Electricity is somewhat of a scarcity in parts of Africa, and as road-warriors — irrespective of how large the batteries are — we’re on a constant quest to find that next charging station to power our phones, laptops and other sanity-aiding devices. On this particular day the power had been out since 10:30am and it […]

When it comes to subtle complexities in relationships, sex, love, dating or friendship, nowhere have I found a descriptive vocabulary so intricate as in Botswana. As is the case with many African countries, the moral high-ground plays little in the way of monogamy. In fact, many cultures have thrived on a rich diet of promiscuity […]

A few days back I was staying at a hotel directly opposite the University of Nairobi [Kenya], where the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) was delivering a lecture on the refugee situation in Kenya. I decided to sit in and find out for myself whether the pencil-pusher stories would prove themselves correct. A […]

Emirates is quite possibly one of the best airlines I’ve had the pleasure of flying, but a large number of bad-mannered, impatient, illogical and uncultured people can make the whole experience less than perfect. As with anything, if you spend enough time doing it, irrespective how refined or dignified the experience, sooner or later unpleasantness […]

One can’t fully appreciate life in Tanzania, or East Africa for that matter, without having the dala-dala experience. Those on a budget or without a need for too much fanfare when it comes to transportation will surely enjoy participating in a shared taxi experience. A dala-dala (matatu in Kenya) is essentially a privately-owned minibus fitted […]

Botswana has been on my travel and project circuit for the last 5 years but I can’t say that I’ve ever enjoyed the airport experience at Gaborone’s Sir Seretse Khama International Airport. Having just flow in from Ghana a few days earlier, I was pleasantly surprised that the depressingly old and stuffy terminal building had […]

While wandering all over the world it is inevitable that someone will enquire as to your country-of-birth. The vast majority of these new encounters follow a relatively easy path; where you’re from, what you’re doing, how old you are or if you’re married – but some take you by surprise and lead you to completely […]

Just recently I’d completed a project with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It’s not the heat here, but more the humidity that gets to you. It’s just above the equator so the sun pretty much sets and rises at around 6am/6pm every day. But I […]

It’s been rather difficult keeping fit whilst living this hectic jet-setter lifestyle, but I try whenever possible by adding some “forced” exercise into my daily routine. Moving from one African country to another has its normal logistical challenges, but keeping fit is always a challenge — that’s why my little folding bicycle, which I picked […]

Just after sunrise the streets of Dar es Salaam start waking. At first, small groups of people move about in the twilight and it’s hard to clearly make them out against the road and lush vegetation. By their stride you can tell that some of the bags and bundles weigh heavily on their heads and […]