(Posted 15th May 2026)
This article was originally published by Charlotte Beauvoisin on Diary of a
Muzungu.
What’s the reality behind the glamorous-looking life of a travel writer? This week the
Serena Beach Resort & Spa on the white sands of Shanzu Beach in Mombasa
Kenya is the location for a conversation with award-winning travel journalist Harriet
Owalla AKA Harriet James.
From 4AM wake-up calls to the urgent need for more local African voices in travel
writing, Harriet pulls back the curtain on the ‘glamour and grind‘ of the travel media
industry. In Episode 23 of the award-winning East Africa Travel Podcast, the writers
discuss:
– The ‘glamour vs. reality‘; of media trips.
– Harriet’s top three recommendations for things to do in her hometown of
Nairobi.
– How the pandemic changed the way Kenyans and Ugandans view local and
domestic travel.
– How invasive crows and thieving monkeys create human-wildlife conflict in
coastal Mombasa.
Join me, Charlotte Beauvoisin, author of Diary of a Muzungu, as we debate whether
ditching the single-use plastic bottle makes one sustainable and whether a career in
travel writing is viable or strictly a ‘side hustle‘; It took Charlotte two days to travel
from Kampala to Mombasa by bus, train, and the famous Likoni Ferry—listen in to
hear how she did it!
How to listen to the East Africa Travel Podcast
Listen (or read a transcript) on Diary of a Muzungu:
https://www.muzungubloguganda.com/podcast/23-local-voices-glamour-and-grind-with-
kenyan-travel-journalist-harriet-owalla/
Listen on Apple podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-east-africa-travel-podcast-by-diary-of-a-muzungu/id1740282643
Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QSnXugCkNqOPoe6B6pUyA
If you know anyone interested in nature, travel, Africa, conservation, interesting
conversations with fascinating people, I am sure you will enjoy the podcast. What’s unusual is
how we feature birdsong and wildlife sounds (rather than music).
Welcome to my world!
Tune in to the ATTA® award-winning East Africa Travel Podcast 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 in to illuminating chats with conservationists and
intrepid travellers in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.
Sign up to my occasional newsletter.
Visit www.eastafricatravelpodcast.com for detailed transcripts.
Follow Charlotte Beauvoisin, Diary of a Muzungu on Instagram, Facebook and
LinkedIn.
Got an idea for an episode? Get in touch with Charlotte Beauvoisin Diary of a
Muzungu
Have you listened in yet? Would love to know what you think!
