Adventure Travel with Phoebe Maina – Steri Tours and Travel | Kenya
Published by the Adventure Travel Podcast | Big World Made Small Youtube Channel
Kenya Deep Travel Tours – Going Beyond Safaris
Dreaming about an adventure in Kenya that goes beyond the standard packages and tourist routes? Combine breathtaking wildlife safaris with unique cultural experiences where you get to experience Kenya in a more authentic and community-empowered style. In this collaboration, One Planet Journey introduces Steri Tours – a company redefining travel in Kenya. Through a focus on culturally immersive activities where travellers interact with locals in a respectful way, Steri offers clients more than safaris and wildlife. Founder Phoebe Maina explains how their tours provide travellers with deeper connections, lasting memories, and purpose.
Magical Kenya
As a destination, Kenya has an allure that few can beat. Here, in the warm and sunny climate, it all began for humankind. And we’re coming back in droves to experience its wonders and uniqueness. For example, Nairobi is the only capital in the world to have a national park within its borders. Imagine that. Lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and leopards so close to a major urban centre. But, as with many popular destinations, the service offerings have become quite standardised, everyone flocking to the same places, with almost no variation.
Bucket list tourism does little in the way of creating lasting connections between travellers and resident communities. With the rise of deep travel, there is a desire for more meaningful pursuits. A new crop of tour operators with responsible and immersive practices in place provide experiences like no other. Perfectly matched with travellers who know more.
What’s great in Kenya is the palette of activities on offer. You can easily combine exclusive wildlife safaris with a deep dive into the diverse culture. But what should you see and do? Let’s get specific and showcase some absolute highlights, making it easier to mix and match your perfect Kenya tour…
Read the full feature –Kenya Deep Travel Tours – Going Beyond Safaris by Richard Lindberg, published on the One Planet Journey website.
Celebrate Black History Month with WIT – Phoebe Maina
At Women in Travel CIC, our dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are the key pillars of our work which extends beyond Black History Month. To specifically honour Black History Month in October and celebrate talented, bright and forward-looking women and non-binary individuals, we highlight the achievements of black women and promote racial equality.
Phoebe (Muthoni) Maina is our community member who took part in the Male Allyship Network Programme in Cohort 2 of 2022/23. In the Blog below she shares her personal journey, commitment to the Travel industry, inspiring other Black women in her community and overcoming challenges that led her to thrive and aspire to open doors for others.
Can you share a bit about your personal journey and what inspired you as a leader in your industry?
My journey into tourism weaves a tapestry of passion, purpose, and a profound yearning for change. A decade of navigating the development sector unveiled the potential for positive impact. But it was a vision of vibrant, empowered communities through tourism that kindled my fervour. I aimed not only to create income but also jobs for youth—envisioning places where dignity, culture, and the environment harmoniously coexist. This vision guided me to create Steri Tours and Travel.
My leadership inspiration stems from the belief in transformative travel experiences. We showcase local culture, and heritage, and promote responsible tourism, offering unforgettable memories while uplifting livelihoods. My journey is a blend of ambition, compassion, and heritage preservation—a promise to create a better world through tourism. What inspires me is the belief in travel’s transformative power, community resilience, and the beauty of preserving culture and the environment—one Steri tour at a time.
What do you consider to be your most significant achievement, and how do you feel this achievement has impacted or influenced the broader black community?
My most remarkable achievement is the inception of my travel business during the tumultuous height of the COVID-19 pandemic—an endeavour that demanded an unwavering leap of faith. While the world grappled with uncertainty, I saw an opportunity to not only survive but thrive by inviting international travellers to explore the beauty of my homeland.
But the impact of this achievement extends far beyond my own entrepreneurial journey. It has become a beacon of hope and inspiration within the broader black community. My decision to forgo seeking traditional employment in favour of pursuing my travel business was a testament to the power of self-belief and the courage to manifest one’s vision and a reminder that our visions have the power to shape a brighter future.
Moreover, as my travel business flourished, I made it a point to extend my success to other young women from similar backgrounds. By creating job opportunities for them, I’ve shown that with determination and a belief in their own visions, they too can break through barriers and contribute to the broader black community’s prosperity.
What advice do you have for black individuals aspiring to become leaders, especially in the face of adversity?
Rise up, show up and make it count. This is the mantra that keeps me going in the face of adversity.
Can you talk about some of the challenges you faced on your path to leadership, and how you overcame them?
My journey to leadership was not without its fair share of challenges, but I firmly believe that challenges are simply stepping stones to success. One of the most pressing hurdles I encountered was the struggle to secure capital to sustain my business during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, amidst this adversity, I identified a glimmer of opportunity in the form of a tourism recovery fund. I decided to take a chance and apply for the grant, and I’m delighted to say that my determination paid off as I emerged as a grant recipient. This crucial injection of funds not only kept my business afloat but also propelled it forward.
Another significant challenge was marketing my business effectively. In response, I embarked on a creative journey to entice people out of the city. I conceptualized and introduced a novel offering called ‘Entrepreneur Workcation’ trips. These specialized trips not only provided a break from the urban hustle but also brought together like-minded entrepreneurs in our beautiful country’s scenic destinations. It allowed them to bond and share their challenges, creating a unique and valuable experience.
I also organized ‘Mumcations’ and ‘Girls Picnics,’ events designed to unite women, foster connections, and build a sense of community. These initiatives not only increased the visibility of my business but also championed the empowerment and enrichment of the women who participated.
In summary, my journey to leadership was marked by challenges, but I saw them as opportunities in disguise. I leveraged my resourcefulness and determination to secure funding through a tourism recovery grant, and I creatively redefined my marketing strategy through unique travel experiences, ultimately contributing to the success and visibility of my business.
How do you think the conversation around diversity and inclusion has evolved during your time as a leader?
Over my tenure as a leader, I’ve witnessed significant progress in the dialogue surrounding diversity and inclusion, though there’s still much ground to cover. We’ve transitioned from surface-level discussions to more candid conversations on these vital topics. Importantly, we’re now actively taking intentional steps to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to take leadership roles within the industry.
What steps do you believe are crucial in promoting diversity and inclusion in your industry?
To foster diversity and inclusion in my industry, we must expand the canvas for discussions, amplifying the voices of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Crucially, we should provide them with opportunities to take the lead in these conversations and spaces.
Published on the : Women in Travel CIC > Inspirational Women >
Soul of Travel: Women’s Wisdom + Mindful Travel
A seasoned social impact expert with over 15 years of diverse experience, Phoebe Maina, Founder and CEO of Steri Tours and Travel, excels in managing turnaround projects with a high success rate. Her expertise spans the design and management of local and global initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, child protection, travel, and community and business development. Having worked extensively with diverse communities across Africa, Phoebe possesses a deep understanding of multicultural and development dynamics, coupled with a passion for driving positive change at grassroots levels. Her vision extends beyond individual accolades—she is dedicated to driving economic growth in Africa through sustainable tourism practices.
Phoebe actively participated in coordinating Communication Working Groups to gather recommendations for the World Humanitarian Summit, fostering dialogue and cooperation within the humanitarian sector and earned the Africa Role Model award during the UN 63rd Commission on the Status of Women (NewYork) for exemplary contributions to girls’ empowerment in rural Kenya.
The Opportunity for Community Growth through Tourism
Phoebe was inspired to start Steri Tours after traveling extensively. “ I desired to see empowered communities and there is no better way to empower communities economically than through tourism,” she states. Working for over fifteen years in the development sector, Phoebe worked throughout Kenya to connect donors and sponsors, always traveling to the National Parks and local communities. “I could see such a big gap between the destination and the host communities. And every time I visited that area, I wished the communities thrived…rather than the hotels.”
She encourages travelers to go beyond the traditional safari: “We are big on that as a country, but I have encountered a couple of travelers who want more than that. And that is why I established Steri Tours and Travel to showcase Kenya beyond the safaris and ensure that the communities thrive as tourism thrives.
Economic stability and sustainability in community-partner tourism
Phoebe describes one trip that incorporated cultural immersion with an existing safari experience itinerary. The group changed into traditional wear, danced with the men and women with their drums, and celebrated with the community. “To see the community earn from that, and to earn something decent, a good amount that helps them plan, whenever they know I have a team there,” Phoebe and her team can come to an agreement that is fair and reliable income for the host community and provides a better, more memorable experience for her guests. Planning in advance is such an important part of being more economically secure and sustainable. “It also gives them an opportunity to influence other community members to be part of that as they showcase their traditions, their culture, their food, and at the same time, they preserve their culture.”
Steri Tours and Travel: Fair Economic Partnership
Steri Tours designs immersive cultural experiences where travelers become part of the daily fabric of Kenyan life. Visitors shop at local markets alongside community members, learning about local produce and engaging with vendors. In village homes, travelers participate in traditional meal preparation, fostering intimate connections with their hosts while learning about local ingredients and cooking techniques. The company arranges participation in authentic cultural ceremonies and celebrations, from traditional weddings to seasonal festivals, allowing travelers to witness and engage in significant community moments. Most importantly, communities receive direct compensation for cultural experiences they provide, creating clear incentives for maintaining and sharing them.
Creating Spaces for Women to Excel in Tourism
Phoebe prioritizes hiring girls and women as interns and in paid positions, knowing that many of the hospitality jobs available are in the wilderness or National Parks rather than tour operators or providers. “ We have a mentorship program where we mentor the students in the hospitality industry and also in the tourism industry in a couple of colleges and universities here in Kenya.” This puts Phoebe and her work at the forefront of the agenda of women in tourism as well as working with minority groups, arranging cultural exchange experiences and cultural preservation programming, creating “that opportunity to stand out in their community where women are not heard, not listened to, and they’re not giving an opportunity to speak up.”
“That is what really inspired my desire to start a travel company and work with the host communities. So that, as tourism thrives, they also thrive. I saw they also had an opportunity: leverage tourism such that it would give something unique to the travelers who are looking for something more than the safaris. ”
— Phoebe Maina
Published on the Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women’s Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine.
