Komica Anchal, the South Indian beauty, was spotted taking in Kenya’s breathtaking scenery. This week, The Pioneer will be collaborating with the actress for our Travelogue column, where she will share some special insights from her trip.
Shraddha Neware
South Indian cinema actress Komica Anchal was seen sporting exotic looks in her recent social media posts, enjoying the picturesque beauty of Kenya. She got to explore all that nature had to offer and also spotted a wide array of wildlife roaming in their natural habitat. Her travels involved an immersive cultural experience, with unique dining and more. She found Kenyan people interesting; they were nice and friendly during her travels.
In an exclusive chat with The Pioneer, she speaks of the thrilling journey, “Kenya is an amazing destination for people who love to explore wildlife and the coastal area. It has stunning natural beauty, including Savannahs, snow-capped mountains, lush forests, golden beaches and massive wilderness areas.”
Kenyan Savannah, she says, is a beautiful place to be; it is very calm and peaceful. “When I visited Kenya, unfortunately, it started raining after a while. But the occasional rains brought new life to the Savannah grassland. I got to see large families of wildlife grazing in the wild. There are no words to describe walking among the animals. I still can’t get over the landscape of Kenya,” says the Hatya fame.
The actress, who said she only ever saw wild animals on school trips to the Zoo, had a once-in-a-lifetime experience! “Kenya is one of the best safari destinations. Safari is an adventurous place where people in a caged vehicle are moving around the animals, and during the drive, you are not allowed to go out of the car. I have never experienced viewing massive groups of animals. I visited Nairobi’s Giraffe Center as well. I loved the big, googly eyes of little giraffes and enjoyed feeding them too. That was a priceless moment of my life!”
As a model, Komica is also revered for elegant fashion. As she continues to make perfect fashion statements during her travels, she is more than thoughtful about her style. “I always dress respectfully wherever I go and respect the culture of that place. For me, being comfortable in any outfit is the most important thing, but I also want to look classy at the same time. People who reside in tropical areas have brighter clothing styles. I wore vibrant coloured comfy and classy outfits with beaded jewellery. If it was a sunny day, I wore elegant hats.”
Enriching herself in authentic Kenyan culture and tribal people, she shares, “Kenya has a rich cultural heritage. I loved interacting with local communities and experiencing traditional dances. I was staying in Nairobi, so I went for a village museum tour at Bomas, Kenya.” The actress mentioned seeing a variety of tribal groups and also rocking while performing dances and singing along! The locals welcomed her and hosted her for an authentic meal of traditional staple food Ugali alongside greens and proteins.
For her, it’s always about staying in quality hotels. She says taking luxurious baths or even booking a relaxing spa session, chilling by the pool, and drinking cocktails is always good for the soul. While on vacation, she also keeps up with her fitness regime.
She danced her heart away in the middle of a Kenyan song to Bollywood song! However, “People around me were making my video without my consent and hooting! I felt uncomfortable because of all the eyes on me in an unfamiliar country. I stopped dancing, and could not enjoy the rest of my night. Later, when I put my selfie up, tagging the location, people started sending me unwelcomed texts. There was no end to it!”
While flying back to India, a man approached her, saying, ‘Oh! You are Komica Anchal, right? I saw you dancing in the pub. You were impressive!’ Speaking of the horrifying experience, she shares, “After a couple of days, I wanted to watch TV and rest in flight. And this person was bothering me with unwanted attention. I felt uneasy, disturbed and violated, like I didn’t deserve to travel alone. I was stalked, stared at and approached by people in an inappropriate way. I can handle such things, but I could see my courage slipping away that time.”
Having studied in Mussorie, she’s always been a mountain lover too. She personally feels, “Mountains are prettier than beaches and lakes. They are calm and soothing. I have studied in Mussorie, Dehradun. They are known for their alluring mountain views and greenery. So, mountains make me happy. I feel refreshed amidst the mountains.”
Her go-to place for rejuvenation has always been Dubai. “If I am stressed, then planning a trip to Dubai with friends sounds like a fun idea. It has endless fun, the best shopping destinations, and the best nightlife!”
However, on the other hand, she feels, “Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the perfect destinations for sightseeing, water sports and various activities. It’s a stunning land of white sand beaches, tropical rain forests, mangroves and exciting adventure activities. The island has delicious local cuisine and great shopping destinations. I can’t wait to travel there again!”
As we head towards the end of the interview, she brings in an exclusive revelation: “I would like to go on vacation with Kartik Aaryan. I find him cute to be my travel buddy.”
