Three and a half decades of journeys, from Japan in 1990 to Ghana in 2025: one post for each country and trip, in Wayne’s own words from his diaries.
Featured diary
4 April 2014
After watching swallows swooping and diving at Nairobi airport, we flew to Antananarivo, where we were met by our driver for the week. The drive through Tana and on to Andasibe took 4-5 hours, with generally good roads and beautiful rural scenes of rice paddies, mud and stick houses and occasional granite outcrops. We were both exhausted and went to sleep early after a simple dinner of soup.
Read diary →53 diaries · Travel Diaries
7 September 2025
Back from Ghana and on my way to Porto today. After arriving in Accra on Friday evening, we visited the Saturday street markets, which were…
Ghana · Africa
15 May 2025
[Name] and I arrived in Mauritius on Tuesday morning. We are staying until Sunday at Villa Harmonie on the small peninsula Îlot Fortier near Black…
Mauritius · Africa
23 June 2024
Spending time at our Koshutan Mountain Cabin, with its spectacular views and surround-sound bird song. The wild flowers in the mountains – and on our…
Kosovo · Europe
3 April 2024
8 am. We are on the Gatimaan Express train at Nizamuddin railway station in New Delhi, awaiting the departure for Agra. We arrived from Heathrow…
India · Asia
2 October 2023
[Name] and I arrived in São Paulo early yesterday morning. Over the next few days, we will be attending the RTRS (Roundtable on Responsible Soy)…
Brazil · Americas
31 December 2022
After arriving at our hotel in Auckland (The Pullman), we walked a few blocks to find lunch, then returned for a swim before succumbing to…
New Zealand · Oceania
24 July 2022
Day 1. 5.30 am start. We drove to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and went on a one-hour walking safari to track the rhinos. We were lucky…
Uganda · Africa
19 December 2019
Last night, I went to the Siam Niramit theatrical show in Bangkok, a cultural extravaganza of elegant dancing, joyful music, spectacular costumes, creative sets and…
Thailand · Asia
20 June 2019
It’s nearly sunset and [name] and I are sitting on the wooden deck in front of our safari tent in Phelwana Game Lodge, surrounded by…
South Africa · Africa
15 July 2018
I am sitting at Mare’s Beach Bar, under a dappled shade, chilled Somersby cider (blueberry flavour) in hand, cicadas chirruping, Croatian music playing over the…
Croatia · Europe
23 October 2016
Borneo, Malaysia. As night falls, the surrounding Borneo tropical rainforest has come alive with noise – most notably the trill of frogs and the rhythmic…
Malaysia · Asia
27 July 2016
Scrumptious lunch at Mrizi i Zanave, a sustainable, organic, slow-food restaurant in Albania. Arrived in Shkodër at sunset. Looking forward to sampling the traditional bread…
Albania · Europe
23 July 2016
I have woken to a breathtaking vista of pine forest covered mountains. A cock is crowing and a cow bell is clanging. We are staying…
Kosovo · Europe
26 April 2015
As I write from my study in Cambridge, with grey skies outside, still languishing from jetlag and a bout of flu, my reflections on the…
Sri Lanka · Asia
17 November 2014
On our way from a rainy London to an icy Moscow, where the temperatures will not rise above freezing for the duration of our visit…
Russia · Europe
4 April 2014
After watching swallows swooping and diving at Nairobi airport, we flew to Antananarivo, where we were met by our driver for the week. The drive…
Madagascar · Africa
10 November 2013
En route, Venice to London. I have spent a wonderful few days in the city of bridges and canals. On Thursday, I discovered an exhibition…
Italy · Europe
1 November 2013
Barrancabermeja – I arrived here two days ago and felt, on stepping off the plane, that I had finally arrived in the tropics. Bogota, like…
Colombia · Americas
4 August 2013
I could never have imagined – back in 1989, when the crumbling of apartheid in South Africa was echoed by the fall of the Berlin…
Russia · Europe
2 October 2011
I’m on the plane at Guayaquil, in transit from Quito to Galapagos. Once again, I am struck by how fortunate I am. Bizarrely, this little…
Ecuador · Americas
15 September 2010
I am on the train from Mountain View in Silicon Valley to San Francisco. Finally this gives me the chance to write again. I had…
USA · Americas
15 August 2010
Yesterday, I toured the Panama Canal, visiting both sets of locks on the Pacific ocean side. I suppose what I didn’t realise was how long…
Panama · Americas
15 August 2010
I am on the bus, having just crossed the border into Costa Rica, a process that took about 3 hours. Apart from queuing in the…
Costa Rica · Americas
31 July 2010
I am writing from the botanical gardens in Rio. They are a real oasis of green and shade. I walked this morning from the hostel…
Brazil · Americas
12 July 2010
I’m quite settled in at the hostel now. Yesterday, I walked for 4 or 5 hours around the city. It is a massive city, quite…
Argentina · Americas
26 June 2010
I am staying in La Casa Roja hostel in Santiago. I am sitting on a little sofa near my room, beneath one of those ‘patio…
Chile · Americas
15 June 2010
Walking to the village, I catch a glimpse of the bay. It’s easy to see how people are lured to New Zealand – the slower…
New Zealand · Oceania
30 May 2010
There is an old tower near my hotel, which I sketched. In fact, it is all part of the Peking University campus, including my hotel.…
China · Asia
21 April 2010
Indians are either the worst or the best drivers in the world depending on your perspective. It all kind of flows though. Delivered a workshop…
India · Asia
10 April 2010
We've arrived in a baking Siem Reap. Already, I love it - more undeveloped than Koh Samui and Bangkok. My sister's wedding yesterday was beautiful.…
Cambodia · Asia
5 April 2010
Arrived in Koh Samui, after a few days in Bangkok, spent with my parents. We took in the usual sights – a visit to the…
Thailand · Asia
22 March 2010
Where I happen to be today is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – sitting in a Pizza Hut sipping ice tea (passion fruit flavour). My travels…
Malaysia · Asia
20 March 2010
It is raining steadily, as I sit overlooking the Singapore River, with my hot tea and curly fries. Not exactly sightseeing weather, but as it…
Singapore · Asia
18 February 2010
Staying with friends in Sydney, I was treated not only to their wonderful hospitality, but also spectacular views across the bay. On my "tourist day"…
Australia · Oceania
2 February 2010
Last week, I was hosted by Ufadhili Trust to deliver a 2 day workshop on CSR in Nairobi, Kenya. I captured my impressions on CSR…
Kenya · Africa
17 January 2010
Istanbul didn’t quite live up to its promise of being ‘the most inspiring city in the world’ – perhaps because of the wet, chilly weather…
Turkey · Europe
17 December 2009
Sousse, Tunisia – This year, I am spending my birthday on African soil, in Sousse, Tunisia, with [name]. We arrived yesterday and made our way…
Tunisia · Africa
21 November 2009
Spent a wonderful afternoon walking around the old town of Tbilisi. Bought a stunningly beautiful local painting of a woman playing violin.
Georgia · Europe
21 November 2009
Armenia also has a proud and long history, being the first country to be a state-declared Christian nation (in the 1st century AD I think).…
Armenia · Europe
12 December 2008
En-route to Marrakesh – A welcome break from the drizzling mist of daily writing and the icy chill of winter stress. Another promise to myself…
Morocco · Africa
6 September 2008
Well, I am back from my pyramids tour. We started by going to some Catholic basilica - supposedly the third most visited religious site after…
Mexico · Americas
12 June 2008
Sometimes, my life seems surreal, and perhaps no more so than now, having visited China, which has for so long drifted like a cloud across…
China · Asia
7 December 2007
Travelling to a new country, and soaking up the sights and sounds of a different culture, gives me a real high. It has something to…
Guatemala · Americas
30 August 2007
Okavango Delta – This is serenity; this is bliss. Lying in the shade of a copse of African trees, a gentle breeze blowing, birds calling.…
Botswana · Africa
30 August 2007
Returning to Vic Falls was like coming home, finding my place of rest. My adrenaline-filled day of madness there – white-water rafting, bungi-jumping and microlighting…
Zimbabwe · Africa
20 May 2006
Back to Africa. My first trip to West Africa. I’m interested to see if it feels the same or different to other parts of Africa.…
Ghana · Africa
23 April 2005
I took the opportunity of being in Tanzania for the first time to do some sightseeing. The conference was held in Dar es Salaam, a…
Tanzania · Africa
29 September 2001
I went to Egypt looking for stimulation, perhaps even inspiration. I was not disappointed. Cairo was less chaotic and crowded than I had psyched myself…
Egypt · Africa
24 September 1999
Porto, Portugal – Today, I am at the world’s heart of Port wine-making. As I glance out of my youth hostel dormitory window, I see…
Portugal · Europe
11 September 1998
SA 323 Cape Town to London: In flight above the Great Continent … a pause to breathe deeply, rejuvenate, reflect. My work, once again, has…
Norway · Europe
12 May 1996
Aran Island. As I sit here on a stone bench out the back of the Lodge, sun caressing my body and playing hide and seek…
Ireland · Europe
1 May 1994
Oh, the privilege of living on this great continent - Africa! Never before was this realisation brought more sharply into focus than after returning from…
Zimbabwe · Africa
5 September 1990
I woke up with a gentle breeze on my face, and for a moment I was not sure where I was. My room had reed…
Japan · Asia