Uber Launches "Uber Safari" In Nairobi: Very Smart

Intro

As someone who simply adores the continent of Africa, this is something incredible, but also a bit of a shame. Safaris are certainly not the most beautiful part of Africa, but it seems to be where most of the tourists end up. Needless to say, Uber has done quite an intelligent thing here and I am curious as to how they have pulled this off...

The Details

As of a few days ago, Uber has officially launched a new service in Nairobi called "Uber Safari", where guests can book a day or night safari through the Uber app... Here are a couple of the details for those wondering:

• If you book an Uber safari, you will be taken to the grounds of Nairobi National Park (in Kenya, for those who don't know)

• You have two options when it comes to the safari. Firstly, there is a daytime safari, with the capacity for 7 guests, and secondly, a nighttime safari with the capacity of 5 guests

• The duration of the tour is approximately 3 hours in Nairobi

• You can book anywhere from 2-90 days in advance

• Included in the price: a safari vehicle, a guide, but not including the entrance fee to the park

• The cost is 25,000 KSH (approx 200 USD) for a daytime safari, and 40,000 KSH for a nighttime safari.

Who would have thought to see this...

Uber launched this service in Cape Town last year, and has now expanded into Nairobi...

How Did They Make This Work?

As someone who has spent extensive time in both America and Africa, there are a few things that I really don't like about this. Let's break this down one by one:

1. Uber is truly one of the most "corrupt" companies in the world. A long time ago, they used to take a decent cut of about 20-25%, but this has now risen to anywhere from 50-65% depending on where, which is completely absurd. I get that insurance is through Uber, but the company is now milking every penny they can since the demand to drive is high...

2. Now we get into the Kenya side of this, and I am curious to see how this was allowed. Especially surrounding the talks about the new Ritz Carlton? I am surprised that the Kenyan government is allowing this...

3. Sure, booking a safari in advance and not getting completely ripped off might be a bit of a challenge, but with the amount that Uber pockets, I am sure that the Kenyan government could make more if they were able to come up with a more logical system, especially without involving a US company.

4. But to me, what really drives me up a wall is to see the last relatively untouched continent on earth become "westernized" in this way. Sure, Kenya definitely has more tourists than Somalia or the DRC, but the special part about most of Africa is that it's untouched. And I'm not saying to keep tourists out, as many people make a living out of this; in fact, the opposite, I am just saying that I am not happy as someone who lives close by in Mozambique, that an American company is selling a safari through an app. It ruins the experience.

But... It's the world we live in today... I would still recommend you book through a local, as I can guarantee you will have a better experience. It's how Africa works...

Don't get me wrong, safaris are cool, but perhaps the most westernized part of Africa. Come to Somalia, habibi

Final Thoughts

Uber has launched "Uber Safari" in Nairobi as of a few days ago, after launching their debut in Cape Town last year. While I am not a fan of it, I guess this will work well for those who are worried about insurance on these tours, as well as Americans who find it easier to book through an app. I have to say, please don't book one of these tours, and go with a local. The experience will be 10x better.