When I first moved to Kenya, in 2002, Kilimani was was an idyllic, leafy suburb, dotted with tall, green trees. The area mainly consisted of colonial-era bungalows with lush spacious 1-acre gardens. The neighborhood is…
HotelOnline Crowdfunding
In October 2017, HotelOnline launched an equity crowdfunding campaign, making us the first startup in Africa to successfully use this method to raise money. This was our crowdfunding video.
[Techweez] Founder Håvar Bauck on building HotelOnline to become a booking stalwart
Founder Havar Bauck, on Building HotelOnline to Become a Hotel Booking Stalwart
Nairobi – The post-election silence
Friday August 11th. Kenya voted on Tuesday. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is expected to announce the winner of the Presidential tally anytime soon, but keeps postponing the moment everyone is waiting for….
2017 – Kenya voting
Throughout most of 2017, Kenya has been in an election fever mode. Being here while it happens, is a peculiar experience, as all activity grinds to a standstill, while all eyes are on the campaigning….
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) – future hub for Africa?
JKIA in an advantageous position When Kenya (or the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, to be precise) finally gained the coveted Category One status in February, it was a game-changer. With Kenya Airways recently obtaining air…
Lunatic Express – New life as a tourist attraction?
Kenya is doubtlessly the only country in history to have been built around a railway line. When construction on the “Lunatic Express” (its official name being the Uganda Railway) began in 1896, the project was…
Uber, and the taxi app revolution in Kenya
It all started with Uber.. When Uber launched in Nairobi, in January 2015, few imagined the impact they would have on how people move around. Taking a taxi in Nairobi used to be a dreadful…
AfroChic Diani – a hidden gem!
Diani, in South Coast offers a far less congested option compared to the crowded beaches in Nyali, north of Mombasa. While Diani has a couple of mass tourism “machines”, there is also a number of small,…
Diani – Tourism in Kenya Coming of Age
Diani is in the South Coast of Kenya. This generally means anything south of Mombasa. Here, you will find a less crowded alternative to the tourism machinery of the North Coast. Getting to the South…
Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant
It had been 10 years since our last visit to Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant. Back then, in 2007, the place was a hidden, romantic, and generally unknown gem. Even most visitors in Diani hadn’t heard about…
Balancing Act Africa about the Savanna Sunrise – HotelOga merger
SmartMonkeyTV, sister publication of the Balancing Act Africa newsletter has a new article about the Series A and the Savanna Sunrise – HotelOga merger today
Finansavisen front page!
Finansavisen is the number 2 business daily in Norway. Being on the front page there, obviously means you have done something remarkable. “Ledende på hotellbooking i Afrika” means Market leaders on hotel bookings in Africa. The…
[Pulse Live] HotelOga and Savanna Sunrise merge together to take on the world
https://www.pulselive.co.ke/bi/strategy/merger-and-acquisitions-exclusive-hoteloga-and-savana-sunrise-merge-together-to-take/pffc6x8
The rise and rise of Kenya’s infrastructure
Kenya – Africa’s infrastructure powerhouse Kenya’s ongoing infrastructure boom started with former President Mwai Kibaki. Grand projects like Thika Road, and the Northern, Eastern and Southern Bypasses in Nairobi, ushered in a national sense of yes-we-can. This has…
Police corruption in Africa
Police corruption exists in all countries. In some places, the vice is more prevalent than elsewhere, though. While all African countries have their fare share of dirty cops, the phenomenon manifests itself in quite different…
Kitagata Hot Springs
Located about an hour’s drive from Mbarara in Western Uganda, the Kitagata Hot Springs are an important local attraction of the region. I say “local”, because you won’t find a lot of foreign tourists there….
Obama in Kenya – State visit or second coming of Christ?
Kenya ecstatic about the great “homecoming” When I first moved to Kenya in 2002, the then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama was already a name in the news, before 90% of Americans had even heard about…
Kenya’s tourism: a shot in the arm.. and one in the foot!
As tourism gets a long needed reprieve, new e-visa rules snap defeat from the jaws of victory! On June 18th, the British government finally eased the travel advisory on most of the Coast region in…
JKIA – secrets of a frequent traveler
Seven points to remember when traveling via JKIA Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi is undoubtedly one of the most modern and efficient airports in Sub-Saharan Africa. Recently expanded with the new Terminal 1A, the old parts of…
Immigration Dept: Analogue relics in a digital government
Upon getting elected, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to bring “digital government” to Kenya. A key ambition is to bring government service delivery online, eliminating paper trails and endless queuing. The bigger vision is to use…
Al-Andalus and September 11th
Al-Andalus, Al Qaeda, and the historic symbolism of September 11th It has been 12 years since the tragic events of September 11th 2001. By striking at the heart of one of the greatest cities of…
Nigerian Police: Armed Beggars in Uniforms!
Nigeria is a fascinating country with a lot of potential. The country is much better than its reputation. The Nigeria Police is, if anything worse though! Constant harassment by the people who are supposed to…
Fire at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi
Wednesday August 7th 2013. All was set for my trip to Nairobi and JKIA, my suitcases were packed, and I had set the alarm before getting a good night’s sleep. As always, I was looking…
Lagos – Life in an African mega-city
Lagos is, by far, the biggest city in Sub-saharan Africa. With its 10+ million inhabitants, it eclipses Johannesburg, Nairobi and Addis Ababa, and is second only to Cairo. It is one of the fastest-growing cities on…