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Season 2 Trailer

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

Release Date: 04/30/2024

Ep. 20 Monkey magic in Diani, Kenya with Pam Cunneyworth

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

We’re back in the bird hide talking about monkeys with Pam Cunneyworth, Director of in Diani on the Kenyan coast. It was at the young age of 7 that a teacher planted the lifelong love of Africa in her. At university, a lecture by Birutė Galdikas, a *trimate (one of Dr. Louis Leakey's famous primatologists) inspired Pam to take “the road less travelled,” a journey that led her to leave Canada for a life in East Africa. In our conversation, Pam offers us a glimpse into a fascinating world of primates: The impact of "Colobridges," aerial structures that help monkeys cross roads safely....

Ep. 19 Olympics scorecard - East Africa, home of champions

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

Whether you're a fan of the Olympics, a runner - or just someone like me who loves Africa - episode 19 is for you. First off, a massive congratulations to everyone who participated in Paris 2024 - what an event it’s been! Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements of East African athletes and give a special shout-out to the 12 African countries that brought home medals, with Kenya leading the way in athletics, and Uganda making its mark with two well-deserved medals. What are the unique factors that make Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda "the home of champions"? Behind the medals: I...

Ep. 18 Eavesdropping on Elephants (night sounds of Kibale Forest)

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

An elephant rumble or an earth tremor – can the Muzungu tell the difference? In episode 18, we're back in my wooden house on the edge of Kibale National Park in western Uganda, alert to the night sounds from the forest. Join me as I listen to the sounds of elephants – one of the many incredible experiences that inspired this podcast. Can you hear them breathing? In this episode, you’ll discover: How to tell when an elephant is nearby – by the splintering of wood or the shape of fresh dung. What happens when elephants cross the park boundary onto community land. Come with me –...

Ep. 17 Elephant potholes (the one where I lost my welly!)

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

This week, we are slowing down to reconnect with nature on the edge of the tropical rainforest. Come with me as we navigate waterlogged "elephant potholes," the lockdown playground I shared with my 10-year-old nephew, Dillon. It's a delightfully squelchy episode! Put on your gumboots and find out: What will I see from the bird hide? Who might need rescuing from the elephant trench? Why is life so difficult for farmers living on the edge of Kibale National Park? The joys of a muddy walk! Join me, Charlotte Beauvoisin, author of Diary of a Muzungu, as we splosh about on the edge of the forest....

Ep. 16 Lost Birds, Beards and Bonobos. Ian Redmond OBE in conversation - part 2/2

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

In this episode, I resume my conversation with Ian Redmond, OBE, “a self-confessed gorillaholic who's been hooked for 40 years!” Ian is also known as Mandevu “the bearded one,” one of his African names. In episode 15, we talked about the interconnectedness of life: how the elephant, chimpanzee and gorilla ‘gardeners of the forests’ of the Congo Basin are connected with a loaf of bread in England and - importantly - how local people can benefit financially from the ecosystem services of animals that are often regarded as a nuisance when wildlife tramples or eats their crops, or...

Ep. 15 Grunting with the gorilla gardeners. Ian Redmond OBE in conversation - part 1/2

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

In the first of two conversations, renowned conservationist (and personal conservation hero) Ian Redmond OBE discusses the interconnectedness of life – from the elephant, gorilla, and chimpanzee gardeners in the rainforests of the Congo Basin to a loaf of bread in England! Ian has been in love with East Africa since 1976 when he first travelled to Africa to study and protect the mountain gorillas of Rwanda and the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire). In 1978, he was part of the team that filmed Sir David Attenborough’s famous encounter with the mountain gorillas...

Ep. 14 Village vibes in rural Uganda - a walking diary

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

In this week's episode, we take a short walk through the village bordering . It's a lazy Sunday and everyone's in a good mood: drivers wave hellos and boys herd goats. Do all white 'muzungu' women look the same? I giggle with my neighbour as he mistakes me (for a friend I do not resemble in the least). Tune in to hear: Friendly greetings on a gentle walk through the village. Birdsong and the joy of being back in the forest at . The Sunday Monitor newspaper publishes a feature all about the East Africa Travel Podcast. A preview of guests from upcoming episodes: Mzee Silver...

Ep. 13 Seeing the Light - moths & butterflies revealed. Dr. Michael Ochse in conversation

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

In episode 13, we go niche! When I moved to Uganda, one of my biggest fears was how I would cope with insects! Here at , on the edge of Kibale Forest, we see shiny green beetles with purple wings and swallowtail butterflies that are as big as your hand. Look at my social media now, and you'll see me holding a giant goliath beetle. It's clear I've put any phobia behind me for the bigger the creature, the more fascinated I am. In this week's podcast I talk insects and moths with visiting entomologist Dr Michael Ochse of , a German environmental organisation. Listen to our conversation as I ask: ...

Ep. 12 From the Treehouse to the Kenyan Coast - recap & sneak peek

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

In episode 12, we're in Kibale Forest, agog at the sight of chimpanzees. (You'll never guess where they are!) Listen in as 'Papa' Les Lloyd and I compare notes about our unexpected primate visitors. Then, I discuss my recent trip to Kenya and preview some of the upcoming episodes: How many modes of public transport do I take on the long journey between Kampala, Uganda, and Mombasa, Kenya? What are my personal highlights from our first episodes? Who's up next? A sneak peek into conversations with experts on great apes (Ian Redmond OBE), parrots (World Parrot Trust), turtles (Diani Turtle...

Ep. 11 From the Amazon to the Equator. Chris Ketola in conversation

The East Africa Travel Podcast by Diary of a Muzungu

In episode 11, I’m joined by a visitor from Peru: ecologist and field researcher . With 25 years’ experience working with wild animals, I’m intrigued to know how time in Equatorial Africa compares with his life in the Amazon. During a ten-week tour of Uganda, Ketola and co-founder Chris Kirkby led a team of 14 volunteers. Together they covered 3000 km, capturing (and releasing) 2000 birds and bats at eight sites across the country. Listen to my conversation with Chris Ketola, accompanied by a backdrop of birdsong, as he reveals: Join me - Charlotte Beauvoisin, author of Diary of a...

Hello and - karibu - to season two of the award-winning East Africa Travel Podcast hosted by Charlotte Beauvoisin, author of Diary of a Muzungu travel blog.

Welcome to my world!

You'll be blown away by the tropical birds, chimpanzees - and occasionally elephants - that I hear from my wooden house at Sunbird Hill here on the edge of Kibale Forest, one of Uganda's national parks. I've worked in conservation and tourism in East Africa for 15 years, and I've met some extraordinary people along the way. I want you to meet them!

Join me on my morning walks. Sometimes it's just you and me and the birds. Other times I walk with visitors, rangers, expert bird guides, or travel writers. Join me on safari. We'll be tracking gorillas, chimpanzees; meeting biologists, zoologists, writers, and travelers visiting Uganda and wider East Africa.

Everything you hear on the East Africa Travel Podcast is recorded by me on location.

Listen to season one if you want to hear how I started the podcast and why; and who I am: this muzungu living in Uganda!