Out of Africa, straight to China to connect on opportunities

The Maasai Mara National Reserve has become a symbol of Kenya because of its rich wildlife and cultural legacies. But now it has another association - one that brings Kenyans and Chinese closer together.

When our Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, named Maasai Mara, landed at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on Nov 19, it marked the first direct Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi. Warm applause broke out among the 400 passengers, mostly from African countries, as the plane came to a halt.

I was aboard the inaugural flight, having been invited by Kenya Airways, also known as KQ. I had never taken a KQ flight to China before, even though I am based in Nairobi, because the airline's previous route to Guangzhou included a stopover in Bangkok of several hours, making the long-distance journey a bit frustrating.