When Turks and Caicos native Mario Rigby landed in Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, a pair of worn-in sneakers, and a dream to walk the length of Africa, he thought maybe he'd made the worst mistake of his life. But actually walking across Africa? That brought peace and a deeper understanding of the power of hospitality, movement, and self discovery. 
In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mario shares how walking 7,500 miles permanently changed the way he travels—and lives. Plus, we dive into what sustainable tourism really looks like and the aftermath of reverse culture shock. 
 
 7,500 Miles: From Cape Town to Cairo
In this episode you’ll learn: 
<ul>
 <li>
Why Turks and Caicos is a microcosm for the power of sustainable tourism. 
</li>
 <li>
What it’s like to cross the white desert  in Egypt. 
</li>
 <li>
How local culture in Cape Town, Sudan, and El Salvador reshaped Mario’s perspective on travel. 
</li>
</ul>
An Epic Sojourn, With A Little Help From Locals 
[02:50] This childhood TV show planted the seed for adventure, before it was famous. 
[08:38] The local encounter that changed everything on day one. 
[14:41] When a dog attack in Sudan led to a Tedx talk. 
[22:19]  What happens next? Reverse culture shock and the need for adventure. 
 
What Traveling Should Be All About
Eco-explorer and former professional athlete, Mario Rigby has travel in his blood. Born in Turks and Caicos, raised in Germany, and now living in Canada, Mario’s expeditions focus on sustainability and human connection. 
In this episode you’ll hear how a walk from Cape Town to Cairo, guided him to a lifestyle of adventurous movement, that included biking across North America and living among Algeria’s nomadic tribes. 
 
Resources: 
Read the <a href="https://www.afar.com/podcasts/traveltales/s6-e1-what-its-like-to-solo-walk-across-africa">transcript</a> of this episode
Learn more about Mario’s work on his <a href="https://www.mariorigby.com/">website</a>.
Follow Mario on Instagram:<a href="https://instagram.com/mariorigby"> @mariorigby</a>
 
 
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, <a href="https://email.afar.com/join/3n4/behind-the-mic-aislyn">⁠Behind the Mic⁠</a>, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, <a href="https://www.afar.com/podcasts/unpacked">⁠Unpacked⁠</a>, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.
 
Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

When Turks and Caicos native Mario Rigby landed in Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, a pair of worn-in sneakers, and a dream to walk the length of Africa, he thought maybe he'd made the worst mistake of his life. But actually walking across Africa? That brought peace and a deeper understanding of the power of hospitality, movement, and self discovery. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mario shares how walking 7,500 miles permanently changed the way he travels—and lives. Plus, we dive into what sustainable tourism really looks like and the aftermath of reverse culture shock. 7,500 Miles: From Cape Town to Cairo In this episode you’ll learn: Why Turks and Caicos is a microcosm for the power of sustainable tourism. What it’s like to cross the white desert in Egypt. How local culture in Cape Town, Sudan, and El Salvador reshaped Mario’s perspective on travel. An Epic Sojourn, With A Little Help From Locals [02:50] This childhood TV show planted the seed for adventure, before it was famous. [08:38] The local encounter that changed everything on day one. [14:41] When a dog attack in Sudan led to a Tedx talk. [22:19] What happens next? Reverse culture shock and the need for adventure. What Traveling Should Be All About Eco-explorer and former professional athlete, Mario Rigby has travel in his blood. Born in Turks and Caicos, raised in Germany, and now living in Canada, Mario’s expeditions focus on sustainability and human connection. In this episode you’ll hear how a walk from Cape Town to Cairo, guided him to a lifestyle of adventurous movement, that included biking across North America and living among Algeria’s nomadic tribes. Resources: Read the transcript of this episode Learn more about Mario’s work on his website. Follow Mario on Instagram: @mariorigby Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠Behind the Mic⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠Unpacked⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Turks and Caicos native Mario Rigby landed in Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, a pair of worn-in sneakers, and a dream to walk the length of Africa, he thought maybe he'd made the worst mistake of his life. But actually walking across Africa? That brought peace and a deeper understanding of the power of hospitality, movement, and self discovery.&nbsp;
In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mario shares how walking 7,500 miles permanently changed the way he travels—and lives. Plus, we dive into what sustainable tourism really looks like and the aftermath of reverse culture shock.&nbsp;
 
&nbsp;7,500 Miles: From Cape Town to Cairo
In this episode you’ll learn:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>
Why Turks and Caicos is a microcosm for the power of sustainable tourism.&nbsp;
</li>
 <li>
What it’s like to cross the white desert&nbsp; in Egypt.&nbsp;
</li>
 <li>
How local culture in Cape Town, Sudan, and El Salvador reshaped Mario’s perspective on travel.&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
An Epic Sojourn, With A Little Help From Locals&nbsp;
[02:50] This childhood TV show planted the seed for adventure, before it was famous.&nbsp;
[08:38] The local encounter that changed everything on day one.&nbsp;
[14:41] When a dog attack in Sudan led to a Tedx talk.&nbsp;
[22:19]&nbsp; What happens next? Reverse culture shock and the need for adventure.&nbsp;
 
What Traveling Should Be All About
Eco-explorer and former professional athlete, Mario Rigby has travel in his blood. Born in Turks and Caicos, raised in Germany, and now living in Canada, Mario’s expeditions focus on sustainability and human connection.&nbsp;
In this episode you’ll hear how a walk from Cape Town to Cairo, guided him to a lifestyle of adventurous movement, that included biking across North America and living among Algeria’s nomadic tribes.&nbsp;
 
Resources:&nbsp;
Read the <a href="https://www.afar.com/podcasts/traveltales/s6-e1-what-its-like-to-solo-walk-across-africa" rel="noopener noreferrer">transcript</a> of this episode
Learn more about Mario’s work on his <a href="https://www.mariorigby.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a>.
Follow Mario on Instagram:<a href="https://instagram.com/mariorigby" rel="noopener noreferrer"> @mariorigby</a>
 
 
Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, <a href="https://email.afar.com/join/3n4/behind-the-mic-aislyn" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠Behind the Mic⁠</a>, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, <a href="https://www.afar.com/podcasts/unpacked" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠Unpacked⁠</a>, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.
 
Travel Tales by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact&nbsp;advertising@airwavemedia.com&nbsp;if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

I Solo Hiked 7,500 Miles from Cape Town to Cairo—and Found Connection at Every Step

Welcome to the strange, wonderful, and sometimes life-changing world of travel. Each week, we'll hear from someone who took a trip—and came home transformed. Take a ride through a slice of the United States we call Amtrakistan. Find out how a blind man on safari learns to track a rhino. And discover what happens when a pregnant, Muslim, stand-up comic from New York takes a spontaneous trip to America's Heartland.Though COVID-19 has stalled many travel plans, we hope our stories can offer inspiration for your future adventures—and a bit of hope. Find more information at<a href="http://afar.com/traveltales"> afar.com/traveltales</a>.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Welcome to the strange, wonderful, and sometimes life-changing world of travel. Each week, we'll hear from someone who took a trip—and came home transformed. Take a ride through a slice of the United States we call Amtrakistan. Find out how a blind man on safari learns to track a rhino. And discover what happens when a pregnant, Muslim, stand-up comic from New York takes a spontaneous trip to America's Heartland. Though COVID-19 has stalled many travel plans, we hope our stories can offer inspiration for your future adventures—and a bit of hope. Find more information at afar.com/traveltales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the strange, wonderful, and sometimes life-changing world of travel. Each week, we'll hear from someone who took a trip—and came home transformed. Take a ride through a slice of the United States we call Amtrakistan. Find out how a blind man on safari learns to track a rhino. And discover what happens when a pregnant, Muslim, stand-up comic from New York takes a spontaneous trip to America's Heartland.Though COVID-19 has stalled many travel plans, we hope our stories can offer inspiration for your future adventures—and a bit of hope. Find more information at<a href="http://afar.com/traveltales" rel="noopener noreferrer"> afar.com/traveltales</a>.&nbsp; Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Introducing: Travel Tales by AFAR

Travel, at its best, changes the way we see the world. Each week, Travel Tales by Afar shares first-person travel stories from people who took a trip—and came home transformed. 

These aren't your typical travel podcasts full of destination tips and packing lists; they're intimate, character-driven travel anecdotes about the moments that turn a trip into a journey of self discovery through travel. 

You'll hear unique travel experiences—a hitchhiking adventure across unfamiliar borders, one of our food and travel stories that turns into an education in a new culture, a wildlife travel experience that tests what someone is willing to risk for a closer look at the natural world. Some episodes lean into cultural exploration; others are studies in travel and personal growth, the kind that only shows up after the itinerary falls apart. 

Together, they add up to a growing library of international travel tales built for real travel inspiration—not the filtered, aspirational kind, but the kind that comes from hearing how transformative travel actually happens, in the moment, when things go sideways. 

Travel Tales by Afar is your ticket to the world: no passport required, just fifteen minutes and an open mind.

Society & Culture

Places & Travel

Travel, at its best, changes the way we see the world. Each week, Travel Tales by Afar shares first-person travel stories from people who took a trip—and came home transformed. These aren't your typical travel podcasts full of destination tips and packing lists; they're intimate, character-driven travel anecdotes about the moments that turn a trip into a journey of self discovery through travel. You'll hear unique travel experiences—a hitchhiking adventure across unfamiliar borders, one of our food and travel stories that turns into an education in a new culture, a wildlife travel experience that tests what someone is willing to risk for a closer look at the natural world. Some episodes lean into cultural exploration; others are studies in travel and personal growth, the kind that only shows up after the itinerary falls apart. Together, they add up to a growing library of international travel tales built for real travel inspiration—not the filtered, aspirational kind, but the kind that comes from hearing how transformative travel actually happens, in the moment, when things go sideways. Travel Tales by Afar is your ticket to the world: no passport required, just fifteen minutes and an open mind.

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