The Journey Beyond Country Counting and Unexpected Kenya with Sarika Bansal

Mar 31, 2026

Sarika Bansal, travel writer and former editorial director of Afar now based in Nairobi, brings ethical storytelling and global perspective. She discusses moving to Kenya and raising a family outdoors. She recounts trekking in the Everest region, climate risks and slower routes. They debate country counting, the value of returns, DIY safaris, and quieter Kenyan coasts and islands.

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ANECDOTE

Why Sarika Chose Nairobi Over New York

Sarika moved from New York City to Nairobi in 2017 for her husband's work and stayed because of the slower pace and outdoor life.
She highlights raising kids barefoot, neighborhood play, and a different rhythm of daily life as reasons they stayed.

ANECDOTE

Teen Volunteer Trip That Shaped Her Ethics

As a teen Sarika joined a Habitat for Humanity trip in Costa Rica and later questioned the ethics and effectiveness of short volunteer projects.
That 'morally questionable' experience pushed her toward journalism and critical questions about volunteerism.

ANECDOTE

Pregnant Trek Through Quiet Everest Trails

Sarika trekked the Everest region in May 2024 while two months pregnant and was forced to slow down by morning sickness and altitude.
The trip included quiet pine trails, rhododendron blooms, monastery visits, and blessings from monks.

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What are you really looking for when you travel?

Sarika Bansal is a travel writer, editor, and former editorial director of Afar magazine. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice, and she focuses on ethical storytelling, global perspectives, and the deeper impact of travel. She currently lives in Nairobi, Kenya, with her family.

In this episode, Co-host Paige McClanahan talks with Sarika Bansal about how travel shapes us, from living in Kenya to trekking in the Everest region, and how those experiences influence the way we think about travel itself.

This conversation explores what happens when we shift from collecting places to truly engaging with them, and how that shift can completely change the way we experience travel. Sarika shares stories from her own journey, from trekking in the Everest region to building a life in Kenya, and reflects on how stepping outside your comfort zone can reshape your worldview in unexpected ways. We also get into the idea of country counting, the value of returning to places, and how different stages of life influence not just where we go, but how we show up when we get there.

What do you think matters more in travel, the number of places you visit or the depth of your experiences? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you'll share by sending me an audio message.

Co-host Paige McClanahan is a writer, editor, and former journalist based in Paris, France. As the author of The New Tourist: Waking up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige is passionate about making sure our travels have a positive impact on the world. Get in touch and follow her on Substack.

Tune In To Learn:

Why Sarika’s move to Nairobi reshaped her daily life, pace, and perspective

What drove her to travel writing and how growing up between the U.S. and India influenced her approach to storytelling and travel

What a “questionable” volunteer trip taught her about ethics in travel early on

How trekking in the Everest region while pregnant forced her to slow down

What it’s like exploring quieter trails, monasteries, and local life beyond the Everest “highway”

How climate change is visibly impacting fragile destinations like Everest Base Camp

Why the idea of “country counting” breaks down when you question what it means to visit a place

Sarika’s analogy between travel metrics and personal health, and why both can become misleading

How different life stages, like traveling with kids, change how and where you explore

Unexpected ways to experience Kenya, from DIY safaris to birdwatching and coastal towns

And so much more

Resources:

Castle Forest Lodge

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