Visiting South Africa was a long-held dream. But I couldn't have imagined how this trip would affect me on so many different levels. I went to see the sights, yes. But I came back with a new understanding of history, ancestry, power and presence.

Read more: Between vineyards, safaris and endless landscapes: the heart in tune with the earth.

I started in Johannesburg, a city that left a deep impression on me. It pulses with diversity, is home to the largest urban forest in the world and bears historical wounds that are still open. Visiting the Soweto neighborhood, entering the house where Nelson Mandela lived, walking through the streets where Apartheid left its mark, I felt the weight and urgency of memory in my body. At the Apartheid Museum, every image, every story, every line told a story that challenged me as a person and as a traveler.

And then came Cape Town, with its scenic beauty that seemed to take your breath away at every turn in the road. From the top of Table Mountain to the road to the Cape of Good Hope, everything is grand. But right there, amidst the postcard landscape, I found a second emotional turning point: the visit to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years incarcerated. The tour is guided by former inmates, such as Mr. Dumisani Mwandhla, who shared his story with us with generosity and strength. It's impossible to leave there the same way.

Between one emotion and another, I also experienced moments of pure enchantment. I walked through centuries-old vineyards, was moved by the care of the hosts, tasted delicious local food and was greeted with a genuine welcome that I had never experienced before. I discovered that South African hospitality is one of the most profound I've ever experienced. There's a twinkle in the eye, genuine listening, a willingness to receive.

South Africa doesn't fit into stereotypes. It's a multiple country that demands time, sensitivity and respect. For me, it's the ideal destination for those looking for more than beautiful photos. It's for those who want to travel with purpose, open up to the world and come back different. Because that's what transformative places do to us: they pass through us in such a real way that they become part of our own history.