Teacher makes her fortune in school holiday adventures

By LILLIAN KIARIE

At what age did you make your first million?

At 38.

How did you start out?

I have been a teacher for 18 years now, a job I passionately embrace. I started teaching at Oshwal Academy. Once schools were closed, I realised that most pupils aged between five and 12 yearned to have a holiday, but their parents did not know what would suit them.

I came up with the idea of having pleasure trips that would expose children to different environments.

In 2006, my idea was boosted when I met my friend Daniel “Churchill” Ndambuki in Nanyuki who introduced me to a gentleman working for the Serena Group of Hotels. After sharing with him my plans, he gave me contacts for the hotel and I was soon making plans with Serena Hotel for our first trip.

Since I had a good rapport with the parents whose kids I was teaching, I started marketing the holiday through fliers and advertised my first trip to Serena Samburu. I charged Sh11,500 per child. The turnout was very good, with kids from different school joining in. I build my profile from there. 

In the first week after schools closed, I’d organise a trip outside Nairobi, and they became very popular. I got teachers from different schools to help with the kids.

To date we have toured all national parks in the country. I charge Sh15,000 per child, which caters for transport, full board accommodation, park fees and refreshments, among other things.

How did you make your first million?

In August 2012, my accumulated profits hit Sh1 million. I am a saver and account for every cent that comes out of my pocket. I purchased what was necessary for me and avoided extravagant living. By this time, I did not need to produce fliers to market the trips and had found cheaper transport.

How did you spend your first million?

I have always loathed taking loans that will make me indebted. Once I realised that I had accumulated over Sh1.1 million, I was ecstatic. I bought a car, a Toyota Allion, worth around Sh600,000. I invested about Sh400,000 in land, and invested the remaining Sh100,000 with an insurance firm.

What are the smartest decisions you have made with regards to managing your money?

Working on a budget. If you know where you want to be in the future and how you want to live, spend only what is necessary.

What lessons have you learnt about money?

I should have put my money in trusts and bonds when I was younger so that it would grow, instead of letting it just sit in a bank.

I have also learnt the need to risk more to grow more. If you want to grow, come out of your comfort zone and do something that you haven’t been doing.

What are your future plans?

Since I began the excursions, we have already toured all major national parks in the country. I intend on moving to the larger East Africa and touring places like Zanzibar and Rwanda. Once we have done this, we will forge into countries outside Africa.

I am also working with Serena and Sarova hotels to create packages for adults.

I also aim to branch out and start my own school or fully focus on the excursion business one day.

What is your day-to-day schedule like?

I now teach junior school at Premier Academy, so I get to school by 5.30am and start by jogging to give me enough drive for the day. I start work at around 7.30am and leave school for home at around 4pm. I engage in minor business activities and then hang out with my children and prepare for the following day.

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