All of you who have traveled with me in the past five years have met Abigeal by email. Abigeal is my right and left hand when it comes to ensuring that all the details of your safaris, tours, and workshops are well ordered. Many of you ask about her often, but since only a few of you have been able to meet her, I thought it would be wonderful to introduce her here in a more personal way. Like most of us around the world, she is working form home during thier lockdown, and she was thrilled say hello.
I am sure she would love to hear back from you in the comments below.
Meet Abigeal!
Hello, everyone. Life is quite strange at the moment, as we all seem to be under some kind of isolation orders. In Kenya, the first coronavirus case was recorded on March 13, and as I type this my country has recorded 320 cases. Our government initiated a partial lockdown and encouraged non-essential workers to work from home. They also instituted a dusk-to-dawn curfew as well as a travel ban in and out of Nairobi as a way to try and control the spread.
Times like these have me reflecting on how my journey to tourism started. We come from a Bantu-speaking community in the central highlands known as the Kikuyu. My mum grew up with 10 siblings in a small village called Gura in Nyeri County, which is in Central Kenya. Basically, life was really simple; we lived in small huts made of mud and used cow dung and ashes as the plaster. The men were in charge of putting up the structure and roofing while the women would mix the mud, cow dung, and ashes with their feet and plaster the walls.
All my grandparents knew how to do was farm. My grandfather is 96 and my grandmother is 86, but they still do farm work to this day. They never had any form of education, and although the land was not big, they somehow sent all the children to school for an education. This is something my grandparents were very keen on, so everyone could build a proper life for themselves.
This education was the reason my mother was able to move into the city later on for ‘greener pastures,’ and my sister and I were lucky to attend a school that organized local school trips. These trips were the best part of my school life. I could barely get any sleep the night before a trip; I kept waking up every 30 minutes in case my mum forgot to wake us up on time and we would miss the bus. I have not changed. I still get very excited to go on any trip and barely get any sleep the night before, even as an adult.
I never thought of going into tourism as a career until my mum mentioned it to me one day. It was a lightbulb moment for me because I have always enjoyed traveling, whether visiting my family (located all over the country) or going on safari as a child. In high school, I went to a summer camp organized by one of the hospitality and tourism schools to get an idea of what it was like being in the field of tourism, and I knew this is what I wanted to do. After high school, I joined Utalii College, which is one of the best institutions for Hospitality and Tourism in the country, and that experience gave me the opportunity to visit parks I would never have visited before. I felt fulfilled and like that I was where I needed to be.
After school, I joined Sunworld Safaris as an intern and got confirmed thereafter. A year later, I started working with Piper Mackay Photography, and it has been a wonderful journey. Some of our best moments have been spent visiting Lamu, which is one of my favourite parts of Kenya. The first time I visited Solio, I got to stand in for Piper for a day with her group, and it was very exciting. My favorite part of working in this industry with Piper, however, is communicating with all the clients individually. It is always very lovely to be in touch with each and every one of you.
Thegiu muno (Kikuyu)
Asante Sana (Swahili)
Thank you very much!
What a wonderful message Abigeal! Thank you for sharing your story, You sound like a special person. Stay safe.
Hello Jim, thank you very much for your lovely comment! Wishing you a safe and healthy time. – Abigael
Nice to meet you Abigail! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. I look forward to meeting you in person in August 2021. Stay safe!
Hello Tracey, thank you very much for leaving a comment and looking forward to August 2021 and hopefully meeting you in person. Keep safe and healthy! – Abigael
Hi Abigail,
I’ve traveled with Piper about three times on her photography tribal trips within the last 5 years. It’s a pleasure to hear about your life and how you came to work at the travel agency. You’ve come along way but you have a wonderful foundation. You’ve always been a great help to me when traveling and I’m happy you’re there to depend on. Sounds like You’re safe and we will all be circulating among each other one day soon. Stay safe and healthy. Hope to see you in the near future.All the Best
Annette Bonnier
Hi Annette, it has been a real pleasure working with you over time. Thank you very much for your wonderful comment and glad that I could be of help to you.We are indeed keeping safe and hope that you and your loved ones continue to keep safe and healthy as well. I too hope to meet you one day in the near future. – Abigael
Thank you for all you have done for me in the past (and will do in the future) the world is an uncertain place right now, but there are many great days to come.
Hello Marg, it has been great working with you and looking forward to continue working with you in future as well. Really strange and uncertain times we are in, but we remain hopeful for this to pass soon. Many thanks and continue to keep safe and healthy. – Abigael
Great introduction, it is good to know more about your life and your interest in travel. Thank you for all you do. Looking forward to more trips with Piper.
Hello Lynn, thank you very much for leaving a comment. It has been great working with you and looking froward to having you on more trips. Many thanks and continue to keep safe and healthy. – Abigael
Hi Abigeal! I feel so luck to have had the opportunity to meet you last year on Signature Safari! I’m glad you got to go to Solio, it was a special place as were all the places we visited in Kenya. My trip to your beautiful country has left a very deep impression on my heart. Thank you for all you do to make our trips the best experience ever! Piper has found a gem in you and I’m sure she appreciates you more than you know. A while ago I sent you links to 2 books I made of my trip. Not sure if you got them, so I will include them again, if you did, well, just ignore, sorry! My husband can’t believe how almost every day I still comment on my trip. He knew how much I loved it and surprised me by saying go on Migration when a spot opened up. I sure hope it is not cancelled or postponed. I hope you and your family are doing well and staying safe during this difficult time. It will end! Thanks again for all you do, Beth. Kenya https://link.shutterfly.com/e/bAtTOoJr35 Elephants https://link.shutterfly.com/e/vHipz6Nr35 P.S. Loved hearing about your family, what amazing grandparents you have!
Hello Beth, thank you very much for your lovely comment. It was really lovely meeting you last year and going to Solio too! I am glad you had an amazing time in all the other places you visited as well. Kenya is truly special and I am glad it left quite the impression on you thus signing up for the Great Migration Safari. Piper did share the links to your 2 books and the images were so lovely to see what you experienced in the rest of your journey, thank you so much for sharing this with us. We are doing well and keeping safe and I am hoping for the same for you and your loved ones as we look forward to the end of this situation. Many thanks and stay safe. – Abigael
Hello Abigeal, it is great to learn more about you! As many of us have communicated with her this is a great post, Piper.
Hello Greg, thank you very much for your comment and it has been great communicating with you. I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping safe and healthy! – Abigael
Abigael helped me tremendously on my trip to OMO Valley and with my extended stay in Addis.
She’s so friendly and always got back to me in a timely manner.
It’s a joy to know she’s on the other end of the communication when planning a trip with Piper.
Thanks Abigael,
Jan Regan
Hello Jan, thank you very much for your lovely comment and I am happy to have been of assistance to you in your trip to the Omo. I hope you are doing well and that you and your loved ones continue to keep safe and healthy. – Abigael
Loved the article, wonderful to hear the story of your parents, grandparents, and you, stay safe at this unprecedented time.
Gail Winthrop WA
Hello Gail, thank you very much for leaving a comment. I am very proud of my family and where we have come from and glad you liked our brief story. Many thanks and keep safe and healthy! – Abigael
Hi Abigail it a real pleasure to finally put a beautiful face with your lovely name. I think this proper introduction is long overdue. I know Piper is thrilled the two of you are working together. I know she wants to continue to give you more responsibility. Your work is excellent and I hope one day we will be able to meet in person.
Continue learning and growing. I believe you have a great journey ahead of you. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It is amazing how far you have come in such a short amount of time. It sounds like you have a wonderful family. Please stay safe and inside. This virus is NOT to be taken lightly.
Cheers,
Vaughn
Hello Vaughn, thank you very much for your lovely comment! Yes it was time for a proper introduction 🙂 It has been a good journey with Piper and I am just as thrilled to work with her.
I am truly very proud of my family and the far we have come and yes, we continue to take all precautions and keep safe. It would indeed be lovely to meet you in person one day in the future. Many thanks and wishing you and your loved ones a safe and healthy time! – Abigael
Hello, Abigeal,
It is great to SEE you…you are lovely! We have interacted quite a few times as I have joined Piper’s wonderful African adventures. You have always been amazingly responsive and efficient in pointing me in the right direction for each trip! It is obvious that you are VERY organized and talented! It is wonderful to hear the impressive story of your family and how you have become so successful. I do wish you and your family the very BEST, and I look forward to having an opportunity to travel with you and Piper again!!!!
Cheers!
Diana
Hello Diana, thank you very much for your lovely comment! I am glad we were able to interact a few times in your adventures with Piper and hope to have you join us again some time in the near future. Thank you for the wonderful wishes and I trust that you and your loved ones continue to keep safe and healthy! Many thanks and stay safe! – Abigael
Hello Abigael,
It’s so nice to “meet you” through your photograph, and to read your account of growing up in Kenya and becoming such an important member of Piper’s team arranging logistics for all her clients. You have been very helpful, as well as patient with me on many occasions, gently reminding me to send in funds and/or further information required for trip arrangements necessary for smooth travels. It would be fun to meet you in person one day in Nairobi to thank you for all your fine care, but until then, take care of yourself and be well.
Hello Murray, lovely to hear from you and thank you very much for your comment here. It has been a journey getting here and looking forward to what the future holds. It has been a great time working with you and it would indeed be lovely to get the chance to meet in person one day. Thank you very much and trust that you and your loved ones continue to keep safe and healthy! – Abigael
This is wonderful.I always enjoy working with Abigeal. She is helpful, knowledgeable and always adds positive energy and good spirits to my travel plans. I would love to meet her next time I am in Africa when we can travel again. I cannot wait till that day !!!!
I also wish she could see some more of the wonderful places we go.
Great post
miss the world
Terri
Hello Terri, Thank you very much for your lovely comment! It has been great working with you on your adventures with Piper and hope to get to meet you in person too one day in the near future. For now, we continue to stay put and I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping safe and healthy! – Abigael
I always enjoy Abigeal’s emails. Even though it is about business she makes it more personal which is kind of lost in today’s hustle and bustle. Now I see a beautiful young lady that fits the person. What a gift!
Hello Rock, thank you very much for your kind comment. Working with you is always wonderful and I am glad to have been of help. Many thanks and keep healthy and safe friend. – Abigael
Your a very pretty young lady with a huge welcoming smile. I wish you lots of good fortune in your chosen career. You certainly did land a plum assignment getting to work with the amazingly talented Piper in one of your first jobs after school concluded. I wish I were going to be able to return to Kenya unfortunately my health won’ t allow it. Still I have my memories of the most welcoming people I have met when traveling. So keep that beautiful welcoming smile and enjoy the journey. Good fortune to you both. Kwa heri, Patti
Dear Abigeal,
I so enjoyed reading about your and your background. Your grandparents must be very proud of their children and grandchildren whom they launched by giving an education to each child. We were lucky to have been able to join you on your trip to Solio in place of Piper for that day.
Stay safe and be well.
Kind Regards,
Heather Hellier