After completing his Master’s in Corporate Law, Charles Witlox swapped bustling Amsterdam for the wilds of Africa. In 2014, he started with an internship in the remote town of Kisumu, a far-flung corner of Kenya that later became the inspiration for his own start-up, Charlie’s Travels, in Nairobi.
© 2017 Elsevier Juist
About Charles Witlox
The former law student grew up in Oisterwijk, Brabant. After studying Law in Utrecht, he pursued his Master’s in Corporate Law at the University of Amsterdam, but alongside his studies, he was already busy setting up small businesses. Once graduated, he headed to Kenya for an internship, with the ultimate goal of starting his own company. What began as a one-man business three years ago has now become a successful travel company with over 20 employees.
The Story of Charles Witlox: The Founder of Charlie’s Travels
Witlox knew during his studies that wading through legal texts wasn’t his thing. He wanted to go to Africa. Where exactly didn’t matter—he was looking for adventure, eager to set himself apart professionally, and sent out numerous applications in hopes of landing an internship. “Many fellow students interned at Heineken in Congo, and they had good stories.” Eventually, he secured a position in Kenya’s financial sector. But over time, this too didn’t ignite his passion. “I started organising safaris on the side and quickly realised things could be done differently.” He had a whole stack of business plans piled up. “From starting a bed-trading business to developing financial savings plans. I spent days fiddling around in Excel, but I’m just not a numbers guy,” Witlox admits. “The real idea was born in Kisumu—a truly African city—to showcase the non-touristy aspects. Africa is so much more.” The young entrepreneur sees Africa as an emerging continent with immense potential and “booming economies.”“The idea actually originated in Kisumu—a truly African city—to showcase the non-touristy aspects. Africa is so much more.”
He quit his job and ran a travel agency on his own for a year and a half. Living out of his backpack, he explored East Africa. Not long after, he moved to bustling Nairobi, where he now lives in the so-called Villa, alongside around 20 adventurous young professionals from all over the world. His goal? To show the real Africa. “That sounds cliché, but it’s truly what people are looking for. In Africa, this concept hasn’t really taken off yet. Africans often can’t put themselves in the shoes of Westerners; they assume we only want to stay in lodges and do touristy things. They don’t understand that we crave an authentic experience and think we enjoy dancing around the campfire.”About Charlie’s Travels
Charlie’s Travels organises tailor-made trips, taking travellers ‘off the beaten track’ to areas where the tourist crowds haven’t yet reached. Witlox designs these new routes himself: “You find the village chief, sit around the table in the ‘poo hut’, and make agreements,” he says matter-of-factly. “The tribe members organise the route and then train young tribe members as guides. They’re the ones who speak English.” Witlox aims to develop tourism in countries where there is little to no tourism. “I want to go on a journey of discovery, to build something. Pioneering. That’s truly a boyhood dream.”
© 2017 Elsevier Juist 
