Meet Sarah  Musyimi, the CEO of Bamba Tours

What inspired your passion for travel?

Travelling has always been a hobby since I was a young girl. Being the last born in my family, my parents would take me with them every where they went, but that was mostly upcountry. Later in life, I got a job with a local airline Fly 540, and this chance exposed me to learn more about Kenya.

When did you start your company and what inspired it?

 I started my company in 2020, just after the coronavirus pandemic hit the world. I had just lost my job. I  want to make travel easier for people and make unchartered destinations known. We book your air tickets, and plan day trips and hikes. Lately, we have an event called Fun and Fitness that involves a hike and fun games on the same day.

What are some of the challenges that face tour agents in the industry?

One of the challenges is that people will ask for quotations and disappear. They won’t book with us. Sometimes you will even see them posting photos of the places you quoted for them, which means they chose to go to the place without booking with you. Second is over expectations from clients. For example, when we do overland truck trips, we travel as a family and we are meant to help the crew on the ground with chores, such as help the chef with the dishes and so on. This means after eating, you are supposed to wash your plate, but some people will not like the idea simply because they have paid for the holiday. In addition, some clients who book private safaris expect that they would be all alone at the destination. They do not expect to share the views of say wild animals with other visitors at the park. Another challenge I guess because of tough times is that some clients will go behind our backs and renogotiate the prices we have given them with the particular hotel, and end up booking directly, thus denying us our commissions.

Why should one book a trip with a travel agent?

One is convenience. Before I became a travel planner, I used to enjoy being given full services and not having to worry about the nitty gritties of travelling…after all it’s a holiday!

When you book with an agent, you get the best rates and also curated holiday packages suitable for your needs as the agent will ensure they advise on places from experience and activities that keep clients engaged and happy.

Mostly, agents sell to you places they have visited already thus, you are always sure of the services to expect on the ground.

Name for us some of the hidden gems in the country?

Camp Ndunda Home of adventure stole my heart…its a place that fits all from children,

teenagers, families and young adults. While in Nairobi, try the nyama choma at Flo Gardens

in Ruiru, and for its ambience. Can we talk bush safaris? Angama Luxury camp is the best place to be, located somewhere on top of a cliff in Masai Mara National Reserve.