Table of contents for Issue 195 - February-March 2026 in Msafiri

In 1971, the late Maddie (Byron) de Mott (photo, top right) and fellow pioneers set out to make specialised medical outreach accessible to communities far beyond major hospitals and tarmac roads. Guided by the belief that access to care should never be determined by distance or circumstance, they began raising funds for medical outreach flights and later for charity evacuations – connecting isolated patients with lifesaving treatment. Using small, versatile aircraft capable of landing on short, rugged airstrips, flying doctors were able to reach places where ambulances could not, and where time meant the difference between life and death. Their work was supported through a membership scheme that offered tourists and annual members free emergency evacuation in lifethreatening situations. Fifty-four years later, that vision has grown into a regional membership…

A first glance, Nairobi doesn’t market itself as a digital-nomad paradise. There are no ‘Work from Paradise’ billboards, no influencer-designed visas, no beachfront cafés where freelancers type between sips of coconut water. Yet those who choose to work from Nairobi – sometimes intentionally, often by accident – quickly discover something rare: a city where work-life balance isn’t branded or performative, but a lived experience. Work mornings begin under bougainvillaea or in garden cafés with good Kenyan coffee. Lunchtimes feel unhurried. Weekends mean drives to Tigoni’s tea hills or one-hour flights to the white-sand beaches of Kilifi. Even during the workday, the pace of the city has a generosity that global nomad hubs have slowly lost. Nairobi has long been a productive cosmopolitan hub, but in the last five years, something…

Meeting an elephant while on foot is a heart-pounding experience, a reminder that we are but one animal sharing Africa’s wild places. As humans, we’ve had such encounters for at least 300,000 years, and along the way we’ve learned how to give these magnificent animals their space. Thankfully, nature guides and game trackers are custodians of age-old skills that enable them to read the environment, to ensure that the meeting is no surprise for either party. On a walking safari, it’s fascinating to observe this expertise in practice. Forget about starting fire with sticks – the real bush skills are the ones that keep us safe in areas where the big animals roam free. Deciphering the myriad tracks of night roamers. Spotting fresh leopard claw marks on the bark of…

Kenya Airways, through KQ Health and KQ Pharma, is deepening its collaboration with Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) to expand medical travel, wellness and specialised care across East Africa. The partnership aims to position Kenya as a leading hub for inbound medical tourism, with the first joint visit to the DR Congo set for January 2026. As part of this enhanced partnership, Asante Rewards members and the KQ fraternity will enjoy exclusive discounted packages at AKUH and its clinics.…

Kenya Airways has announced a new partnership with the Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK), affirming its commitment to supporting homegrown sporting excellence and elevating Kenya’s presence in regional sports tourism. The partnership focuses on empowering top professional golfers competing in the prestigious Equator Tour – a circuit that continues to gain traction across East and Central Africa. Through KQ’s sponsorship, these golfers will receive enhanced visibility, logistical support and opportunities to participate in high-profile tournaments. Golf tourism remains one of the most influential drivers of destination marketing globally. KQ JOINS IATA CO2 CONNECT Kenya Airways has joined the IATA CO2 Connect platform, an initiative that gives customers access to accurate, trusted and flight-specific emissions data. KQ joins more than 90 other global airlines working to build transparent, standardised reporting that…

When Turkish Airlines’ inaugural flight touched down at Moi International Airport (MIA), Mombasa at the back end of last year, KQ officially welcomed the airline to its ground-handling portfolio. The onboarding process was the result of a highly coordinated, multi-departmental effort to ensure a smooth and efficient launch. The partnership not only strengthens Mombasa’s role as a regional aviation hub, but it also opens opportunities across key service areas, including cargo handling, ramp operations and passenger services. Turkish Airlines joins an expanding list of airlines supported by KQ in Mombasa, including Jambojet, Ethiopian Airlines, Smartwings, LOT and Copenhagen Taxi for passengers; and Discover Airlines, Fly Dubai, Condor, TUI, Neos and Uganda Airlines for cargo services. The onboarding process was the result of a highly coordinated, multidepartmental effort GET SOCIAL WITH…

JO MALONE LONDON CYPRESS & GRAPEVINE COLOGNE INTENSE Cologne intense, 50ml The aromatic notes of cypress trees unite with the warmth of grapevine and the sensuality of amber. A fresh and woody scent that leaves a lasting impression. Refined, distinctive and bold. FRAGRANCE NOTES: Woody – Aromatic SEE OUR FULL RANGE OF DUTY FREE PRODUCTS. $115 BUY BEFORE YOU FLY You can now pre-order your duty free online three days before your flight and get your shopping delivered directly to your seat on board. Quick, easy and convenient shopping! VISIT WWW.KQDUTYFREE.COM NOTE: SOME PRODUCTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ON SELECTED AIRCRAFT TYPES TOM FORD BLACK ORCHID Eau de parfum, 50ml A luxurious and sensual fragrance of rich, dark accords and an alluring potion of black orchids and spice, Tom Ford’s Black…

Liya Kebede is, in many ways, a modern enigma. While the Ethiopian-born model, actor and businesswoman ranks as her country’s first global supermodel, as is the case with many things related to the Land of 13 Sunshines, her journey is one born out of simplicity and necessity. “Really fashion, in the very first sense, was just a route to pay for our school graduation,” she begins. “A lot of the students would put on fashion shows to earn money – it was a normal route, and when my time came I just fell in love with that process and the thrill of clothes and performance. “I always think it’s cool how a little seed of an idea can develop into something that takes over you, and that was the case…

If the streets of Nairobi could talk, they’d nudge more tourists to cross Moi Avenue – the thoroughfare is all that stands between the orderly Central Business District and a spirited other world that most overlook. Venturing into Downtown Nairobi, admittedly, is not for the faint of heart. Like anywhere else, sections of the Kenyan capital are congested and fast-paced, but its intensity is truly unmatched. Choked with traffic, the narrow backstreets here play host to fintech kiosks, kitchenware stores and hawkers touting everything from used computer accessories to comically large avocados. This is where the pulse of Nairobi beats the loudest, against a cacophonous soundtrack of kerbside conversations and car horns, interspersed by gengetone music blaring from matatu minibuses, each more elaborately graffitied than the last. A sharp inhale,…

the road to Matemwe winds past small workshops, fruit stalls and unfinished houses. It’s a landscape that travellers often skim past on their way to somewhere labelled ‘worth seeing’. My taxi veers onto a narrow dirt track towards Attitude Matemwe, and for a moment I’m not sure we haven’t taken a wrong turn. Then the sea appears through gaps between huts, and the whole coastline reveals itself. The hotel sits inside the village rather than apart from it, built low and close to the ground, its makuti palm frond roofs threaded with local craftwork. Here, you don’t arrive at a resort. You arrive in a community. The next morning, at first light, the village stirs to life. From a raised wooden veranda overlooking the beach, I watch fishermen push narrow…

Guess where… This bust of Dr Robert Bloom shows him holding ‘Mrs Ples’, the skull of an early human ancestor, believed to be around 2.5 million years old. Bloom discovered the fossil in 1947 while exploring some world-renowned caves, often referred to as an ‘anthropological treasure house’. The caves housed several other important fossil finds and they form part of a wider UNESCO World Heritage Site. But in which KQ destination are they? ANSWER: STERKFONTEIN CAVES, NEAR JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA…

At the end of December 2025, KQ Cargo participated in the flag-off of Kenya’s pilot apple mango export to the UK, an important milestone for the country’s horticulture sector and a powerful signal of expanding opportunities for local farmers in global markets. Speaking during the event, acting group MD and CEO Capt. George Kamal underscored the role of strategic partnerships in opening new trade corridors. He also reaffirmed KQ Cargo’s commitment to connecting Kenyan farmers to international markets through reliable, efficient and competitive air cargo solutions. Capt. Kamal noted the successful pilot shipment reflected Kenya’s growing capability to meet global quality standards while strengthening agricultural value chains and enhancing farmers’ incomes. The event reinforced KQ’s role as a critical enabler of trade and economic development.…

KQ’s Technology department stepped away from their screens, systems and servers to focus on something equally as powerful: human connection. The New Beginnings Children’s Home initiative marked a significant milestone for the team, formally embedding social investment into its culture while directly supporting KQ’s broader sustainability and community engagement agenda. The children's home provides care and support to underprivileged kids and currently hosts 112 young people aged between 3 and 22 years. In the weeks leading up to their visit, the Tech team undertook a fundraising drive to deliver tangible support where it was most needed. This included providing essential supplies, such as kitchen items, perishables, 14 mattresses, toiletries and transport costs to the total tune of Ksh119,700. In addition, in-kind donations were received, comprising assorted clothing, shoes, bedding and…

01 DAKAR February and March are among the most comfortable months to visit Dakar, with lower humidity and warm but manageable temperatures. It’s a good period for exploring the city’s museums, music venues and markets, as well as taking a day trip to the World Heritage Site of Gorée Island. 02 HWANGE, ZIMBABWE During March, seasonal rains disperse wildlife, particularly elephants, which no longer rely on pumped waterholes. Wildlife sightings can be less predictable, but the landscape is green, dust-free and quiet, making this a good time for a more natural seasonal perspective. 03 VICTORIA FALLS March brings peak flow, transforming the falls into a roaring spectacle. Spray rises high above the gorge, creating rainbows and drenched viewpoints. While visibility can be limited, the sheer power is unforgettable, and the…

When people talk of ‘the good old days’ I sometimes wonder ‘Which ones?’ Are they referring to the days when, as a child on public transport, my face was pressed so hard against a stranger’s backside that I could not even tell where I was? Or the afternoons spent running back and forth adjusting the TV aerial for a signal just to catch a cartoon only to miss most of it? Perhaps it was the long queues for banking services, payphone access or bill payments? Or the long hours spent waiting outside a building in town hoping the person you’re meeting will show up because there’s simply no other way to reach them? Were those really the good old days? Technology has undeniably changed the way we work, think and…

OVERALL WINNER High five BY MARK METH-COHN “We spent four unforgettable days trekking through the misty Virunga Mountains in search of the gorilla families that call them home. On this particular day, we came across a large family group known as the Amahoro family; they were gathered in a forest clearing where the adults were calmly foraging while the youngsters were enthusiastically playing. One young male was especially keen to show off his acrobatic flair: pirouetting, tumbling and high kicking. Watching his performance was pure joy, and I’m thrilled to have captured his playful spirit in this image.” The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards have always celebrated the wild side of the natural world… the mischief, the awkward moments, the bursts of personality that remind us animals are far more than…

Your average safari vehicle may not offer the aesthetic elegance of a herd of zebras, nor the gliding grace of a cheetah traversing dusty terrain at 75mph – but after the animals themselves, a 4x4 is the most pivotal part of most ventures into this wild and bumpy world. Perhaps then we should be giving more credit to the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Land Rover Defender, the Mercedes Sprinter, and a bevy of other conversions sent out daily across the national parks and reserves of Africa's wild places. The initial dull thrum of their engines soon reveals a lowslung workhorse with a raised roof, tiered bench seats and cameras at the ready, and for the few hours that follow, this machine is more than transport – it’s a mobile hide…

“To work for The Pangolin Project is to know that every day has purpose. Protecting the giant pangolin’s forest home is about far more than saving a single species – it is about defending an entire ecosystem and helping communities become the guardians of something truly irreplaceable.” ROBERTINAH MBULA, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICER For half a century, Kenya’s giant ground pangolin existed only as a memory. The last confirmed sighting, in 1971 on the shores of Lake Victoria, slipped quietly into the archives alongside other records of species lost to history. Then, in 2021, two independent reports emerged from the same place: the Nyekweri Forest, a small remnant of Congo–Guinea forest clinging to the western edge of the Maasai Mara. Against all expectations, the giant ground pangolin was still here. Almost…

MSK AWARDS Kenya Airways received the Chair’s Special Recognition Award at the recent Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK) Awards 2025, a distinguished accolade celebrating patriotism, purposeful communication and service to the nation. The award recognises RAO001, a solemn and historic repatriation mission entrusted to KQ, which involved the return of the remains of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, following his passing in India last October. The operation demanded the highest standards of precision, dignity and respect, reflecting the gravity of the moment and KQ’s enduring commitment to Kenya and its people. KeTIBA KQ was named Best Regional Airline and Best International Airline at the Kenya Travel Industry Business Awards (KeTIBA) 2025, which celebrate outstanding achievements across Kenya’s travel and tourism industry. These recognitions reflect KQ’s commitment to promoting…

KQ has recently secured the renewal of its IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification for both of its Nairobi and Mombasa stations. The audit was conducted under the enhanced ISAGO methodology, which places greater emphasis on the practical application of the latest IATA standards. A key highlight of this achievement was the strong cross-functional collaboration during the preparation phase. KQ’s ground teams dedicated significant effort to reinforcing operational discipline, deepening safety awareness and strengthening a culture of collective accountability. The renewal of the certification affirms KQ’s unwavering commitment to upholding world-class safety standards, operational excellence and quality in ground-handling services.…

Three places to visit Celebrating the destinations that Kenya Airways flies to… ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA The impressive Anglican cathedral Christ Church dominates the skyline of Stone Town. Built on the site of the last permanent slave market in East Africa – and seen as a symbol of emancipation – it took seven years to build, opening its doors in 1879. Visitors can explore the former dungeons in the cathedral’s basement and take time to reflect at the memorial sculpture of four chained figures outside. LILONGWE, MALAWI This striking clock tower in the heart of Lilongwe commemorates those who lost their lives in World Wars I and II. Climb a combination of stairs and ladders to the top of the tower, where an observation deck offers views over the city, including Capital…

LIONESSES CHASING GLORY The Kenya Lionesses’ story in 2025 was a bold declaration of intent. Built on grit, belief and defiance, this team refused to accept limits. From the opening whistle, they played with purpose and national pride. What began as a desire to compete quickly transformed into a hunger to dominate, and with the world heading to Nairobi for the HSBC SVNS2, the Lionesses are primed for a thunderous homecoming. Their rise began at the World Rugby Challenger Series, where back-to-back victories over hosts South Africa marked the team’s arrival. A strong performance in Poland secured the overall title, while a brave display in Los Angeles confirmed qualification for the 2026 HSBC SVNS2. Adding Safari Sevens glory and a strong Africa Women’s Sevens campaign, it’s clear: these Lionesses are…