Chasing the Niger

How to Plan a Road Trip Across West Africa

Hello you, how’s is 2024 shaping up?

So sometime in November 2023, I was with a friend at the salon and she mentioned she was going from Lagos to Togo by road the following Friday. Of course you won’t be surprised to learn that I immediately said “yay! let’s go together”. So yes, I invited myself to her trip.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

I ended up not going with her (although the same car and driver that took me to Togo was the same car and driver to bring her back on same day. So we did end up overlapping in Togo for a few minutes).

Anyway…… I was like why stop at Togo? Let’s give them a full West Africa tour and so that’s exactly what I did. As I type this, I am in the final country of my tour and although I am exhausted, my heart couldn’t be more full. My route was Lagos - Benin - Togo - Burkina Faso - Mali - Senegal - The Gambia - Guinea Bissau - Guinea Conakry - Sierra Leone

I plan to do a series of videos on each country and I have put out an introduction video here. Wait, before you laugh at me, let me confess. After recording, I realized my full gorgeous head was not in the frame but I was too lazy to do another take. I honestly think it is good attempt. I figured out if I decided to do another take, I probably would never get to it. My main phrase for 2024 being “done” is better than perfect.

PS: I edited the entire video myself. Yay me!