Comments on: Brief Encounter. Of romance & railways – Kenya’s SGR train ride [UPDATED]

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 07:55:50 +0000

Travel blogger colleague Solomon Oleny recently took the Standard Gauge Railway between Nairobi and Mombasa. He shared his impressions of the journey with Diary of a Muzungu.

On a positive note he found the train to be clean and punctual. “They did their best” to manage COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures.

What he found lacking was the communications. He did not know until he tried to boarded that he would not be able to carry a bottle of Uganda Waragi (alcohol) that he wanted to gift a friend in Mombasa. He therefore had to leave the bottle at the station in Nairobi and collect it on his return ( a big detour apparently). As he said, the organisation should have been able to help him ferry the package. They did not offer him an alternative (why could they not take it as a parcel or via a courier service?)

He also complained about the fact that we can’t take photographs in the stations or on the train. (This is disappointing in the extreme to travel professionals like us).

Other things that are creditworthy: it was easy to get an Uber in Nairobi; there is a private booth for breastfeeding mothers at Nairobi station.

We both lamented the lack of tour guiding on the train. It would have been wonderful to have some guidance on what to look out for. Solomon saw five elephants as he was crossing Tsavo!

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 09:01:29 +0000

In reply to Rene. Hi Rene, I'm delighted you've found it useful :) Happy travels!

By: Rene

Rene — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 08:32:40 +0000

Hi Muzungu, your blog is really informative. Thank you for this information.

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 14:20:13 +0000

In reply to Patricia Buscemi. Hey Patricia, I'm so glad you are finding my blog useful. I hope you have booked your train tickets already? The Madaraka Express sells out very quickly... weeks in advance and you are coming at a busy time of year.

By: Patricia Buscemi

Patricia Buscemi — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:24:46 +0000

As always your chronicles are so delicious and so so much helpful!!! I will take the Madaraka Express this year after my visit to Uganda so… Aaaaaaaaah!!! So exited!!!!
Thank you for your great input Charlotte!!!

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Sun, 05 May 2019 17:18:20 +0000

An important update from Kenya Railways regarding the Madaraka Express. Effective June 1st 2019. Many of these changes will be very welcome!

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 11:58:11 +0000

In reply to Caroline Ngugi. Hi Caroline, good to hear there is now something to buy at the SGR terminals! I hope to travel on the train again soon...

By: Caroline Ngugi

Caroline Ngugi — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 05:32:19 +0000

Hello mzungu
I love travelling using sgr actually have been using severally tried both 1st class and 2nd class and the experience is both wow but 1st class they offer free coffee or tea the leg room is worth the money service is great now there are shops and even somewhere you can eat in nairobi terminal in mombasa they have shops too where you can buy a drink for me SGR all the way

By: the muzungu

the muzungu — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 08:58:49 +0000

All fares and route times were checked November 2018 using information from the Madaraka Express web site.

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Mon, 27 Aug 2018 20:00:57 +0000

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