The first time travelling abroad, out of your hometown, or the first time you retain a memory of travelling, can be daunting, thrilling, overwhelming, and life changing. It truly is a moment that can take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.  The first time I fully remember travelling aboard was when I flew to the U.K., aged 5, and was fortunate to explore all the childlike wonders of London and Cardiff in the summer. Prior to this, my vague recollections of any kind of holiday were to the sandy beaches of Mombasa and Malindi. So, as I stepped out of the cab and on to the busy streets of London,…

So here I am, lying on the bed of my quarantine hotel room in the UK for ten days. When I left England in March to go back home and visit my parents, the thought of Kenya going on the U.K red list did not cross my mind. How could it? Most African nations have been dealing with the pandemic better than western countries. While the continent is battling with the worst of the South African variant, death rates are low, and there’s no denying that swift action prevented a doomsday event, as witnessed in Italy, Brazil, the USA, the U.K and India.  Kenya, for example, implemented lockdown as early…

Cruises have been a popular vacation style for decades. With ultimate food and drinks, various activities for all ages and award-winning shows conveniently in one place, what’s not to love? Well as it turns out, a lot. The glamour of this experience often overshadow the dangerous environmental impact of cruise ships in an already vulnerable world. The truth is, environmentalist or not, there is no denying the severe threats we are facing as our actions continue to exacerbate global warming, wreaking havoc on our extremely delicate planet, and cruise ships are not helping the problem.  The greatest environmental impact of cruise ships often regards their impact on our waterways and…

When I was around eight years old, I wrote a piece about everything I thought was wrong with zoos, and over a decade later, my thoughts may be more refined and researched, but on the surface, have not changed. Whether or not you want to hear this, the harsh truth is that zoos and aquariums are not worth the moral cost and are incredibly damaging to mature. Bars have been replaced by glass, but the cruelty is constant and unchanging. I attribute my views a lot to where I grew up. Kenya has its fair share of problems under capitalist pressures and a constant need for development, fallen prey to poaching…

Since March I have genuinely only left my home twice a week, once for a weekly shop and the second time, to exercise. Even after several restrictions were lifted in July and restaurants and local travel reopened, I did not have a desire or the comfort level to change my routine. Travelling during a pandemic just felt strange and unusual. That was until last weekend. My parents and I finally booked a trip to Naivasha so we could spend quality time together before I returned to university. Packing a vacation bag for the first time since December 2019 was exciting, but I was also incredibly anxious on the days leading up…