Nairobi, Kenya, in East Africa is located on a cool, mile-high plateau. Leaving the station heading east, the locomotive winds slowly down to the sultry heat of the ancient port of Mombassa.

In second-class cars, passengers are segregated by gender. That's why many travelers happily pay a higher fare for a first-class compartment. The journey still costs around $20.

The highlight of the trip begins when the track enters Tsavo National Park. Passengers lean out the windows to watch ostriches and antelopes, giraffes and elephants grazing peacefully against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro's snowy summit in the distance.