Teaching tourism to young professionals
Isaac Bienvenu 'Bien' Mbabu, who was once a teacher, now trains aspiring tour guides in the French and English tourism markets.
In January, Nganzi Tours and Safaris promoted Isaac Bienvenu ‘Bien’ Mbabu from guide to tour operation and training manager. Mbabu, who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), brings experience in training and education, as well as mathematics and physical science, which he majored in. He came to Namibia in 2001.
“I am a very confident gentleman and though a professional, I consider myself a natural trainer.”
He likes meeting new people and is passionate about the flora and fauna of Namibia. He got his training from the Wilderness School in Namibia. After years of accumulating tourism knowledge and experience, he became interested in sharing his knowledge with young professionals who are eager to become guides in both the French and English markets.
Past and current roles
“At Nganzi, we do training for guides who want to excel in their guiding skills and airport meet-and-greet training, in addition to managing camp tours. I used to be a grade 10 and 12 teacher, so this promotion got me very excited! I am confident that sharing my vast knowledge with young professional tour guides is my calling," he said.
Mbabu is now responsible for mostly training upcoming French guides and preparing them for tours, airport meet-and-greets, and managing tours. He also gives the new and upcoming guides of other companies an induction for camping tours.
He said his biggest motivation is seeing a guide he showed the ropes excelling in tourism.
“To see a tour so well organised throughout, considering the safety of its tourists, motivates me even more. They say safety and well-being are wealth!” He added that safety is Nganzi’s top priority.
Aspirations
Mbabu believes that there is no limit to knowledge. It is this that keeps him on his toes with his enthusiasm for meeting new people. He aspires to constantly improve and learn, especially when his job requires it.
“There is more that I still don’t know yet and I would still want to know. I thus wield confidence as my number-one approach to work. Dedication and motivation are things I can’t lose and that makes my work easy and perfect for me.”
He treasures his problem-solving skills, which he said have improved over the years.
“They say speak less and listen more. I think when you talk more, you tend to not listen to the clients any more. Attending to clients’ needs and listening to them more has been perfect for me.”
Mbabu knows the Namibian map like the back of his hand. This, he said, entices him into becoming a motivational speaker for youth in tourism someday.
He also looks forward to teaming up with Namibian tourism schools to showcase and deliver more to them on the tourism industry. He believes the industry is the key to growing the country’s economy.
“The youth ought to know that there is no limit to knowledge, and tourism is about learning every single day.”