Tabla de contenidos para Issue 188 - Dec 2024 - Jan 2025 en Msafiri

South Africa is synonymous with sport and sporting heroes. But the national obsession goes way beyond the Boks and the Proteas. The country boasts some of the biggest, oldest and most iconic mass-participation events in the world, which attract both elite athletes and adventurous travellers alike. Here are 9 to add to your must-do list… 1 AQUELLÉ MIDMAR MILE 6 FEBRUARY 2025 The world’s largest open-water event attracts thousands of swimmers to the scenic Midmar Dam in KwaZuluNatal every year for a fun, inclusive weekend on the water. Age and lack of experience are no barriers to entry: 91-year-old Lorna Cochran holds the record for the oldest finisher in the event’s history, while her greatgranddaughter Jessie-Clare Goodall, aged 8, is the youngest. 2 RMB ULTRA-TRAIL CAPE TOWN® 21 NOVEMBER 2025…

TOUCHDOWN Mombasa has four sub-counties. You’ll first arrive in Changamwe, a bustling working-class business area. As you enter Mombasa Island, one of the first things you’ll notice, as you’re shuttled through the city, is the two-toned colour scheme of the buildings – bright white walls with sky-blue finishes on the lintels and plinths. This quaint bicolour look on the low cityscape quickly fades as you pass through the central business district, where the city’s dual identity begins to emerge. On the furthest side of the Island, by the beach, are historic sites such as Old Town and Fort Jesus. Across from Old Town, on the other side of the Island, is Kisauni, the suburban and resort-filled side of Mombasa you might expect from a coastal town. Likoni, the third sub-county,…

KQ HOLIDAYS TOUCHDOWN The French capital comprises 20 arrondissements (neighbourhoods) with the River Seine flowing through the middle and around two islands, Ile de la Cité (site of Notre Dame) and Ile St-Louis. The Left Bank (south of the river) is home to the iconic Eiffel Tower, Hôtel des Invalides (for Napoleon’s tomb), the Catacombs and the vibrant Latin Quarter. On the Right Bank sits the flagship brands of the Champs-Élysées, with the Arc de Triomphe at one end and the Place de la Concorde (best known for hosting guillotining executions during the French Revolution) at the other, the Louvre, Père Lachaise Cemetery and the warren-like alleyways of Marais. Perched atop the 130m-high Butte de Montmartre to the north is the imposing Sacré-Cœur Basilica. A 20km train ride away, you’ll…

TOUCHDOWN Kilimanjaro International Airport stands roughly midway along the main road connecting the cities of Moshi and Arusha. Around 40km east of the airport, Moshi -the capital of the Kilimanjaro Region -is a popular base for exhilarating five- to seven-day hikes to lofty Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa and the summit of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. Arusha, 50km west of the airport, is a green garden city set on the slopes of Mount Meru, which is Africa’s fourthhighest mountain and the centrepiece of the underrated Arusha National Park. Arusha and its low-key domestic airport are popular springboards for road and fly-in visitors to Tanzania’s superlative northern safari circuit. This includes Tarangire National Park (110km southwest of the city), Lake Manyara National Park (110km west), Ngorongoro Crater (190km…

01 UNDERSTAND YOUR MARKET INSIDE AND OUT Understanding your target audience, their needs and how they interact with competitors will help you position your product or service to best meet their expectations. Knowing the demographic information, preferences and spending habits of your potential customers allows you to refine your offerings and approach. Use surveys, social media analytics or focus groups to gather valuable insights. Tailoring your product or service to what customers want helps in establishing a loyal customer base, which is vital for profitability. 02 FOCUS ON A UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION (UVP) Every successful business has a strong UVP – the reason why customers should choose your product over others. Your UVP should communicate the specific benefits your customers will get, setting you apart from competitors. It could be anything from…

skyteam EASIER CHECK-IN First launched between members Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico in 2022, SkyTeam expects seamless check-in to be available across 95% of the network by the end of this year. If you’re flying on more than one SkyTeam member, this means you can check in digitally and get your boarding passes via your preferred airline’s self-service channels – regardless of which airline is operating the flight. If you are flying with hand baggage only, you can go straight to security without needing to use a kiosk or see an agent, offering a faster airport experience. BETTER INFORMED Another handy tool for journeys that include more than one member airline is SkyTeam’s flight information technology or ‘FLIFO’. This gives you the latest status on flights operated by all airlines…

MUMI Mumi is catfish among the Luo people, who live near Lake Victoria, or Nam Lolwe as it’s known in the western part of Kenya. The Luo, given their proximity to the lake, obviously have fish as one of their staples. Mumi is a periphery dish, not as prevalent as tilapia or Nile perch. Like its cousin the mudfish (kamongo), mumi burrow in the mud when water bodies recede during the dry season. To catch them, fishermen employ a simple but ingenious technique, pouring water on the surface before hitting the ground with sticks to give an impression of rain which drives the fish from their burrows. They’re then easily caught. The fish are gutted, cut into small pieces and then salted and laid out in the sun to dry.…

By the time I arrive, it’s pitch-dark, with a sliver of moon and no electric lights for miles. Rounding a dry riverbed, I’m struck by an unexpected sight: a vast movie screen illuminating the faces of a Samburu audience – children cross-legged in front, mothers nursing babies, and warriors in the back. A caravan of camels passes by, their wooden bells tocking gently. It feels as if a London West End cinema has fallen from the sky into this remote stretch of northern Kenya. This is the work of The Elephant Queen Outreach, a traveling cinema and theatre project born from the award-winning feature-documentary, The Elephant Queen, which follows Athena, a matriarch elephant, leading her family on a journey in search of water. Although the film was a global hit,…

TOUCHDOWN Kenya’s capital city Nairobi gets its name from the Maasai phrase 'Enkare nyrobi', which means place of cool waters. The Nairobi River cuts through the city, connecting Nairobi National Park – teeming with wildlife – to the vibrant city centre. Visit the McMillan Memorial Library, Nairobi’s oldest library, and the City Market. Take selfies at the roof-top of Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Kenya’s most iconic building. Wander through the Nairobi Gallery, the Railway Museum and Nairobi National Museum. West of Nairobi is Karura Forest, perfect for picnics, long walks and bike rides. Further west of Nairobi is the Village Market with its wide variety of options for shopping and dining out. Go on a round trip into Nairobi’s neighbourhoods in a matatu, a popular means of transport and also…

KQ HOLIDAYS TOUCHDOWN Dubai is one of the world’s most elongated cities, hugging the coast of the Arabian Gulf for over 50km. Flights land at the northern end of the metropolis, close to the old city centre, where you’ll find the bustling districts of Bur Dubai and Deira, home to virtually all the city’s historic attractions and museums, plus a string of busy souks. Heading south, the towering skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road march down to the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the vast Dubai Mall. Heading over to the coast from here, the rolling sands of Kite Beach run for several miles down to the iconic Burj al Arab hotel, past which you’ll find the huge Palm Jumeirah artificial island and the massed high-rises of Dubai Marina,…

TOUCHDOWN Nestled along the Indian Ocean, Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s vibrant coastal city, blending rich history with modern charm. Its waterfront boasts the stunning 680m-long cable-suspension Kigamboni Bridge, which leads to the serene beaches of Kigamboni. The lively Kivukoni Fish Market offers a window into local life, while the National Museum highlights Tanzania’s rich heritage. The Askari Monument, standing tall downtown, honours soldiers from World War I. In the leafy suburb of Oyster Bay, you will find art galleries, upscale dining and ocean views aplenty. For a cultural dive, Kariakoo Market bustles with stalls selling spices, colourful kanga fabrics and airy dera kaftans, perfect for the heat. Whether you’re exploring Dar’s history on foot or bike, enjoying street food or soaking in the sun at Mbezi Beach, this city’s…

BUSINESS SCHOOL 1 UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS Understanding and anticipating customer needs is the cornerstone of customer satisfaction. Companies can achieve this by conducting regular surveys, interviews or focus groups to identify pain points and preferences. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems also help track customer interactions, allowing businesses to collect and analyse valuable data over time. When companies have a deep knowledge of their customers’ needs, they can personalise their approach and offer tailored solutions, making customers feel valued and understood. 2 PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE SERVICE Consistency in customer service builds trust. Customers are more likely to stay loyal to businesses that deliver a reliable experience, regardless of when or how they engage. Creating and sticking to service standards is essential here. For example, setting benchmarks for response times, maintaining product…

network Three places to visit Celebrating the destinations that Kenya Airways flies to… BANGKOK, THAILAND Think Bangkok, and temples and golden Buddhas spring to mind. But take some time to explore the city’s floating markets – a kaleidoscope of colour and noise on its canals. While Damnoen Saduak, just outside the capital, is well worth a visit, there is an indoor version in the heart of the city, at the Iconsiam Mall, which offers an insight into this vibrant world. LIGHT OF THE WORLD Celebrations form a major part of Thai life, and the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in November is no exception. Head to Chiang Mai to catch this extraordinary site of floating lights in the sky. DAKAR, SENEGAL Lake Retba, also known as Lac Rose (meaning ‘Pink Lake’)…

The funniest wildlife photography competition in the world received a record number of hilarious entries, with just under 9,000 in total from 98 countries, all competing to win the top prize of a one-week safari with Alex Walker’s Serian in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The awards were co-founded in 2015 by professional photographers Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam to create a competition that fused exceptional wildlife photography and the positive power of humour in a bid to help promote the conservation of wildlife and habitats that our precious planet relies on. Hello world! “This image was taken in a dark forest in the Netherlands. I like the tones of this autumn leaf. So warm. It was hard to take this image because of the fast-moving ant, but with a little help…

KQ HOLIDAYS With KQ Holidays, you can effortlessly create, book and pay for personalised holiday packages tailored to your unique preferences, in real time. The comprehensive platform allows you to craft your perfect escape with just a few clicks – from flights and accommodation to unique local experiences. KQ Holidays has a curated selection of experiences ensuring you’ll find a perfect match, whether you’re a solo adventurer, a couple seeking romance or a family in search of excitement. Featured on the platform are an impressive range of captivating locations spanning Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Whether you’re dreaming of a safari adventure, a cultural deep-dive or a luxurious city escape, KQ Holidays caters to your diverse travel aspirations. It’s more than just a holiday planner – it’s…

TOUCHDOWN A prosperous, funky, bohemian little city on Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia, Victoria Falls boasts a range of accommodation facilities and tourist attractions in the central city and lowdensity residential suburbs, as well as safari lodges and higher-end, tented camps in the surrounding areas and the Zambezi National Park. Its location on a river, within a national park, at the heart of one of the largest conservation areas on earth, ensures diverse, easily-accessible game viewing experiences, while the focus on green initiatives and wellness means it’s clean, eco-friendly and tranquil. The Victoria Falls rainforest and Victoria Falls are walking distance from the centre, the Bamba bus links the major tourist destinations, and you can explore the compact city and environs on an e-bike. DEFINING EXPERIENCE Take a helicopter or microlight…

KQ HOLIDAYS TOUCHDOWN Lapped on all sides by the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar is a 1464km2 reef-protected island situated 36km offshore of mainland Tanzania. Its urban centrepiece is Stone Town - a historic harbourfront enclave of traditional Swahili culture and architecture set within the larger sprawl of Zanzibar City - that stands on the west coast close to the island’s only international airport. Elsewhere, Zanzibar is lined with modest Swahili fishing villages that have reinvented themselves as downto-earth beach resorts in recent years. These include Nungwi and Kendwa in the far north, Matemwe and Kiwengwa in the northeast, and Paje and Jambiani in the southeast. The flattish interior incorporates tropical forests, the most important of which is protected in Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, as well as the famous clove plantations that…

KQ HOLIDAYS TOUCHDOWN Modern Mumbai (or Bombay, as older travellers may still think of it) is built on what were originally seven islands, long since fused into a single peninsula poking south into the Indian Ocean. The city centre lies close to the peninsula’s southern tip, which is where you’ll find the historic districts of Colaba and Fort, home to colonial-era landmarks including the vast Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the landmark Gateway of India, starting point for the memorable boat trip out to beautiful Elephanta Island. South of here rise the cool modern high-rises of Nariman Point, while to the north are the pell-mell bazaar districts surrounding Crawford Market, and Marine Drive, which sweeps around Back Bay to reach the ever-popular Chowpatty Beach. DEFINING EXPERIENCE Start with a coffee or…

Guess where… The jewelled chameleon, or furcifer lateralis, is endemic to this destination, inhabiting montane grassy savannah and heathland at heights of 1800m to 2600m. This island nation is renowned for its unique flora and fauna, including 50 species of a certain primate, as well as orchids, towering baobabs, varied landscapes and beautiful beaches. But in which country on Kenya Airways’ network are we? TURN TO PAGE 80 FOR THE ANSWER KQ RECOGNISED AS AFRICA'S LEADING AIRLINE NATIONAL CARRIER WINS FOUR TITLES AT PRESTIGIOUS WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS Kenya Airways picked up four trophies at this year’s World Travel Awards (WTAs), including the coveted Africa’s Leading Airline category. The carrier also scooped top prize for Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class, Africa’s Leading Airline Brand and Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine for…

ADELPHI BEADED COSMETIC POUCH The ultimate fusion of style and practicality, the Beaded Cosmetic Pouch brings a touch of luxury to your on-the go beauty essentials. Ideal for fitting neatly into a handbag or suitcase. Handcrafted from full-grain Kenyan leather and adorned with intricate beading, the pouch contains a spacious main compartment with a large interior pocket. Dimensions: 23cm (W) x 14cm (H) x 5cm (D) (9in x 5.5in x 2in). $45 $115 FRAGRANCES MICHAEL KORS POUR FEMME Eau de Parfum 100ml A floral-woody musk fragrance that’s the essence of luxury, confidence and sensuality. Opening with delicious mandarin, pink peppercorn and blackcurrant, Michael Kors Pour Femme instantly tantalises and energises before leading to a refined and feminine bouquet of jasmine and rose at its heart. The sillage is given strength…