Bridging The Continents

Andre van der Most
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  • Documentary

Bridging the Continents follows the inspiring journey of André van der Most as he drives a Toyota Land Cruiser from Holland to Uganda along the rugged west coast of Africa. More than just an overland adventure, this podcast shines a light on the people and organizations making a difference across the continent. Through stories from the road—navigating borders, crossing deserts, and connecting with communities—André shares both the challenges and triumphs of his expedition. Along the way, he highlights local nonprofits that are working tirelessly to empower communities, preserve cultures, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re passionate about travel, cultural exchange, or grassroots change, Bridging the Continents offers an unfiltered look at what it means to journey with purpose.

  1. 10h ago

    March 30 2026 - Whale Shark Boat Trip in Mozambique

    Location: Mozambique Summary: On March 30th, I had quite the adventure in Mozambique! I signed up for a 2-hour boat trip to try to spot whale sharks — the biggest sharks in the world, with some spotted at 9 meters in this area. I'm not typically a fan of being on the water since I get seasick, but I figured I better seize the opportunity. Sasha and Chris joined as well, since Sasha does whale shark research and goes on these trips whenever she can. The boat held 10 passengers plus a captain and a guide, and we were equipped with safety vests for getting through the surf, snorkel gear (no tanks), and the plan was to jump in the water once we spotted the whale sharks. We ended up finding dolphins instead, and most everyone except me jumped in to get a closer look — but nobody saw anything more than what we'd already seen from the boat. I felt pretty good about staying dry! Then dark rainy clouds rolled in and it started pouring, so I ended up soaked anyway. The group on the boat was a fun international mix — a girl named London possibly from England, some Dutch travelers from The Hague, and others from the guest house. Some had originally come to study in Cape Town and made their way to Mozambique from there. Getting back through the surf required a second attempt, and the landing on the beach was a hard bump. A tractor pulled the boat up on shore — everything was very well organized. We climbed up to the Peri Peri premises where we'd started and found a beautiful warm swimming pool, which was perfect since it was still raining. It felt almost like a sauna. The owner offered everyone a free second trip the next day since we didn't see whale sharks, but I declined — I'd had a great experience and wanted to leave the spots for others. That evening, I had dinner with some of the people from the boat, and it was just a wonderful, fun crowd. Later, wandering through town, I met Heidi from Germany who owns a restaurant and gallery. She'd been without power all weekend due to a broken breaker box, but neighbors had been running extension cords from their properties to keep her freezers going. It really showed what a tight-knit community this is. The town has great shopping, plenty of places to eat and drink, and is a surfer's paradise. There's even a small airport about 30 minutes away, and once you're settled, everything is walkable. A truly special place!

    March 30 2026 - Whale Shark Boat Trip in Mozambique

  2. 10h ago

    March 29 2026 - Driving from Xai-Xai to Tofu Beach Mozambique

    Location: Mozambique Summary: On March 29th, a Sunday, I left Xai-Xai and made my way to Tofu in Mozambique. The journey turned out to be quite interesting. Along the way, I stopped at the Önnham River for a bite to eat, where I met a couple from Singapore who had bought a Land Cruiser in Germany, shipped it to Cape Town, and were now wandering through southern Africa without a fixed plan. It's always fun to run into fellow travelers on the road. The scenery was absolutely exhilarating — driving through Africa is always such a joy. I followed the main road closest to the coast, and when it was time to head to Tofu, I had to turn off for about an hour or more. The detour wasn't the most exciting stretch, but arriving at Tofu made it all worthwhile. Sasha had recommended a rocky little road thinking I was on a motorbike, but it worked perfectly fine for my Land Cruiser. I found Chris and Sasha's guesthouse up the hill and was immediately impressed. It's a very unique place — they run it like a hostel with three separate rooms and a dorm, accommodating about 10 people at a time. It takes a moment to really comprehend what they've built there. Chris and Sasha are Dutch, which I didn't know beforehand. Years ago, they did their own overland trip down the east side of Africa from the Netherlands to Mozambique, fell in love with Tofu, and have been running their place for the past seven years. Chris is also a kitesurf instructor, so they combine that with the guesthouse business. I walked down to the beach, just 5-10 minutes away, and soaked it all in. It's a lively spot with lots of surfing, and kitesurfing takes place at a lagoon about 20 minutes away. What I loved most is how hands-on the owners are — they built the place themselves, spend quality time with their guests, and are genuinely happy with the life they've chosen. I truly lucked out finding this place and wouldn't have wanted to miss it for the world. Thanks for having me, Chris and Sasha!

    March 29 2026 - Driving from Xai-Xai to Tofu Beach Mozambique

  3. 10h ago

    March 28 2026 - Maputo to Xai-Xai: Coastal Mozambique Drive

    Location: Mozambique Summary: Today I left Maputo after spending a bit of time exploring the city. Following Rick's suggestion, I visited the Tunduru Gardens near Independence Place, which made for a nice walk. I was really impressed by the Maputo-Katembe Bridge connecting southern Mozambique to the capital, so I decided to drive across it. Catembe itself didn't have much going on — no improved roads besides the main one — and it cost me 200 of the local currency for the round trip. Still, it was a fun drive and I was glad to extend my reach to the southern point of Mozambique. After that, I followed the coast toward Xai-Xai (spelled X-A-I, X-A-I). The distance was manageable and the coastal scenery was absolutely stunning — hard to put into words. When I arrived, I learned Xai-Xai has two parts: an inland section and a beach section. I opted for the beach area. Near the Holly Motel, a local person eagerly tried to show me around and steer me to other accommodations. We followed some sandy paths and he showed me a few rooms I passed on, plus another hotel that was too expensive and fully booked anyway. I ended up back at the Holly Hotel, which worked out perfectly. It had a restaurant on-site, which I always appreciate because I can just park the car and be done for the day. The area in front of the hotel was a big open square and very quiet. The beach was interesting too, with natural barriers creating calm pools where you could get into the water without dealing with the surf. Driving beyond the hotel through the sandy streets was really enjoyable — the sand was packed hard enough that it wasn't a problem. No rain either, which helped. Another fascinating and exciting day exploring coastal Mozambique.

    March 28 2026 - Maputo to Xai-Xai: Coastal Mozambique Drive

  4. 11h ago

    March 27 2026 - Walking Maputo's Waterfront to Visit Friends

    Location: Eswatini Summary: Today, Friday March 27th, I had an evening meeting planned with Rick, his wife Rachel, and daughter Claire. I first met Rick in Angola at the Flow Hotel — he works for the Canadian High Commission, which covers Angola and Eswatini from their base in Mozambique. Since I was only about 2 kilometers from their place, and Rick warned me that Friday afternoon traffic would be terrible, I decided to walk rather than drive. It turned out to be a great decision. Walking toward the waterfront, I got to enjoy the beach scenery, see little fishing boats bobbing in the water, and watch fishermen repairing their nets. I also noticed long lines at a gas station — apparently fuel prices are about to go up and there are concerns about potential shortages, so everyone was rushing to fill up. I was glad I wasn't stuck in that traffic for a mere 2-kilometer drive. The beach area had some impressive hotels, a casino, and people selling art. I eventually reached the compound where Rick's family lives — a protected area with fancy homes arranged by the embassy for their staff. Before arriving, I grabbed a coffee at a place across the street from their compound. The visit itself was wonderful. It was great to reconnect with Rick and get to know Rachel and Claire better. We covered a lot of ground, sharing stories about their embassy life and my travel experiences across the continent. It was a really enriching exchange of perspectives — someone working in an official diplomatic capacity versus someone like me who's just traveling around Africa. I want to thank them again for having me over. It was a fantastic evening, and I'm grateful for the hospitality and conversation.

    March 27 2026 - Walking Maputo's Waterfront to Visit Friends

  5. 11h ago

    March 26 2026 - Riding Through Eswatini to Maputo Mozambique

    Location: Eswatini Summary: Today was March 26th, and I had about 300 kilometers ahead of me to reach Maputo in Mozambique. Knowing that border crossings take time, I opted for an early start and was grateful the restaurant accommodated me with an early breakfast, so I left close to 8 in the morning. I chose a longer route through a place called Piggs Peak because the name sounded intriguing and the map suggested beautiful scenery. And it delivered — the scenery was absolutely stunning. Piggs Peak itself is a nicely appealing town, though I wouldn't necessarily visit just for the town. It's the landscape before and after that really takes your breath away. Soon I entered sugarcane country. About 60 kilometers ahead, a sign announced a sugarcane museum, so I kept my eyes open. Shortly after, the paved road ended and turned to dirt, which slowed things down to about 30-40 kilometers per hour, but the roads were still manageable. The hills covered in sugarcane were glowing and the scenery was astounding. Eswatini also has a lot of pine trees and is big on producing building materials. I saw lots of processing operations and trucks loaded with cut wood. At the sugarcane museum, I met an interesting gentleman who had been working there for 8 years. My main takeaway was learning about two methods of harvesting sugarcane — one where they burn the fields first to reduce the volume before cutting and transporting, and another where they cut it green. I had no idea they would burn it first. Leaving Eswatini was easy, but since I was heading to Mozambique instead of back to South Africa, I needed my Carnet de Passage signed off. The border official seemed unfamiliar with the process, but I helped him through it. Entering Mozambique was a different story. I had to buy insurance for 1,700 meticals (their currency, which trades at about 4 to 1 South African rand). I also paid a road tax — supposed to be 100 rand but ended up being 200, though that's only about 3 extra dollars. Finding my way into Maputo was slow going since it's a massive city, and I had accommodation booked near the center. Pre-booking was mandatory — Mozambique requires a first-night reservation as a condition for entry. I had booked two nights based on my plans once I arrived. Another wonderful day on the road. They just keep coming.

    March 26 2026 - Riding Through Eswatini to Maputo Mozambique

  6. 2d ago

    March 25 2026 - Exploring Eswatini: House on Fire & Lobamba

    Location: Eswatini: Summary: Today, March 25th, I left the Waterside Lodge and headed into town for breakfast — sausage rolls, or saucijzenbroodjes as the Dutch call them. My first destination was the Mahamba border crossing, where I entered Eswatini from South Africa. The process was simple: just passport stamps for leaving South Africa and entering Eswatini. I learned that Eswatini has its own currency but accepts South African Rand at equal value, which is convenient. However, South Africa does not accept Eswatini money in return, so it's good to be aware of that. The countryside in Eswatini is beautiful. In the north there's a lot of sugarcane, while the south has more cattle. Near Manzini, I spotted a sign for a place called House on Fire and decided to stop. What an amazing venue! It hosts the Mountain Bushfire festival, one of Africa's seven big music festivals. The site features restaurants, gift shops, mountain views, and a huge lawn that can accommodate massive outdoor concerts. They were preparing for an upcoming event, though no festival was happening at the time. I really enjoyed spending time there. I then made my way to Lobamba, which is near the capital and where most tourist activities take place. I stayed at the Montenga Lodge, which turned out to be a fantastic place — its own restaurant overlooking lush greenery, a swimming pool I made use of, friendly staff, and a reasonable price. There was a bit of a climb to reach my room, but that was fine. In the evening, I explored a nearby touristy area with local carvings, crafts, and food. I didn't buy anything since I don't want to carry extra stuff, but it was a fun atmosphere. I also had a great conversation with a gentleman who works for an investment firm with stakes in KFC and grocery stores. He usually flies in and out the same day for business but had more meetings this time. Overall, the accommodations and environment in Eswatini have been wonderful. It's a pleasure to travel through this part of southern Africa.

    March 25 2026 - Exploring Eswatini: House on Fire & Lobamba

  7. 2d ago

    March 24 2026 - Visiting Mkhondo Piet Retief Waterside Lodge

    Location: Lesotho Summary: On March 24th, I had a cloudy but pleasant driving day. My Garmin suggested a southern route with more freeways, which seemed fine given the overcast skies. My other navigation systems proposed northern routes, but neither had particularly interesting features, so I went south. The estimated travel time seemed high, but it actually took much less time than indicated — around 5 hours to reach Mkhondo, also known as Piet Retief. I stayed at the Waterside Lodge, a large property that also features the Grotto restaurant, designed to look like an actual grotto. There was significant road construction happening right in front of the lodge. When I chatted with the owner, he explained that the construction didn't really affect lodge bookings, but it hurt the restaurant business during the day since townspeople avoided the area. As a result, they only opened the restaurant at 5:30 in the afternoon. Despite the construction, the lodge turned out to be a lovely spot. It sits on a lake with interesting birds on an island. The owner has a large red building where he keeps his car collection — he's clearly a car enthusiast — and another large building used for weddings. The property was very tranquil with plenty of space for a generous walk. The town of Mkhondo itself is pretty basic, but it served as a good stopping point. It was a quieter day overall, but that's what makes the more exciting days stand out. It all evens out in the end.

    March 24 2026 - Visiting Mkhondo Piet Retief Waterside Lodge

  8. 2d ago

    March 23 2026 - Lesotho to South Africa: Border Crossing & Road Trip

    Location: Lesotho Summary: Today, March 23rd, I wrapped up my stay and headed for the border crossing from Lesotho into South Africa. Leaving Lesotho was easy, but entering South Africa again proved a bit tricky since my original entry was on an emergency passport, which confused the border officials. We got it all sorted out eventually. The first town I passed through was Fouiesberg — a small, quiet place. Along the way, I picked up a hitchhiker named Ben, who was originally from Lesotho and wanted to get to Harrismith. My main goal for the day, though, was to get a feel for Clarens, the next town. Ben was happy to hop out there and try for another ride. In Clarens, I stopped to fill up on diesel, but the power went out mid-fill! I waited about half an hour while they brought in a generator to get the pumps working again. I walked around town and visited a bakery, but the whole town was without power and wouldn't have it back until around 4 PM, so my visit was cut short. Back on the road toward Harrismith, I found Ben still waiting for a ride, so I picked him up again. His English was limited, but we managed well enough. We stopped at a national park area with incredible scenery and had coffee at a shop Ben knew about. The lodge there looked impressive from the outside, though we didn't get to visit it. The highlight was a cultural village exhibit showing how people traditionally lived in Lesotho. I paid for Ben to see it too. It walked us through different stages of house building and explained that men in Lesotho can have up to 10 wives, with houses arranged in specific locations for each wife. Apparently, the current king of Lesotho is the second of 67 children from the same father — truly mind-blowing. As we approached Harrismith, Ben pointed out a place to stay near a Wimpy restaurant, which is a common chain in South Africa. We found the spot, which turned out to be a great shopping area with plenty of food options. I enjoyed a delicious lamb pie for dinner. Ben headed off to his place up the hill from where we were. The scenery throughout the day was absolutely stunning. South Africa continues to amaze me. Thanks for being along for the ride!

    March 23 2026 - Lesotho to South Africa: Border Crossing & Road Trip
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About

Bridging the Continents follows the inspiring journey of André van der Most as he drives a Toyota Land Cruiser from Holland to Uganda along the rugged west coast of Africa. More than just an overland adventure, this podcast shines a light on the people and organizations making a difference across the continent. Through stories from the road—navigating borders, crossing deserts, and connecting with communities—André shares both the challenges and triumphs of his expedition. Along the way, he highlights local nonprofits that are working tirelessly to empower communities, preserve cultures, and create lasting impact. Whether you’re passionate about travel, cultural exchange, or grassroots change, Bridging the Continents offers an unfiltered look at what it means to journey with purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Andre van der Most
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    202
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andre van der Most
  • Show Website
    Bridging The Continents