Joy, Ubuntu, and the Order of Service

Ubuntu Life Café in Maai Mahiu serves great coffee and grows people. As team lead, I run the floor with a crew that cares as much about guests as they do about a perfect pour. 

Impressed by the transformational work of the Ubuntu Life workshop and café, Nicky Fitzgerald suggested a two-week internship at Angama Mara. There, with my team mate from Ubuntu Life, Chef Joseph, we had the chance to learn more about guest experience and the inner workings of a safari lodge.

The set-up on the edge of the Rift Valley feels unreal, but it’s the people who make it stand out. From the start, the welcome was warm.

Over our first dinner with some of the Angama team members, names became stories, and it wasn’t long before our internship had a heartbeat.

Seeing the Maasai dance is something that I will never forget. Watching them made me feel like I belonged, inspiring the rest of my stay because I felt part of the team. 

I worked closely with Joseph Kosen, Doris Weru, John Kimani. They were patient and precise, with a knack for turning everyday moments into lessons. Guest experience wasn’t a script; it was a hundred small decisions, made with care.

Adapting to lodge life brought its challenges. ‘Angama time’ is a real thing: staying two steps ahead of guests, reading the room before you enter it, and working smart so magic looks effortless. It stretched me — and I loved it. By the last day, I found myself anticipating needs before they appeared. 

What surprised me most was what happens behind the scenes. Teams communicate constantly — across Housekeeping, Kitchen, Service, Front Office — like one breathing body. I learnt how to engage each department, ask better questions, and keep guests at the centre of every answer. 

There were moments I’ll never forget: standing at the Out of Africa rock and taking it all in; welcoming guests to the BBQ dinner, watching their faces as they were guided down the lantern-lit path. Nature frames everything here, but the team adds the detail. 

Angama taught me how to turn passion into something practical and professional. I’m leaving with sharper communication, stronger confidence, and a head full of ideas. Most of all, I’m grateful to the whole team for showing me how joy, respect, ubuntu and hard work come together to create an unforgettable stay.