providing a bird’s-eye view of the Mother City to the 83 000 fans who have watched it so far.
It is one of the posts on his Fun For Louis homepage that have put Cape Town on the bucket list for many of his fans.
Behind the lens‚ Cole is doing more than documenting his travels and entertaining followers.
He is growing a business‚ and helping others learn how to grow theirs.
The group of people travelling with him are participating in the first Live the Adventure Africa trip he has organised‚ beaming images and stories from the city to all their social media fans.
Live the Adventure started as Cole’s personal mantra but‚ he said‚ it transformed into an opportunity to build a community of creators who dream of living adventurously – something Cole encourages everyone to do‚ social media entrepreneur or not. “It looks different to different people,” he said. “It might not always be travel-related‚ but rather taking steps in their own lives to face their fears‚ and to build more confidence to reach for their dreams.”
The Cape water crisis has sharpened Cole’s awareness of water conservation‚ something he says he will take with him on his travels elsewhere.
[They are] taking steps in their own lives to face their fears