Skip to content

'Waking up to the sound of birds relaxes your soul'

More and more people in Kenya are talking about moving out of the capital Nairobi, to a simpler life in the countryside.

That could be to build their dream house or producing their own food.

Leslie and Richard spoke to BBC Africa's The Comb podcast about what life is like in the countryside, and building their dream home in the hills.

6 May 2022

Explore More

Dawit Isaak

The courageous father in jail for 23 years

A famer standing in the middle of the flooded farm

'My farm was destroyed by drought then floods - I am confused'

Farmer Mema Fwa standing in a waterlogged field of dead crops

‘When I saw my farm submerged, I was confused’

Image show a tearful Mohanad

'They ransacked my home and left my town in ruins'

Starlink terminal outdoors

Is Elon Musk’s Starlink a game changer for Africa?

Mourners read the order of service at Rebecca Cheptegei's funeral. One of the two women holds a baby

Funeral of Ugandan Olympian killed by ex-partner takes place

Cheptegei running

Rebecca Cheptegei: ‘An inspiration to girls in her community'

Baby Ummi at an MSF clinic

‘They cry of hunger once they notice there’s no milk’

Shamsa holding a mobile phone

'Now I know how it feels to be a full woman'

Sudanese pupils at a refugee camp in Chad

The school bringing hope to children fleeing Sudan's war

BBC News

UK Elections 2024: Why should Africans care?

Protesters in front of a police vehicle

Protests flare in Nairobi over new tax laws

The BBC's Mercy Juma

Live BBC report interrupted by man with gun in Nairobi

Group of people waving green and orange flags run from left to right

Gunshots heard as protesters rush Kenya parliament compound

In the distance the sky is illuminated by fire and bellowing smoke after an ammunition dump in Chad's capital caught fire.

Fatalities after fire engulfs large ammunition dump in Chad

Travel vlogger Tayo Aina points to a southern African country on a wall map.

‘And my favourite place in Africa is…’

A damaged car and houses in Omdurman, March 2024

UN arms embargo violated in Sudan, investigation finds

A diver filming the corals underwater.

Zanzibar's ingenious solution to protect its coral

A woman casts her vote in the South African 2024 election

South Africa votes, here's what people had to say

President of Kenya William Ruto wearing a suit with a plaid burgundy tie seated on an elegant room

Kenyan president 'confident' in police deploying to Haiti

Somali and Turkish defence ministers pose in front of flags

Why is Turkey deepening its ties with Somalia?

The two signed a new naval deal this year after more than a decade of strategic partnership.

Correspondent Ian Wafula in a cold storage facility for mpox vaccines in Kinshasa, DRC.

As mpox vaccines arrive, how will DR Congo keep them cold?

The BBC’s Ian Wafula reports from a cold storage facility in Kinshasa as vaccines start arriving in the country.

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi holding diamond

Watch: Moment Botswana's president feels weight of giant diamond

Botswana's president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, couldn't hide his surprise as he held the world's second largest diamond.

Christiana and Kayode smiling

The Paralympic table tennis love story

Bonded by fate, thriving by purpose: Meet the power couple of African para table tennis.

Miss South Africa

'I never thought someone like me could become Miss South Africa'

Mia le Roux is the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.

A man holding a medal in a sports hall

The first Nigerian badminton player to qualify for back-to-back Olympics

Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori grew up in Lagos, with little access to badminton facilities - now he’s a four-time African champion.

Asthma sufferer Phoebe using an inhaler

Asthma: ‘People shouldn’t be paying to breathe’

Some inhalers in Nigeria have doubled or tripled in price since last year, leaving many struggling.

A black and white photo of a baby on all fours

Ghana's first photojournalist turns 95

James Barnor, who has photographed the likes of Muhammad Ali, is being honoured in Accra.

A wide shot showing a tornado-like storm in the distance

'Tornado-like' storm devastates town in South Africa

A 'tornado-looking' storm has killed at least 10 people after it hit several provinces on Monday.

Cynthia Mthebe and Fergal Keane in Klipgat

'I just want what the white people have' - what happened to Cynthia's dream in South Africa

The BBC's Fergal Keane returns to South Africa to follow up on a woman's story that stuck with him for over 30 years.

CCTV still curtesy of Wamai family

CCTV reveals lion taking dog from family home

Jaci the rottweiler had been with the family for nearly two years and leaves her twin Laser behind.

Village elder Eusebio Lucas Ganda

‘It's possible to regain the forest we once had’

A project in Mozambique is trying to reverse the alarming rate of deforestation there.

Former South Africa President Jacob Zuma

'South Africa trusts me' - Jacob Zuma talks to the BBC

The BBC's Anne Soy questions the former leader about corruption allegations that have dogged his career.

RSF fighter on the back of the truck

Besieged and under attack in Sudan’s El Fasher

The battle for control of the western city has intensified over the last few days as the RSF group advances.

Stevie Wonder in 2024

'This is where I need to be’ - Stevie Wonder becomes Ghanaian

The American music icon has long been an admirer of the west African country.

Large cruise ship in a bay

Why a 'world cruise' had to add more African stops

The world’s longest cruise has been forced to amend its route and is now calling at nine African ports.

Prince Harry playing basketball

Dunking it like a Duke

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveiled a partnership with Giants of Africa, an NGO which uses sport to empower young people.

Prince Harry playing volleball

Serve's up as Prince Harry plays sit-down volleyball

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been welcomed by a charity which helps service personnel in Nigeria.

Prince Harry with a volleyball

Watch: Prince Harry plays sit-down volleyball

The Duchess of Sussex cheered on her husband from the side of the court.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex speaking at event

'So smart': Meghan praises Harry during Nigeria visit

The Duchess of Sussex compliments the Duke as he speak about mental health at a school in Abuja.