Tell us about yourself and what you do at Safaricom.

I work in the PR and Communications department, handling external communication for Safaricom. That includes coming up with messaging such as press releases, responses to stakeholders and customers, talking points around different products and managing crises.

What did you do to get where you are?

While studying Computer Science, I considered going into programming and building applications. Also, I used to write a lot in campus. I have a blog, denniskioko.com.  After I graduated, among the job offers I interviewed for and got was one for CIO magazine, a publication looking for an IT writer. After that, I joined a PR agency, Tell-Em East Africa. I became a translator when the agency was looking for someone to help explain to journalists complicated IT jargon. After that, I joined Safaricom.

What prompted you to drive to Namibia?

Every year, I try to figure out where to go. I’ve driven to the Coast, Diani, Watamu, Lake Turkana, Rift Valley, Nanyuki and Samburu. I thought maybe it was time to look outside Kenya. Even though I have flown to Europe twice, I felt that I needed to tour outside East Africa. About a year ago, when Human Resources kept sending us emails about using our leave days, I thought it would be a good use of mine to travel, since I didn’t do much during COVID. I looked at Namibia, and the photos were quite nice. It’s one of the few places where the desert meets the ocean and that was something that I found very fascinating. While researching, I also found many places to visit in the country.

How did you prepare for the trip?

I found that the best way to move around Namibia is by car. The cost of hiring a car was Ksh 10,000 a day – add the cost of flights, which came to about Ksh 180,000. So, I figured it’s the same cost as driving from Kenya, but you have the flexibility of your car. And you get to visit more countries by going through Tanzania and Zambia. I tried to find people to go with as I figured out the route, the best time to go and the weather. I looked for an extra tyre and rim, petrol jerry cans, and insurance options. I planned for stopovers, calculated how long the trip would take and came up with estimates for accommodation. I inquired about the cost of a tour guide and found it quite pricey. They don’t have the kind of packages that we have here where we have tour operators. In Namibia, most tourists hire cars and then drive across the country.

How long did the trip take?

I left on the 20th or 21st of November and returned on the 23rd of December, so about a month. I drove 12,000 kilometres and used about 210 litres of fuel.

You could also go quad biking in the sand dunes but wouldn't recommend it unless doing it for the thrill of riding up and down sand dunes and doing the 2 hour one.

It's costly, our guide was impatient despite some of us struggling with the bikes ?. Nothing much to see as well pic.twitter.com/VMCkHXme66

— Dennis Kioko – Weak link millenial (@denniskioko) January 9, 2023

How did you convince your family that you were driving to Namibia?

I did not need to convince them. I said that I was going to Namibia; I did not say I would drive to Namibia, so people didn’t ask about safety. But while you take precautions, the good thing is that, as a Kenyan, you’re already used to many risks and know what measures to take. You realise it’s far easier (driving to Namibia) than you think as you use the main road. It’s an international road with a lot of motorists, so it’s pretty easy. Just ensure that you usually drive during the day rather than at night.

You ended up travelling alone, so what kept you going?

The destination, and after the first week, it became routine. You wake up and keep going to the next destination, and the discovery, like, ‘What am I going to discover today? What awaits me at the end of the day?’

What was the most memorable moment during the trip?

The trip in the desert. You get to a park where the dunes meet the ocean, and you get to drive up and down the sand dunes. It’s a restricted area, so you need a permit and a tour operator. The dunes are about 170 metres tall, and you drive in a pickup. It has to go very fast going up to gain momentum. Otherwise, you’ll get stuck. It’s quite a thrill, and I’d encourage everyone to try it.

Lots of questions on which car I used. I've come to realise in Kenya we overdiscuss cars. People there use "normal" cars

I used a 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander – FWD. Service before you start and oil should last 10,000 or more Kilometres. Check brakes pic.twitter.com/Eg03QjVS3H

— Dennis Kioko – Weak link millenial (@denniskioko) December 24, 2022

 What was the most unexpected thing you discovered during the trip?

You’d expect the desert to be hot, but the Atlantic is a very cold ocean because of the cold currents, and it’s very windy. The beach is the coldest part of Namibia, so you need a jacket. At midday, you get temperatures of 20 degrees, while the temperatures in other parts of the country are in their 30s and 40s.

Have you started planning another trip?

Yes, but not driving because when you look at options other than Eastern Africa, it’s Southern Africa, so I’d be repeating the drive down to the south. Depending on airfare, I want to go to Japan because I know it’s quite expensive.