Ep. 32 To Mombasa – a journey in sustainability & Swahili style

The all-night bus trip across the Kenyan border passes in a blink of an eye knowing that I'll soon be gazing out of the train window at Tsavo's elephants! From midnight border checks to a spice-scented market in Mombasa's Old Town, the muzungu's making her sustainable travel visions a reality (or at least trying to) in this sometimes-gruelling cross-border journey by bus and train. In Episode 32 of the award-winning East Africa Travel Podcast, I complete my multi-leg journey from Uganda to the Kenyan coast for a sustainable tourism summit at Serena Beach Resort & Spa. Recorded on location - just for you - you'll hear: How did I travel all the way from Kampala to Mombasa using public transport (and what is my top tip for bypassing downtown Nairobi)? Why do you need to swot up on the strict security rules before riding Kenya's SGR train down to the coast? Which wildlife highlights can you spot on a 'free safari on rails' across Tsavo National Park  (with or without binoculars?) The kindness of strangers. How does travelling solo open the door to the most memorable travel moments? How does a major coastal resort run on 90% solar power, eliminate single-use plastics, and protect nesting sea turtles? I chat with Serena's Alphaxad Chege. What is it really like to cross the legendary Likoni Ferry alongside thousands of foot passengers on the way to Diani? (And would you do it?) Join me, Charlotte Beauvoisin, author of Diary of a Muzungu, as I board the train to the coast, hop on a tuk tuk, and explore Swahili cuisine in Mombasa. Welcome to my world! Tune in to the award-winning East Africa Travel Podcast by Charlotte Beauvoisin, author of Diary of a Muzungu, for the dawn chorus of a tropical rainforest, gorilla tracking adventures and the sound of waves lapping on an Indian Ocean beach. Join me on my morning nature walks (mind we don't slip in an elephant pothole!) and listen to illuminating chats with conservationists and intrepid travellers in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. Sign up to sign up to my occasional newsletter. Visit www.eastafricatravelpodcast.com for detailed transcripts.