I got on the train in Africa for $ 66; Was like a first class safari

I took the Madaraka Express to Nairobi after spending four days at the Lodge Lodge lions nearby near Voi, a city by the Taru desert

The cost to go through the entire Mombasa road to Nairobi in the Premium class is around $ 93. However, my voy from Voi to Nairobi was only $ 65.50 and I could bring my big backpack and a padded duffel at no additional cost.

It is less than a one -way economic flight on Kenya Airways between Mombasa and Nairobi, which generally costs around $ 71 in each direction (not to mention a checkered bag).

Voi station is one of the largest stations on the line.

The station had a large crowded waiting area, as well as a small living room for premium passengers (which I was not allowed to photograph) with padded chairs and basic snacks.

I arrived about 30 minutes before the start of my train, giving myself enough time to go through the quick safety check and browse the two small souvenir shops above the station.

Boarding the train was simple, even if I had to quickly go towards the car before – where the premium class is – before its departure.

Once on board, the staff checked my ticket, escorted me to my seat and helped me store my luggage at the back of the car.

Premium seats looked like what I would find in business or first class on an international flight.

There is just a large seat on each side of the train, staggered, so when you enter the aisle, you are not directly next to another person.

Each seat looked extra wide and could be transformed into a bed of lie, even if I did not try to sleep during my daytime trip. However, I saw several Mombasa passengers just wake up when I got on board, and they looked quite comfortable.

My premium seat came with a large auxiliary table with USB ports and a standard sheet (Kenyane), an adjustable reading light, a small storage compartment, a screen with seat controls and a footrest.

There was also a big television screen and a lot of space in the trash for my big backpack and my butler.

Each seat was slightly tilted on the left, which left my back a little more exposed to the aisle. The tilted seats were strange at the start.

However, once the train started to move, the design made more sense. The passengers on the left side had a direct and clear view of the landscape without having to turn their heads.

Although the right side of the train also had superb views, these passengers had to twist a little more to admire the landscape.

I have already talked about first class on international flights, and this train was just as pleasant as these trips.

Lying seat commands worked well and, when combined with the footrest extension, all my configuration has become a continuous sleep surface.

At 5 feet, 7 inches, I could completely stretch – but the larger passengers may need to slightly fold their legs.

The breakfast service started shortly after my boarding. The train agents came to take my order from three meal options: India, Kenyan or West.

I chose scrambled eggs with tomatoes and yogurt. Although I wouldn’t say that the meal was the highest point of my walk, it helped the trip to feel more elegant – especially since I could spot elephants while sipping hot coffee.

The Madaraka Express passes between the national parks Tsavo East and Tsavo West.

On the left side of the train, I had a clear view of the Tsavo railway bridge – the infamous site of the 1898 attacks in which the lions killed many railways. He then inspired the film “The Ghost and the Darkness”. As a story enthusiast, I enjoyed seeing the bridge.

A culmination was also to travel above Nairobi National Park, about 4 km from the city center. This is one of the few places that travelers can make a complete safari in a big game in a large urban area.

The last kilometers of the standard gauge rail leader leading to Nairobi are raised above the park, allowing the fauna of the fauna to move freely below.

Trains slow down on this section to reduce the disturbances of fauna and give passengers a chance to spot elephants, giraffes and even rhinos of their seats.

My train journey was only about four hours, although my configuration is so good that I want it to be longer.

I passed the journey to work on wifi (which was intermittent), watching the landscapes pass and chatting with other tourists in the dining car.

If I had had more time on board, I would have used the other characteristics of the seat to really stretch and spend more time looking at the fauna outside my window.