Brianna Fernandez Credits Kenyan Safari for Teaching Her to Slow Down
After 16-hour days and health warnings, Brianna Fernandez found peace on a Kenyan safari!
Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.
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Image: Instagram
Two years ago, Brianna Fernandez jumped at her best friend’s proposal to join her on a trip to Kenya—without realizing it would change her life. Known online as @thebrifernandez, the actress and creator was deep in a cycle of 14- to 16-hour workdays when the invitation arrived.
Finding Peace In The Savannah
In an Instagram post on August 15, 2021 (https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7VgEES4Ru/), Fernandez wrote, “Before this trip, I was working 14-16 hours a day. I was struggling to live in the present and constantly feeling like I was running out of time. Physically, mentally, and spiritually, I was crashing.” Doctors had warned her that stress was taking a serious toll on her health and urged her to “slow down.”
Once on safari, that mandate took on new meaning. Surrounded by acacia trees, endless plains and a close-knit group of fellow travelers, Fernandez felt a shift. “I found myself relaxed for the first time and at peace,” she shared. Instead of staring at a laptop screen, she was tracking elephants at dawn, sharing laughter around campfires at dusk and soaking up the quiet magic of the Maasai Mara.
Pole Pole: Living Slowly
One local guide introduced the group to the Swahili phrase pole pole—literally “slowly slowly.” It became Fernandez’s new mantra. “Kenya, you were special and thank you for reminding me to live life: Pole pole,” she wrote. The simple concept unlocked a mental reset: she discovered that slowing her rhythm didn’t mean losing productivity—it meant reconnecting with her own well-being.
That doesn’t mean work vanished entirely. Fernandez admits the original plan was to “work… but instead I was blessed with an INCREDIBLE group of friends who reminded me to embrace the moment.” By the end of the trip, she’d traded her stress-driven checklist for sunrise game drives, bush dinners under stars, and storytelling with Maasai community members.
A Lasting Impact
Since returning, Fernandez says she’s carried pole pole into her daily routine. She’s set firmer boundaries around her schedule, plans regular digital detoxes, and now prioritizes travel that immerses her in new cultures rather than just photo ops. “I have no clue what the future looks like but I’m incredibly grateful for this current moment,” she reflected.
On her Instagram, Brianna has continued to share personal updates that underscore her growth. In a March reflection (https://www.instagram.com/p/DIMBdEbJnbQ/), she spoke about learning to trust in life’s “continuous blessings” during storms. At another point, she highlighted her Ignite the Hearts project, delivering “Boxes of Love” to communities in need and speaking on panels that unite changemakers.
Through it all, Kenya remains a turning point. Fernandez says the trip gifted her a new family of friends, fresh perspectives on work-life balance, and a conviction that there’s value in slowing down. “I am so blessed for this new family I got! And it’s inspired me to want to travel more and embrace new cultures,” she wrote.
From long flight days to sunrise safaris, the journey taught her that sometimes the most important deadlines are the ones you set for self-care. As Fernandez has proven, accepting an unexpected invitation can lead to the greatest adventure of all—learning to live pole pole.
Moving forward, fans can expect to see more of Fernandez’s travels, volunteer work through her Ignite the Hearts initiative, and candid reflections on balancing creativity with well-being. Her Kenyan safari may have been just one trip, but its lessons continue to shape her path.
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