September 12-14, 2023: I have a thing for routines. This is ironic since my life is constantly changing. If something works well, I like to repeat it. Last year I discovered that Qatar offered very valuable award tickets from the USA to Africa. When I decided to visit East Africa this trip, I made a point of searching out these flights. America Airlines is allied with Qatar Airways so I started searching with them. Sadly, Qatar has drastically limited the available award space so it took lots of searching. I could have flown American Airlines on a more direct flight but instead I flew Qatar from Miami to Doha to Nairobi. This required a “positioning” flight since I don’t live in Miami.

The effort it took to book the Qatar flights was well worth it. The service was impeccable, food delicious and seat comfortable. The 14 hour flight went too fast. I had an 8 hour layover in Doha which I spent in the lounge eating sushi, taking a shower, sleeping in a private room, and savoring multiple desserts. After another 6 hour flight I arrived in Nairobi.

I was in Kenya to visit the wildlife reserves and national parks. Last year I discovered overland and camping safaris in Southern Africa and realized I also needed to visit the Masai Mara and Serengeti. Thankfully, Intrepid Travel had an interesting tour that promised lots of game drives, interaction with locals and the beaches of Zanzibar to finish it off. My flight arrived two days before the tour started so I could explore the city and adjust to the time change.

The first morning I went to the National Museum of Kenya to educate myself on Kenya. The museum was fascinating and covered the natural side (animals and birds of Kenya, climates, evolution and early humans) to the sociopolitical side (tribes, cultural traditions, trade, colonization and independence). Kenya only became independent of the British in 1963.

The ticket also included a entrance to the “snake park”. The green mamba was the prettiest to me. They had massive pythons which apparently can swallow a human.

The next day I paid a local guide to show me more of the city and answer my questions about Kenya. He had tons of opinions to share. I learned about his thoughts on inflation, rural/ urban opportunities, and the move from a more socialist to capitalistic government with privatization of hospitals and other services.

It interests me to see the same issues playing out all over the world. I enjoyed seeing Nairobi from a local’s point of view. He took me to lunch with a bunch of government employees. I learned how to eat ugali (boiled maiz mush) with my hands and scoop up the other foods. The locals had a good laugh as I attempted to copy them.

Nairobi, Kenya was an interesting city. I am grateful to have had a few days exploring the urban side of Kenya before diving into the rural one.