Nawal Hassan Hussein

Born and raised in Mombasa, the coastal side of Kenya, it was evident from an early age that I had a passion for travel, culture, and nature. From the trips to Tsavo, Taita Hills and the sandy beaches of Mombasa, I would talk for hours on the history and culture of the coastal people at a tender age. It has been over sixteen years in the travel & tourism industry and the spark keeps burning. It is such a privilege to work with Go2Africa as part of the Client Experience team – I get to meaningfully connect with clients from all over the world, highlight our beautiful continent, and find such fulfilment in hearing about the adventures at the end of the trip. 

Soulful Safari Reflection

Being in nature always lights up my soul, but it's the people I connect with that just leave such an impactful mark in my life and encourage me to always follow my purpose. The most memorable moment whilst travelling was after a game drive; I was having a chat with the local guide about his life and it was the most beautiful, heartfelt story of how he was an orphan with a brutal childhood being in the streets and wanted to change his story by learning German from boys on the beach and took himself to school with vending snacks on the streets. He was then 61 years and has accomplished so much, from giving back to the community, being a silver driver guide, and an amazing singer. At that very moment, it made me so proud to be working in the tourism industry, to experience first-hand how much travel can change the narrative, and lives of the local community. 

My Best African Travel Advice

I'd say be present – just breathe, feel everything that is around you, soak it in and just live! Keep a little memoir of the every day events to relive it when you are back home as time goes by so fast. Most importantly, make memories, take photos, and leave only footprints – travelling responsibly means we are conserving our planet for future generations.