Luxurious, for me, isn’t nearly opulent inns or advantageous eating. It’s additionally about genuine experiences, native immersion, and cultural understanding. It’s the possibility to attach with folks and locations on a deeper degree. It’s about exploring native cultures, understanding how folks stay, and gaining insights into alternative ways of life. It’s about connecting with the world, not simply indulging in it. It’s about touring with a curious thoughts and an open coronary heart, discovering hidden gems, assembly fascinating folks, creating unforgettable reminiscences, and gaining private development. My MBA journey to Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this yr, was one such journey.
Academic experiences
Regardless of my age, I’m extremely grateful to have been accepted right into a prestigious MBA program at Bayes Enterprise Faculty. This journey has been actually exceptional and transformative. A part of this expertise and this course was the Worldwide Enterprise Week in Nairobi, the place we needed to journey to the Kenyan capital, divided into teams, assigned firms, and labored on a undertaking. It was my first time in Kenya and Africa, and the expertise has opened my eyes to new cultures and views.
You may marvel how spending numerous hours working alongside worldwide college students and native companies may very well be thought-about luxurious. Nonetheless, the privilege of experiencing Nairobi first-hand, past the standard vacationer sights, the chance to study and from totally different cultures, work in real-world settings in a totally totally different atmosphere, being uncovered and out of our protected field, and constructing lasting relationships has been a tremendous expertise.
Fly, land, verify, repeat
The second I landed in Nairobi, I knew this was going to be a novel expertise, regardless of having travelled extensively through the years. The infinite queues at passport management, customs, and baggage declare have been a stark distinction to my normal travels. It took over an hour and a half to navigate by means of the method. Whereas all the pieces finally labored out, the tempo was undeniably slower.
I usually ponder… is luxurious about avoiding these queues and detaching oneself from actuality, or is it about immersing oneself within the genuine experiences of a spot and its folks? The wait wasn’t disagreeable, merely time-consuming. Happily, the airport supplied free and dependable Wi-Fi, permitting me to remain related in the course of the downtime.
After navigating the airport and formally getting into Kenya, we have been greeted by a ready automobile able to whisk us to our resort. Arriving late at night time, drained and hungry, the welcoming sight of our driver was a much-needed aid. We opted for the expressway, a extra environment friendly solution to traverse the town, and made a late-night pit cease for pizza earlier than checking into our resort effectively previous midnight. The native help proved invaluable throughout this time, and from the very starting, I discovered the Kenyan folks to be sort and useful.
The Golden Tulip Westlands Nairobi, a premium 4-star resort conveniently positioned in Westlands, was our chosen lodging. Regardless of our late arrival, the resort workers was extremely useful and environment friendly, rapidly checking us in and getting us settled into our snug rooms. Certainly one of my favorite late-night and early-morning pastimes was having fun with a drink or a recent Kenyan espresso on the rooftop, taking within the stunning metropolis views and the huge African sky.
Getting acquainted
Our first day in Nairobi was a tour of a number of the metropolis’s landmarks and cultural experiences. We kicked off the morning on the KICC, a towering skyscraper that gives panoramic views of the town. As we ascended to the rooftop, we have been handled to a breath-taking 360-degree vista, stretching from the town centre to the Nairobi Nationwide Park.
From the heights of the KICC, we descended to the Giraffe Centre, a novel sanctuary devoted to the endangered Rothschild giraffe. We had the privilege of getting up shut and private with these light giants, feeding them from a raised platform and studying concerning the centre’s conservation efforts. Following our encounter with the giraffes, we indulged in a fast lunch on the Galleria Mall and a small memento procuring expertise.
We continued our cultural journey to the Bomas of Kenya. This vibrant cultural centre showcases the wealthy range of Kenya’s ethnic teams by means of charming dances and music performances. The energetic performances transported us to totally different areas of the nation, proper within the coronary heart of Kenyan tradition.
The whole lot it’s good to plan your journey in 2024
Consulting initiatives
On Monday morning, after a energetic breakfast, we commenced our firm visits, every group venturing to a distinct suburb of Nairobi. This supplied us with a glimpse into the every day lives of the town’s inhabitants and the varied industries that drive its financial system.
Whereas the teams had the chance to work with quite a lot of promising firms, together with Knights & Apps, Afristec, Mdundo, Fort Faculty, My Shamba Digital, and Timao, I used to be significantly lucky to be positioned with Pazurina Vacation Houses. This firm is concentrated on creating vacation houses within the burgeoning coastal vacation spot of Diani Seashore, close to Mombasa. The undertaking aimed to develop a complete technique to advertise the vacation houses to each Kenyans dwelling overseas and worldwide patrons. Given the worldwide reputation of vacation houses in varied locations, the aim was to place Diani Seashore as a beautiful funding alternative and a sought-after trip spot. By working carefully with native professionals, I gained helpful insights into the challenges and aspirations of the Kenyan actual property and vacation trade. Furthermore, drawing on my years of expertise within the journey trade and witnessing the adverse impacts of poorly deliberate tourism improvement in lots of locations around the globe, this undertaking reignited my curiosity in sustainable improvement. It strengthened my perception that solely by means of environmentally pleasant and socially accountable practices can we guarantee a constructive affect on each the local people and the pure atmosphere.
Not simply enterprise, additionally pleasure!
Whereas the journey’s main focus was training, Nairobi’s vibrant nightlife supplied ample alternatives for leisure and enjoyable. We visited the energetic Alchemist Bar, a novel mix of meals vans, eating places, and leisure. It’s a must-visit for its stay music, native environment, and late-night camaraderie. For a extra intimate expertise, strive the Hero Bar on the ninth Flooring of Trademark Resort, famend for its progressive cocktails, scrumptious finger meals, and beautiful metropolis views. This hidden gem, ranked #62 on The World’s 50 Finest Bars, was chosen for a Bayes Alumni night time in Nairobi.
For a style of native luxurious, About Thyme supplied a serene backyard setting and delectable delicacies. The plush, multi-level backyard, adorned with fairy lights and candles, created a really magical ambiance. It’s an absolute must-visit! Final however not least, the Carnivore is an iconic open-air restaurant providing quite a lot of meats. The restaurant specialises in an all-you-can-eat meat buffet, that includes basic cuts and unique choices like ostrich and crocodile. The meal started with a welcome Dawa drink, a refreshing alcoholic native beverage.
Somebody mentioned “safari”?
And also you thought we have been accomplished? Not fairly! No go to to Nairobi is full with out a safari journey in Nairobi Nationwide Park. This distinctive park is the one one on this planet positioned inside a metropolis’s boundaries.
Image this: a day spent in a 4×4 car, chasing lions and different wildlife. Your complete expertise is designed to seize the right shot, particularly of lions, the undisputed stars of any African safari. The joys of an in depth encounter with a lion, lazing round within the park, is an unforgettable expertise. Whereas they could not pay a lot consideration to you, maybe it’s greatest that approach!
Nairobi Nationwide Park gives unimaginable wildlife viewing alternatives, together with lions, zebras, hippos, ostriches, and varied different animals, however it doesn’t have all of the Huge 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo). Regardless of this, the Park stays an important wildlife sanctuary, a relentless problem in balancing city life with nature, as proven by the imposing Chinese language-constructed Mombasa Railway that crosses the park on a bridge to facilitate the motion of huge animals.
Nairobi: Wrapped up
Time flies, and it was already time to move again dwelling. I used to be glad to return to London, as soon as once more with a broader perspective, having been uncovered to utterly totally different experiences. I attempted to profit from each second, as I imagine experiences alone don’t maintain a lot worth until we study from them and apply them to our lives.
I nonetheless mirror on the busy streets of Nairobi, the huge African sky, late nights engaged on the rooftop of the resort as the town fell asleep, the flavours of the meals, the nice and cozy and welcoming folks, the crowded Sunday morning church buildings we drove by, the African bush and the enjoyment of the safari, the colourful colors of the standard costumes, and the charming rhythms of the music.
As I stay up for future adventures, whether or not as a scholar, skilled, or just a traveller, I notice as soon as once more how fortunate and grateful I’m for the privilege of immersing myself in new cultures and environments. It’s an unimaginable alternative to develop, study, and respect the world’s range and sweetness.
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos is Director of Wonderful Illustration. Wonderful Illustration is a London-based boutique and impartial illustration and consulting company for beautiful journey and travel-related manufacturers. If you need to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog with a purpose to elevate your profile, please contact us.
Did you get pleasure from this text?
Obtain comparable content material direct to your inbox.
Please allow JavaScript in your browser to submit the shape