Luxurious, for me, isn’t nearly opulent inns or effective eating. It’s additionally about genuine experiences, native immersion, and cultural understanding. It’s the possibility to attach with individuals and locations on a deeper degree. It’s about exploring native cultures, understanding how individuals stay, and gaining insights into other 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 individuals, creating unforgettable recollections, and gaining private progress. 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 College. This journey has been actually outstanding 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 corporations, and labored on a challenge. It was my first time in Kenya and Africa, and the expertise has opened my eyes to new cultures and views.
You would possibly marvel how spending numerous hours working alongside worldwide college students and native companies could possibly be thought-about luxurious. Nonetheless, the privilege of experiencing Nairobi first-hand, past the everyday vacationer points of interest, the chance to study and from completely different cultures, work in real-world settings in a very completely different atmosphere, being uncovered and out of our protected field, and constructing lasting relationships has been an incredible expertise.
Fly, land, examine, repeat
The second I landed in Nairobi, I knew this was going to be a singular expertise, regardless of having travelled extensively through the years. The limitless queues at passport management, customs, and baggage declare had been a stark distinction to my ordinary travels. It took over an hour and a half to navigate by way of the method. Whereas every little thing 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 individuals? The wait wasn’t disagreeable, merely time-consuming. Thankfully, the airport provided free and dependable Wi-Fi, permitting me to remain linked in the course of the downtime.
After navigating the airport and formally getting into Kenya, we had been greeted by a ready automobile able to whisk us to our lodge. Arriving late at night time, drained and hungry, the welcoming sight of our driver was a much-needed reduction. We opted for the expressway, a extra environment friendly method to traverse town, and made a late-night pit cease for pizza earlier than checking into our lodge properly previous midnight. The native help proved invaluable throughout this time, and from the very starting, I discovered the Kenyan individuals to be variety and useful.
The Golden Tulip Westlands Nairobi, a premium 4-star lodge conveniently situated in Westlands, was our chosen lodging. Regardless of our late arrival, the lodge 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 contemporary 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 few of the metropolis’s landmarks and cultural experiences. We kicked off the morning on the KICC, a towering skyscraper that gives panoramic views of town. As we ascended to the rooftop, we had been handled to a breath-taking 360-degree vista, stretching from town centre to the Nairobi Nationwide Park.
From the heights of the KICC, we descended to the Giraffe Centre, a singular 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 in regards to 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 buying expertise.
We continued our cultural journey to the Bomas of Kenya. This vibrant cultural centre showcases the wealthy variety of Kenya’s ethnic teams by way of charming dances and music performances. The energetic performances transported us to completely different areas of the nation, proper within the coronary heart of Kenyan tradition.
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Consulting tasks
On Monday morning, after a energetic breakfast, we commenced our firm visits, every group venturing to a distinct suburb of Nairobi. This offered us with a glimpse into the each day lives of town’s inhabitants and the various industries that drive its financial system.
Whereas the teams had the chance to work with a wide range of promising corporations, together with Knights & Apps, Afristec, Mdundo, Fort College, My Shamba Digital, and Timao, I used to be significantly lucky to be positioned with Pazurina Vacation Houses. This firm is targeted on growing vacation houses within the burgeoning coastal vacation spot of Diani Seashore, close to Mombasa. The challenge aimed to develop a complete technique to advertise the vacation houses to each Kenyans residing overseas and worldwide consumers. Given the worldwide reputation of vacation houses in varied locations, the aim was to place Diani Seashore as a sexy funding alternative and a sought-after trip spot. By working intently with native professionals, I gained worthwhile insights into the challenges and aspirations of the Kenyan actual property and vacation business. Furthermore, drawing on my years of expertise within the journey business and witnessing the destructive impacts of poorly deliberate tourism improvement in lots of locations world wide, this challenge reignited my curiosity in sustainable improvement. It strengthened my perception that solely by way of environmentally pleasant and socially accountable practices can we guarantee a constructive affect on each the area people and the pure atmosphere.
Not simply enterprise, additionally pleasure!
Whereas the journey’s main focus was schooling, Nairobi’s vibrant nightlife offered ample alternatives for rest and enjoyable. We visited the energetic Alchemist Bar, a singular 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, attempt 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 Greatest Bars, was chosen for a Bayes Alumni night time in Nairobi.
For a style of native luxurious, About Thyme provided 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 a wide range 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 stated “safari”?
And also you thought we had been executed? 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 the planet situated inside a metropolis’s boundaries.
Image this: a day spent in a 4×4 car, chasing lions and different wildlife. All the expertise is designed to seize the right shot, particularly of lions, the undisputed stars of any African safari. The joys of a detailed 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 finest that means!
Nairobi Nationwide Park provides unimaginable wildlife viewing alternatives, together with lions, zebras, hippos, ostriches, and varied different animals, but it surely doesn’t have all of the Large 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and African buffalo). Regardless of this, the Park stays a significant 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 go again house. I used to be glad to return to London, as soon as once more with a broader perspective, having been uncovered to utterly completely different experiences. I attempted to take advantage of each second, as I imagine experiences alone don’t maintain a lot worth until we be taught 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 lodge as town fell asleep, the flavours of the meals, the nice and cozy and welcoming individuals, the crowded Sunday morning church buildings we drove by, the African bush and the enjoyment of the safari, the colourful colors of the normal 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 understand 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, be taught, and respect the world’s variety and wonder.
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos is Director of Wonderful Illustration. Wonderful Illustration is a London-based boutique and unbiased illustration and consulting company for beautiful journey and travel-related manufacturers. If you want to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog in an effort to elevate your profile, please contact us.
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