When Africa Stole My Heart

Mama Africa

Why Ghana and Nigeria, why not South Africa? Why did you choose West Africa instead of the other countries that are well known? I was asked this question by many races, ages, and genders. I 100% believe that as a Haitian American, I have West African roots. In addition, Africa has been on my mind since around my 30^th birthday. Due to low planning and friends without passports, those dreams ended. Fast forward to year 32 and Africa was still on my mind. Therefore, I began making my plans early. I researched a few countries that I wanted to visit in West Africa and eventually narrowed my list down to Ghana and Nigeria. Choosing West Africa for my first visit was the best decision ever because this is how Africa stole my heart!

What do you need?

Upon researching what was needed for each country, visa requirements stuck out the most. For both countries, a visa is required in addition to having the yellow fever vaccine 10 days prior to entrance in the country. Anti-Malaria pills are highly suggested but not required. Ghana was easy, I completed my requirements and mailed my documents along with my passport to my nearest agency which was Washington, DC. Nigeria has recently changed their visa procedures therefore, locate your closest agency and complete the necessary requirements because you must physically turn in your required documents. Once you arrive at the Nigeria consulate, they will give you a brief glimpse of what to expect in Nigeria. I entered the building completely nervous and unsure of what to expect and left there with a bellyache from laughter.

How to get there?

There are barely any flight deals, therefore you should just bite the bullet and book your flight. There are seasons where the ticket prices can be lower. Globetrotting tip: If your dates are flexible, check out google.com/flights to determine which timeframe can provide you with lower prices. Also, be sure to complete this in incognito mode. Since I wanted to enjoy both countries, I did a one-way to Ghana and flew back to the states from Nigeria. I used an inter-African airline by the name of Africa World to fly from Ghana to Nigeria.

Where to Stay

Both countries offered us many options for lodging. In Ghana, we lucked out with the cutest Airbnb near Osu, which is a must stay area in Accra. In Nigeria, which started out as a solo trip for me, I went through a hotel that I would never let my parents know that I stayed there, then ended up at a hotel that knew me by name by the end of my trip! They also knew that I needed my coffee every morning, lol. Through a connection from a mutual friend, I ended up lodging for the remainder of my trip at Maple Hotel in Lekki. I loved Lekki, it’s an island in Lagos State, that gave me everything that my little heart could desire!

While you are there

Immerse yourself in the culture! Try something you’ve never done before, eat something that you’ve never heard of and hang out with who you feel comfortable with!

For transportation, we utilized Uber in both countries. Globetrotting tip: Be sure to look up the Uber policies in the country that you are visiting. In Ghana, we had to learn that not every Uber driver chooses the automated payment option, therefore at the end of your trip, they will expect a cash payment.

Money was not so much an issue in Ghana because we utilized both cash and credit cards. Nigeria posed an issue because many banks do not allow you even with prior authorization to use your credit card. Globetrotting tip: Notify your banks and credit card company about your upcoming vacation.

As for what each country offered me in experiences, check back soon to read about my heart capturing experiences in West Africa! Would you allow West Africa to steal your heart as it has stolen mine?

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