Author: Harriet Constable

Dhows, donkeys and sundowners: why it’s time to return to Lamu, Kenya

Lamu was once an essential stop during any trip to Kenya. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this historic Swahili town is home to wandering donkeys and lazy dhow boats sailing by: it is magical, mystical, idyllic. Yet many tourists have avoided Lamu in recent years due to security concerns. But, with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office lifting…

The Democratic Republic of Congo: is it safe to visit?

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been known for too long as the ‘heart of darkness’, but it rewards intrepid travellers with beautiful countryside and some of the continent’s most exciting trekking. Here, Harriet Constable explores how and why you should visit this central African country. Why should I go? There is something magical…

7 amazing African journeys

Africa is a continent of wild open savannahs, terracotta sunsets, thousands of vibrant green hills and rugged coastlines. You can be chugging along on a rickety old railway one day and standing atop a rust-coloured sand dune the next. As American author John Hemingway once said, “If I have ever seen magic, it has been…

9 reasons to visit Kenya’s wild and wonderful north

Northern Kenya is one of the world’s last great wildernesses. This rugged, dusty land is rich in history, cultural heritage and isolated appeal and offers the most epic of adventures for the wild at heart. Here, fiery desert plains give way to luscious jungles; bubbling oasis streams are set against imposing, glorious mountain ranges and…

Dhow boats and dawas: it’s time to come back to Kilifi, Kenya

With the recent lifting of the British High Commission’s travel ban on parts of the Kenyan coastline, you should once again think about Kilifi when planning your trip to Kenya. At this lesser-known resort around two hours north of Mombasa, you can still sail on dhows in the pristine Indian Ocean and soak up the golden sun on…

How Africa became the new music festival destination

With events to rival America and Europe, Africa is now drawing music festival fiends in their thousands. Harriet Constable finds out more. Demand worldwide for music festivals shows no signs of slowing, and Africa – home to the most diverse cultures, sounds and achingly beautiful locations on earth – is starting to host some of the most exciting…

Discover Nairobi’s flourishing foodie scene

Compile a list of the world’s top foodie destinations and it’s a pretty safe bet that Kenya wouldn’t make the cut. Up until now, the country has failed to gain any kind of glamorous status for its food culture, predominantly because traditional eats are created to be filling and inexpensive. Staple meals like ugali –…