Luxurious, for me, isn’t nearly opulent inns or tremendous 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 stage. 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 progress. My MBA journey to Nairobi, Kenya, earlier this 12 months, 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 really 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 firms, 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 might be thought-about luxurious. Nonetheless, the privilege of experiencing Nairobi first-hand, past the standard vacationer points of interest, the chance to find out about and from totally different cultures, work in real-world settings in a totally totally different setting, being uncovered and out of our secure 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 singular 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 typical travels. It took over an hour and a half to navigate by the method. Whereas every thing ultimately labored out, the tempo was undeniably slower.
I typically 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. Fortuitously, the airport supplied free and dependable Wi-Fi, permitting me to remain linked in the course of the downtime.
After navigating the airport and formally coming into Kenya, we have been greeted by a ready automotive 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 solution to traverse the 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 folks to be type and useful.
The Golden Tulip Westlands Nairobi, a premium 4-star lodge conveniently positioned in Westlands, was our chosen lodging. Regardless of our late arrival, the lodge workers was extremely useful and environment friendly, shortly checking us in and getting us settled into our comfy rooms. One in every 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 lovely 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 singular sanctuary devoted to the endangered Rothschild giraffe. We had the privilege of getting up shut and private with these mild 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 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 fascinating dances and music performances. The energetic performances transported us to totally different areas of the nation, proper within the coronary heart of Kenyan tradition.
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Consulting tasks
On Monday morning, after a full of life breakfast, we commenced our firm visits, every group venturing to a unique suburb of Nairobi. This supplied us with a glimpse into the day by day lives of the town’s inhabitants and the varied industries that drive its economic 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 notably lucky to be positioned with Pazurina Vacation Properties. This firm is targeted on creating vacation houses within the burgeoning coastal vacation spot of Diani Seaside, close to Mombasa. The challenge aimed to develop a complete technique to advertise the vacation houses to each Kenyans dwelling overseas and worldwide consumers. Given the worldwide reputation of vacation houses in varied locations, the purpose was to place Diani Seaside as a gorgeous funding alternative and a sought-after trip spot. By working intently with native professionals, I gained priceless 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 detrimental 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 environmentally pleasant and socially accountable practices can we guarantee a constructive impression on each the area people and the pure setting.
Not simply enterprise, additionally pleasure!
Whereas the journey’s main focus was training, Nairobi’s vibrant nightlife supplied ample alternatives for rest and enjoyable. We visited the full of life Alchemist Bar, a singular mix of meals vehicles, 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 Ground of Trademark Resort, famend for its progressive cocktails, scrumptious finger meals, and gorgeous 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 supplied a serene backyard setting and delectable delicacies. The luxurious, multi-level backyard, adorned with fairy lights and candles, created a very 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 traditional 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 achieved? Not fairly! No go to to Nairobi is full and not using 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 automobile, chasing lions and different wildlife. Your complete expertise is designed to seize the proper 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 might not pay a lot consideration to you, maybe it’s greatest that approach!
Nairobi Nationwide Park presents unbelievable wildlife viewing alternatives, together with lions, zebras, hippos, ostriches, and varied different animals, however it doesn’t have all of the Massive 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 go again dwelling. I used to be glad to return to London, as soon as once more with a broader perspective, having been uncovered to fully totally different experiences. I attempted to benefit from each second, as I imagine experiences alone don’t maintain a lot worth except 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 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 normal costumes, and the fascinating rhythms of the music.
As I look ahead to future adventures, whether or not as a pupil, 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 unbelievable alternative to develop, be taught, and admire the world’s variety and sweetness.
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos
Dimitrios Athanasopoulos is Director of Tremendous Illustration. Tremendous Illustration is a London-based boutique and impartial 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 increase your profile, please contact us.
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