Hotels were always my home. My father built Canada’s first Super 8 Motel in 1981 and converted sections of a nearby hotel into our family home. He later built and sold another hotel and our family purchased a resort near Vancouver Island which also became our home. Because I grew up in hotels, I never…
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Originally published as “CEO Weekends: SleepOut’s Johann Jenson On Handling Over 150,000 Visitors Monthly & Their Next Big Thing” at TechMoran.com Launched May 2012, SleepOut.com is an accommodation booking portal for East Africa but it is quickly spreading to other emerging markets. SleepOut is an SMS-driven reservations startup connecting thousands of guests and willing hosts…
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You may have figured it out by now, but the SleepOut.com team has a slight obsession with Lamu. We’re not quite sure where the draw comes from. It could be the donkeys. Maybe the ocean, the friendly locals or the 12km pristine beach but we just love the place. Besides it’s an awesome spot to…
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Hotels and resorts have for long been the natural accommodation for holiday makers at the Kenyan Coast but this trend is perhaps facing one of the biggest challenges ever in the form of self-catering holiday homes and apartments. Confronted by the reality of an ever-soaring cost of living, holidaymakers are literally hunting for bargains on…
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Serenaded by Nature by Kui (May 2012 Facebook Competition Winner) Talk about Monday blues becoming a thing of the past instantly, I must say, SleepOut have a way of doing that to you. “We Won!” I tried to whisper in to the phone, right after I read the message from SleepOut that said I had…
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Love is in the air and the pressure is on to make this Valentine’s special. Why not share the love this season by renting your very own private island? With SleepOut‘s growing collection of properties in nearby tax havens, you can now do your banking and vacationing at the same time. Visit SleepOut.com and request…
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I am a travel junkie. As most junkies might attest, after a trip, we display few signs of addiction. We appear perfectly normal but as time goes by, we lose grip and our lives become increasingly revolved around the next trip. Instead of treating us, the world has accepted the condition and even aggressively encourages…
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Last June our friends at Lamu.org invited the SleepOut.com crew to take our work to the islands along with a few good friends. We stayed in a castle, on a beach, with a pool and lots of fun. We then brought the film crew from MNET/NusuNusu and fed them heavy doses of seafood, Kenyan wine…
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Ocean Sports Watamu Christmas Craft Fair Something for everyone! A fun Christmas Craft Fair When? 16th December 2012 10.00am – 2.00pm We urge interested parties to confirm their participation in the Craft Fair before the 15th November 2012. Please note that the charges for displaying your items at the Craft Fair are as follows: -…
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Serena Beach Hotel & Spa in Mombasa, Kenya is this year’s winner of the coveted Eco-warrior Awards 2012. The resort was given the recognition at a ceremony held at the Nairobi Serena Hotel, one that saw several competitive entries in the Eco-tourism Enterprise of the Year – Holiday Homes and Villas category. Serena Beach Hotel…
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NOTE: EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL EARLY 2013 In The Bag presents Fashion & Music Without Boundaries With international designers such as Bebenoire (Guinea), Ed’wing D’angelo (Cuba), Mimi Plange (Ghana), Kibonen (Ghana), Adama (Senegal) and Modanik (Congo) confirmed; and musical performances by Kenny Allen (US), Ruyonga (Uganda), Naima (South Africa) and Different Faces (Kenya) to…
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A lot of people would say Naivasha as a destination is a bit ‘overrated’ mainly because of the tourist hype that’s associated with it. What’s more to see than the lake and lodges? Others might add. But there is a reason why the area has retained its versatility for such a long time, even with…
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Let’s step back in time to uncover some fun facts and top secrets about the animated blockbuster inspired by Kenya’s wildlife and stunning landscapes… 1. The original title of the movie wasn’t The Lion King. “When I first started work on The Lion King, the movie was called King Of The Jungle,” Don Hahn, the…
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We’re in the last few months of Nairobi’s rainy season: the glory days of afternoon garden parties and Nairobi pool time will soon return. Here are a few fun things happening around the country to distract us from the cold. From kiting in the park to kitesurfing in Malindi, here are ten free (or kind…
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Little is known about the one kilometre-long and 30 metres wide paradise that keeps royals, renowned actors and actresses periodically jetting into Kenya for holidays. Yet much can be said about Kenya’s all-inclusive, exclusive private island resorts that are only accessible by boat or ferry. Located 35 kilometres from Mombasa’s Diani beach and on Funzi…
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Bubbles pop silently on the 7th floor of Sankara Hotel, while cased in coloured block glasses that are carved just enough to enjoy a healthy serving of the most expensive drink in the world: Champagne. Black, gold and crystal are the themes of this svelte Champagne Bar, which opens its doors on Friday, August 3….
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Che Shale is pleased to announce the third edition of our annual Che Shale KITE MASTERS to be held at Che Shale (www.cheshale.com) this August 16 – 18, 2012. Like the prior years, the event will again raise funds for Watamu Turtle Watch. Kitesurfing attracts thousands of devotees to Kenya and East Africa every year….
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Each year Travel + Leisure magazine asks readers to rank the World’s Best hotels, and in 2012, Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club & Fairmont The Norfolk were honored to be included on this prestigious list. Thirteen Fairmont Hotels & Resorts worldwide were awarded the designation, including Fairmont properties in the U.S.,…
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In Kenya paragliding is mainly done at the Kerio valley, Ngwesi Valley in Laikipia East, Dagoreti and also in Iten. The best times for paragliding in Kenya are between December and March because this is when the wind are strongest and you should also note that Paragliding in the rain is not advisible. Paragliding is…
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There is only one bungee jumping operation currently setup in East Africa and it is found on the banks of the Tana River near Sagana– 95 km from Nairobi on the road to Nyeri. The operation consists of a 60 M high custom built tower over the impressive Tana River. A heavy duty elastic cord…
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Paintball in Kenya Ever wanted to feel like a predator (with a paintball gun)? Now’s your chance! Just on the outskirts of the Nairobi National Park is an outdoor paintball field part of Rolf’s Place. Jungle Painball Kenya is a first class facility and it offers an intense outdoor paintball field, a rental shop, and…
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The Sanskrit meaning of Sankara is ‘bliss-maker’ and therefore an apt choice of name for the Westlands hotel that bears the same name. It is indeed a very special place and has been lauded in international circles as such, having won a spot on the coveted Conde Nast Hot List in 2011 and also won…
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Watamu is widely known as one of the greatest beaches in Kenya, surrounded by three coral reefs running south to the entrance to Mida Creek. Its entire shore line is a Marine Park, and it is run by the Kenya Wildlife Service. This is the busiest harbor for big game fishing boats along the Kenyan…
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When it comes to hiking, there are a wide range of destinations to pick from. Kenya is in the tropics and all year round the weather is warm except from July to September in Nairobi when the rainy season prevails. A few great destinations for hiking include, Hells Gate, Ol Donyo Sabuk and Mt. Longonot…
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