How I marked 6 months in West Africa!

It has indeed been 6 months, wow! I’m grateful for so many reasons beyond comprehension. So much has happened, and I’m honestly so thankful for it all! The good, the bad, the ugly, the everything!

ALSO..

Have you watched my short TRAVEL FILM recapping the past six months? Click here! So much fun doing it!

So let’s get started.. in this detailed itinerary I will include details of flights, accommodation, and my favourite spots and recommendations.. feel free to comment below any further questions! Let’s go:

GHANA

Flight: with Egypt air. They did lose my luggage for 2 days. So definitely won’t book with them again. British Airways and KLM also fly to Accra from the UK. Price of flight – one way from London to Accra with stopover in Egypt = £420.

Accommodation: Alisa Hotel (my sis-in-law works in hotels, hello freebies!) and then friend’s spare room in Villagio. Both super central parts of Accra too. Price: Free!

Duration: 17 days

Spending money: £300

My Ghana recommendations:

SIERRA LEONE

Flight: with Africa World Airlines. Love flying with them! Direct flight. Price: £186

Accommodation: friend’s beautiful family home! Price: free!

Duration: 25 days.

Spending money: approx £403

My Freetown, Sierra Leone recommendations:

GAMBIA

Flight: ASKY airlines. Great flight. Direct. Price: £190

Accommodation: self catering apartment. Price for first 10 days = £115. Rest of time stayed with friend = free.

Duration: 26 days.

Spending money: approx £410

My Gambia recommendations:

SENEGAL

BUS!: From BTSC Bus station – direct from Gambia to Senegal – 9 hours – lots of pit stops. Price: £20! Saved over £100 if I paid for a flight.

Accommodation: air bnb mania. Stayed in 3 different ones in total, stress! Price in total: £111.69.

Duration: 15 days.

Spending money: approx £250

My recommendations:

NIGERIA

I arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, just a few days before lockdown restrictions began to tighten due to COVID-19.

Nigeria is a second home to me so thankfully I have been ridiculously well looked after, maintaining social distancing, carrying out my job as a journalist, and mostly working from home.

With the lockdown easing, it did enable me to enjoy more of Lagos in a safe way, like rent out a gorgeous pool house! Hard to make an itinerary during a pandemic during so much uncertainty. But honestly, I’m very blessed and happy to be ‘locked down’ in my motherland.

Flight: From Dakar to Lagos via Air Senegal. Delayed but smooth journey. £198 direct.

Accommodation: with family, so free!

Duration: 4 months

Spending money: Average monthly spend has been under £200. This pandemic has made me save loads!

My Lagos recommendations, pre covid:

And don’t forget, you can follow more of my travel experiences on Instagram: @ajalatravels.

Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts on my short film too! (Link above)

5 thoughts on “How I marked 6 months in West Africa!”

  1. Eromonsele Emmanuel says:
    Reply

    You’ve had such an awesome experience Hannah and there really budget friendly too. I like that you had friends in most of the aforementioned cities. That’s a good way to cut costs.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  2. tinofara says:
    Reply

    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog post. Last year I visited Cape Town, South Africa and it really inspired me to travel more around Africa. I definitely aim to go to Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia and Senegal. I never really thought about travelling to Sierra Leone. But I definitely would consider it now!

    http://www.tinofara.com

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