october-2018

FREE
ENJOY YOUR FLIGHT / 9
“We feel genuinely excited when
guests have positive experiences
flying with Kenya Airways”
Getty images
Msafiri October 2018 edition 150
kenya-airways.com
➔
October 2018
City of
Angels
A journey through
Bangkok
In The Saddle
Cyclists heading for glory
Streets of
New York
Modern photos
of the Big Apple
to Take
Home!
Kenya Airways World
Travel Awards
• Voted Africa’s Leading Airline:
2016, 2017
• Voted Africa’s Leading Airline, Business
Class: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Dear guests,
We have just launched a new catering
service, another major step in our
strategy to provide an unforgettable
experience throughout your journey
with us, while making our service more
authentic, relevant and true to our
brand identity. Flights of seven hours or
more now have a menu created by one
of Africa’s best chefs. Kiran Jethwa, the
renowned Kenya-born chef, has set the
first new menu: an exquisite fusion of
African ingredients. He has also trained
our crew at our state-of-the-art Pride
Center. In addition, special welcome
drinks – created by Jethwa – containing
herbs, indigenous fruits and tea are
distributed in business class. On shorter
flights, guests now receive new meal
boxes that are easy to take with them.
Whichever new catering service you are
experiencing today, we hope that it adds
to your enjoyment. We feel genuinely
excited when guests have positive experiences
flying with Kenya Airways.
This month, we take you on a journey
through Ethiopia’s picturesque Amhara
region, which is famous for the
excavated churches of Lalibela, and
seems to have inspired Middle-earth in
Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings trilogy. We
take you from the Italian-influenced
capital – Addis Ababa – to Lalibela,
Gondar and on to Bahir Dar, Amhara’s
capital.
Our latest people story focuses on a
group of ambitious African cyclists who
are attempting to emulate the successes
of Kenya-born, four-time Tour de
France champion Chris Froome. Being
away from the key professional-cycling
centres in Europe, these cyclists need to
fight harder for the biggest prize in cycling,
and they’re doing so in ways that
are truly inspiring.
Business is booming in Kenya, especially
in Nairobi, which has become the
Africa hub for many large international
corporations. Our forthcoming direct
flights between Nairobi and New York
– beginning on 28 October – promise to
increase this influx of foreign companies
operating within our borders. Because
of this, our new business story looks at
the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences
and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, which
is proliferating in Kenya, adding another
dimension to the nation’s growing
business sector.
Thank you most sincerely for flying
with Kenya Airways.
I wish you all an enjoyable flight.
Sebastian Mikosz
Group Managing Director and CEO
Kenya Airways
Image: Jeroen van Loon

CONTENTS / 11
Travel & Nature
28 Fantasy Land
Ethiopia’s Amhara region
50 Return Ticket
The Great Migration
52 Vanilla Islands
At a glance
58 Guess And Win
Travel quiz
60 City of Angels
A journey through Bangkok
46
60
Arts & Culture
14 High Five
The Empire State Building
17 Habari
Kenya & the world
38 In The Saddle
Cyclists heading for glory
68 Streets of New York
Modern photos of the Big Apple
Publisher Kenya Airways | Head of Marketing and Customer Experience Jacquie Muhati Corporate Communications Executive Mercy Agnes Mwamba Advertising MediaEdge
Interactive Ltd. | Managing Director Esther Ngomeli Head of Media Rose Kagori Concept, Content & Production Hearst Create | Director Loes van Dokkum Managing Editor Irene
Bauer Senior Designer Gaby Walther Subeditor Ben Clark Proofreader Julia Gorodecky Photo Editor Monique Kolmeijer Design Concept Sabine Verschueren Production Manager Hans
Koedijker Contributors Pie Aerts, Cedric Arnold, Joost Bastmeijer, Jackson Biko, Bartjan Bouman, Andrea Dijkstra, Mark Eveleigh, Philip Lee Harvey, Annemarie Hoeve, Saskia Houttuin,
Desiree Hoving, Patrick Janelle, Ken Kagicha, Kenyan Riders Downunder, Annette Lavrijsen, Jeroen van Loon, Ivan Meneses, Catherine Ngarachu, Michael Poliza, Alessio Radaelli,
Cynthia Schippers, Peter Steward, Peter Usher, Eline Visscher, Chantal van Wessel/Vizualism, Hanna Wieslander, Graham Willgoss, Michael G. Young Lithography Ready4Print
Printer Habo da Costa, Vianen

12 / CONTENTS
Fly Guide
28
Business
75 Highlights
Inflight entertainment guide
85 Safari Njema
News & service
91 Flying Blue News
93 SkyTeam News
94 Route Maps
99 Magical Kenya
101 Cargo
102 Get Comfortable
38
44 Aircraft Facts
The landing gear
46 Liftoff
Africa’s space programme
54 Of Mice And Men
Kenya’s conference industry
66 Book Review
Build an A-Team
Contact details Kenya Airways Marketing & Corporate Communications, Nairobi, Kenya, +254 20 642 2000, msafiri@kenya-airways.com Website kenya-airways.com, msafiri-magazine.
com Facebook Kenya Airways Twitter @kenyaAirways Instagram @officialkenyaairways Mediaedge Interactive Ltd. Nairobi, Kenya, +254 20 420 5000 / +254 723 140187 / +254 734
271488, msafiri@mediaedgeke.comHearst Media Nederland CV, Spaklerweg 52, 1114 AE Amsterdam, the Netherlands +31 20 7943500, Website hearst.nl/hearst-create
No part of the contents may be reproduced without prior written permission. While every care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparing the magazine, the publisher and Kenya Airways assume no
responsibility for mistakes and effects arising therefrom. The publisher has made every effort to arrange copyright in according with existing legislation. Msafiri is available on all KQ flights and
at select hotels and businesses in Nairobi. A digital copy is available for free at kenya-airways.com.
CRE A T E

14 / NEW YORK / Empire State Building
HIGHLIGHT / 15
High Five
Built on Fifth Avenue in 1931,
the Empire State Building
was named after the moniker
for New York State.
This Art Deco skyscraper was erected
on the site of the first Waldorf-Astoria
hotel, which was knocked down to make
room for it. The Empire State Building is
so big that it has its own postcode. At
381-m tall, it was the tallest building in
the world for almost 40 years until the
North Tower of the World Trade Center
went up in 1970.
The idea for the Empire State Building
was conceived during the Roaring
Twenties, when the US economy was at
its peak and ambition in the construction
industry was just as high as the plans
tabled for what the media called, the
“race into the sky”; a competition
between 40 Wall Street, the Chrysler
Building and the Empire State Building,
which was built last but won the “race”.
Photographer Lewis Hine famously
captured the death-defying construction
by steelworkers as they hung from the
side of the building at great heights
without safety equipment. While taking
pictures of the workers, Hine also got
himself into precarious positions; a feat
that, arguably, remained unsurpassed
until the recent invention of the “selfie”.
Kenya Airways will begin flying to JFK Airport
in New York from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport on 28 October.
text: Ben Clark image: Getty Images

150
The shortest border
in the world is
between Botswana
and Zambia. It’s only
150-m long.
Habari
HABARI / 17
Two of Africa’s smallest countries,
eSwatini and Lesotho, are located
within Southern Africa.
Illustrations
Colourful Doodles
Monica Obaga is a Kenyan illustrator
and graphic designer who’s currently
based in Los Angeles, US. After doodling
a lot as a child, Monica picked up
drawing again four years ago. Taking
inspiration from her childhood in Kenya,
she now publishes her colourful work
on Instagram, where she’s followed by
over 1,200 people. @monicaobaga

The hippopotamus is Africa’s
deadliest animal; it kills more
people on the continent than
crocodiles and lions combined.
Golden oldie
Fairmont The
Norfolk
Nairobi
HABARI /19
There are more French speakers
in Africa than in France.
Nairobi page text: Jackson Biko
Meeting place
Safari Park Hotel
The Safari Park Hotel, an oasis
in the heart of Nairobi, has
beautiful gardens and water
features. It’s one of the East
Africa’s foremost leisure and
conference venues, with 167
deluxe rooms and 36 suites
– with private balconies – and a
range of indoor, outdoor and
banqueting facilities for up to
5,000 people. Its five international
restaurants, offer some of
the finest dining in Nairobi.
Leisure facilities include the
Paradise Casino, the Cats Club
discotheque, the Piano Bar and
the ultra-modern Safari Fitness
Centre.
~ safaripark-hotel.com
Nairobi grew around this iconic
hotel, which dates back to 1904.
Deals have been struck on its
veranda ever since. It’s been a
home away from home for
distinguished travellers during
the colonial period, and savvy
businessmen of modern times.
It’s got that old-world charm
and elegant contemporary
design. It has 27 luxurious
suites and 143 rooms, which
are set around tranquil tropical
gardens, a heated outdoor
swimming pool and a health
club and spa.
~ fairmont.com
“My heritage
naturally trickles
into my work
and every piece
I create”
– Zambian fashion designer Kapasa Musonda –
Indian food
Mayura Restaurant
Some people will put up with grubby restaurants because they
serve great food. Thankfully, there are some restaurants that
score highly for food and ambience. Mayura, a fantastic Indian
restaurant, is one of them. It’s got a large, tasteful Indian-heavy
decor (thankfully not gaudy) with a large, tastefully done lounge
outside, and a slightly more formal seating inside that’s great for
business meetings. The food is so delicious, you’re tempted to call
it, “finger-licking good”.
~ themayura.com
A bit of everything
Artcaffé,
Nairobi
Artcaffé is a café, yes. People
gather and sit for coffee in a
modern set-up. It’s the first
truly European model of
café/bakery (if you’re to believe
them). They have freshly
baked artisan bread and
pastries, and they brew real
Kenyan coffee. But they’re
also a lifestyle brand, and a
buzzing social hub in the
metropolis. Because Artcaffé
is open until midnight, it’s
also a meeting place for their
famous signature cocktails.
~ artcaffe.co.ke
Clubbing
40Forty Lounge
It’s a club in Westlands, which
is a “happening” area as the
youth would say. It’s on Westlands
Road and it has limited
parking spaces, but that isn’t
your concern because you will
be rocking up in an Uber.
You’ll take the elevator to the
eighth floor, where you’ll enter
the 40Forty Lounge, which is
open until dawn. The view is
amazing. The excellent Boda
Boda Band plays on Tuesdays.
~ @Official40forty

The largest church in the world,
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of
Yamoussoukro, is in Côte d’Ivoire
and resembles Rome’s Saint
Peter’s Basilica.
Marathon
Running The Five Boroughs
Will you be the next Geoffrey Kamworor, the Kenyan
athlete who won last year’s New York City Marathon?
Or are you cheering for friends and family?
With Kenya Airways, from 28 October, you will be
able to fly direct to the Big Apple. This year’s New
York City Marathon will be held on 4 November,
and runs through all five of the city’s boroughs:
Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and
Manhattan, where it enters the iconic Central Park.
What’s On
HABARI / 21
Africa covers approximately 20 percent
of our planet’s land mass and 6 percent
of its total surface.
~ tcsnycmarathon.org
Habari text: Joost Bastmeijer and Saskia Houttuin
Shutterstock
Motor sport
Great Rift Rally
A 45-km drive south of Nairobi brings you to
Champagne Ridge, a crest that offers impressive
views over the adjacent Great Rift Valley. The
mountainous Kajiado area also houses the Champagne
Rally Park and their Champagne 4x4 Challenge,
a spectacular event for both spectators and
competitors. The final 2018 edition will be held
from 24-25 November. On-site camping is possible.
~ champagnepark.co.ke
Q&A
Kapasa Musonda
Mangishi Doll is an Afro-eclectic clothing line from Zambia
that is inspired by unique style and bold prints. Msafiri chats
with founder Kapasa Musonda.
Where do you get your materials?
I spend hours at a time in the marketplaces sourcing different Chitenge (aka
Ankara) fabrics. I grew up seeing these prints on the streets of Zambia. My
heritage naturally trickles into my work and every piece I create.
What does Mangishi mean in Nyanja?
Mangishi is a form of craft using twisted wire. The most popular items
created using this technique are toy cars. I founded an accessory line
called Mangishi Love, which inspired the current brand, Mangishi Doll.
What does the future have in store?
We’re here to stay. We’re constantly creating different and unique pieces
that will resonate with different people and different cultures all over the
world. We will launch our new line, The MDIndividualist, this Autumn.
~ mangishidoll.co

The Ngwenya Mine is
considered to be the world’s
oldest. Thousands of years
ago, red ochre was extracted.
Now, iron ore is mined here.
Arts & Culture
HABARI / 23
The shortest distance between Africa
and Europe is only 14.3 km.
Bucket list
African Juices You Must Try
Health freaks travelling to Africa take
note: these are our favourite healthy fruit
juices from the continent.
Tamarind Juice
This invigorating sweet and sour juice is popular from
Senegal to Sudan. Made from the pod-like fruits of the
tamarind tree, the juice is known to be quite the thirst
quencher. Tamarind is derived from the Arabic words:
Tomur Hindi, meaning “Indian dates”.
Design
Sweden Meets Africa
Ikea, the Swedish furniture store, will sell several items designed by
10 renowned creatives from all over Africa. Representing countries like
Kenya, Senegal and South Africa, designers draw on their culture and the
modern urban rituals that are common across all cultures. With these
rituals as a starting point, the ÖVERALLT collection stands for, “fun,
inclusive and expressive”. The products will be available for a limited
time starting in May 2019.
~ ikea.today/checking-with-overallt
Spris
In Ethiopia, the avocado is perceived to be a sweet fruit; so
Ethiopians make spris, a multi-fruit, layered juice that is not
watered down. These thick smoothies are eaten with a spoon
and include a papaya or mango layer. They’re served with
fresh lime squeezed over them.
Bouye
The gigantic baobab trees can survive for thousands of
years in the hot and dry climate of the African savannah,
and the “monkey bread fruit” of this “tree of life” is equally
impressive. Nairobi’s Talisman Restaurant nominates it as
“Africa’s superfood”.
Fashion week
Celebrating
Swahili Fashion
The annual Swahili Fashion Week
is one of the largest events of its
kind in East Africa. Held from 30
November to 2 December 2018 in
Dar es Salaam, the event will
showcase the work of fashion and
accessory designers from Swahilispeaking
countries in East Africa.
“Made in Africa” is this year’s
concept.
~ swahilifashionweek.com
Film festival
Revolutionary
African Movies
Ever since the first edition of the
Africa International Film Festival
was hosted in the city of Port
Harcourt, Nigeria, the festival has
returned each year to raise awareness
about African cinema. Filmmakers
and movie stars from all
over the world attend the weeklong
festival. This year’s edition
takes place from 11-17 November.
~ afriff.com
Zoom Koom
This traditional drink from Burkina Faso means “flour water”
and is also known as the country’s eau de bienvenue
(welcome water). It’s a mixture of millet flour, water and sugar
or shea butter. Pineapple and ginger are added for taste.
Bissap Juice
Bissap, sobolo and zobo are just a few of the many names
for refreshing hibiscus juice, which is made from the plant’s
flower: the “roselle”. The sepals are infused in hot water,
leaving a red shade. Sugar or honey is added before the
juice is chilled.
Shutterstock

24 / HABARI
ESwatini’s Mlilwane Wildlife
Sanctuary is the country’s
oldest protected area. It
covers 45.6 sq km.
Column
Swaziland changed its name to
eSwatini on 19 April 2018.
Jackson Biko
Too Much TV
I’ve never been to New York. Everything I know about
New York is from television, movies, books and Jay-Z. So
when I think of New York, I think of people who bump into
you on the street, and don’t say sorry. I think of the sitcom
Friends. I think of subways where people don’t speak to each
other, and some African guys wearing dashikis beat drums
to folk who are wearing headphones. I think of small brick
apartments that cost for a month what I pay in a year for my
house. I think of their former mayor Rudy Giuliani with his
wry foxy look and a shiny head that catches all the light in
the room. When I think of New Yorkers, I imagine they all eat
a lot of salad and steak done so rare it comes to the table
still breathing.
Writing this, in a quiet part of Nairobi on a Sunday
afternoon, I can almost hear the constant sound of police
sirens when I think of New York, and some Latino yellow-
“Everybody drinks
cocktails and drives
on the wrong side of
the road”
cab driver shouting, “What the [deleted by editor]! You can’t
smoke in my [deleted by ed.] car, buddy!” So yes, New York
is loud.
I don’t think I could live in New York because I don’t
know how New Yorkers master all those streets: “Meet me on
29th”; “The shop you are looking for is on the corner of 12th
and 7th”; and, “There’s a fantastic new Portuguese coffee
shop that has opened along West 15th Street”. Then of course
everybody says, “block”, when explaining distances. “Two
blocks down”, for example. And everybody drinks cocktails
and drives on the wrong side of the road. (Maybe they drive
on the wrong side of the road because they drink cocktails,
I don’t know.)
From the media, I know that once you’ve been to New
York, you will have seen the best of the US, which raises
the question: Will I not want to see Chicago after? Or
Alabama? I don’t want New York to ruin it for Wisconsin,
or me, because that’s a state in which I’m likely to meet my
ginger-bearded doppelganger. The Brooklyn Bridge? It would
be nice to see it, but I’m not dying to.
But here’s the one thing that would absolutely make me
want to go to New York (and this is going to sound mad).
For some reason, I’ve always thought that if I visited New
York, I would see Eva Mendes. I don’t even know which
state Eva’s from, but in my head I’d spot her in the Big
Apple when I’m in one of those cheesy hop-on, hop-off buses.
She’d be walking down Fifth Avenue carrying a red designer
bag, wearing a summer dress, and sporting sunglasses that
almost add anonymity to her beautiful face. I’d shout,
“Eva! Eva! It’s me!” Then, like a New Yorker, I’d shout for
the driver to, “Stop the [deleted by ed.] bus!” And then I’d
hop off and run.
But I hope that when I see her, she won’t be with
that guy. What’s his name? The guy she has children with,
Ryan Gosling. That will completely ruin my New York
experience. Actually, I wouldn’t want to see Ryan Gosling
anywhere because then I will think of Eva, and why she gave
him children, because he’s so cliché with his symmetrical face
and movie-star looks (no jealousy here).
Eva, if you’re reading this from New York, I’m free
to travel as soon as you send me a smoke signal from
Central Park.
Illustration: Hannah Wieslander

26 / HABARI
Lemur monkeys are endemic
FOURt
POINTS
to Madagascar.
BY SHERATON
Botswana’s currency is called
“pula”, which is divided into 100
“thebe”. These two words mean
“rain” and “shield” respectively.
Favourites
Nairobi
Hurlingham
Treat yourself
The Gold Rush
1 3
Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear ALPHA-H Liquid Gold
Headphones – Gold
The multi-award-winning “overnight facial” from
With up to 40 hours of battery life, these are Alpha-H transforms skin after just one use.
your perfect everyday headphones. Connect your This leave-on liquid peel contains naturally
device via Class 1 Bluetooth to listen wirelessly. derived fruit acids to help revitalise tired, ageing
Premium playback and fine-tuned acoustics skin, and lessen the appearance of fine lines,
maximise clarity, breadth and balance.
enlarged pores, blemishes and sun damage.
~ apple.com US$299.95
~ Karibu US$30
Sound
B&O PLAY Portable
Bluetooth Speaker
Dust- and splash-resistant, the
B&O PLAY Beoplay A1 portable
Bluetooth speaker immerses you in
great wireless sound from your
iPhone or iPad anywhere you go.
It’s small enough to sit in the palm of
your hand and it’s shaped to slip neatly
into your bag or a pocket. There’s also a
built-in microphone for phone calls. The
360-degree Bang & Olufsen signature
sound has a satisfyingly deep bass. Up
to 24 hours playing time on a single
charge (at moderate volume).
~ apple.com US$249.95
2
Tanzanite Tusk
This exquisite, nine-carat yellow-gold African
tusk pendant and chain was expertly crafted
using rare tanzanite stones and gold exclusively
sourced from African soil. Pendant size: 2.6 cm.
~ Karibu US$275
1 2
3
4
Asobu Flavour U See
This 500-ml insulated bottle will stay cold for up
to 12 hours. The clear centre section suspends
the fruit, mint or other contents in your chilled
water between two filters, preventing any bulk
pulp from entering the drinking section.
~ asobubottle.com US$19.99
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See our shopping
magazine: Karibu.
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Marriott International, Ine., or its affiliates.

28 / TRAVEL / Ethiopia
TRAVEL / 29
FANTASY
LAND
Michael Poliza
Philip Lee Harvey
Ethiopia’s AMHARA region is most
famous for the excavated churches of Lalibela,
but there’s more to discover. Could this be
Tolkien’s Middle-earth?
text Joost Bastmeijer

30 / TRAVEL / Ethiopia
TRAVEL / 31
Previous pages
Left: Simien Mountains, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
and national park; Right:
the House of St. George in
Lalibela
AS WE TOUCH down at Bole International Airport, I
notice two things: the tarmac smells of eucalyptus trees and
the airport Wi-Fi isn’t working (neither is my mobile Internet
service). Being a stereotypical millennial flying in from 4Gcovered
Nairobi, it’s a tough realisation that will define the
rest of our trip: from Addis Ababa to Lalibela and Gondar
to Bahir Dar, it will be a digital detox.
LA DOLCE VITA
Before travelling to the Amhara region, I start my journey in
Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. After dropping off my luggage
at the Ethiopian/Dutch-owned Zeist Lodge, an oasis-like city
lodge – with a peaceful courtyard – it’s time for lunch. I head to
Addis Ababa Restaurant, which is a perfect spot to try injera,
the country’s national dish: a flatbread eaten with several kinds
of stew. After dinner, smoke from burning frankincense and
myrrh fills the circular building, indicating that the coffee’s
ready. The origin of coffee cultivation and consumption lies in
Ethiopia. Countless coffee bars still decorate the streets of
Addis Ababa, including the city’s “first coffee company”: To.
Mo.Ca., an abbreviation of the Italian words: Torrefazione
Moderna Café.
Ethiopia has never been colonised, despite two overthrow
attempts by Italy, whose cultural influence – born from the two
Italo-Ethiopian Wars (1895-1896 and 1935-1939) – is still very
much present. The city offers some great pizzerias, such as Club
Juventus, and even the supposedly largest market in Africa
bears an Italian name: Merkato; the perfect place to shop for
kitchenware, soccer shirts and spices. From Merkato, it’s a
short taxi ride to Piazza (Italian for “square”), one of the
most picturesque neighbourhoods in Addis Ababa. The area
is studded with great cafés: Dej. Jote Street is particularly
worthwhile. You can admire the city’s oldest hotel, Itegue
Taitu, and have a beer at the vivid Florida bar. And don’t
forget to check out the leather shops, evidence that Ethiopia
is home to the continent’s largest population of cattle. More
durable and high-end leather products can be bought at Zinaff,
ZAAF and Bermero (shoes).
Sporting a new Zinaff leather jacket, a pair of Bermero
suede boots and carrying a shipload of Tomoca coffee in my
suitcase, I travel north. From Addis, it’s a 680 km-long journey
to the city of Lalibela, known for its impressive monolithic
churches. The trip is best accomplished with the one-hour
flight. Lalibela has its fair share of nice hotels and homestays,
and my pick, Tukul Village, doesn’t disappoint. With rooms
overlooking one of the city’s striking rock-hewn churches, it
comes highly recommended. >
“Even the supposedly largest market in Africa,
bears an Italian name: Merkato”
Where to stay
Zeist Lodge
With spacious rooms located around
an old, walled family compound, this
is a perfect suburb accommodation
(close to the international airport).
Addis Ababa. zeistlodge.com
Tukul Village
This “village” of “traditional” tukul-style
buildings is located on one of Lalibela’s
surrounding hills.
Lalibela. tukulvillage.com
Lodge du Chateau
The rooms are situated around a small
garden, which leads up to an elevated
rooftop terrace, with hills on one side
and the famous castles on the other.
Gondar. lodgeduchateau.com
Lake Tana Hotel
Though this is one of Bahir Dar’s bigger
hotels, it still boasts quirky old-school
rooms, located right on the green
lakeside, surrounded by rich birdlife.
Bahir Dar.
Above (anti-clockwise
from top): View on
Addis Ababa; Ethiopian
woman, from the Simien
Mountains, carrying
some harvest home;
Debre Berhan Selassie
Church ceiling in Gondar
Right page: Fasilidas’
Pool: a sunken bathing
place surrounding
a small fortress in
Gondar (top); Mother
and daughter carrying
firewood in Lalibela
(bottom left); Baby
geladas are dependent
on their mothers for two
years (bottom right)
Michael Poliza, Philip Lee Harvey, Joost Bastmeijer, Getty Images

32 / TRAVEL / Ethiopia
TRAVEL / 33
A priest walking
up a stone ramp
in Lalibela
“The stonewalled Fasil
Ghebbi complex is a
perfect location for a
morning walk”
Philip Lee Harvey
Philip Lee Harvey
The Church of
St George in
Lalibela

34 / TRAVEL / Ethiopia
TRAVEL / 35
Left page: Simien
Mountains: this region is
best known as the habitat
of the gelada baboons and
Ethiopian wolves (top); A
street in Lalibela (bottom
left); A priest greets
worshippers at the House
of St. George in Lalibela
(bottom right)
Left: Tapestries and
pots for sale.
Right: Priests walking
down towards the
House of St. George
in Lalibela
Philip Lee Harvey, Michael Poliza
CHURCH OF ROCK
At 5 a.m., my guide, Belaynew, is already waiting for me.
With my previously bought combi-ticket (US$50 and valid for
five days), we follow the raspy chants of Lalibelan monks on
our way uphill. A snaking, hewn-out path eventually leads us
to the source of the enchanting singing in the House of St.
Mercoreos, the first of 11 rock-cut churches we visit that day.
Ten Ethiopian orthodox priests and monks – dressed in robes
and carrying prayer staffs and long wax candles – are chanting
in a small room, lit by one fluorescent light. Young apprentices
listen quietly to the monks’ song. We know that the churches
were carved from the relatively soft and volcanic, red tuff
mountain, but when it comes to why the monolithic churches
have been built, and who Lalibela actually was, a lot is still
uncertain. One theory is that, as a youth, King Gebre Meskel
Lalibela spent some time in Jerusalem, and the conquering of
that city by Muslims in 1187 inspired him to build New Jerusalem
in Roha (as the town was then called). Belaynew explains
that some followers believe Lalibela himself carved the whole
complex overnight, assisted by angels. Though the exact dates
of the excavations are uncertain, it’s more likely that the first
church was cut out in the 7th century, and the last one was
formed in the 13th century.
Besides priests and churchgoers, there are a lot of children
frolicking around. “As a kid, I played in these churches and the
tunnels that connect them,” says Belaynew. He takes me to one
of the underground tunnels that is still open. “This one is so
dark that we call it ‘Hell’,” he adds. If it wasn’t for Belaynew, I
would have used my flashlight, but on his advice I leave my
smartphone in my pocket. It’s a weird feeling, seeing absolutely
nothing, and moving through a narrow tunnel on intuition and
sense alone.
After making it through “Hell” and visiting the other
churches (including the most famous one, House of St.
George), Belaynew and I part ways. Later that morning, the
monks’ chanting stops and is replaced by the chatter of visiting
tourists. On account of its ancient churches – all still clearly in
use as active shrines – Lalibela is an exceptional place to spend
time in.
FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
The next morning I find myself in the back of an Ethiopian
matatu minibus, sitting on a jerrycan while being wedged
between two seats. It’s an uncomfortable seven-hour drive to
Gondar, but the spellbinding scenery is a welcome compensation.
The landscape reminds me of the book, The Lord of the
Rings; even the region’s names are similar to the ones used by
Tolkien. There’s Gondar (Gondor), Roha (Rohan), Bahir Dar
(Barad-dûr) and even a city called Shire, north of the Simien
Mountains. Could it be that the Amhara region inspired Tolkien
(a native South African)? >
“A snaking, hewn-out path eventually leads us to
the source of the enchanting singing”
Where to eat
Club Juventus
Slightly hidden behind Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square lies
this sports complex for the city’s uptown kids. The old Italian
canteen offers some great pizzas. Addis Ababa.
Café Choché & To.Mo.Ca.
Nestled in Legahar, Addis’ former Ethio-Djibouti Railway
station, this wonderful café is our top pick to buy coffee. You
can also get your beans at To.Mo.Ca Coffee, supposedly the
oldest coffee company of the capital. Addis Ababa.
facebook.com/CafeChoche; tomocacoffee.com
Addis Ababa Restaurant
If you eat injera once during your stay, have it here.
Despite the shrieking TV noise, the atmosphere in this
tukul-style building is unparalleled. Located in the Piazza
neighbourhood. Addis Ababa.
Ben Abeba Restaurant
Just outside Lalibela, this quirky architectural wonder
boasts not only a wonderful panoramic view, but also a nice
Shepherd’s Pie – the owner is Scottish. Lalibela.
benabeba.com/lalibela/Home.html
Master Chef
This small restaurant is perfect for a fishy lunch – Lake
Tana’s tilapia is served in a variety of fried, cooked and baked
versions. Gondar.
Dashen Brewery
A brewery located next to a university can’t go without a beer
garden. Here, you drink the unfiltered beer straight from the
barrel, called Dashen Cellar. Bar snacks are also available.
Gondar.
Hani Juice
Arguably one of the best juice bars in Amhara, Hani Juice’s
drinks are served so thick, you have to eat them with a spoon.
Bahir Dar.

36 / TRAVEL / Ethiopia
TRAVEL / 37
Left (clockwise
from top left):
Priest reading the Bible;
Ceiling at the House of
St. George; Blue Nile
Falls: at 37-45 m in
height, the falls consist
of four streams that
originally varied from a
trickle in the dry season,
to over 1/4-m–400-m
wide in the rainy season
Right (anti-clockwise
from top): Boat carrying
passengers on Lake
Tana; Pelicans; Man in
front of Blue Nile Falls
“The Blue Nile Falls, the waterfall from where the
Nile River begins its 4,500-km journey to the
Mediterranean Sea, shouldn’t be missed”
Getting Around
When attempting to get around
in Addis Ababa, it’s good to know
that there is no such thing as Uber
or Taxify, although there are some
similar services called RIDE, ETTA
and ZayRide. Unless you have an
Internet connection, these services
are redundant. However, there are
other options, such as blue-white
taxis (be sure to arrange a price
before you get in), yellow taxis (more
expensive, but more traveller-friendly
because of their running meter) and
Sub-Saharan Africa’s first light-rail
metro line outside of South Africa.
Gondar is most famous for its well-preserved castles and palaces
in the stonewalled Fasil Ghebbi complex is a perfect location
for a morning walk. But the Debre Birhan Selassie Church is the
absolute highlight of my Gondar visit. After stopping for lunch
at Master Chef (they serve great fish, freshly caught from the
nearby Lake Tana), it’s a 20-minute walk out of town. In a
peaceful courtyard, where a monk hangs the clerical chasubles
to dry, I find one of the most beautifully decorated churches
of Ethiopia. Every corner of this 17 th -century church is graced
with superb art depicting bible stories. And don’t forget to look
up: the painted ceiling features the faces of 80 beautiful angels.
With the Fasil Ghebbi complex around the corner, my hotel
is perfectly situated. Although the walls of Lodge du Chateau’s
rooms are wafer-thin, Simon, the owner, makes up for that by
going the extra mile. From here, you can hop into a tuk-tuk and
head to the south of town, where a visit to Fasilidas’ Pool – a
sunken bathing place surrounding a small fortress – is still used
for the annual Timkat celebration in January. A visit to this
royal pool is a great excuse to check out the city’s Dashen
Brewery, which has a charming beer garden that is often
packed with students from the adjacent university.
More comfortable than the ride from Lalibela, a five-hour
drive takes us to Bahir Dar, Amhara’s capital, which is situated
south of Lake Tana. This green, somewhat more tropical destination
is ideal for day trips. The lake’s monastery islands and
the Blue Nile Falls, the waterfall from where the Nile River
begins its 4,500-km journey to the Mediterranean Sea,
shouldn’t be missed.
After the hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa and the cultural
stopovers at Lalibela and Gondar, it’s nice to be in a town
where there isn’t that much to do. After a small lunch in an
unassuming bistro opposite the market, I go for a coffee at
Wude, and top it off with a fresh fruit juice at Hani Juice.
From there, it’s easy to access the pleasant two-km lakeshore
footpath that is dotted with bars alongside the city’s small
harbour.
As I reach the gates of the lush Lake Tana hotel, my phone
starts buzzing. Apart from some sporadic signals during my
trip, it’s the first time I have full-speed Internet access again. I
take my phone, look at the long list of notifications and pocket
it again while I look over the lake. Thanks to Ethiopia, I’m less
hooked than before.
➔
Plan your trip
Kenya Airways operates non-stop daily
flights to Addis Ababa from Nairobi’s
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Philip Lee Harvey, Michael Poliza, Joost Bastmeijer

38 / PEOPLE / Cycling
PEOPLE / 39
In The
Saddle
A BREAKAWAY GROUP of African
cyclists are attempting to emulate the
achievements of Kenyan-born, four-time
Tour de France champion Chris Froome.
text Graham Willgoss
Personal best: 2nd overall, 2018
Giro Rosa
Ashleigh
Moolman-
Pasio
Born
9 December, 1985
Hometown
Pretoria, South Africa
Team
Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling
Greatest achievements
1st, African Continental Championships
– Road Race (2011, 2012, 2013 and
2015); 3rd, La Course (2018); 1st
Mountains Classification, Setmana
Ciclista Valenciana (2018); 3rd,
Commonwealth Games – Road Race
(2014); 3rd, World Championships – Team
Time Trial (2016)
“I WANT THE world to wake up to see that Africa
already has someone capable of ‘podiuming’ at a Grand
Tour,” said Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (32) before July’s
Giro Rosa. A bold statement; but the South African
made history by doing exactly that when she finished
second overall at the Giro Rosa: the only Grand Tour
in women’s cycling.
Moolman-Pasio, who rides for the Cervélo–Bigla
Pro Cycling team, backed that up just two days later
with a thrilling third-place finish at La Course, the
prestigious one-day race staged by Tour de France
owners, ASO. Standing on the podium as an African
woman, she explains, is no small thing because cycling
is still in its nascent phase in Africa. “As an African or
South African, you might have the physical potential,
ability or talent to become a really great cyclist, but
you’re not going to become one of the world’s best by
staying in your own country. You have to make that
decision [to move to Europe].”
Moolman-Pasio turned professional in 2010, and
has won the African Continental Championships
road race three times, but this campaign has been her
most rewarding. This season, she bagged 13 top-10s
before competing at Giro Rosa. Her success is hard
earned. “Professional cycling is a very challenging
career because there are so many things out of our
control that can go wrong,” she says. “Injury is a very
real part of the sport. Even in the first year of being
pro, I broke my collarbone three times. The third
time, my mum called me... and said, ‘Isn’t this enough
now?’ I was still so hungry and determined that the
answer was straightaway, ‘No. I haven’t finished what
I’ve started.’”
Getty Images
“In the first year
of being pro, I broke my
collarbone three times”

40 / PEOPLE / Cycling
PEOPLE / 41
“I always tell young
Rwandan cyclists, both
boys and girls, about my
story. I want to help
them reach their dream”
“It is a big step for African
cycling… I’m proud to be
African and I’m proud to be
Eritrean”
Gruber Images
Getty Images
Personal best: 1st overall,
2010 Tour of Rwanda
Daniel
Teklehaimanot
Born
10 November, 1988
Hometown
Debarwa, Eritrea
Team
Cofidis
Greatest achievements
First black African to wear a Tour de France
classification jersey of any kind (Climber’s
polka-dot jersey, 2015); 1st, 2010 African
Continental Championships – Road Race; 1st,
African Continental Championships – Time Trial
(2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013)
THE FIRST AFRICAN to wear the polka-dot jersey –
awarded to the best climber after mountain stages – Eritrea’s
Daniel Teklehaimanot (29) gave himself and his country a day
they will never forget at the Tour de France in 2015.
“It’s a big step for African cycling and I feel really proud,”
said Teklehaimanot, then riding for South African team MTN
Qhubeka (now Team Dimension Data), on becoming the first
black African to wear a Tour de France classification jersey of any
kind. “I’m proud to be African and I’m proud to be Eritrean…
With this jersey, it’s a dream that has come true.”
Teklehaimanot and compatriot Merhawi Kudus also marked
a genuine cultural milestone in professional cycling – a sport
dominated by white riders – that same year as the first black
Africans to compete at the Tour de France. They had come so far
from a country that has so little.
By then, Teklehaimanot was used to making African cycling
history. At the London 2012 Olympic Games, he became the first
Eritrean to compete in a sport other than athletics when he finished
73rd in the road race. Thanks to his African success – he has won
10 gold medals across the road race, time trial and team time trial
at the African Continental Road Cycling Championships – he
then spent four seasons with Team Dimension Data. There, he
won the mountain classification leader’s jersey twice at the
Critérium du Dauphiné and the Giro d’Italia equivalent – the
blue climber’s jersey – after stages two and three in 2017. These
achievements made him the highest-profile black African rider at
Team Dimension Data.
Despite his impressive palmarès (list of wins), this year’s Tour
de France was the second in a row in which no black African had
been selected for any team. Teklehaimanot is currently at French
team Cofidis, who compete at Pro Continental level – cycling’s
second tier – and rode this year’s race without him.
ADRIEN NIYONSHUTI’S cycling career is a Cinderella story
that would never have been told if someone hadn’t taken a chance.
That someone is Jock Boyer, a former professional cyclist and
the first American to ride the Tour de France. In 2005, Boyer went
to Rwanda believing that, if East Africa could produce athletes
with the natural physiology that made them such dominant distance
runners, he could find cyclists with the potential to compete
at a World Tour level. And this in a country rebuilding after one of
modern history’s most devastating events: the 1994 genocide.
“The physiological attributes of Rwandans are definitely
attuned to cycling,” says Boyer, who went on to found – and still
runs – Rwanda’s national cycling team. “Rwandans are skinny,
tall and have a very good power-to-weight ratio [making them
excellent natural climbers].”
The most successful product of Boyer’s project is Niyonshuti
(31), whom the American transformed from a raw talent on a
wooden bike into a World Tour rider. Niyonshuti won the 2008
Tour of Rwanda and became the first of his countrymen to race
a bike at the Olympic Games: in the cross-country mountain bike
event at London 2012, where he was also Rwanda’s flag-bearer.
He’s the only Rwandan to have ridden for a World Tour outfit
(South Africa’s Team Dimension Data), and he qualified for the
road race at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Last season, Niyonshuti
left Team Dimension Data after nine years. He says he’s
aiming to get back on his mountain bike at the 2020 Olympic
Games in Tokyo. For now, he rides for South African team Sampada
and runs his own academy for young riders in Rwamagana.
“It has been amazing… I always tell young Rwandan cyclists,
both boys and girls, about my story. I want to help them reach
their dream. I want to give them opportunities and open doors for
them,” says Niyonshuti in an ESPN news article.
Personal best: 1st overall, 2008
Tour of Rwanda
Adrien
Niyonshuti
Born
2 January, 1987
Hometown
Rwamagana, Rwanda
Team
Sampada
Greatest achievements
First black African to compete in
mountain biking at the 2012 Olympic
Games (London); 1st, National
Championships Rwanda – Road Race
(2011 and 2012); 1st, National
Championships Rwanda – Time Trial
(2016 and 2017)

42 / PEOPLE / Cycling
PEOPLE / 43
“My dream is to
race a big race like
the Giro d’Italia”
Kenyan Riders Downunder
“I hope my story can
inspire some women
in Africa”
Getty Images
Personal best: 1st,
Stage 3, 2018 Sharjah
Tour
Salim
Kipkemboi
Born
30 November, 1998
Hometown
Eldoret, Kenya
Team
Bike Aid
Greatest achievements
4th overall, 2018 Sharjah Tour; 16th, 2018
African Continental Championships – Road
Race; 39th, 2018 Commonwealth Games –
Road Race; 7th overall, 2017 Tour Meles
Zenawi for Green Development
ITEN MIGHT BE the spiritual home of running and the
training ground of countless Kenyan distance champions, but a
project exists to take the native athletic talent and turn them into
cycling’s Grand Tour winners of the future.
Instrumental in identifying and developing that potential is
Australian Simon Blake, a coach at the Kenyan Riders Downunder
training camp 2,400-m high in the Rift Valley. “If you go with the
school of thought that says that Kenyan athletes have a genetic
advantage, most of the traits that would be beneficial to running
would also be beneficial in endurance cycling,” he explains.
Blake is part of a programme run in partnership with
German non-profit and UCI Continental team Bike Aid. One
of that partnership’s fastest-rising stars is Salim Kipkemboi (19),
who knows what success looks like despite his tender years. He
comes from the same tribe as current Olympic 5,000-m champion
Vivian Cheruiyot, and last year lined up for the Tour of the Alps, a
race won by current Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas.
His aim is to use the shared physiological traits of his compatriot
to emulate the Welshman’s Grand Tour glory.
Kipkemboi was transporting firewood on his bike when he
first joined the programme. After a four-year apprenticeship, he’s
now a pro rider whose most notable results to date are his queenstage
win and subsequent fourth-place overall finish in February’s
Sharjah Tour in the UAE, where he also won the jersey for the best
young rider. This year, he also finished 39th in the Commonwealth
Games road race on Australia’s Gold Coast; lined up alongside
development teams from the pro peloton – including Sunweb and
Team Dimension Data – at Le Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc; and
raced at the two-week Tour of Qinghai Lake in China.
“My dream is to race a big race like the Giro d’Italia or go to
the Tour de France,” says Kipkemboi during a CNN Inside Africa
programme. Blake believes that it’s possible.
MAURITIAN RIDER Aurelie Halbwachs (32) represented
her country for the first time at the African Cycling Championships
in 2006, winning gold in the individual time trial. “I was so
proud to be on the top step for my first time... standing under the
national colours of Mauritius as the flags were raised and our
anthem played,” she says in a Team Africa Rising article. “The
South African women were not really happy as they were the
only ones dominating road racing in Africa at the time!” This
race would set the tone for much of her medal-laden career.
Halbwachs is easily her country’s most successful, most versatile
rider, having represented the island nation twice on the biggest
stage: in the road race at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She
has also ridden for Mauritius three times at the Commonwealth
Games: in 2010, 2014 and again in Australia this year, where she
came in 12th in the individual time trial, but suffered a mechanical
problem in the road race, which forced her to withdraw.
Halbwachs has been named her country’s sportswoman of the
year four times, but had to wait until last year to stand on the top
of the podium at the African Continental Championships, 11
years after she first did so. This time, she achieved road race and
time trial gold. Arguably a greater achievement, however, was her
bronze medal at the championships while almost three-months
pregnant in 2015.
Halbwachs is not only a versatile rider on the road; her
talents extend to more rugged terrain, as she has proved with a
silver and a bronze medal at the CAC Mountain Bike African
Championships. If she has made it look easy, Halbwachs’ journey
to this point has been anything but. “I had to battle hard to find
sponsors for my travel expenses many times and it’s unfortunate…
I hope my story can inspire some women in Africa.”
Personal best: 1st, 2017 African
Continental Championships Road
Race and Time Trial
Aurelie
Halbwachs
Born
24 August, 1986
Hometown
Curepipe, Mauritius
Greatest achievements
1st, 2006 African Continental
Championships – Time Trial; 2nd, 2010
African Continental Championships –
Time Trial; 2nd, 2013 CAC Mountain Bike
African Championships

- FRANCE -
44 / TRAVEL / Facts
In 2014, Kenya Airways
promoted Irene Koki Mutungi
to Captain of the 787-8,
making her the first female
Dreamliner Captain in Africa.
Landing Gear
Irene Koki Mutungi actively mentors,
supports and encourages girls to take
up science, technology, engineering and
mathematics subjects at school.
Nose Gear
Steering System.
Nose Landing
Gear Door.
The ground speeds are approx. 165
knots (360 km/hr) for take-off and
approx. 140 knots (260 km/hr) for
landing (depending on the weight).
The tyres are 101 cm
in diameter, 40 cm in
width, and they have
40-cm rims. The tyre
pressure is 187 PSI.
EVERYDAY PROOF
The 787-8 landing
gear is extremely
strong, and it can
comfortably land
a weight of up
to 172,365 kg.
With a maximum take-off weight of 228,000 to
251,000 kg, an aircraft needs a solid pair of wheels
to secure a safe take-off and landing. Irene Koki
Mutungi, Captain on the 787-8 Dreamliner, gives
us the lowdown on this modest yet indispensable
component of the aircraft.
“The landing gear comprises of the wheels, brakes
and steering mechanism,” she says. “They support
the aircraft on the ground and make it possible to
take off and land. The 787-8 has two main landing
gear under the wings, and one nose gear (pictured)
in the front of the aircraft. Each main gear has four
wheels, and the nose gear has two wheels.” After
take-off, the wheels retract into the aircraft fuselage
until its time to prepare for landing when they are
extended. “To retract and extend the gear, we use a
hydraulic system,” adds Mutungi. “When the wheels are
retracted, they are stored in compartments below the
passenger cabin. There are also carbon ceramic brakes
that aid in manoeuvring on the ground.” Mutungi,
who has been working for Kenya Airways for 23 years,
concludes by reassuring us that, “Losing a wheel is
highly unlikely, but if the gear does not extend normally,
we have alternate extension systems in place.”
text: Annette Lavrijsen image: Alamy
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46 / TREND / Space
TREND / 47
Liftoff
Africa’s SPACE PROGRAMME is underway.
Communications, disaster management and
agriculture have entered the technetronic age with
the help of orbital satellites.
text Andrea Dijkstra
OVERLOOKING THE ETHIOPIAN capital is Mount
Entoto, the so-called “lung of Addis Ababa”. Rising 3,200 m
above sea level, the highest peak of the Entoto Mountains got
its name because of the dense collection of eucalyptus trees that
cover it. This forest was once a key source of building materials
for Addis Ababa. Among these trees now sit two futuristic metal
domes, standing out against the blue sky and juxtaposing the
surrounding fields, which are still ploughed by farmers using
oxen. Both buildings house a computer-controlled optical
telescope that weighs six tonnes and costs about US$1.5 million.
They are part of the US$4 million Entoto Observatory and
Space Science Research Center, which is the first space observatory
in East Africa, and, essentially, the first building block
of the country’s space programme. Ethiopia will enter the next
phase when it launches its own satellite from a facility in China
within four years.
Ethiopia is one of a rising number of countries on the
African continent that have created national space agencies.
Eight of them already have operating satellites: Algeria, Angola,
Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.
Although critics think it’s an odd use of scarce resources on a
continent where over 42 percent of the population still lives
below the poverty line, experts in the industry claim that space
technology is crucial for the development of Africa. “Space
science technology is often considered a luxury for developed
countries only, but it’s actually a basic and vital need for development,”
says Dr Solomon Belay Tessema, Director General
of the Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center.
He adds that space technology develops sectors including
energy, mining, data processing, and agriculture.
>
Africa’s space race
While the US and the Soviet Union
strived to become the first nation
to put a human into space in the
previous century, a new “space race”
has recently broken out in Africa. The
continent now has its first “Afronaut”.
Mark Shuttleworth, from South Africa,
became the first African to travel to
space when he joined the Russian
Soyuz TM-34 mission – in 2002 – as
the second self-funded space tourist,
paying approximately US$20 million,
and spending eight days at the
International Space Station. However,
the race for the first black “Afronaut”
is still in full swing. South African
Mandla Maseko (29), a part-time DJ
who grew up in a township, defeated
a million other fellow applicants
of the Axe Apollo Space Academy
competition in 2013, which gave
him a ticket to join one of the
Lynx Mark II flights. Although he
has already done several training
assignments, no firm plans been
made public yet.
Getty Images

48 / TREND / Space
TREND / 49
Jeroen van Loon
Entoto Observatory and
Space Science Research
Center, Ethiopia
mation about changes in their natural resources and environment,
and this vital information will help countries to attract
investments and plan further economic development.” Nigeria
will launch two more satellites within three years in collaboration
with China Great Wall Industry Corporation.
While no African country is within realistic reach of the
moon yet, Nigeria and South Africa have by far the most
advanced space programmes on the continent. American space
agency NASA built a radio astronomy observatory in South
Africa in the 1960s. Last July, the country inaugurated the
US$330 million MeerKAT radio telescope, which will enable
astronomers to paint a detailed picture of some of the deepest
reaches of outer space, and to survey the entire sky thousands
of times faster than any system currently in existence.
While high costs prevented many African nations from
starting a space programme in the past, thanks to new inventions
like the CubeSat – a type of miniaturised satellite that
is cheaper to deploy – and the growing number of private
companies that are entering the exploration domain, the satellite
industry is becoming more accessible for newcomers. Kenya,
for example, launched its first cube satellite – in May this year
– from the Japanese module of NASA’s International Space
Station (ISS) after it was brought there by SpaceX, the private
American company led by Elon Musk, which aims to reduce
space transportation costs. This same company delivered the
GhanaSat-1 – Ghana’s first satellite – to the ISS one year earlier.
It will be used to monitor Ghana’s coastline for mapping purposes.
It will also be used to integrate satellite technology into
the high-school curriculum. Furthermore, Côte d’Ivoire plans
to launch a satellite in the coming two years to obtain better
meteorological data and fight rising piracy in the Gulf of
Guinea.
3
The number of Nigerian satellites that are
currently in orbit
8
The number of African countries with
satellites in orbit
US$4 million
Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi funded
most of the Entoto Observatory and
Science Research Center in Ethiopia
US$3 billion
The money spent on space projects in
Africa since 1998
HIGH-TECH MONITORING
Ethiopia plans to launch a Chinese-built earth-observation
satellite that will be used to monitor crops and the weather. “It
will be able to check for eligible soil types, the humidity of soil
and also what kind of crops are suitable in which regions,” says
electrical engineer Ghion Ashenafi of Entoto Observatory, as
the bright sky unfolds above us with the opening of the dome.
“This is extremely valuable information that we can use to
improve our agriculture sector, especially in these times of
climate change.” Satellite technology also assists in monitoring
construction of major infrastructure projects like the Grand
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. “Ethiopia is already using
foreign-owned satellites for such purposes,” adds Ashenafi.
Elsewhere in Africa, South Africa has built six operational
satellites in orbit that monitor droughts, fires and floods, while
examining the growth of settlements and the transformation of
housing, which provides useful data for town planning. Nigeria
has launched five satellites since 2003, and its first one – the
NigeriaSat-1 – played a significant role in providing the first
satellite images after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in
2005. Nigeria uses its three operational satellites for telecommunications,
disaster management, agriculture and weather
forecasts, but also to track the movements of extremist group
Boko Haram, and to prepare for elections. “With the last
presidential elections, the images helped us localise hard-toreach
villages that are not yet on any map, and to calculate
how many polling stations and ballot papers we needed in
those areas,” says Director Strategic Space Applications at the
National Space Research and Development Agency in Nigeria
Halilu Ahmad. “Space technology is crucial for Africa as so
many countries still lack accurate maps and up-to-date infor-
“Experts in the industry
claim that space technology
is crucial for the development
of Africa”
Did you know?
• In 1964, the self-appointed Director of Zambia’s national
space programme, Edward Mukuka Nkoloso, rolled his
space trainees down a hill in oil drums to simulate the
weightless conditions of the moon. He was unsuccessful
in landing the first Zambian on the moon, but the 2014
film Mukuka Nkoloso the Afronaut was inspired by his
efforts.
• Nigeria’s first satellite – the NigeriaSat-1 – played a
significant role in providing the first satellite images
after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005.
• Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory in South
Africa received the world’s first close-up images of the
planet Mars.
ASTRONAUT AFRICA
While the argument still persists that the continent’s many
problems – such as food insecurity, poor education and disease
– should take precedence over the development of a space
industry, awareness is growing about the potential for space
technology to help tackle these pressing issues. The African
Union passed an African space policy and a continent-wide
space strategy in 2017, calling for the development of a continental
space programme and the adoption of a framework to
use satellite communication for the social, economic, political
and environmental needs of the continent. In June this year,
the African Union inked a deal with the European Commission’s
Copernicus programme, which gives African scientists
daily access to 12 terabytes of Earth-observation data, including
land temperature, vegetation changes, weather patterns and
aerial photographs of sea topography. This data is very useful
given that Africa experiences droughts, heatwaves, floods, and
rising sea levels more frequently than other continents.
“In countries where the failure of a harvest may mean the
difference between bounty and starvation, satellites have helped
planners manage scarce resources and head off potential disasters
before insects could wipe out an entire crop,” says space
scientist Meshack Kinyua Ndiritu from the African Union.
“For example, in agricultural regions near the fringes of the
Sahara desert, scientists used satellite images to predict where
locust swarms were breeding and were able to prevent the
locusts from swarming, thus saving large areas of cropland.”
He goes on to explain that satellites can also show the best
places to drill for water or oil, or systematically monitor large
areas to assess the spread of pollution and other damage. Such
monitoring capabilities are critical for the long-term sustainable
use of the continent’s scarce resources.
US$185 million
African civil space programme spending in
Four of the seven
satellite dishes in
Carnarvon, South Africa
2014, compared to a global
US$42.4 billion
xxxxx

50 / NATURE / Views /
NATURE / 51
Return
Ticket
Every October, almost
TWO MILLION
WILDEBEEST return
from the Maasai Mara
to the Serengeti. It’s a
second chance to see
the Great Migration.
text Ben Clark
WHILE SUMMER brings approx.
1.7 million white-bearded wildebeest
– with 400,000 Thomson’s and Grant’s
gazelles, 300,000 zebras, 12,000 eland and
impalas – from Tanzania to the abundant
pastures of the Maasai Mara National
Reserve in Kenya, fear not if you visit
in Autumn. In October, as the Maasai
Mara’s grazing conditions begin to fade,
the animals start their return journey to
southern Tanzania.
They head south towards the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, then on
to the Loliondo Game Controlled Area,
before arriving in the short-grass plains
of Serengeti National Park in time for the
rains. The migration occurs within an
area that is known as the “Serengeti ecosystem”.
While the main concentration of
migrating animals occurs in Kenya from
July to September and during October,
the movement is not an islotated event;
these animals can, in fact, be seen during
most of the year. Many people track the
detailed movements of the herds, or book
special safaris at camps and lodges dotting
their path to witness the spectacle from
close up.
Although most of the Maasai Mara
provides prime viewing in October, for
the best migration experience head just
over the Kenyan border, between Klein’s
Camp and the Lamai Wedge in Tanzania.
Maasai Mara National Reserve is about 280
km (a five-hour drive) west of Nairobi Jomo
Kenyatta International Airport.
Piper Mackay

BUSINESS /53
Geography
All islands
Endless white beaches with clear turquoise water and lagoons.
Endemic animal species
Mauritian flying fox
(Mauritius, Réunion)
Réunion
Volcanic island
covered in craters.
Mostly mountainous,
with fertile lowlands
along the coast.
Mauritius
Volcanic island with a
central plateau rimmed by
mountains. The island is
surrounded by coral reefs.
Comoros
Volcanic islands.
Interiors vary from
steep mountains
to low hills.
Seychelles
About half of the
islands are granite,
with narrow coastal
strips and hills
rising to more than
900 m.
Seychelles
Blue Pigeon/
Pizon Olande
(Seychelles)
Pink pigeon
(Mauritius)
Mayotte
Sunbird
(Mayotte)
Livingstone’s fruit
bat/Comoro flying fox
(Comoros)
Source: tripadvisor.com, worldtravelguide.net, factsking.com
Passport
Name
Vanilla Islands
Location
Indian Ocean
Island nations
Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, Réunion
Biggest island
Madagascar
Smallest island (by area) Mayotte
Currency
Mauritian Rupee (MUR), Seychelles Rupee (SCR), Comoran Franc (KMF), (Madagascar)
Malagasy Ariary (MGA), (Mayotte & Réunion) Euro (EUR)
Local time
UTC +4h: Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion; UTC +3h: Comoros, Mayotte, Madagscar
Languages
Mauritius: English; Seychelles: Seychelles Creole, English, and French; Comoros: Comorian,
Arabic, French; Madagascar: Malagasy, French; Mayotte: French; Réunion: French
Flight info
Kenya Airways operates four direct daily flights to Mauritius
Touristic highlights
• The Seven Coloured
Earths, an area of sand
dunes comprising sand
of seven distinct colours.
• Plage de Moya,
a beach formed by three
old craters.
• Piton de la Fournaise,
one of the most active
volcanoes in the world.
• Diving, snorkelling
and turtle-spotting.
• Anse Source d’Argent,
a beach of pure-white
sand and unique
boulders.
• Isalo National Park,
which is often called
“Jurassic Park”.
Mauritius
Mayotte
Réunion
Comoros
Seychelles
Madagascar
Local food
Mauritius
Dishes such as roti, curry,
samosa, chutney, rougaille (a
Creole tomato sauce).
Mayotte
Fresh seafood
with rice and
coconut milk.
Réunion
Simple and spicy.
Locally made rum is
one of the favourite
drinks here.
1,000 km
Seychelles
Fish, seafood and shellfish
dishes, often accompanied
with (curry) rice.
Comoros
Fresh seafood
with rice and
meat. A
special dish
is lobster
boiled in a
rich vanilla
sauce.
Madagascar
Rice with loaka, a tomato-based sauce.
Common ingredients are garlic, onions,
ginger, tomatoes, curry, coconut milk,
vanilla, cloves and turmeric.
Sources: britannica.com, cia.gov
Sources: britannica.com, wits.worldbank.org, cia.gov Sources: britannica.com, justfunfacts.com
Mayotte
High volcanic peaks and
lush evergreen tropical
forests surrounded by
coral reefs.
Population, main industries and key products
Main
industries
Export
products
Agriculture
products
Mayotte
Lobster and shrimp industry,
construction.
Ylang-ylang (perfume
essence), vanilla, copra,
coconuts, coffee, cinnamon.
Vanilla, ylang-ylang,
coffee, copra.
Madagascar
Meat processing,
soap, breweries,
tanneries, sugar,
textiles, glassware,
cement.
Vanilla, nickel (unwrought),
cloves.
Population
(2017)
25
million
Coffee, vanilla, sugarcane,
cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava
(tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts.
Madagascar
Varies from coast to
coast. At the central plateau:
mountains, volcanoes, and rice
fields. Along the
coast: fertile
lowlands and
coral reefs.
237,000
Comoros
Mayotte
Comoros
Tourism, perfume distillation.
Vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume
essence), cloves.
Vanilla, ylang-ylang, jasmine, cassis,
cloves, perfume essences, copra,
coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca).
Madagascar
808,000
Seychelles
Vanilla
Islands
Réunion
Mauritius
95,000
1,260,000
853,000
Lemur
(Madagascar)
Fossa
(Madagascar)
Mauritius
Gold dust
day Gecko
(Réunion,
Madagascar)
Mongoose
lemur
(Comoros)
Seychelles
Fishing, tourism, processing
of coconuts and vanilla, coir
(coconut fibre) rope, boat-building,
printing, furniture, beverages.
Canned tuna, frozen fish, petroleum
products.
Coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet
potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, broiler chickens, tuna fish.
Textiles and clothing, watches and
clocks, jewellery, optical goods, toys
and games, cut flowers.
Clothing and textiles, sugar, cut
flowers, molasses, fish, primates
(for research).
Sugar, sugar derivatives, tea,
tobacco, vegetables, fruits, flowers,
fishing.
Réunion
Sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft
items, flower-oil extraction.
Sugarcane, essential oils, bourbon
vanilla, fish and seafood (mainly tuna,
swordfish and Patagonian toothfish).
Sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical
fruits, vegetables, corn.
Sources: wikipedia.org, factsking.com, justfunfacts.com

54 / BUSINESS / MICE
BUSINESS / 55
OF MICE
AND MEN
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and
Exhibitions (MICE) are proliferating in Kenya,
adding another dimension to the nation’s
growing business sector.
text Ken Kagicha
Stocksy
IN 2015, Kenya won the bid to host
the Skål World Congress, which would
have seen over 1,000 global travel and
hospitality professionals gather in
Mombasa. Although the Skål secretariat
cancelled the meeting due to security
concerns, Kenya was assured that it
would get priority consideration in
future. It didn’t take long for Kenya’s
coastal city to be chosen once again.
CONFERENCE CALL
Mombasa will host the 79th Skål
World Congress – from 17-21 October
– at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort,
Convention Centre and Spa. Local
organisers are alive to the fact that the
convention is an opportunity to showcase
Kenya’s capacity to host international
meetings, not just in the capital
Nairobi, but also in other cities in Kenya.
The Skål conference couldn’t have come
at a better time: the security concerns
have decimated, the tourism industry in
Kenya is on the upswing and the new
internationally accredited convention
facility at PrideInn allows the city to host
up to 2,500 delegates. Managing Director
of PrideInn Hasnain Noorani says that
having such a facility next to the white,
sandy beach attracts conference travellers
who enjoy the leisure add-ons without
compromising the standards of an international
meeting. “Mombasa is an
attractive destination for conferences
because it combines business and leisure.
We encourage participants to come with
their families so that, during breaks and
after the day sessions, delegates can bond
with family,” he says.
The Skål Congress is one of a dozen
international conferences lined up to
happen in Kenya in late 2018 and early
2019, in what is a rebound of the MICE
sub-category. The number of international
MICE in Kenya contracted from 227
conferences (101,599 delegates) in 2016,
to 191 conferences (64,167 delegates) in
2017. Nearly 90 percent of the international
meetings and conferences have
been held in Nairobi, which holds the
advantage of proximity to the region’s
biggest and busiest airport, home to Kenya
Airways as well as a good mix of conference
facilities. The airport was recently
given Category One status, which made
the forthcoming direct flights between
Kenya and the US possible.
NASCENT NAIROBI
The iconic Kenyatta International
Convention Centre (KICC) – at the heart
of Nairobi – has hosted several high-level
meetings, including the World Trade
Organization’s Ministerial Conference in
2015; the UN Conference on Trade and
Development in 2016, which brought
together 6,000 delegates; and the Tokyo
International Conference on African
Development (TICAD), which hosted
15,000 delegates from all over Africa and
Japan. KICC is also set to host the firstever
global Sustainable Blue Economy
Conference in late November, bringing
together 4,000 participants. Managing
Director Nana Gecaga says the ability to
host big-ticket conferences as well as
cater for the needs of smaller meetings
– of up to 15 people – is what sets a
conference facility apart. “Delegates
want a memorable experience beyond
the normal business meetings,” she says.
“Gone are the days when delegates
would be confined to the hotel or conference
venue. They want to experience the
culture of the host country and interact
with the people.”
According to Gecaga, conference
organisers are now adding tour packages
so guests can sample beach or safari
attractions, adding further to Kenya’s
attractiveness as a conference destination.
Nairobi also boasts of being the only city
with a national park. “Nairobi’s vibrant
nightlife and a depth of restaurants also
offer visitors a wide range of options for
delegates,” adds Gecaga.
However, the leisure activities come
after the basics of the conference have
been arranged. They include: high-speed
Internet; great food; world-class accommodation;
and a conference programme
that allows delegates to network and get
insights at the same time. Most venues
provide plenary ballrooms for delegates,
smaller rooms for breakout brainstorming
sessions, and gala grounds for opening
cocktails or closing dinners; all essential
elements for that all-around experience.
Events and Conferences organiser >
“Nairobi is expected to add 13 new hotels –
with a total of 2,666 rooms – by 2019”
Practical insights
• Plan your event well in advance and secure venue, speakers, guests and suppliers
at least four weeks before the event date.
• Choose a conference venue that has at least one large ballroom with no pillars for
the plenary sessions, and several smaller rooms for breakout sessions.
• Include panel discussions in your sessions to add depth to the conference. Also,
remember to broaden the choice of panellists for diverse views.
• Get a moderator who is engaging, knowledgeable and time-conscious.
• Always have a contact that delegates can reach at any time.

56 / BUSINESS / MICE
Chris Kirwa says that more hotels are
now factoring in conventions as part of
their package. “For many years, I struggled
with ballrooms that had two metres
of headroom and many pillars that made
it very difficult to create an experience for
the guests,” he says. “KICC still stands
out as the biggest venue with over 10
metres of headroom clearance. But we
now have hotels like Radisson Blu,
Mövenpick and Enashipai (in Naivasha)
that have excellent, huge ballrooms.”
According to Kirwa, Kenya’s technical
capacity to hold high-calibre meetings
and expos has come of age. “Years
back,” he says. “You had to import technical
gear into the country. All this is
now right here in Kenya. In fact, we are
now supplying East and Central Africa.”
clients for long stays. “There has been
an increase in requests for residential
meetings, which entail group meetings
with accommodation,” she says. Other
questions include whether the hotel can
host exhibitions, business-to-business
meetings, as well as product launches.
Clients are also sensitive about value for
money, so they will check if the prices
are favourable and compare them with
other similar facilities.
Although Kenya’s MICE industry
is facing competition from Kigali and
Addis Ababa to host regional and international
meetings, Nairobi’s connectivity
“Gone are the days when delegates would be
confined to the hotel or conference venue”
ACCOMMODATING MEASURES
Riding on the back of growing
demand for conference facilities, Nairobi
is expected to add 13 new hotels – with a
total of 2,666 rooms – by 2019, according
to a Jumia Hospitality report, which
ranks Kenya’s capital as a major business
destination alongside Johannesburg,
Abidjan, Accra, Lagos and Cairo. New
players are now competing on accessibility
to key attractions, such as Nairobi
National Park, and proximity to transport
hubs. “Event participants are keen
on accommodation within the conference
venue and other facilities within the hotel,
or those nearby, such as restaurants,
shopping malls and banks,” says Hilton
Garden Inn General Manager Lorenzo
Baleri, adding that the hotel’s proximity
to the Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport ensures that attendees make it
to the right place at the right time.
Meanwhile, hotels such as Mövenpick
and Radisson Blu are packaging
themselves as MICE-centred facilities.
Director of Sales and Marketing at
Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi,
Neelma Maru says that, in addition to
offering accommodation and conference
services under one roof, guests are also
asking if the hotel can host business
– such as high-speed Internet, and day
and night attractions – make the city
attractive to MICE organisers.
And with more world-class conference
facilities being added to the MICE
inventory, and Nairobi increasingly
becoming the city of choice to host
regional and continental headquarters,
the meeting and conference segment is
expected to expand rapidly in the
coming years.
WHERE TO GO
HILTON GARDEN INN – JOMO KENYATTA
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Excellent location adjacent to the
international airport, Hilton Garden Inn
provides an event space for up to 220 people,
and conference facilities for up to 300 guests.
hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com
MÖVENPICK HOTEL & RESIDENCES
NAIROBI
This MICE-focused hotel offers 14 spacious
and pillarless meeting rooms, a ballroom, a
big exhibition hall and three boardrooms with
natural daylight and high ceilings. A revolving
restaurant gives guests a 360-degree view
of Nairobi.
movenpick.com
FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON NAIROBI
HURLINGHAM
This hotel has a total of 255 sq m of meeting
area, which consists of four function rooms
including a 122-sq-m venue; all equipped
with wireless high-speed Internet access and
audiovisual technology.
fourpointsnairobihurlingham.com
EKA HOTEL NAIROBI
Close to the airport and Nairobi National
Park, Eka has three multi-functional meeting
rooms and two boardrooms with a capacity
of 200 people (theatre style). Each room
features natural daylight, audiovisual
equipment and a business centre for the
conference users.
ekahotel.com
KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
CENTRE (KICC)
This government facility is the largest
convention centre in East Africa. The Tsavo
ballroom can hold 4,000 delegates. KICC
has simultaneous interpretation equipment
with the capability of translating up to seven
languages, a modern business centre, a
banking facility, expansive grounds, and
ample and secure parking.
kicc.co.ke
Eka Hotel

58 / TRAVEL / Quiz
Guess
and Win
We give you five clues about a
KENYA AIRWAYS DESTINATION.
Which country are we referring to?
Post your answer to Facebook, Instagram
or Twitter using #msafiriquiz,
and we may surprise you with a gift.
text Eline Visscher
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
1
This African country is seen as the cradle of voodoo, a religion
that was initiated in the 13th century. Because of their beliefs,
locals don’t like to be photographed: they believe that a photograph
can be used to cast a spell or a curse.
2
One of the national parks in this country is named after a
letter in the alphabet, referring to the shape of a river flowing
through that particular park, which is known for its large
mammals, including aardvarks, caracal, cheetahs, elephants,
hippopotami, West African lions and warthogs.
3
Hollywood actor Djimon Hounsou was born in this country.
Hounsou became famous as a lead character in the film,
Blood Diamond (2006), alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and
Jennifer Connelly.
4
In this country, one can explore “The Venice of Africa”: a
lake village built on stilts that can only be reached by boat.
5
Here, pythons are worshipped, so locals don’t panic if one
slithers into their home. There’s even a temple of pythons in
this country, which houses 50 adult royal pythons.
Do you know the country? Post your answer to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #msafiriquiz. Each month, Kenya Airways will pick a winner
and surprise him or her with a gift. Correspondence about the quiz results will not be possible.
Shutterstock, Getty Images

60 / TRAVEL / Bangkok
TRAVEL / 61
5
City of
Angels
1
2
Bangkok is a cut-and-thrust
BUSINESS METROPOLIS with an
almost mythical spiritual centre, where
ancient rituals remain as important as
commercial drive.
text Mark Eveleigh
6
THE RISING SUN glints smoothly on the faces of Bangkok’s skyscrapers
while, down below, its rays are shattered by rearing waves on the
surface of the Chao Phraya River. Even from my high-rise window, I can
see that the so-called River of Kings is running with a dramatic swell that
would be more suited to a seascape than a major inland city.
3
4
7
Bartjan Bouman, Cedric Arnold, Mark Eveleigh
HIGH TIME
Insulated in the glass cocoon of my Shangri-La suite, 29 storeys
above the riverbank, I watch another day beginning in what is surely one
of the most fascinating capitals in the world. I’ve always been delighted
by the fast pace of life down on the city streets and along the waterways
but, perhaps because this is a city without hills, there’s an undeniable >
1. A bicycle excursion through the lush plantations just outside Bangkok 2. The
Bangkok skyline seen from a long-tail boat 3. A culinary highlight 4. Khao San Road
backpacker quarter 5. Chakrabongse Villas 6. The Chinatown district 7. Bicycles from
Co van Kessel Bicycle and Boat Tours

62 / TRAVEL / Bangkok
TRAVEL / 63
thrill to getting up high in Bangkok, and enjoying the view from far above
the temples, palaces and gritty alleyways.
A whole upper echelon of rooftop bars, cafés and sky terraces loom
in the rarefied stratosphere of a city that is estimated to have more than
500 skyscrapers. The fast, efficient sky train carries commuters across the
business centre, high above the bleating tuk-tuks and choked-up hawkercentre
alleyways. Offices rise high over traditional residential quarters,
and skybridges offer access between some of the world’s biggest
multi-storey shopping centres.
THE NEED FOR SPEED
After decompressing high up overnight, I’m ready to return to the
bustle of the street, and, even below that, to the choppy waters of the Chao
Phraya River. The taxi drivers near the hotel greet me with the traditional
wai – hands together in salutation with a slight bow – but I return their
greetings as I stroll past, towards the main road. So many of the world’s
biggest cities are a tiresome slog to travel around, but Bangkok has lively
transport options (both on water and land) that can turn a mundane
cross-city journey into an exhilarating rollercoaster ride. The street pilots,
who operate Bangkok’s iconic tuk-tuks, have a knack for dashing through
even the thickest rush-hour traffic, and within moments, I’m already flying
down Charoen Krung Road with the natural air-con flying full blast in my
face. This is said to be the first modern road built in Thailand (around
1864), and it has seen a lot of changes. In less than 10 minutes, we’re
already roaring under the neon signs of Chinatown and down a section
of side alleys that are misty with the steam from rice and noodle stands.
The tuk-tuk driver sets me down – with another wai – beside a local
coffee stand and I order a strong cup of café bolan. I particularly appreciate
the caffeine jolt this morning since I’m about to explore Bangkok’s
backstreet quarters by bicycle. I’m dubious about this tour because, after
more than 20 trips to this thrilling city, I have grave reservations about
tackling Bangkok’s notorious traffic without the benefit of an engine.
BANGKOK BIKER GANG
“I’m taking you to see a side of Bangkok that few visitors ever see,”
says my guide Prem as she introduces me to the primrose-yellow shoppingcycle
that will be my mount for the morning. “Thonburi is the sleepy side
of Bangkok and a wonderful place for cycling.”
This sounds more enticing than a morning rush-hour bout with the
Chinatown traffic, so I gulp down the last of my coffee and help Prem
load the bikes onto a ferry that is bound for the west bank. Thonburi was
the capital of the Siamese kingdom until 1782 but its full name, Thon
Buri Sri Maha Samut – which means City of Treasures Gracing the
Ocean – seems overly grand these days for what is now a pretty little
backwater residential area. Thai people are world-famous for their
friendliness, and even a convoy of custard-coloured shopping bikes –
representing a real yellow-peril in the narrow alleys – merits a cheerful
sawat di kha greeting from the residents. I’ve explored the tangle of
klongs (canals) around Thonburi many times by long-tail boat, but this
is a fresh outlook as we cycle over hump-backed bridges and alongside
canals. We peddle past Buddhist temples and monasteries where barefoot
monks are returning with alms bowls loaded with offerings from the local
populace, who are grateful for a chance to improve their karma.
“The monks are allowed to eat only up until midday,” Prem >
1. Yaowarat Road in Chinatown 2. Bangkok’s skyline seen from a longtail boat
3. A street stall in Klong San 4. A bus passing the Grand Palace 5. A street stall
selling exotic snacks 6. Spicy bird’s-eye chillies 7. Monks return to their temple
after a ceremony in Chinatown
“The street pilots, who
operate Bangkok’s iconic
tuk-tuks, have a knack
for dashing through even
the thickest rush-hour
traffic”
WHERE TO EAT
Supanniga Cruise
Experience the Chao Phraya River in topdeck,
five-star style on a champagne cruise,
dining on an unforgettable six-course meal
direct from the recipe books of the owner’s
grandmother.
supannigacruise.com
Moon Bar & Vertigo
Perched on the high barstools overlooking
the view from 61 storeys above the business
district of Sathon, you’ll understand why this
venue is called Vertigo. Sample the fresh
seafood and you’ll understand why people
are raving about this place.
banyantree.com
Le Du
Le Du might sound French but this hidden
street-level restaurant’s name is derived from
a Thai word meaning “seasons” and is a
temple celebrating the finest Thai food you’ll
ever eat, prepared by the famous Chef Ton.
ledubkk.com
WHERE TO SLEEP
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok
One of the premier addresses in Bangkok,
this luxurious 26-storey hotel boasts six dining
outlets (even a “Chocolate Boutique”) along
with incredible views over the River of Kings.
89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, Bangrak
Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse
Opened in early 2018, the Marriott
Surawongse is already making a name for
itself as one of Bangrak’s chicest hotels.
The Yao Rooftop Bar (33rd floor) is already
ranking among the city’s best rooftop
rendezvous and the infinity pool (18th floor)
is stunning.
marriott.com
Chakrabongse Villas
The romantic riverside villas that make up
this boutique hotel were transported here by
the Thai prince whose family still owns the
property. You can dine right on the riverbank
on specialities that were traditionally
prepared for Thai royalty.
secret-retreats.com/chakrabongse
Cedric Arnold, Mark Eveleigh, Bartjan Bouman
2
1 3
4
5 6
7

64 / TRAVEL / Bangkok
TRAVEL / 65
1
2 3
4
7
“A whole upper echelon
of rooftop bars, cafés and
sky terraces loom in the
rarefied stratosphere”
WHAT TO DO
Ayutthaya – the ancient capital
Take a step back in Thai history on a daytrip
to historic Ayutthaya (80 km north of
Bangkok), capital of Siam for about four
centuries (from 1350) and now a fascinating
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Asian experts
Backyard Travel can arrange day-trips that
include a return on a Chao Phraya River
lunch cruise.
backyardtravel.com
Food Tours
The best Bangkok food tours also offer
unique insights into everyday life in the
City of Angels. Chinatown is frequently
a highlight but the area around Phra
Nakhon (Banglamphu) is unbeatable for
local colour. Backyard Travel collaborate
with a network of some of the most
knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides in
the city.
backyardtravel.com
Cycling Bangkok’s Islands
Few visitors realise that, apart from joining a
city cycling tour, it’s also possible to cycle a
couple of Thai islands without even leaving
the capital. Koh Kret (just take the Chao
Phraya commuter ferry to Nonthaburi and
a long-tail from there) is an idyllic little
island community that you can explore in
half a day. Bigger Bang Kra Jao (about the
same size as the old city itself) is often
described as Bangkok’s “green lung”, and
is networked with peaceful cycle trails that
will offer a blissful rural escape from the
frantic pace of the city. Co van Kessel run
excellent bicycle tours through Bangkok.
covankessel.com
explain. “Because they fast in the afternoon, the poor can ask for a meal
simply by visiting a temple later in the day.”
We cycle several miles and, as Prem had promised, I see a new and
alluring side to the city by the time we stop at a roadside stall to eat grilled
toast and condensed milk. Thai food has become justly famous worldwide
and Bangkok is surely one of the most exciting gastronomic cities in
the world. There are enough exotic flavours to challenge the most adventurous
of gourmands, but even the humblest of snacks are often transformed
into something exciting here.
ALLEYWAY 61 REVISITED
No matter what your taste in retail therapy is, Bangkok is a shopper’s
paradise that is home to some of the best shopping centres in the world.
There are said to be about 200 of them in the city, including high-rise
highlights like Central Chidlom (with its unforgettable 7th-floor Food
Loft) and the ultra-chic Siam Paragon (where you can even shop for an
Aston Martin or a Bentley). Less well known, but perhaps among the
quirkiest, is Terminal 21. Styled on an airport concourse, this shopping
centre has 10 floors, each with a different country as its theme. Central-
World is the world’s 11th-biggest shopping centre, but even its 495 stores
pale into insignificance next to Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Boasting 15,000 stalls and attracting about 200,000 people each
weekend, Chatuchak is said to be the world’s biggest market. Within
minutes of entering, I’m already hopelessly lost in what seems to be a
rabbit warren of stalls selling everything you can imagine (minus perhaps
the Aston Martins and Bentleys). This incredible market covers an area
that is about the same as 20 football pitches, and I’ve been in the market
for half an hour when I spot a sign advising me that I’m on Alleyway 61.
It’s afternoon when I eventually emerge onto the road, staggering like a
worker ant under the weight of my purchases, near Alleyway 1.
Chatuchak is best visited on Saturday morning (when many Bangkokians
are still working), as by afternoon, the crowds are already thick
at the sky-train ticket machines. So I flag down a taxi, and in no time I’m
back in the city centre. Thai people know the city simply as Krung Thep.
“Bangkok” is mostly used by foreigners, and dates back three centuries to
a time when the city was a celebrated trading port.
After the subterranean world of Chatuchak Market, it’s a real pleasure
to spend an hour or so basking by the infinity pool that cascades from
the 18th floor of the new Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse. To the
southeast, I can see the city’s tallest tower, MahaNakhon (314 m), looming
over the business centre, etched with its fascinating cubist spiral.
Later I head westwards, enticed by the river. I want to catch a Chao
Phraya Express Boat commuter ferry that will take me down the majestic
sweep of the river towards the old trading area, which was once haunted
by clippers and junks, but is now the evening entertainment area known as
Asiatique The Riverfront. More than 40 restaurants and 1,500 shops have
been established in what were – for many years – abandoned wharf-side
warehouses, traditionally known as “go-downs”.
I’ve come here to check out Asiatique Sky, a giant Ferris wheel that
looms over the ancient wharf. From 60 m above the go-downs, I watch as
the sun begins to bow over the River of Kings, the life-blood of a city,
which, no matter how often you visit, always surpasses expectations.
5 6 8
Cedric Arnold, Mark Eveleigh
Kenya Airways operates non-stop daily
flights to Bangkok from Nairobi’s
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
1. An iconic tuk-tuk 2. Bangkok’s skyline and the Chao Praya river seen in the evening
3. Asiatique’s shops and ferris wheel 4. Chef Ton at work in Le Du 5. A man reads
the morning paper 6. A couple delivering lunch to boat crews on the Chao Phraya River
7. A Taittinger dinner cruise on the River of Kings 8. Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar

66 / BUSINESS / Book review
“When you
facilitate personal
disruption, you
build an A-Team”
As every coach knows, you don’t win
unless your team does. The same goes
for business. In her latest book, Whitney
Johnson reveals that it’s all about
helping people up the learning curve.
How to hire
Go for potential rather than proficiency.
“We are so harried, we hire someone who
knows how to do the job today − rather
than hire someone who might grow in the
role over the course of many tomorrows,”
writes Johnson. Teams need novices as well
as experts: “Sometimes the best ideas emerge
from not knowing the conventions.”
Learning & growth
For a motivated and engaged team, “personal
disruption” through individual learning is key.
“A manager is a bit like a parent. You push
your charges into uncomfortable situations
and are willing to see them fail to help them
grow,” writes Johnson. The challenge is to
manage, “The movement of people from one
learning curve to the next”. A strong team
includes employees in different developmental
phases.
The sweet spot
“The steep part of the curve is where people
perform proactively. Where they think
creatively. Where they innovate... Ideally, 70
percent of your team will be in this sweet
spot,” writes Johnson. The numbers back this
up: “When challenged, 67 percent of people
will demonstrate above-average creativity.”
About the book
With business anecdotes
and real-life examples
to end-of-chapter
summaries and specific
strategies, Build an
A-Team highlights
the importance of
continuous learning for
all members of a team.
Build an A-Team
Play to Their Strengths
and Lead Them Up the
Learning Curve
Author
Whitney Johnson
Publisher
Harvard Business Review Press
Bio
Whitney Johnson is an expert on
disruptive innovation and personal
disruption, with over 20 years of
experience in coaching, investing
and consulting. She is also a regular
contributor to the Harvard Business
Review.
Pages
208
Summary
Central to this book is the idea
that better morale and higher
performance happen through
learning. Invest in growing your team
in terms of skills and challenges,
stimulating each individual’s
personal career journey, and your
team will grow the company. And
that, as Whitney Johnson shows, is
the basis of an A-Team.
text: Annemarie Hoeve

68 / PHOTO BOOK / Streets of New York
PHOTO BOOK / 69
STREETS OF
NEW YORK
This modern take on the Big Apple contains a
FRESH and DIVERSE collection of images
by photographers from around the world.
text Joost Bastmeijer
New York City, New York
Photo by Pie Aerts
Times Square, Manhattan
Photo by Ivan Meneses

70 / PHOTO BOOK / Streets of New York
PHOTO BOOK / 71
“The city’s diversity
ensures that no
visit here will ever
be the same”
Guggenheim Museum
Upper East Side, Manhattan
Photo by Alessio Radaelli
Manhattan
Photo by Michael G. Young

72 / PHOTO BOOK / Streets of New York
PHOTO BOOK / 73
Rockefeller Center
Theater District, Manhattan
Photo by Patrick Janelle
“The eclectic energy is just
as frantic as the city’s
famous jazz scene”
It’s the trendsetting epicentre of the
arts and one of the best places in the
world to shop and dine. On the streets
of New York, one can walk among the
leaders in fashion, art, design and
commerce. It’s a city that keeps on
evolving, reinventing itself due to a
constant influx of newcomers. New
York has over 200 nationalities, making
it one of the most multicultural cities in
the world.
People from all over the world are
drawn to the Big Apple. A walk through
town can truly feel like crossing the globe.
From the dazzling neon lights of
Chinatown, it’s only a small stroll to the
pizzerias of Nolita, which lie a stone’s
throw away from the hip SoHo and
Greenwich Village neighbourhoods.
There’s no such thing as one New
York. The city’s diversity ensures that
no visit here will ever be the same,
especially considering that, in recent
years, Brooklyn – the massive borough
that breathes “artsy cool” – has become
as popular as Manhattan.
Going beyond the hipster clichés, a
visit to the diverse borough of Queens
will be the perfect mix between an upand-coming,
gentrified neighbourhood
and a multicultural experience (offering
cheap ethnic foods).
The eclectic energy is just as frantic as
the city’s famous jazz scene. Each street
corner has a different flavour to it – a
melody if you will – congregating in tune
with the rhythm of the city. As it used to
be in the metropolises of yore, New York
is about survival of the fittest: a healthy
competition to some, but an exhausting
rat race for others.
Yet, there’s something addictive
about this modern-day Rome, or Cairo.
The Yankee Stadium, the New York
Stock Exchange and Madison Square
Garden are like contemporary coliseums,
and the skyscrapers are the 21st-century
equivalent of the (Great) Pyramids.
Because of the dynamic, movie-set-like
environment, here you can feel western
culture being moulded and shaped from
up-close.
About
Photo book Streets of New York
contains the best, most iconic pictures
that all scream New York. Filled with
perfect moments of the City That
Never Sleeps, it’s the quintessential
book on this great metropolis.
© Streets of New York by MENDO,
published by teNeues.
www.teneues.com, www.mendo.nl
The Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn
Photo by Pie Aerts

ENTERTAINMENT / 75
Kenya Airways
offers its passengers
complimentary inflight
entertainment.
The programme will
vary in different aircraft
types. Check your
screen to view the
selection on your flight.
Relax & Enjoy
Discover our complimentary blockbusters, new releases,
African films, all-time favourites, Bollywood films, TV, audio and
games during your flight. These are this season’s highlights.
Ready Player One
(read more on the next page)
“You’d be amazed how much
research you can get done when you
have no life whatsoever”
– Wade –
Ready Player One
MOVIE RATINGS
G Suitable for all ages PG Some material may not be suitable or children PG-13 Some material may be inapproriate for children under 13
R Under-17s should watch only with parental approval Please note: at certain periods of the month the programming may differ from that shown.

76 / ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT / 77
Movies
Movies
Ready
Player One
SCI-FI
From Steven Spielberg comes a
sci-fi phenomenon based on Ernest
Cline’s bestselling novel of the
same name.
The year 2045 sees earth and its people
besieged by poverty, overcrowding and
energy crises. Humanity’s redemption
comes in the form of an immersive
online gaming platform: the OASIS.
Created by reclusive genius James Halliday
(Mark Rylance), the OASIS allows
the masses to liberate themselves from
their dystopian reality. However, in
exchange they are shackled by their
addiction to the OASIS.
When Halliday dies, he wills ownership
of the OASIS to whomever discovers
the Easter egg he buried within the
game. In their efforts to find it, thousands
of Gunters (egg hunters) devour every
piece of Halliday trivia available and
become consumed by the 80s culture
Halliday was so fond of. One such person
is teenager Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan).
Watts much prefers the OASIS to his
bleak existence in The Stacks, a shanty
village of trailers piled precariously atop
one another. He is joined by four others,
who teach him that perhaps reality is
not so bad after all.
Join the nostalgic thrill-ride that is
Ready Player One onboard Kenya
Airways now!
The Great Gatsby (2013) ROMANCE
A writer and Wall Street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and
lifestyle of his millionaire neighbour, Jay Gatsby.
Leonardo Dicaprio. PG-13, 143 mins. Director: Baz Luhrmann
Rampage (2018) ADVENTURE
When three different animals become infected with a dangerous pathogen, a
primatologist and a geneticist team up to stop them from destroying Chicago.
Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris. PG-13, 107 mins. Director: Brad Peyton
Deadpool 2 (2018) ACTION
Mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (aka, Deadpool) brings together a team to
protect a boy of supernatural abilities from the brutal mutant Cable.
Josh Brolin, Ryan Reynolds. R, 119 mins. Director: David Leitch
Life of the Party (2018) COMEDY
After her husband abruptly asks for a divorce, a middle-aged mother
returns to college in order to complete her degree.
Melissa McCarthy, Debby Ryan. PG-13, 105 mins. Director: Ben Falcone
Overboard (2018) COMEDY
A spoiled, wealthy yacht owner is thrown overboard and becomes the target
of revenge from his mistreated employee.
Anna Faris, Eugenio Derbez. PG-13, 112 Mins. Director: Rob Greenberg
Corpse Bride (2005) ANIMATION
When a shy groom practices his wedding vows in the inadvertent presence of
a deceased woman, she rises from the grave assuming he has married her.
Johnny Depp. PG, 77 mins. Directors: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke. PG-13, 140 mins.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Did you know?
~ Steven Spielberg said that Ready Player One was the third-most
difficult movie he has made, behind Jaws and Saving Private Ryan.
~ OASIS is actually an acronym. It stands for Ontologically
Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation.
White Fang (2018) ANIMATION
A boy befriends a half-breed wolf as he searches for his father, who has
mysteriously gone missing during the Gold Rush.
Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman. PG, 85 mins. Director: Alexandre Espigares
The Hatton Garden Job (2017) ACTION
The Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company was burgled by four elderly men.
The incident has been called, “the largest burglary in English history”.
Matthew Goode, Joely Richardson. R, 93 mins. Director: Ronnie Thompson
Tomb Raider (2018) ADVENTURE
Lara Croft, daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her
limits when she discovers the island where her father disappeared.
Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins. PG-13, 118 mins. Director: Roar Uthaug

78 / ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT / 79
African Highlights
Bollywood
Film
Picks from
Bollywood
We selected some recent comedy, drama and musical titles
from India’s Hindi-language cinema.
Blood Brothers
Love Gone Sour
Film
Picks from
the continent
We’ve selected the best of current African cinema,
including drama and comedy.
After Dark
The Friend Zone
that he is likely to be overlooked for promotion at work as he is unmarried.
Seun Akindele, Mimi Orjiekwe, Tissy Nnachi. PG-13, 114 mins.
Who Cheats More (2017) COMEDY
An engaged man is devastated to learn that his wife-to-be is only using him
for his money. He decides to play her at her own game.
Van Vicker, Eniola Badmus, Ruth Kadiri. PG-13, 105 mins.
Friends or Foes (2017) DRAMA
A deluded, self-proclaimed celebrity stylist takes advantage of three career
women in the entertainment industry.
Belinda Effah, Daniella Okeke, Dabby Chimere. G, 94 mins.
Connection (Raabta) (2017) DRAMA
In 2017, Shiv and Saira fall for each other and
form an inseparable connection, until Saira
crosses paths with a reincarnated lover who’s
determined to make her his lover again.
Deepika Padukone, Rajkummar Rao, Kriti
Sanon. R, 147 mins. Director: Dinesh Vijan
Munna Michael (2017) MUSICAL
A young man, tries to follow the footsteps of his
idol, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
Tiger Shroff, Nidhhi Agerwal, Nawazuddin
Siddiqui. R, 140 mins. Director: Sabir Khan
Raid (2018) CRIME
A fearless income-tax officer raids the mansion
of the most powerful man in Lucknow after
someone mysteriously draws his attention to it.
Ajay Devgn, Saurabh Shukla, Ileana D’Cruz. R,
122 mins. Director: Raj Kumar Gupta
Veerey Ki Wedding (2018) COMEDY
When the most eligible bachelor in Delhi messes
up his first meeting with the father of his beloved,
he receives no wedding blessing.
Pulkit Samrat, Jimmy Sheirgill, Kriti Kharbanda,
R, 131 mins. Director: Ashu Trikha
Love Gone Sour (2018) DRAMA
Indika’s love for Ugomma is fiercely tested when
his friend, the prince, also falls in love with her.
The fallout has dire consequences.
Ngozi Ezeonu, Zulu Adigwe, Chizzy Alichi. R,
137 mins
“I just want
to prove that
Michael lives
forever”
– Munna Michael –
Connection (Raabta)
Blood Brothers (2018) DRAMA
A greedy man attempts to usurp family assets after the demise of his brother.
However, his nephew decides to take measures to curb his excesses.
Daniel K Daniel, Chinwe Owoh, Cha Cha Eke Faani. R, Theatrical, 132 mins
Gateman (2017) DRAMA
The heir to a fortune decides to learn about his company where he catches
the attention of an employee, making him a prospective love interest.
Benedict Johnson, Ruth Kadiri. PG-13, 137 mins.
After Dark (2018) DRAMA
A ghetto boy invites his friend to stay in his mother’s house, only for his
presence to attract danger and propel his life into a different direction.
Daniel K Daniel, Ebele Okaru Onyiuke. R, Theatrical, 136 mins
The Friend Zone (2017) DRAMA
Two good friends find themselves in a predicament when their emotions get
in the way of their friendship.
Ebube Nwagbo, Onyii Alex. R, Theatrical, 97 mins.
Wife for Rent (2016) ROMANCE
An ambitious young man seeks out a wife to rent when a colleague tells him
Isoken (2017) ROMANCE
Although she has what appears to be a perfect life, Isoken is still unmarried
at 34 which, in a culture obsessed with marriage, is serious cause for
concern.
Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, Marc Rhys. PG-13, 100 mins. Director:
Jadesola Osiberu
You, Me And The Guys (2017) COMEDY
A successful CEO brings home the woman of his dreams, but soon his
jobless housemates grow jealous and try to split them up.
Seun Akindele, Linda Ejiofor, Ifeanyi Kalu. PG-13, 92 mins.
Director: Esther Abah

80 / ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT / 81
TV
Music Channel Explained: The channel number for
your favourite music programmes is shown at the end
of each description. It's determined by the aircraft type,
so you will need to know what type of aircraft you’re on.
Please check the safety card in front of you.
Audio
Spotlight on
Bob
Dylan
Shutterstock
Bob Dylan is seen as one of the
biggest American singer-songwriters
of the 20th century.
Super Bowl LII
City Tour New York
“Living legend” Bob Dylan (1941)
became famous in the sixties for his
anti-war and protest songs, where he
criticises politics and the conduct of the
justice system. Five decades later, Dylan
is still popular. In 2016, he became the
first songwriter to win the Nobel Prize
in Literature, for having created, “new
poetic expressions within the great
American song tradition”.
Lasting Legacy The Grinder Urban Natures
KQ Radio (with guest DJ)
Our guest DJs bring you some of Kenya’s
biggest hits. B737 CH. 3
Small Screen
Programmes
& Series
We’ve selected the best TV comedies, drama, sports
and lifestyle programmes for your entertainment.
Comedy
Life In Pieces, Season 1, Episode 1
As the Short family’s lives unfold in four brief stories each week, they try to
savour the moments that add up to what life’s all about.
Crazy Hidden Camera, Season 1, Episodes 2 & 8
Our compilation show made with the best of our non-dialogue candid
camera gags!
The Grinder, Season 1, Episodes 10 & 11
After his hit series, The Grinder, is cancelled, a famous TV lawyer moves
back home and joins his brother at their family’s real-life law firm.
Sports
Super Bowl LII
The 2018 Super Bowl was one of the most sensational season finales in
52 years of history, setting several records.
Pure Outdoor, Season 1, Episode 1
A look at the eco sports that people have now embraced in their leisure time.
The Road To Russia, Season 1, Episode 1
In this episode, we feature Brazil, one of the teams at the FIFA World Cup
2018.
Discovery
City Tour New York, New York, US
Home to the Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty and
other iconic sites, New York City is a fast-paced, globally influential centre of
art, culture, fashion and finance.
City Tour San Francisco, California, US
San Francisco is known for its hilly landscape, year-round fog, iconic Golden
Gate Bridge, cable cars and colourful Victorian houses.
Lifestyle
Cities Turn Green, Season 1, Episode 3
Portraits of New York’s urban farmers.
Urban Natures, Season 1, Episode 29
Explore the flora and fauna of urban gardens.
News
Lasting Legacy, Season 2, Episode 1
Lasting Legacy goes behind the scenes of some of the most successful family
businesses, to find out how family life and company strategy cross over.
How To Win At Everything, Season 1, Episode 2
This programme explores human physiology and psychology, physics,
technology and mathematics to show how people can “win” in any scenario.
Drama
The Mentalist, Season 7, Episodes 10 & 11
A famous “psychic” outs himself as a fake, and starts working for the California
Bureau of Investigation to find the man who killed his wife and daughter.
The 100, Season 4, Episodes 1 & 2
Ninety-seven years after a devastating nuclear war wiped out almost all life
on Earth, the only known survivors are the residents of twelve space stations
in Earth’s orbit prior to the war.
African Classics
The best tunes from classic African artists,
from Angélique Kidjo to Umanji. B737 CH. 4
Jazz
Our highly diverse collection is a must-listen for
the discerning jazz fan. B737 CH. 7
Pop
Enjoy our sampling of all of today’s most-loved
pop music. B737 CH. 8
Dance Hall/Reggae
We offer a fusion of sounds, with a range of
diverse artists. B737 CH. 6
Classical
Sit back and relax to our classical collection’s
awe-inspiring compositions. B737 CH. 5
Chinese Pop
The perfect selection for exploring the sounds
of the Orient. B737 CH.9
Easy Listening
Unwind and take it easy with some laid-back
sounds. B737 CH. 10
Meditation
Sit back, relax and de-stress to the ultimate
meditation mix. ONLY ON B787 and B777
“How many years can
some people exist before they’re
allowed to be free?”
– Bob Dylan –
Blowin’ in the Wind

82 / ENTERTAINMENT
Kids
Animation
Isle Of
Dogs
What to do when your dog is
banished to Trash Island,
together with all the dogs of
the city?
Atari Kobayashi, a 12-year-old boy and
foster child of the corrupt mayor of
Megasaki City, sets out to find his lost
dog Spots at the island full of garbage.
Atari steals a plane and flies to Trash
Island. Together with five new dog
friends he starts an epic journey, with
many obstacles along the way...
This beautiful stop-motion animated
film was written and directed by Wes
Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom, The
Grand Budapest Hotel).
Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton.
PG-13, 101 mins. Director: Wes Anderson
Film and TV
The Ones to Watch
These are the most popular films from our selection.
If you’ve already seen these, take your pick
from this season’s selection of 35 family and kids films.
The Looney Tunes Show
Bugs and Daffy, roomies in LA,
are getting up to all sorts of
misadventures.
Season 2, Episode 2
Justice League Action
Seven of the world’s most formidable
heroes join to form one of the most
powerful teams to ever exist.
Season 1, Episodes 2, 3 & 4
Dorothy and the
Wizard of Oz
Dorothy becomes princess of the
Emerald City after defeating the
Wicked Witch.
Season 1, Episode 1
Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince
As Harry Potter begins his sixth
year at Hogwarts, he discovers an
old book and begins to learn more
about Lord Voldemort's dark past.

SAFARI NJEMA / 85
Kenya Airways’ flights between
Nairobi and New York will begin
on 28 October 2018.
✈ Kenya Airways flies directly to
Cape Town from Nairobi.
Safari Njema
First-Class Cuisine
Kenya Airways has introduced
a revamped catering service
that is designed to elevate
guests’ experience. This is
part of the airline’s strategy to
review and enhance its service
delivery across all touch points
with the aim of making it
more relevant, authentic and
true to its brand proposition.

KQ launched a carbon
offset programme in
2011, the first African
airline to do so.
News
SAFARI NJEMA / 87
✈ KQ is working with USAID to prevent
the trafficking of endangered species.
Group Managing Director and CEO Kenya Airways Sebastian Mikosz presents some of the new catering service
together with top chef Kiran Jethwa, who created the new menus, and two crew members
Kenya Airways’ guests can now enjoy a
memorable experience that is designed to
reflect African authenticity, hospitality
and simplicity.
“We are delighted to launch our new
catering service,” said Group Managing
Director and CEO Kenya Airways
Sebastian Mikosz. “Providing an unforgettable
experience across the entire
guest journey is our core strategic focus.
Introducing this unique offering is
fundamental to our commitment to
delighting our customers at every touch
point. We feel very excited when a customer
has a positive experience with us.”
Under the new service, the airline has
introduced a culinary experience on its
flights above seven hours that will see the
best African chefs develop onboard
menus. To begin with, Kenya Airways has
partnered with the renowned Kenya-born
chef, Kiran Jethwa, to offer its passengers
an exquisite fusion of culture with Kenyan
ingredients and a touch of African
flavours. “Collaborating with Kenya
Airways has been an amazing experience.
It’s a privilege to be the first chef to
reinvent our national carrier’s onboard
menu,” said Jethwa.
“Our crew has been specially trained by
Chef Kiran to master the art of plating
up business-class dishes,” said Chief
Commercial Officer Kenya Airways
Vincent Coste.”
This renewed service will enable our
guests to experience a wide variety
delicacies and cuisine, accompanied by
personalised service.” Other enhancements
include signature welcome drinks
in business class, which have been
inspired by a tantalising combination of
herbs, indigenous fruits and Kenya’s best
export, tea.
Similarly, environmentally friendly and
easy-to-take-away meal boxes, and a
basket service, have been introduced on
short-sector flights. The baskets have
been hand-woven by various women’s
groups across Africa in line with the airline’s
mission, “sustainable development
in Africa”.
The ease, simplicity and efficiency of these
new services enable the crew to increase
their level of engagement with guests,
supporting Kenya Airways’ positioning as
a customer-centric carrier championing
African culture. The airline is steadily
enhancing its service delivery and shall
unveil new offerings in due course.

88 / SAFARI NJEMA
Want to know the carbon
emission of your flight?
Visit climatecare.org
and click on the
carbon calculator.
News
✈ Kenya Airways now flies to
Paris more often, with six direct
flights each week.
JKIA expansion
Airport Upgraded
After carrying out a series of assessment audits,
the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has
granted Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
Category One status, a prerequisite for Kenya
Airways’ forthcoming direct flights between Nairobi
and New York. This is also a major milestone in
the growth and development of civil aviation in
Kenya, East Africa and the rest of Africa.
Based on an FAA assessment of the safety oversight
provided by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, the rating also
shows Kenya’s compliance with International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) standards.
Over the last few months, The Ministry of Transport,
Housing and Urban Development has led the implemention
of a raft of recommendations given by the US government
to enhance security, among them separation of passenger
arrival and departure terminals, clearing the flight path and
fencing off the airport.
“We are indeed delighted that JKIA has been granted the
Last Point of Departure status. This will now permit Kenya
Airways to fly direct non-stop to the John F. Kennedy International
Airport as scheduled on October 28, 2018,” said
Group Managing Director and CEO Kenya Airways Sebastian
Mikosz. He added that the decision and confidence bestowed
upon Kenya by the US Government was a major milestone to
the growth and development of the aviation industry in Kenya
and the world.
To attain and maintain the top rating, a country must
demonstrate compliance with the safety standards as adopted
and contained in ICAO documents – a UN specialised
agency for aviation that establishes international standards
and recommended practices for aircraft operations and
maintenance.
“JKIA’s Last Point of
Departure status permits
us to begin flying directly
to the US on 28 October”
– Sebastian Mikosz –
Group Managing Director and CEO Kenya Airways
Creating jobs
Environmental
Conservation
With Africa’s population rapidly increasing, there is a
need to increase access to decent jobs. Wildlife Works,
Kenya Airways’ carbon-offsetting partner, has been
working in the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project to
help local communities manage their transition away
from forest destruction and towards sustainable
economic development by utilising job creation as
a core conservation strategy.
Wildlife Works was formed with a simple idea that if you
want wildlife to survive, you have to balance their needs with
the work needs of the local people who share the same environment.
By conserving forests, Wildlife Works receives the
emissions reduction as carbon credits. Through this programme,
over 300 local people have been employed as wildlife rangers,
horticulturalists, seamstresses, foresters, carpenters, construction
workers, drivers, mechanics and administrative personnel.
~ The essence of Wildlife Works’ REDD+ conservation programme is
to create jobs, which remains a priority in rural Kenya. Through job
creation, Wildlife Works is providing a real direct benefit to locals in the
project area.

How many Miles did you
earn while flying to your
current destination? Find out
online with the Flying Blue
Miles Calculator.
Flying Blue
SAFARI NJEMA / 91
✈ There are new discounted award
tickets, or Promo Awards, available
every month, saving you up
to 50 percent on Award Miles.
Membership levels
Redeem
Your
Miles!
The Flying Blue frequent flyer programme allows you to earn
Award Miles for every flight you take with Kenya Airways or
a SkyTeam partner.You can redeem your Miles to fly with
KQ-operated flights or upgrade your seats to Business Class.
There are four membership levels in Flying Blue and with each qualifying
flight you take, you earn Level Miles. When you first enrol, you will be
awarded Ivory status, which progresses to Silver, Gold and ultimately
Platinum. The more you travel with KQ or one of our partner airlines,
the higher your level becomes, which results in you earning more Award
Miles and enjoying more benefits.
Award Miles can be redeemed for flights to destinations selected by
Kenya Airways or our SkyTeam partner airlines. Your accumulated
Award Miles remain valid for 20 months, which can be extended every
time you fly with Kenya Airways or one of our SkyTeam partners, if you
fly at least once every 20 months. The total number of Miles credited to
your account depends on the distance you have flown and travel class
that you have chosen.
~ Enrol now and start to enjoy the benefits Flying Blue has to offer.
Go to flyingblue.com for more information and to sign up.
1
Exchange
Award Miles can be redeemed for a flight to
any Kenya Airways destination or an upgrade to
Business Class.
2
Check
Your choice of destination determines the
number of Miles required for your Award ticket. So
please check if you have sufficient Miles for your
choice. You can check this on flyingblue.com. It is
advisable to have flexible date options in case your
initial choice is not available.
3
Redeem
Once you have made your choice, you can
redeem your Award Miles in several ways:
A. Call the Kenya Airways contact centres in
Nairobi on +254 20 327 4747; +254 734 104747
or +254 711 024747.
B. Visit kenya-airways.com and go to
Flying Blue and then Award Booking.
C. Visit flyingblue.com and go to Spend Miles.
For further information, you can always contact us
at kenya-airways.custhelp.com.
4
Tax
Award Miles do not cover tax charges. These
will need to be paid for by you, and can be done so
via credit card, M-Pesa or a cash payment at any
Kenya Airways office.
5
Easy Does It
Five steps to make
the most of your Miles.
Ticket
Once payment has been received, your e-ticket
will be sent to you by email.
~ Award tickets are subject to seat availability. In the
event that no seats are available, you can opt for a Flex
Award, which gives you a confirmed ticket for double the
Award Miles.
~ Award Miles can be used to upgrade to Business
Class when you have already purchased an Economy
Class Kenya Airways ticket on B, Y, M and U classes for
all routes. All upgrades are subject to seat availability in
Business Class.

SkyTeam operates more than
17,000 departures a day to 1,074
destinations in 177 countries, and
offers SkyTeam members 600+
lounges in airports worldwide.
SkyTeam
SAFARI NJEMA / 93
✈ Founded in June 2000, SkyTeam is a
major airline alliance that consists of 20
carriers from 5 continents.
Teamwork
We’re Connected
Over the last two decades, it’s been
SkyTeam’s mission to create the most
seamless travel experience possible across
an extensive global network. The alliance
was founded to help foster collaboration
between 20 member airlines and, in turn,
offer more benefits and incentives to
passengers.
Capturing the essence of this mission,
SkyTeam has launched a new advertising
campaign that celebrates the teamwork
between its members.
The campaign features flight attendants
from each airline who act as ambassadors.
They demonstrate that, by working
together, SkyTeam and its members can
get you to 1,000+ destinations worldwide
faster and more efficiently than ever before.
Together, we offer a wider range of
destinations to choose from, a larger set
of loyalty benefits than any other alliance,
the most extensive fast-track services
worldwide, and a broader choice of lounges
in which to relax.
Here are some behind-the-scenes snaps
from the shoot, but to view the full set of
finished videos, head to skyteam.com.

94 / SAFARI NJEMA
SAFARI NJEMA / 95
Global Network
Kenya Airways
will begin flying
to JFK Airport in
New York from
Nairobi’s Jomo
Kenyatta International
Airport in October.
NEW YORK
London
GREAT-BRITAIN
THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam
Paris
FRANCE
Kenya Airways Fleet
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Aircraft 7; Seats Economy 204, Premier 30; Crew 14;
Seat pitch Economy 32”; Premier 75”; Max. take-off weight
227,930kg; Fuel capacity 126,903 litres; Range 14,500km;
Typical cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.85; Thrust per
engine at sea level 69,800lbs; Wing span 60.1m; Length
56.7m; Interior cabin width 5.49m
CHINA
SENEGAL
Dakar
Bamako
Freetown
SIERRA LEONE
Monrovia
LIBERIA
Dubai
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
SUDAN
Khartoum
MALI
Djibouti
DJIBOUTI
Addis
Ababa
COTE
BENIN
NIGERIA
D'IVOIRE
GHANA
Lagos
CENTRAL
SOUTH SUDAN ETHIOPIA
Abidjan Accra
CAMEROON AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Cotonou
Juba
Douala
Yaoundé
Bangui
UGANDA
KENYA
Entebbe/Kampala Kisumu
Kigali
NAIROBI
RWANDA
Brazzaville
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF
Bujumbura
Kilimanjaro
Mombasa
THE CONGO BURUNDI
Mahé
Kinshasa
TANZANIA
SEYCHELLES
Dar es Salaam
Luanda
Moroni/COMOROS
Lubumbashi
ANGOLA
MALAWI
Dzaoudzi/MAYOTTE
Ndola
Lilongwe
ZAMBIA
Lusaka
Blantyre
Nampula
Livingstone
Victoria Harare
Falls
Antananarivo
MAURITIUS
ZIMBABWE
MADAGASCAR
MOZAMBIQUE
Mumbai
INDIA
Bangkok
THAILAND
Guangzhou
Boeing 737-800
Aircraft 8; Seats Economy 129, Premier 16; Crew 8;
Seat pitch Economy 32”, Premier 47”; Max. take-off weight
79,015kg; Fuel capacity 26,020 litres; Range 5,665km; Typical
cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.78; Thrust per engine at
sea level 26,400lbs; Wing span 34.3m; Length 39.5m;
Interior cabin width 3.53m
Boeing 737-700
Aircraft 2; Seats Economy 100, Premier 16; Crew 7;
Seat pitch Economy 32”, Premier 40”; Max. take-off weight
70,080kg; Fuel capacity 26,020 litres; Range 6,225km;
Typical cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.785;
Thrust per engine at sea level 26,400lbs; Wing span 34.3m;
Length 33.6m; Interior cabin width 3.53m
Chantal van Wessel/Vizualism
Johannesburg
SOUTH
AFRICA
Cape Town
Maputo
Embraer 190
Aircraft 15; Seats Economy 84, Premier 12; Crew 7;
Seat pitch Economy 31”, Premier 38”; Max. take-off weight
51,800kg; Fuel capacity 16,153 litres; Range 2,935km;
Typical cruising speed at 35,000ft Mach 0.82; Thrust per
engine at sea level 20,000lbs; Wing span 28.72m;
Length 36.24m; Interior cabin width 2.74m

96 / SAFARI NJEMA
SAFARI HABARI NJEMA //97
The Nairobi National Park
stopover package allows guests
travelling on flight KQ101 from
London Heathrow to enjoy a
wildlife tour during their transit.
Welcome to Kenya
✈ Passengers travelling in
a group of at least ten
(economy cabin) or five
(business cabin), can
request for a group fare.
SOUTH-
SUD A N
E T HIOPIA
Practical tips
Getty Images
Getting around
On Arrival
TO THE CITY
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is about a 30-minute drive away
from Nairobi city. Moi International Airport, Mombasa is a 20-minute
drive to Mombasa city. More time is needed during rush hour.
VISA
Most visitors to Kenya require a visa. Multiple and single entry visas are
available. You can apply at any Kenya High Commission or Embassy
prior to travelling. The single entry visa (obtainable upon arrival at the
airport) is US$50 (correct at time of print) or the equivalent in local currency.
You will also require a passport that is valid for three months from
the moment of entry.
Health
Emergency services
Dial 999. Note that
ambulance services are
mostly private. Services
include: St Johns
Ambulance +254 72 161
1555 or Kenya Red
Cross Ambulance
+254 71 771 4938.
Hospitals
Nairobi and Mombasa
have good hospitals.
Medical expenses
Make sure you have
adequate travel health
insurance and accessible
funds to cover the cost of
any medical treatment.
Consultations and
treatments will have to
be paid for at the time,
and the costs claimed
back later.
General
Voltage
240 volts AC, using
three-square-pin,
13-amp-type plugs.
Security
It is advisable not to walk
alone in isolated areas
in towns or on beaches,
particularly after dark.
Tipping
Tips are appreciated. Most
hotels/restaurants add a
10 percent service charge.
Water
It is wise to drink or use
only boiled or bottled water,
and to avoid ice in drinks.
Self-drive
Traffic adheres to the lefthand
side of the road, and
most cars are right-hand
drive. A current driving
licence with photograph is
accepted for up to a threemonth
stay.
Public transport
Nairobi is the only city with
an effective municipal bus
What & How
service. Local (private)
matatus are the main
means of getting around.
Taxi service Uber operates
in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Photography
Taking photographs of
official buildings, including
embassies, can lead to
detention. Photography is
also prohibited at airports.
Embassies & consulates
All embassies are
located in Nairobi.
ID
You must carry a valid form
of ID with you at all times.
Post office
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Mondays to Fridays; and 9
a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays.
Telephone/internet
Phone cards may be
bought from post offices
or international call
offices. Emails can be sent
from most hotels.
Money matters
Currency
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Currency regulations
There are no restrictions on
the movement of currency
into or out of Kenya for
currency transactions.
Banking
Banks are generally open
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Mondays to Fridays;
and 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Saturdays. Banks in
coastal towns open
and close half an hour
earlier. Most ATMs accept
international VISA cards.
Credit cards
Visa and MasterCard are
widely accepted.
Hotel bill payment
Pay in Kenyan shillings or
convertible currency.
Most hotels also accept
credit cards.
Gulu
UGA N D A
Lokichokio
Sibiloi
Central
National
Songot 1755 m Island
Park
National
Park
Namoratunga
Muruasigar
Stones
2149 m
LAKE
TURKANA
Lodwar
Nasolot
National
Reserve
Maralal
Saiwa
National
Matthew’s Peak
Swamp
Sanctuary
2375 m
Mt Elgon
National
National Park
Kaisungua
Maralal
Reserve
Kitale
3167 m
Samburu
National
Mt Elgon
Kerio Valley
Reserve
Shaba National
4322 m
National Reserve
Reserve
ELDORET
Archer’s Post
LAKE BARING O
Kakamega
Buffalo Springs
Forest Reserve
Lake Bogoria Isiolo
National
Meru
Reserve
National Reserve
National
Kakamega
Park
Ndere Island
Nanyuki
National Park
KISUMU
Meru
Mt Londiani
Rusinga Island
Kericho
3000 m
North
Nakuru
Mt Kenya
Kitu
Lake Nakuru
5199 m
National
Mfangango
National
Park
Nyerri
Embu
Reserve
Island
Kisii
Muranga’a Mwea
Ruma
Hell’s Gate
National
LAKE
National
National Park
Mt Longonot 2777 m Reserve
Park
RIFT VALLEY
VICTORIA
Longonot National Park
Thika
Migori
Narok
NAIROBI
Oi Donyo National Park
Masai Mara
Nairobi
National Reserve
National
Park
Chantal van Wessel
TA NZANIA
South
Turkana
National
Reserve
South
Island
National
Park
RIFT VALLEY
LAKE
MAGADI
Shompole
Conservancy
CHALBI DESERT
Loiyangalani
Mt Kulal 2285 m
OFFICES & AGENTS
Head Office Airport North Road, Embakasi
P.O. Box: 19002 – 00501 Nairobi, Kenya, Tel +254 (0)20 6422000,
Safaricom +254 0711 02 2000, Airtel +254 0734 10 2000
Contact Centre (24 hours) Tel +254 (0)20 3274747
Safaricom +254 0711 02 4747, Airtel +254 0734 10 4747
Email: customer.relations@kenya-airways.com
JKIA Sales Office Terminal 1C – International Departures
Tel +254 (0)20 6423506/8,
Terminal 1D – Domestic Departures Tel +254 (0)20 6423570
Baggage Services Tel +254 0737 33 3954
Email: delayedbaggage.nbo@kenya-airways.com
Kajiado
West
Chyulu Game
Conservation
Area
Amboseli
National Park
Mt Kilimanjaro 5895 m
Marsabit
National
Reserve
Losai
National
Reserve
Marsabit
Marsabit
National
Park
Tsavo West
National
Park
K ENYA
Tsavo
East
National
Park
Voi
Kora
National
Park
Moyale
Rahole
National
Reserve
Mwaluganje
Elephant
Sanctuary
Shimba Hills
National
Reserve
Garissa
MOMBASA
Wajir
Tana River
Primate National
Reserve
Malka Mari
National
Reserve
Arabuko
Malindi Marine
Sokoke
National Park
National
Park
Malindi
Watamu Marine
National Park
Diani
Kisite Marine National Park
Kisite Marine National Park
Boni
National
Arawale Reserve
National
Reserve
Dodori
National
Reserve
SOMALIA
INDIAN
OCEAN
100 km

Wangari Maathai, the founder of
Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, an
environmental group, became the
first African woman to win the Nobel
Peace Prize in 2004.
Magical Kenya
SAFARI NJEMA / 99
✈ Find a full list of Kenya’s
eco-certified hotels and camps at
ecotourismkenya.org/facility.php
Getty Images
The Lake Turkana Festival.
Kenya’s cultural splendour
Festivals Showcase Kenya
Part of a wealth of cultural attractions
that are available across
the country, Kenya’s vibrant and
exciting festivals present great
opportunities to connect with locals
and experience the country’s
unique cultures.
One such festival is the Maralal International
Camel Derby, which takes place
every year in August to promote the
endowment of Samburu County in
different aspects of tourism, ranging
from northern Kenya’s unique wildlife –
such as the blue necked ostrich and the
Grevy’s zebra – to its exciting sports and
cultural-tourism offering. The event,
which is the only one of its kind in the
world, attracts participation from far and
wide, both locally and internationally. It’s
also a great social occasion that offers a
chance to experience the culture, warmth,
and adventures of the Samburu people.
Still up north, on the southeastern tip of
Lake Turkana, is another unique cultural
event: the annual Lake Turkana Festival,
which takes place in June in Loiyangalani
town on the shores of the Jade Sea. The
event is a showcase of the unique cultural
diversity of the numerous ethnic communities
in Marsabit County through song
and dance.
Another long-running cultural festival
one should consider attending is the
Lamu Cultural Festival, which began in
2001. The three-day festival takes place in
November and is meant to give visitors a
taste of the rich cultural life of the Lamu
– and the surrounding islands – as part of
the larger culture of the Swahili people
who live along Kenya’s coast. The festival’s
activities include dhow-sailing
races, donkey races, traditional henna
paintings, traditional artisan craft-making
and competitive games of bao, which
is regarded as one of the oldest games,
having been played in the region for
thousands of years.
If you would like to explore the culture
of the people living along Lake Victoria,
visit Rusinga Island for the annual
Rusinga Festival, which takes place in
just before Christmas every year. Here,
you will experience the music, food, art
and cultural sports of the Suba people.
In Western Kenya, one can watch weekly
bullfights that pit bulls – representing
respective villages or families – against
each other. The winning bull not only
brings honour to its owner, it brings
entire villages to a standstill in song and
dance; it’s a spectacle worth watching.
Don’t take our word for it. Come and live
the magic of Kenya’s cultural diversity!

SAFARI NJEMA / 101
Cargo
Text: Ben Clark Image: Shutterstock
Pharmaceuticals
Cool Under Pressure
Transporting pharmaceuticals is
highly specialised and requires
strict adherence to handling rules.
Because proper management is
embedded within its practice,
Kenya Airways (KQ) has a solid
basis for special-cargo growth.
Despite the challenges posed by high
temperatures in Africa and varying
infrastructure at African airports,
maintenance of the cold chain – the
temperature-controlled supply chain –
is key to KQ’s service. Pharmaceuticals
often require a 2-8°C range. However,
temperature is not the only factor; air
quality is also important. The carbon
dioxide, oxygen and humidity levels all
affect this cargo, which makes it the most
complicated cold chain to operate. KQ’s
handling facilities are fitted with coldstorage
features that can manage 2-25°C
shipments while maintaining air quality.
In 2013, the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) created the Center
of Excellence for Independent Validators
(CEIV) to improve air-cargo standards
for pharmaceuticals across the board.
CEIV is a resource that airlines can use
to gain new certification. KQ is leading
the way. “We’re looking to expand our
special-cargo product range, so meeting
these new requirements is essential,” says
Acting General Manager of Cargo Peter
Musola. “We’ve already hosted the first
CEIV workshop in Africa, and together
with pharmaceutical industry experts,
we’re identifying certification gaps in our
processes to comply even further with
Good Distribution Practice.”

102 / SAFARI NJEMA
KQ won the Best
Business Class in
Africa for five years
in a row from World
Travel Awards.
Get Comfortable
✈ KQ received an International
Safety Award in 2016 and 2017
from the British Safety Council.
What you need to know
Flight Mode
Safety
Please watch the safety demonstration before
take-off and refer to the leaflet in your seat
pocket. Smoking is prohibited on all flights.
Electronic devices including laptops, tablets
and mobile phones may not be used during
take-off and landing.
Hand luggage
Place hand luggage in the overhead storage
or beneath the seat in front of you. Cabin crew
will remove hand luggage from passengers
seated in exit rows for take-off and landing.
1 Get a good night’s sleep, eat a light
meal and take some gentle exercise
before your flight.
Travel
On The Move
Six top tips for a healthy and comfortable journey
2 Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
3 Keep your circulation going by standing
up and walking in the aisle when
possible. Flex muscles in your feet, arms,
shoulders and neck.
4 Low cabin humidity on longer
journeys can cause dry eyes, nose and
throat. Remove contact lenses and apply
“To get lost is to
learn the way”
– African proverb –
moisturiser and lip balm. Avoid salt,
drink plenty of water and moderate
your intake of alcohol, tea and coffee.
5 When travelling across time zones
your body’s sleep rhythms can become
disrupted, leading to insomnia, loss of
appetite and fatigue. Try to give yourself
some time to adjust to new night and
day cycles when you arrive.
6 On arrival spend as much time as
possible outside. Sunlight helps your
body to adjust to a new time zone.
Seat adjustments
Ensure your seat is upright for take-off and
landing.
Infants
Baby-changing tables can be found in
selected toilets. The crew will help prepare
baby food. Cots are available on some flights.
Inflight service
A hot meal is normally served during longhaul
flights. Special-diet or vegetarian meals
are available when pre-ordered. There is a
courtesy inflight bar service for wine, beer,
spirits and soft drinks.
Entertainment
Seat-back entertainment featuring a range of
movies and music is available on our long- and
medium-haul flights. Please refer to the IFE
guide in Msafiri.
Take-off
The aircraft climbs steeply immediately after
take-off. Shortly afterwards you will hear
a reduction in the engine sound, while the
aircraft continues to climb. All aircraft cabins
are pressurised. Due to a change in pressure
during take-off and landing, some passengers
may experience slight discomfort in their ears.
Relieve this by swallowing, yawning or pinching
the nostrils gently, while keeping lips sealed.
Landing
After touchdown you may hear an increase in
engine noise due to the reverse thrust applied
to assist braking. Remain seated until the
engines are off and the doors are open.