OUR STORY
16 years of demystifying travel for African travellers.
Founded in October 2010 by David and Wonuola Olatunde-Lamidi in their living room. Today: a 31-person team, multiple industry awards, and thousands of travellers helped โ many of them on their first international trip.
16
years in business
31
travel specialists
250+
Travupreneurs trained
4โ +
partners only
OUR VISION
Make travel accessible to every class of customer in the African market.
We started by helping Nigerians get European and American visas they couldn’t obtain on their own. From there: business seminar travel, leisure packages, then Travel Ajo โ our flagship instalment plan that lets travellers pay for any trip in bits.
OUR MISSION
Unique experiences tailored to your budget, style and taste.
We pay attention to the hotels, airlines, tours and ground handlers we use. Every partner must offer a minimum 4โ service quality. That’s why our customers keep coming back, and bring their families next time.
OUR CORE VALUES
The four E.I.I.I.
โฆ
Excellence
We go above and beyond to exceed expectations, without compromising our business ethics.
โ
Integrity
Truthful and transparent. We never diminish quality for profit.
โ
Intentionality
Every customer request handled with care and craft.
โฅ
Innovation
We challenge the status quo of how travel is sold in Africa.
LEADERSHIP
Founders & Partners
Decades of combined travel expertise. Multiple-award-winning operators. Real people behind every trip.
D
David Olatunde Lamidi
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Physics graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University. Career: Vmobile (now Airtel) shop supervisor โ Etisalat Experience Centre Manager โ co-founded Diamonds and Pearls Travels in 2010 with his wife Wonuola. Helped open the original Etisalat experience centres at The Palms Lekki and Awolowo Road Ikoyi.
W
Wonuola Olatunde-Lamidi
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Lagos State University, History and International Studies (2nd Class Upper, 2004). Award-winning tour operator and travel influencer. Listed in Top 30 Women in Tourism (Pyne Awards 2022), Leading Women in Travel and Tourism Africa (Akwaaba 2022), Nene-Uwa 100 Tourism Power List (2023).
M
Mayowa Obasanya
Junior Partner
Joined Diamonds and Pearls Travels in 2012 at the company’s infant stage. Lagos State University, History and International Relations. Named in Africa Travel 100 under 40 by Akwaaba Travel Market. Lead architect on our largest destination events and group trips.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Recognised across Africa's travel industry
2023
Best Travel Agency of the Year ยท Pyne Awards Africa
2023
Best Outbound Tour Operator Nigeria ยท Travellers Magazine
2023
Nene-Uwa 100 Tourism Power List (David & Wonuola)
2022
Leading Women in Travel & Tourism Africa ยท Akwaaba
2022
Top 30 Women in Tourism Nigeria ยท Pyne Awards
2021
Best Travel Agency of the Year ยท Densa Awards
2021
Pacesetter Award ยท Aeroport Aviators’ Awards
2018
Travel Agency of the Year ยท Pyne Awards for Travel Professionals
2018
Top 100 Tour Operators in Africa ยท African Tourism Quarterly Magazine
2018
Top 100 Tourism Personalities Nigeria (David & Wonuola)
2017โ18
Sun International Top Achiever ยท 2 consecutive years
TRAVUPRENEUR PROGRAM
Training the next generation of travel professionals.
Since 2016, we’ve trained 250+ Travupreneurs โ many of whom are still in the industry. Our goal: move travel and tourism in Africa away from its reputation for financial malfeasance, toward honesty, creativity, and craft.
250+
trained
10 yrs
running
โฆ
LBS case study ยท taught on the OMP program
WHAT WE'RE SELLING RIGHT NOW
Current group tours
