Since mid-October, I've been working remotely in Kenya. Say what?! After months of working full-time from home, I started looking for travel options. That's how I ended up with Charlie’s Travels, and within two weeks, I was at Nairobi Airport. The plan was to stay in the Villa for two weeks, but after one week, I decided to stay longer. Why? Nairobi is buzzing! The city is much more modern than I expected.
Since March, I had been working full-time from home, and by June, I was starting to feel the walls closing in. To distract myself, I started looking for travel options, which led me to Charlie’s Travels. Initially, I was planning an off-the-beaten-track trip through Uganda. Unfortunately, that couldn’t happen due to the border closures. Emiel from Charlie’s Travels then told me about the concept of remote working & traveling, and two weeks later, I was at Nairobi Airport!
What kind of work do you do?
I am a freelance strategic consultant & project manager. I had completed my projects in the Netherlands and wanted to build a webshop from Kenya, set up connections in the Netherlands for a new project in 2021, and meet local entrepreneurs through the BNI network, of which I am a member in the Netherlands. It went better and faster than expected! After 1.5 weeks, I had had 12 coffee ‘dates,’ completed 32 boda rides (motorbike taxis), visited local coffee farmers, and became a ‘member’ of the Marktplaats 2.0 Kenya WhatsApp group for Dutch expats.
Pleasantly surprised: quickly extended.
The plan was to stay for two weeks in Charlie's Travels' villa, then travel. But after one week in Nairobi, I changed my mind: I stayed until mid-January. Why? This city is buzzing! It's much more modern than I expected, with American shopping malls, trendy eateries like in Amsterdam, and always-smiling Kenyans. Entrepreneurs (big and small) are ambitious, driven, and love discussing business opportunities with you. I also found myself in a really welcoming environment. Everything was perfectly organised by Charlie’s Travels, so the first two weeks were incredibly easy. It gave me a great feeling knowing there’s a team available 24/7 to assist with all kinds of questions.
"After one week in Nairobi, I changed my plans: I decided to stay longer, until mid-January. Why? This city is buzzing! It's much more modern than I had expected."
Corona in Kenya
So, what’s the situation with Covid now? Yes, Covid is also present in Kenya. As soon as you step outside, it's mandatory to wear a mask. Everywhere you enter, your temperature is checked (I’ve been reading 35.2°C for the past two weeks, so the accuracy is up for debate), and you're required to sanitise your hands. Additionally, there is a curfew from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM, and you're not allowed to be out on the streets during these hours. On the other hand, bars and restaurants are still open, so you can enjoy a nice meal or a drink.
Remote working in Kenya: Is it for you?
Does this sound exciting, but you're not sure if it's for you? If you have a laptop, passport, and toothbrush, you're good to go! Charlie's Travels takes care of the rest. If you're still a bit nervous, join the Remote Working group. In the near future, Charlie’s Travels will organise a fully planned remote-working trip, where you’ll work, live, and travel through Kenya as part of a group for a month. I'll definitely be joining the group for a few trips!
Tip: Don’t forget your e-reader. Here, people pay with digital money (Mpesa), and you can transfer money via IDEAL.
Geraldine Kemper discovered beautiful Kenya with her boyfriend
"From vast hilly landscapes in Masaai land to the dry desert and hot springs at Magadi, staying with a Masaai family and sleeping in a tent among the wildlife, having breakfast with fresh pancakes in the morning sun and going to bed after a beer by the campfire, it was an unforgettable holiday within a holiday. "
- Geraldine & Freek
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