I just spend 2,5 days in Karachi for my round-trip around Pakistan. These are the 5 things you’ll love about the biggest and most hectic city in Pakistan, Karachi.
Karachi with my friend Azlan
1. City On The Move
Karachi is such a crazy, but cool city
I have been to many big cities around the World, and if you go to most big cities there are usually higher risks of criminals trying to harm you, scams, etc., but in Karachi it felt different to me. It has the distinct feel of a city on the move, but people are still greeting you with a welcoming feeling. People seem to be on the go in Karachi, and it gives a wild energy, and it’s really fascinating to observe this city on the move.
2. Food And Cuisines
Karachi is known as the city by the sea, so it has some mouth-watering fish markets and restaurants.
You can find food from all over Pakistan here in Karachi, to match your tastes. Go to Hyderabad Colony for the most authentic Hyderabadi achars, or go to Burns Road for the best kababs, haleem and other desi foods. Or, if you like to have karak dhoodh patti chai, then head to the tea shops around Cantt Station. For gola ganda head to Dhoraji Colony, if you like spicy ‘disco aaloo’ go to the thelas in Kharadar, or if the legendary Bihari Kabab is more to your taste, you should head to Meerut Kebab house.
3. Cosmopolitan Feeling
Beautiful architecture and cosmopolitan feeling in Karachi
Karachi is relatively young, but it has some of the most interesting architecture. A good way to explore this is to drive around the Old City — Kharadar, Mithadar, Saddar, Elphinstone Street, M A Jinnah Road, Napier Road, and their surrounding areas. I was in Karachi mid October, and would strongly recommend to do your city tour early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the insane heat in the middle of the day.
I was told you will find far more women drivers in Karachi than in any other Pakistani city, and in general Karachi has a distinct cosmopolitan and urban feel to it, which is super cool. This city is alive!
4. The Prices
Karachi is such a cheap city
Karachi is among the world’s top 10 cheapest cities in the World again in 2019, and the megalopolis called home by over 16 million people, has remained in the top 10 cheapest cities in the World consistently over the past decade, even ranking as the cheapest city a few times. The surveys are measuring the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment, and Karachi is just unbelievably cheap! Furthermore the Pakistani hospitality is unreal, so you’ll have so much free stuff, and when you sometimes try to pay for something or split the bill, it happens that a Pakistani person won’t let you. Hospitality is great in Karachi!
5. The Adventures
Karachi is for the adventurous soul
Karachi is a city for a traveler who loves a wild adventure. Jump on the colorful buses, take a rickshaw ride, throw yourself out in the wild, hectic and lively streets of Karachi, and just breath in the cool craziness of this huge city. Karachi is an experience well-worth it, and I’m honestly so excited to explore the rest of Pakistan after some adventurous days in Karachi.
Some would say don’t go to Karachi, and I would say go to Karachi! If you only visit Lahore, only visit Islamabad or only visit Karachi, you haven’t been to Pakistan. Then you’ve only been to a city in Pakistan! Try out the biggest city in Pakistan and promise me to explore the rest of Pakistan too. That’s what I’m planning to do, because it’s such a beautiful country. I’m feeling the good vibes and beauty already!
With Pakistani police man inside the Tomb of the Founder of Pakistan, Karachi
Pakistan Zindabad… Next stop: Lahore! Before heading to the mountains.. Can’t wait to see what this country has in store!
I had one of the best days in Somaliland climbing mountains, seeing tons of camels roaming around and enjoying amazing Somali food, but to be honest the next day was one of the worst in my life.
Out and about in Somaliland
Perfect First Days In Somaliland
A perfect day in Somaliland was coming to an end, which I had spend with local friends, whom I got in contact with through my phone which is 80% the way I get in contact with people. We went out on a roof top restaurant in the evening with views over Hargeisa and I ate camel for the first time in my life, which wasn’t as good as crocodile to be fair, but indeed good! A day with so many cool experiences and memories never to forget. We agreed to do some cool stuff the next day and would just text each other about meeting up somewhere in the city, using Whatsapp as I always use when I’m traveling, so I was really excited.. Everything was just fine..
Climbing a mountain in Somalia with my local friend, Lianura
Worst Day Ever Incoming
I went to bed in my fairly small $6 luxury penthouse suite in Hirad Hotel, Hargeisa in Somaliland thinking, “what an incredible day it has been..” What I didn’t know was the next day was going to be the worst day I can remember in a long time!
What a great day in Somaliland, Somalia
My Phone Was DONE
I woke up super early next day around 5 am and wanted to check my phone (IPhone X), and when I checked for a few seconds the Apps started to close down and my IPhone completely shut down within seconds. Damn, what was that?! I was in tears, how could I get in contact with Lianura and my friends here in Somaliland, how could I plan the rest of my Somalia and Eritrea trip (had around a week left) and how about my videos and pictures? I knew it was a while a go I did a back-up – and yes, I did lose a lot of files after having trying 24 hours to bring back my phone to life without any success at all! All I could see was a Apple-Logo shining bright on the screen. I was completely devastated and the next days all I could think about was, “why didn’t I back-up my phone properly?!” But lucky for me still have evidence from each country I’ve been to, but would honestly rather lose all of my stuff instead of videos/pictures from traveling. Remember to back-up your phone really often guys – I learned it the hard way!
Never seen so many camels as in Somaliland
Losing My Phone Was An EYE-OPENER
It was really tough to see my phone die, especially when you’re in Somalia and Eritrea and can’t contact your family for a week! What were they thinking, would they start an investigation, because they couldn’t get in contact with me? How could I now plan anything moving from Somalia to Eritrea, all the thoughts were running through my head.. Even all the important documents is on my phone, but now there was no other way than finding a way in these tough regions! I guess most people couldn’t do a week without their phone, I had to do a week without mine in Somalia and Eritrea and to be fair it was an eye-opener for me.
Had a special permission to visit a tank graveyard in Eritrea, without using my phone
Lesson Learned
No one spoke English of the persons I met in Somalia and Eritrea (after I left Lionora and her friends), but I had to be much more social and was 110% in the moment, which was actually beautiful to experience in a World where the phone takes away a lot of our time unfortunately. I think I learned a lesson from this experience, maybe it was destiny, a sign from above, even though I don’t believe much in stuff like that..
Around the non-English speaking country, Eritrea, in the most difficult way possible
Be Grateful Always
I was really sad about what happened with my phone, but I started to put things into perspective. How many people can’t see, how many people can’t walk, how many people have bad health, and I’m healthy and complaining about not having my phone? Come on, man.. Move on Gustav, you’re wrong, make this possible without your phone.. And I did!
Massive tank graveyard in Eritrea
We Grow From The Bad Days And Experiences
We grow from the challenges we face. We grow from the bad days and experiences, because that’s when we learn to appreciate things and that’s when we learn how to live with gratitude. You can’t have sunshine without a little rain, and even though you might be really sad right now about something, time will with guarantee heal you and you just have to move on and be grateful for what you have and enjoy the journey. Don’t let anything stop you from reaching your goals.
What’s cooler than climbing Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro? Not much really. For me it’s been one of my best travel experiences ever.. But one thing is better: To climb Mount Kilimanjaro and support a good cause.. Do you want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and send Tanzanian orphans to school? Then read on!
Climbing Kilimanjaro is one of the absolute best things you can do!
5-days hike: 14th/19th December 2019 – Marangu Route
⭐️(Luxury Package – Sleeping in huts!)⭐️
Trip price: $1800 (+$99 Project Fee – Tanzanian Orphans School Fee) Normal price: $2899
Deposit Fee: $400 per person – Then you’re IN. Only 16 spots. First come, first served!
Included: 2 nights at hotel (1 before the climb and 1 night after the climb) + a lot more! (Read full programme below)
My favorite travel accomplishment. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!
Put in your personal information. And in the field ‘description’ at the bottom you write:
‘Charity Climb December 2019’
Step 3:
Put in 400 USD in ‘amount’ (for the deposit) and press make payment
Step 4:
After a few minutes you’ll get a confirmation e-mail on your booking. + You’ll have access to our group’s private Messenger-group, where you can ask any questions you might have and they’ll be answered.
YOU’RE READY! BOOK YOUR FLIGHT TICKET!
Step 5:
Make sure to be in Mount Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania the 13th December anytime. You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town.
The legendary Mount Kilimanjaro from below
I’m Coming To Tanzania, Are You?
I’ll be in Tanzania in December 2019 and therefore I thought it was time to do something cool! Why not arrange a luxury charity hike for my friends to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro? Much cheaper than normally? Yep! You’ll pay only $1899 if you book in August and $1999 from 1st of September 2019. Sleeping in tents?
No… sleeping in huts! This is a luxury charity trip!
You’ll be sleeping in huts. Much better than the freezing cold tents at night
The Perfect Time And The Perfect Conditions
I’ve talked to the guy I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with for the first time, Daniel, about doing a Kilimanjaro-hike and I wanted it to be just as perfect as the Kilimanjaro climb I had.. Even better! Forget all about the cold tents at night, you’ll be sleeping in huts, so we make sure you’re well rested and ready to walk ‘pole pole’ (slowly) during the way, which are key words for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Furthermore the trip is in December (Tanzanian summer time) with close to no rain.. Perfect conditions!
Me and my guide John.. He went to the top +100 times. Specialist!
You Need A Team Of Specialists
Me and my guide John literally became best friends on my hike, it’s amazing what 5 days together can do! You need not only good people around you to succeed, but you also need thelocal experts! It’s important on a mountain like Mount Kilimanjaro to have the knowledge! You can buy this trip from American third part’s companies who’ll overcharge you badly with prices between$6000-8000.. It’s not needed to pay this kind of absurd money to people who don’t even know the mountain that well.. Trust me!
You need local experts! And you’ll get a special connection with the whole team through the days
High Succes Rate In Reaching The Top Of Mt. Kilimanjaro
I can assure you it’s NOT necessary to pay BIG money for a TOP servicehere! Daniel and his crew has a really high success rates, actually +95% in reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro! All of the guides have been to the top a lot, and know how to help you in every possible situation. They know the weather conditions, know how to acclimatize perfectly so you can avoid altitude sickness, etc! Top guidance and the most amazing food (from the best cook😉.) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ service.
Couldn’t put a single complain on my trip when reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, and therefore I’m happy to arrange this trip with Daniel, who I did my first hike with and who has some amazing reviews.
Ready To Go? Climb Kilimanjaro For Charity
What I’m most excited about is the ‘Project Fee’ for Tanzanian orphan kids in the orphanage I’ve helped +4 years, when you’ll climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Ask any of the kids in the orphanage what the most important thing in life is, and they’ll answer: “School.” So the project fee is mandatory and the $99 Project Fee goes exclusively to pay 20 Tanzanian orphan kids school fees.
Miss them so much!
You’ll be climbing Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, while you’ll help kids in need.. Help them to go to school, while you’re having the time of your life on this epic mountain! That’s pretty awesome, right?!
Mariamu.. She loves school and dreams of being a teacher
Full Programme – Day 1 to Day 7
Day 1 (13th December): Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Meals: No Meals Included
Day 2 (14th Dec): Marangu Gate (1860m) to Mandara Hut (2700m)
After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge in Moshi and taken to the Marangu gate. Once the necessary paper work has been completed, your trek can begin and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest. Alongside the impressive vegetation, you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of some primates as you head to the Mandara Hut. After a well-earned rest, your guide can take you to the Maundi Crater where you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Kenyan interior.
Distance covered: 8.3km / 5.2mi
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 3 (15th Dec): Mandara Hut (2700m) to Horombo Hut (3700m)
The day begins with an early breakfast. Shortly after you have left Mandara Hut, you will reach the timberline and then enter the heath and moor zone. Approximately 4 – 6 hours later, the Horombo Hut will come into sight, standing at an altitude of 3700m. From the hut, you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo and the wide plain of the Masai steppe.
Distance covered: 12.5km / 7.8mi
Approx. time taken: 9 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
On the way to the top! With the Dutch doctors Frank and Inge.. We can do this team 💪
Day 4 (16th Dec): Horombo Hut (3700m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)
Today’s stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the “Last Water point” which is followed by the so-called “saddle”. This nearly vegetation less plateau joins the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi. Today’s destination is the Kibo Hut that is usually reached in about 5 – 6 hours. Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short.
Distance covered: 9.5km / 5.9mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Unbelievable strong porters will help you with your luggage
Day 5 (17th Dec): Kibo Hut (4700m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m)
& down to Horombo Hut (3700m)
Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681m) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 – 2 hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.
Distance covered: 22km / 13.7mi
Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
The Uhuru Peak, top of Mount Kilimanjaro with amazing assistant guide, Hamedi
Day 6 (18th Dec): Horombo Hut (3700m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)
The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rain forest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.
Distance covered: 20.8km / 12.9mi
Approx. time taken: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch Included
Day 7 (19th Dec): Depart Tanzania
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some gifts shop before heading to the airport.
*Safari ,Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
Meals: Breakfast Included
Dreams do come true on Mount Kilimanjaro and in Tanzania. My favourite country!
Pricing – What’s Included?
5-DAYS MARANGU ROUTE
Included in price package
• Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
• 2 nights of accommodation at Keys Hotel Moshi
• Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
• Park entry fees
• Camping fees
• Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
• 18% VAT on tour fees & services
• 4 Season mountain tents
• Double layered Sleeping Mats
• Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
• 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
• Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
• Hot water for washing
• Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
• Government taxes
• Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter
• Emergency first-aid kit
Not Included
– Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
– Travel insurance
– Flights
– Laundry (Available at hotel)
– Personal items and toiletries
– Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain http://www.kiliporters.org/tipping_recommendations.php
Tipping on Kilimanjaro from the trekking group (not per climber):
For trekking gear you can also pay $100 per person for all the gears and clothing you’ll need for trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro. Then you don’t need to carry anything, and Daniel has everything in clothing and other stuff (like camelbags etc.) you need in this case.
Looking forward to hear from you guys very soon! Remember you save $100 by booking in August 2019. If you have any question. Feel free to e-mail Daniel on danielmlangwa@gmail.com or me on gus1thego@outlook.com. See you guys in Tanzania 💚
Very, Very Last Information
For the forgetful people, the How-To-Pay-Steps are added again below. Remember also to bring a solid amount of cash from back home, because most ATM’s have limits. You might know I stayed a long time in Tanzania and for me it’s my favorite country in the World. Safe, amazingly friendly people and full of wildlife and adventure. So you don’t need to worry about anything here! I have Tanzania with me in my heart everywhere I go 💚We only have one life to chase our dreams, but if we do it right, one is enough!
Taj Mahal, in my Tanzania shirt.. The memories created in Tanzania will forever be remembered!
Put in your personal information. And in the field ‘description’ at the bottom write:
‘Charity Climb December 2019’
Step 3:
Put in 400 USD in ‘amount’ (for the deposit) and press make payment
Step 4:
After a few minutes you’ll get a confirmation e-mail on your booking.
YOU’RE READY! BOOK YOUR FLIGHT!
Step 5:
Make sure to be in Mount Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania the 13th December anytime. You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town.
See you in Tanzania, and make sure to be here the 13th December 2019! Then we figure out the rest!
Sitting home and want to go travel? I understand you and I’ll now tell you the EXACT reason why you should pack your stuff and go traveling ✈️ “But how? It’s expensive, right?” There’s a solution to make it possible!
At Taj Mahal, India
My Realizations From Traveling
I’ve made some realizations during my last 7 years of traveling, living a lot of the time out of abackpack,which I’m really grateful for I’ve experienced! When going back to Denmark, I sometimes had a place to stay and sometimes not, having to move all of my things from one place to a storage room or crash friends or even my parents place. It’s difficult to move around all the time with too much material stuff you have to carry with you. For me too much stuff doesn’t really match with my travels around the World.
Teyateyaneng in Lesotho
I know if I want to travel, I have to drag my stuff along or make sure it’s in a safe place before I can leave. It’s annoying, especially if you have a lot of things! I’ve seen the material possessions I have decrease more over the years. When I was younger it was mostly about impressing friends with expensive things, but now I mostly don’t care about material stuff, except clothing to some extent, and even if I see a nice car, I think of expenses, rather than how awesome it looks! Working more hours to afford it = Less travel.
No way!
Chitzen Itza, Mexico
I still have some things I’m not willing to let go off (Airpods, Sony A6000 Camera, Osprey Fairpoint 40 L Backpack, etc.. Basically these 20 things in this link, but I’ve become more of a minimalist nonetheless by traveling the World over the years. I now have more stories to tell and less stuff to show.
Holding my first travel speech in Erbil, Iraq
Your Choices?
Ask yourself: Did I really buy this Mercedes car or that Rolex watch, because I genuinely love it so much? Am I so truly passionate about this thing and is it TOTALLY for me, not for others? Or did I actually buy it to fill out an emotional gap I have, or maybe to impress a person I don’t even like? Why did I spent money I don’t have, now having to work extra hours, having less hours to do what I really love? Everybody is probably guilty on buying something to impress others, to boost their ego for a short period, for the sake of getting compliments and mostly fake recognition from their friends. Maybe it’s time to change.
Hvar Waterfalls, Croatia
Will Material Stuff Make You Happy?
Most people have this false belief that the more they own, the happier they’ll be. Material stuff will NEVER make you happy! Imagine having the mansion, The TVs.. But having no real friends or family? How would your life be? So many people are slaves to their stuff. But the truth is the more you have, the more you’ll have to manage and worry about. It complicates life.
Walking around freely in North Korea
Have Some Memories
When you go on a vacation, you’ll remember it for years. Those unique experiences become the story you’ll tell forever and a big part of you and I can assure you that nobody will remember your expensive, yet uncomfortable designer couch or $10.000 flat-screen you just bought in 8 years from now. It’ll be garbage!
On the other hand you’ll always have the memories to look back on from traveling.
It’s a brother-thing! Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Shoes And Bed Are Kind Of Important
All being said: Choose your shoes and bed wisely. That’s were you spent most of your life and I really love my travel shoes, most of all the Nike Air Max 97(on the pic) or the Nike Airmax 270. Both perfect travel shoes for men! Just thoughts from me on a Friday evening, preparing myself slowly in Sweden to go back for a new ride in Africa. Starting with going back to Ethiopia and then I’ll see where the roads will take me..
Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Do you agree with some of these thoughts? Guilty, not guilty?
I was close to die two times in 1 week in Liberia. My first time was a near-death experience, which happened when I just arrived to the capital, Monrovia. Here is what happened exactly!
Me and a Liberian guy arriving too late to the border in the evening from Sierra Leone to Liberia
When I finally made my way to the capital Monrovia, I just wished for a nice, enjoyable week in Liberia. Well, not really! But I will return to this.. There was some good vibes in the shared car I was in on our way to Monrovia, but we went out 6 or 7 times to different police check-points on the drive. I knew Liberia had been in 2 civil wars recently, for a total of 14 years, where more than 250,000 Liberians were killed, so I knew this country had been pretty unstable not too long ago.
Me and “The Black Cristiano,” as he introduced himself, from our shared car towards Monrovia
First Look At The Capital Was Shocking
The guy in the blue t-shirt helped me a lot at the check-points, because the police officers usually liked him. He said I was with him, which meant I wasn’t asked too many of the usual questions, wasn’t asked for money or had all of my baggage checked, as I’ve experienced a few others places. That was pretty great! Local friends are good to have.
Now I was close to the capital and I was honestly excited to relax a bit after 30 extremely hectic hours.
My first sight in Monrovia, Liberia
Monrovia, Where Is The Trash-Service?
My first sight of Monrovia was one of the worst I’ve ever seen in a capital. Trash everywhere on the streets and people walking around in this. Even in the car the smell was so bad that we had to hold our noses. I thought the nature had been pretty beautiful on the way to here, and I never judge an entire country on its capital, but Monrovia didn’t make it to my top 20 of capitals around the World – let’s put it that way!
My original plan was I was going to stay in Monrovia, but I had a bit too much of this place already after a few hours, and a friend of mine had a contact in Paynesville, a 45 min drive outside of Monrovia. I thought why not try this.. It could only be better than here! I was going to Monrovia later in the week anyway to fix a visa, so I knew I would have time to explore the good parts of the city too. It was a win-win! I thought…
Near-Death Experience Incoming
The traffic in Monrovia was terrible. Super crowded, no rules, people driving where they wanted to drive, motor bikes and cars everywhere! I thought that because Liberia only had a small population of 5 million people, the country would be pretty smooth with the traffic! Not.. at.. all!
Liberia’s capital Monrovia from above
What concerned me a lot in Monrovia was seeing plenty of damaged cars and motor bikes, I knew there would be a big chance of a road incident here.. No space for small mistakes or a second of inattention!
I counted 5 serious incidents when I arrived in Monrovia, Liberia
No Way Out Of The City – What To Do?
I was on the search for a taxi or a shared ride to Paynesville and it was close to impossible to find a way.. I waited 10 minutes.. Waited 20. All taxis were full of people. I was almost running out of hope, when a young guy on around 19 years of age came to me on his motorbike and asked me: “Where are you going?”
I told him I was going to Paynesville and asked him: “How much?” He started with an absurd price, and I just laughed as I usually do when people are trying to scam me and I pretended I was about to leave, when he said: “How much do you want?” I ended up paying 20% of the price he started with and we were finally off to Paynesville! I’m normally a big fan of taking motor bikes when traveling.. And I can assure you:
THISride is the ONE I remember the MOST out of +1000 motor bike rides.. Here’s why!
Driving Through Hell
I jumped on the motor bike and the driver started to drive really fast almost immediately.. I didn’t get to think anything, before he was driving around 80km/h in a compact African city traffic (not the traffic we know from Europe!) with tiny space to pass other cars.
My driver zigzagged through the queues anyway with high speed. It would be too dangerous to stop him, because of the insane traffic we were in and because of the way he was driving without using the brakes…
My driver honked 3 times pr. second and he looked back every 3 seconds in order to look cool I think, I’m not sure why he did that to be fair, but it freaked me out!
Driving Against Trafic
My driver was a wrong-way-driver and drove against traffic most of the time, and we we’re constantly centimeters away from hitting other cars.. He gassed up to 100 km/h. After 20 min of being in survival mode on this motor bike, I was sure it was over! It all happened in a few seconds..
Another motor bike driver drove from the opposite side of the road and was out of a sudden in the lane we were driving in.. We came with full speed.. My life flashed before my eyes. We were literally as close to a collision as you could possibly get. Millimeters from death! A second of silence and then full speed again!
I’ve taken more than 1000 motor bike rides in my life, but this was by far the worst!
Crazy driver.. Don’t ever jump on a motorbike with this guy in Monrovia, Liberia!
My Body Was Shaking – Shock Mode! I Survived
I was thankful for being alive and my whole body was shaking. I was in totally shock mode! My driver even asked me to double the price and took me to his corrupt friends who pretended to be cops by showing their fake Police ID’s to get money out of me.. I got really aggressive at them and to be fair I wasn’t myself for the rest of that day. I paid the guy the firstly agreed-price and escaped the group. I was just grateful I was still a full piece and alive, and couldn’t really focus on anything – I had a lot of anger inside me!
Seconds after the worst motorbike ride EVER in Liberia
After a few hours I met with my friend’s buddy in Paynesville, Liberia, but my thoughts were somewhere else the rest of this day.. I slowly became myself again the next day.
This is what can happen when you throw yourself into a crazy solo ride through West Africa, without your own car or motorbike, just trying to make a way! I know I probably have to be more careful next time..
I have traveled a lot worldwide for 7 years, been to every country in Europe and most of them +2 times. These are the 5 most beautiful countries in Europe based on ONLY landscapes, according to my point of view. We all have different preferences, but for me these countries blew my mind. This is the Top 5!
The 5 Most Beautiful Countries in Europe (Landscape)
5. Scotland
Edinburgh and Glasgow are very cool cities, but the most fascinating part of Scotland is the dramatic scenery, the lush woodlands, the stunning lochs, rugged coastline and green rolling hills topped with crumbling castles. My personal favourite part is the Scottish Highland. I still remember my travel around Scotland, the fabled Loch Ness and these, misty, magical mountains. If you’re lucky to have no rain the Isle of Skye is an iconic place! I’ve been to Scotland 3 times and I really hope I will come back to see more.
Scotland has some of the most beautiful landscape in Europe
4. The Azores, Portugal
I’ve been to mainland Portugal 3 times and it’s a beautiful country! I like Porto, Lisbon and Sintra very much, but my fascination of mainland Portugal is most of all because of the cozy cities and villages, yet the landscape is nice too. On my 4th time in Portugal I wanted to see a new part of the country and went to The Azores. The Azores was actually recognized as the most beautiful destination in Europe by the European Best Destination, and the blue lakes ringed by forests of laurel and cedar and the peculiar rocks and structures certainly is TOP-CLASS on this volcanic archipelago. Hyacinths are everywhere, nature is so lush and green and breathtaking views from mountain tops when hiking around.. So close to my very top!
Portugal is so much more than only Lisbon.. The Azores has STUNNING landscapes
3. Iceland
Iceland is a country you CAN’T skip on this list. I’ve only been to Iceland one time and I spent 7 days there, but tried to see as much of the island as I could. Iceland’s blue bubbling geysers, rugged lava fields, and spectacular glaciers create a visual spectacle that seems out of this world. Definitely the Land of Fire and Ice, and who honestly wouldn’t love taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon?! Crazy colors, geysers, waterfalls and rock formations everywhere here.. Thumbs up for Iceland!
Visited Iceland is 2015 and I still remember these unique landscapes
2. Norway
I’ve been to Norway 20 TIMES.. Insane!? I went a lot to Norway as a kid and just as much as an adult.. I love the landscapes, there’s always a new adventure waiting in my Danish neighbor country. Deep, striking fjords, rugged coastal mountains and glaciers that take your breath away. Spectacular national parks which protect the nation’s unique scenery and wildlife. Norway is so big and some parts of the country lies within the Arctic Circle. Go north in the country and there’s a good chance of seeing Northern Lights, while reindeers and polar bears roam the staggering ice fields of the Svalbard archipelago most north.
Norway is fascinating, even in the extremely cold winter days with 2 meters snow laying everywhere…
Norway with my dad. As a kid I went mostly to Norway for holidays and a few other countries. Now I’m at 120 countries!
1. Faroe Islands
If you visit Faroe Islands on a big cruise ship for a few days and you only visit the capital Torshavn, then I’m sorry to say that you’ve missed out on some of the most beautiful scenery in the World. Faroe Islands is every photographer’s dream coming true!
I’ve been to Faroe Islands 14 times and been to most of the 18 islands, which are all very unique in their own way. The dramatic, mind-blowing islands landscape is shaped of steep cliffs with sheeps everywhere (Faroe Islands means ‘Sheep Islands), deep fjords and high rising mountains – no matter where you are, you are never more than 5 kilometers away from the ocean!
This natural paradise is Europe’s best kept secret, and while tourists are flocking countries like Iceland and Norway the Faroe Islands still goes under the radar, which makes it even more unique and special!
In a small village called Tjørnuvik in Faroe Islands with 64 people living there
Faroe Islands even has an island with only one family living there! As remote as it gets. Check out The 5 Reasons Why You Need To Go To Faroe Islands, if you’re planning to visit soon. You definitely should!
That was my ‘Top 5 Most Beautiful Countries In Europe (Landscape!) What’s yours?
After 7 years of lots of traveling and 120 countries, I want to share with you ‘My 20 Most Essential Travel Items.’
I usually travel with a 40 liter backpack and I try not to bring too much unnecessary stuff. I want to be flexible and easy moving. However a lot of these 20 travel items are essential for my travels.
I just landed in the Azores after a 2 months trip through West Africa, and I was so happy that I brought my essential travel items on the trip. Everything just got so much easier!
Here in Mali. Essential travel items are important during 2 months in West Africa
20 Most Essential Travel Items (Tips From A Pro-Traveler!)
Every year there are new travel gadgets and gear upgrades coming on the market. If you search “travel” on Amazon you might quickly want to make 10-15 purchases, but not all of these travel items are actually worth packing. I’ve learned to minimize my travel gear, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have a few luxury items in there. There are some things in my packs that you’ve most likely never heard of, and others that are common, but I feel these travels items should be obligatory for long-term travel. Here is the list!
1.Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter Backpack
I had a lot of Backpacks in my life, some good and some bad. I only had one excellent, which covered all of my needs. This Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter Backpack is certainly much better than just about every travel backpack. It fits in Carry On on most Airlines, which saves you A LOT OF MONEY and I love its durability, carry, and hideaway harness system. Awesome look, very comfortable to wear. One of my best investment!
2. Zipper Cubes
Mesh packing cubes
I purchased Eagle Creek Zipper Cubesand they’re incredibly durable. I had them since 2017 and sometimes I’ve packed them so tight that I had to kneel on them and pull on the zippers just to do them up. To this day, the zippers are still working like brand new. There are a lot of options on the market today, but I’ve only used Eagle Creek, because I know they last. When you get the Eagle Creek, you’ll ask yourself “why didn’t I buy them years ago?!” Trust me! I had that EXACT feeling! So nice to have!
3. DJI Spark
Back in 2014, drones were mostly reserved for professional videographers, vloggers and bloggers who wanted arial photography. These days, drones have become smaller, more durable and a lot easier to fly.
The DJI Spark is so tiny that it can pretty much fit into any backpack or luggage. It comes with a hard foam case to keep it protected and it takes great videos and photos. If you like to get unique photos while you’re travelling, then this thing is perfect. FINALLY a drone that’s affordable, small and easy to navigate!
Check out the drone footage my friend and I did with the DJI Spark in Lake Assal, Djibouti here!
4. Power Bank
If I had to pick only one thing of these 20 Travel Items where you shouldn’t save money, I would pick the Power bank.
My favourite Power bank is by far ‘The Anker PowerCore’ with 20100mAh. After having had a lot of different Power banks, because I usually forget them somewhere or they burn out, I always go back to this one. ‘The Anker PowerCore’ is fast charging, it doesn’t burn out, and with its high power capacity it can usually charge my phone 4-5 times fully, sometimes 6.
When I traveled in West Africa I went long periods without electricity, and you really want to be able to use your phone in these situations. Therefore you NEED a good, powerful and reliable Power bank, which can charge your phone many times and can resist bad weather conditions.
‘The Anker PowerCore’ is perfect for me.
5. TRTL Pillow
TRTL Pillow
I’ve just passed 400 flights and I’ve slept on 95% of them! It’s both a good and bad habit to sleep on the plane, good because I’m then rested when I reach my destination, but it’s bad because I end up sleeping in awkward position, which usually cause a lot of neck or hand pain the day after. Few weeks ago I bought the TRTL Pillow and I’ve been really satisfied. It gives scientifically proven super soft neck support and the day after a flight now feels a lot better for me with the neck support and comfort if offers whilst you sleep.
There is a manual on how to put it on (SO EASY!) and it literally doesn’t take 2 seconds to do!
6. Good Compact Camera
Every traveller needs to be carrying a good pocket camera. If you really don’t care about what your photos look like and never plan to take pictures in low light, then your iPhone or Android device should do the trick (assuming it’s a newer model with 10+ megapixels). I like to bring a small camera that takes no space.
If you want to take some better photos and great videos while you’re travelling, without packing the size and weight of a full DSLR or mirrorless, then I recommend the Sony A6000 with 24.3 Megapixels. To compare my IPhone X has a 12-megapixel camera. The Sony A6000 camera has some incredible features, takes great photos, and produces some of the best video of any camera in its class. EASY to use and it takes no time to connect it to your phone. I’ve connected it to both my Samsung (android) and to IPhone easily!
The Sony A6000 takes some amazing photos! Here I brought it to Cape Town, South Africa. @gustavrosted
7. Luggage Tracker
Ever lost your luggage? I have, and to be honest I promised myself I would pick up one of these things after Turkish Airlines lost my luggage back in 2016. I “forgot” to buy one and in Oktober of 2017 when Air Astana misplaced my luggage, I thought it was the right time.
On both occasions, I was able to get my luggage back in a week, but it’s an absolutely horrible feeling you have that you’ll never see your backpack again. If I just had the Luggage Tracker in my bag, I would have known exactly what airport they were at and I could’ve even told the airline so that they could retrieve it faster for me. I use the GEGO Luggage Tracker, and I got it after the Trakdot didn’t work properly on 3G network any longer. I’ve been satisfied with it, as it’s generally known that the GEGO is best luggage tracker on the market, tracking very precise and fast. Bluetooth connection is great, where Trakdot was always finicky in every way. Still haven’t found a better product than GEGO and the Map View is great too!
8. Polarized Sunglasses
Kayaking Halong Bay, Vietnam
My secret addiction: Sunglasses and especially for Ray-Bans! Why? Stylish look, 100% UV PROTECTION, (protecting the eyes from the harmful UV rays) and just an iconic look, shape, feel, and style. One thing I don’t save money on for sure, and they’re usually a long-term investment, which will always be modern!
A travel backpack is an ESSENTIAL item. You should invest in a sturdy, comfortable backpack which you can carry all day long. Anti-theft backpack is what I recommend. I use the Affinity USB Backpack as my day backpack to combine with my Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter Backpack. One of the good things about the Affinity USB Backpack is it can fit in the Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter, so sometimes I put it in there and bring it in the carry-on, so I don’t need to pay to for check-in baggage – travel like a boss! I know!
This Affinity USB Backpack helps me to store my electronics, travel documents (RFID protection,) powerbank, toilet bag etc, and have comfortable and adjustable straps. I’m a big fan of this anti-theft secured backpack with a USB charging port that fits a 15.6 MacBook.
10: MacBook Pro
I bring my MacBook Pro with me everywhere for travel, and it’s obviously the best computer I’ve ever had! Once you go Mac, you never go back! I have this MacBook Pro (13-inch with a 2.3GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM and with a 256GB SSD in Space Gray.) I bought in on Amazon and its been perfect so far!
The first MacBook I had lasted for 7 years, and it’s always a good investment to get a proper MacBook in my opinion. For me and my Digital Nomad lifestyle it’s an asset I can’t live without, and I need a computer that can go through rough roads and rain season in West Africa, which has been the case with this one!
Of course, always be careful with your computer and don’t do stupid stuff 😉
10. Bluetooth Speakers
Everyone travels with their Bluetooth Speakers. When you’re getting ready to go out for the night or just chilling on your beach hut patio looking out at sunset, having a bit of music playing in the background can really set the mood. If you’re traveling solo like me mostly, it’s usually a very good way to make new friends to bring a Bluetooth Speaker, put on some good music and get the vibes going!
Not just any bluetooth speakers do it for me. Had plenty, but I love a nice mix of durability and excellent sound. I currently have the JBL Splashproof Portable Speaker, and it has amazing sound. Plus, I use it with wet hands at the beach and it hasn’t been damaged yet. The latest model, the JBL Waterproof Flip 3 Speakers are so waterproof that you can even submerge them in water and not ruin them, and they’re lightweight and very durable. You can take them to the beach and not worry about them getting wet or sandy and they sound crystal clear. For just $99.99 on Amazon, they’re also an excellent deal.
11: Dock & Bay Microfiber Towel
A travel towel is key – and I usually recommend a basic microfiber travel towel, cheap and easy in your local shop. But last year, I learned about Dock & Bay Microfiber Towel, which is one of the best Quick Dry Towels and said to be the most original SAND FREE Beach Towel there is. These towels are honestly awesome and more lightweight than other microfiber towels, but are also amazing for the beach. They dry really fast, more than 3 times as fast as a normal towel. I pack mine in the bottom of my personal item backpack and never know it’s taking up space but it’s always there when I need it.
I like this the model in Bondi Blue! Sand free, quick drying, odorless and colorful too!
12. Baseball Cap
Like here in a small village Senegal and most of the hot places I travel, I like to wear a Baseball Cap to protect my face against the sun. Absolutely convenient and a must-have for me to bring on every travel! They don’t take up any space and are perfect for hiding your hair when it looks absolutely terrible! 🙂
13. Toilet Bag
My toilet bag broke on my long journey through Africa and it really sucks when that happens! To be honest everything was a mess in it, so maybe it was meant to happen for a reason. I just bought this Premium Quality Organized Travel Bag, and it’s an absolute game-changer! Now all of my toilet things are where they should be! Love it!
14. Multi-Port Cables
With all the electronic items that you will be carrying on your travels, keeping them charged and up to date is essential. I swear by this multi port cable. I was given a sample of this cable years ago when and it’s an AMAZING item to keep forever. A charging cable, with multiple ports like for your iphone, Kindle, camera, or a battery back-up.
You might be aware each of these devices listed above use different ports like the micro USB, USB and lightning cable, etc. Using this cable you can charge all of them. Yes – at the same time if you like.
15. Universal Adaptor
As a frequent traveler, a universal adaptor is a MUST. I still remember my first big travel where I didn’t thought of bringing this before it was too late, and had to buy a super expensive universal adaptor for $40 in an Airport. This multi-country adaptor is only $12,99 and has 2 USB ports to plug in and charge the electronic item in over 150 countries. So definitely a good investment. You will be carrying some electronic device (a phone, camera, tablet or laptop) with you on your travels. Universal adaptors will help you to plugin your device in any power outlet across the world to charge its battery for use. So important!
16. Collapible Water-Bottle
Waterbottle is an essential item on your travels. Whether you are hiking or on a full day tour and exploring, you SHOULD stay hydrated and carry a waterbottle. In countries where water is expensive, fill it up from the hotel. I use this LEAK FREE, vacuum insulated Alpha Armur Bottle, because I HATE to get water in my bag where I have my electronics and because I don’t like the concept of buying plastic bottles all the time in countries where they don’t know how to recycle the plastic properly.
This waterbottle is totally a Win-Win! And it definitely saves you money in the long run..
17. Travel Organizer
Travel Organizer for documents are so handy! They are a MUST have to organize and secure your credit cards, printed boarding passes, passport, any quick notes like hotel address, emergency contact information, etc. I know you might think, in the age of technology why bother with printed boarding pass? Trust me, not all airports will accept barcode/digital boarding passes and what if your phone is frozen and cannot be scanned, especially in Africa!
Also, your passports and credit cards are not digital, you will need a wallet with RFID protection (to protect against identity theft) or a travel organizer like this one. I use this travel organizer, to keep all the travel documents in one place. Invest in a piece that is not bulky, yet has enough rooms for passport, credit or ID cards, money, paper, pen and boarding pass, with RFID protection.
18. A Day or Two of Toiletries
I can’t count how many times I’ve had a Sun Lotion, Perfume etc. over 100 ml taken from me in the security control in Airports. It was first after I discovered these small Go Tube Travel Bottlesthis finally ended! Really good to have for personal hygiene. Very durable and don’t leak despite being repacked daily as I stayed in many different hotels and places! I’m a big fan of these! The other travel bottles I had were usually leaking and it sucks to open your toilet bag and find out a shampoo is now all over your toothbrush!
These ones are honestly very good to have!
18. Travel Insurance
No one wants to buy travel insurance. I get it. We all think the incident doesn’t happen to me. But what happens when a monkey bites you in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and you need to get a quick rabies injection or you get malaria in Ivory Coast. Then you’re screwed! Unless you have a good Travel Insurance-
I prefer Worlds Nomads. Honestly, I hate worrying about my stuff while I travel. World Nomads gives me the peace of mind I need when it comes to gear. When my bag got stolen in Argentina, we took the proper steps by filing a police report and submitting our paperwork and they covered our losses. No muss, no fuss. It was great.
Plus, their One-Call 24-Hour Assistance Services offer multilingual pros to help you find a local doctor, dentist, or hospital abroad, and they can even arrange transportation to get you there.
19. First Aid
When it comes to travel first aid, think of anything you might have trouble hunting down in a foreign pharmacy and bring at least one. I’m not a big fan of taking pills, medicine and whenever I can avoid it I do. But I do like to have a little medicine for emergency situations and what I personally bring for my travel is:
1: Imodium (Stomach problems, anti-diarrhea.) After drinking the wrong ice cubes in India these are absolutely life-savers!
2: Systane Eye-Drops. I have dry eyes, and in countries where you deal with a lot of dust etc, I need eye-drops, otherwise I can’t see properly, my eyes get scratchy and sometimes red. Systane eye-drops helped me so much in Africa.
3: Paracetamol Tablets. For me they are the most important. Every time I’m about to get sick, it usually helps taking one of these and drink some water. I use the Danish brand Panodil and like to take one when I feel bad, because they usually better the situation.
4: Zyrtec Allergy Relief.I have allergy for grass, dust and some special perfumes and when it’s worst I use Zyrtec Allergy Relief to recover from sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes. Also relief from itchy throat or nose.
5: Band Aids. I never travel without these. You never no when you’re going to hurt yourself! 🙂
20: Windproof Travel Umbrella
While other umbrellas get easily flipped in the wind & break, the this Compact Travel Umbrella has a vented Double Canopy that allows the wind to pass through, preventing it from flipping over and breaking in strong winds. That’s one feature I really appreciate. I can’t count how many umbrellas I have watched die in strong winds, but this one is a survivor! And it doesn’t take a lot of space!
A Last Remember
Last but not least remember to bring copy of your passport, proof of vaccinations and maybe some small passport photos! You now have all the Travel Essentials and remember the only IMPOSSIBLE journey is the one you never begin, so pack your bag and go! ✈️
After some long travel days and a baby puking on me on the bumpy roads in Guinea, I was honestly a bit tired to say the least and very excited to get out of Guinea’s capital Conakry’s craziness and into Sierra Leone, the country of white beaches and diamonds.
No. 2 Beach, Sierra Leone
The Ebola Outbreak
When I had to go from Guinea down south to Sierra Leone, I a took bus, shared taxi, motor bike, basically every possible vehicle in order to finally reach Sierra Leone, the land of the white beaches, which I heard so much good stuff about. Besides a big Ebola outbreak few years ago which killed +10,000 people. Terrible!
Ebola just found in Congo again. Sierra Leone on alert!
Not Allowed To Enter Sierra Leone?
But I didn’t want to think too much about that. Like always. Just go!
First of all I was told that my vaccination card wasn’t complete to enter Sierra Leone. I told the border police that my doctor gave me all the vaccines which were needed. After a little talk with the Sierra Leonean border police, they told me: “This is not the Official Vaccination Card.” I told them that it was how the Official Vaccination Card we get in Denmark looks like, even though it was just a copy of it, (as I would be afraid to lose my original one,) and they luckily believed in my super convincing explanation.
I then had to go through two offices more for registration and thought okay, now I’m almost in Sierra Leone.. But then the lady at the registration office said: “Now you go into that room, to the ‘Big Boss!’
Border crossings in West Africa can be complicated and tiresome
My Meeting With The Big Boss
The ‘Big Boss’ was a big guy, probably around 50 years old, wearing a suit and with a mad look. He said “sit down” with a brutally dark voice and then started to look at my passport without saying anything for 2 minutes. It felt like a reeeally long time in there, because he looked really critically on every page and visa.
He then looked at me and opened his big mouth. “What are you doing here in Sierra Leone?” I replied “I’m just visiting the country as a tourist.” He didn’t say anything and continued to look at my passport.
It seemed like I was just about to get allowance to enter Sierra Leone, sitting in the ‘Big Boss’ office with him lifting his arm to give me the stamp, but then he put the arm down slowly and asked me:
“Which hotel in Sierra Leone?” Damn…
The Missing Hotel Reservation
SH*T. How could I forget to find a hotel name or to fake a hotel reservation in Sierra Leone.
I told ‘Big Boss’: “Give me one second..”
I was trying to get some internet connection, so I could say a name of a hotel, but there was absolutely zero connection at the border.
‘Big Boss’ looked impatiently at me and raised his voice. “I NEED A HOTEL RESERVATION.”
I replied: “It’s called Freetown Hotel.” Big Boss: “I don’t know that one?” I said: “At the beach?” He said: “There’s no one with that name.” I thought oh no, this is NOT good.
He continued: “We can’t let you in to Sierra Leone without a Hotel Reservation. Impossible.” I realized I had to make a quick move, otherwise entering Sierra Leone wouldn’t be for this time, which would destroy my travel plans completely. I didn’t want ‘Big Boss’ to destroy it for me!
I said: “Let me just call my friend about the hotel name.” He stared at me angrily with his scary mad look.. Of course I couldn’t call my friend with no connection at the border, but while I was pretending to call my friend, I took a quick look in ‘Big Boss’s’ book, which was upside down in front of him, and in 2 seconds I could see a hotel name called ‘YMCA.’ I started to scratch my eyes to distract him a bit..
YMCA in Sierra Leone
I took my phone to my ear and faked a call: “Hello Samuel (quickly made up name), what was the name of that hotel.. At the beach in Freetown? Arh, YMCA, okay thanks!” Without talking to any person of course.. When ‘Big Boss’ heard YMCA, he said “good” with his extremely manly voice and continued “Welcome to Sierra Leone.”
I didn’t go to that hotel, but..
Thank you, ‘Big Boss!’
Had to buy a Sierra Leone t-shirt out of pure excitement!
Entering Sierra Leone felt extra good after my meeting with the ‘Big Boss,’ he was indeed one of the biggest bosses I’ve ever met, and to top it off I met a nice lady who brought her rooster in the shared taxi in Makeni, Sierra Leone!
Mali is currently not in a good state to say the least, and there was a big terrorist attack not far from where I was on my second day here, which was really sad, but there are still lots of positive things about the country and the capital, Bamako.
Mali Travel Advisory – US Government
The US Government has put a 4 on their travel advisory level, which is highest danger, which means do NOT travel to Mali at the moment, because there have been some really ugly incidents recently with kidnappings of Westerners, bombings, massacres and more..
The Capital Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and is also the largest city with 2 million people. The place is near the famous Niger River. Located between the Sahara to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south, Bamako is very hot on average all year round with the hottest months being March, April, and May.
I wasn’t freezing during my time in Bamako! +40°C was the standard
Is Bamako All Bad And Dangerous?
No, Bamako is not all bad and dangerous. There are so many reasons to visit this city also. I agree it’s maybe not the best time to go to Bamako right now, but the capital still has a lot to offer.
Seydou, one of my new friends in Bamako, Mali
The People
Mali is the 4th poorest country in the world (UN Human Development Index). In Bamako and in Mali in general people is primarily Muslim, but there are also significant populations of Christians and animists. French is the official language and Bambara is the most widely spoken.
Women wear long skirts but arms, chests and heads are regularly exposed.
Colorful Malian ladies in a village outside of Bamako
Malians are poor and most people live for less than 1 dollar a day. No medical care, little to no access to education, weak infrastructure – But sometimes when you know the feeling of having nothing, that’s when you become more open-minded, wanting to share more with people..
I had the most from people who had the least to be fair!
Bamako might have people who wants to take advantage of you, but is also full of incredible kindness, hospitality and curiosity.
Two Malian guys chiling at a local market, Bamako
One thing I found interesting here was the fact that a lot of families practice polygamy. A man will live with 2-3 wives in a large compound, a hut or a small house with all their children. In Senegal it was 4 out of 10 men, who lived as polygamists and here probably around the same if not more.
The Sights
Bamako is a sprawling city through which the river Niger flows. On one end of the city is a hill formation (supposed to be an extinct volcano?) on which the President’s Palace is located. You start driving up the hill, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city, enter into green surroundings and the roads are great.
Bamako is not a knock out sightseeing city. There is no must see location, but I still found some very cool places here and even though it’s a large, noisy, crowded city, it has its charms.
Monument de l”Independance, Bamako, Mali
I really liked to see the crazy and colorfol Bamako City Center market. A great, vibrant and hectic experience, even though a bus smashed really hard into a car few meters away from me. Scary! The bus drove away right after leaving the car smashed and the car owner shocked and speechless. Not cool…
3 Best Sights In Bamako
My favorite places in Bamako to visit are: Monument de l”Independance, Bamako Grand Mosque and of course the obvious Bamako highlight, Le Campement.
Morning swim at Le Campement. So cool and you have it all by yourself!
The way to Le Campement was great, if you choose the bumpy, little used but well signposted road taking you through rural areas directly to the foot of the 3rd bridge. You’ll pass trough rarely visited villages, beautiful green countryside and have some excellent views over fields, canals and mountain side villages.
Views over The Grand Mosque, Bamako
Having been all around the city of Bamako and the small neighborhoods, the city villages and their people are the real sights of this colorful city. In the suburbs you can see so many things, visit potters, blacksmiths, tailors and and colorful local markets or just grab a cup of tea and watch the daily life of a vibrant township pass by before your eyes. And if you stop for a look there, you will be met by big smiles and respect.
Bamako is all about the colors!
The Number 1 Thing About Bamako
It could have been the food, which is pretty amazing and cheap here, but IT’S NOT.
Malian Breakfast by the hands
I like the Malian breakfast, which was a bit different to my oatmeal with raisins back in Denmark, I really liked the extremely cheap grilled meat sticks you can get on every street corner too and then ofc. the Timbuktu Toukassou. Yummy!
Timbuktu Toukassou. So good!
But food wasn’t what I liked the most about Bamako, even though it was up there among the best things. The thing I liked the most, and I actually can’t remember one capital city I’ve been to around the World, where this thing was so common and easy: Free motorbike rides.
Free Motorbike Rides (THE BEST THING)
I’ve done at least 30+ free motorbike rides during my time in Bamako.
Free motorbike ride in Bamako
I quickly found out the traffic here was really bad quiet early during my stay and there were so many people on their motorbikes, who drove past the queues of the cars easily. So what I usually did to beat the traffic was just jumping on random motorbikes. How in the world was that possible?
Crossed the Niger River several times a day. That was so easy to do!
It was so super easy here actually. I just pointed with my hand in which direction I was going to go, and the drivers then nodded if they were going that way, or showed with their hand they were going in another direction. I usually didn’t wait for more than 30 seconds before having a ride ready and no one did ever ask me for money after I said: “Merci beaucoup pour le voyage de mon ami.” / Thanks for the ride my friend.
People in Bamako loves to help you with a free ride
Excuse Moi?
My French is extremely limited, so don’t be afraid to do the same. It’s all about the attitude.
Even when I came back from hiking in Malian mountains several hours outside of Bamako, I had free rides, after our bus crashed down in the middle of nowhere, which by the way happens way too often in West Africa.. I even had some gifts on the free motor bikes in Bamako and a lot of appreciation. You probably wouldn’t get that in Bangkok, Manila or in any major European city. In these places most people would look strange at you or ask you to pay as much as possible, worst case even try to scam you.
After an amazing time in Guinea Bissau, it was time for me to start a new adventure. Off to Guinea, which I only knew from a big ebola outbreak 3 years ago before.
Staying in the slums of Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Interesting stay in Guinea-Bissau
I left from Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau to Gabu, a city in the east of Guinea-Bissau and spend some time exploring Gabu, before making the decision to head to the bus station and see if there were any busses or taxis, which was going to Guinea in the afternoon.
I asked for Labe, a relatively big city in Guinea and a guy there took me to the ticket office in Gabu. I bought the ticket and was told to sit and wait with a bunch of other people on a small bench.
Waiting for the bus in Gabu, Guinea-Bissau. One guy was wearing football shoes and a shirt, love the combo!
Different prices at the bus station
All people paid 14.000 CFA, including myself, but I had to pay 3000 CFA extra, because of my small extra bag, eventhough all the local people carried many extra bags + a lot of other things from their home, without any extra fees.
Love Africa sometimes..
Anyway, I didn’t want to discuss that further with the ticket guy and I accepted it, because I thought I would be one of the last persons to join the bus, and that we were then ready to leave the place and go to Guinea, my country number 113.
But no. We waited for one hour, we waited for two.. We waited for three.. Nothing really happened.
We were 11 people sitting there waiting impatiently and I counted the seats in the mini bus to 13 seats, if everyone was sitting super close, so I hoped a solution was going to be found soon.
The Rastafarian Guy
A Rastafarian guy from Guinea, who showed me some weird bar photos on his phone from his time in Germany
I was small talking a bit with a Rastafarian Guinean guy, (he didn’t speak any English though,) but we went for a nice omelette sandwich together while waiting. Very popular in Guinea-Bissau! He showed me some weird photos too from Germany, where he went to a bar apparently!
Lack of English and lack of patience
Nobody in the Gabu bus station spoke English, but I tried to tell the ticket guy that there were only two free seats, but he started to say ‘tomorrow’ and signaled to me that we would probably first be able to go tomorrow instead of today, because the bus wasn’t full.
My general impression, after having traveled to many places in Africa, is that time is never a factor. I’m used to it, but to say the bus would first be able to leave tomorrow morning, because of 2 people missing pissed me off, especially after having waited for more than 3 hours in an insane heat.
I could see people were losing their patience too like me and I told the guy that we would maybe meet two persons on the way. He rejected me again.
We waited 30 minutes more..
Waiting for many hours to go to Guinea at the bus station in Gabu, Guinea-Bissau. The ticket guy to the right!
I then lost my temper and told him to give me back my overpaid money, and everyone at the station now had their eyes planted on me. I pointed out on the street and said I was going to find another solution.. He could understand my hand gestures and facial expression.
That’s when stuff got serious.
Leaving Gabu in a new bus
I could see he was now afraid of losing the 3000 CFA going directly to his pocket, and he said in a mix of Portuguese, French and English that I should wait 5 minutes and he would just go to the toilet.
When he came back, he had called someone else. That guy brought an even smaller, older and more crappy mini bus, with windows that couldn’t even close. Three people moved all of our luggage to the ‘new’ bus.
They put some fuel on it and a guy was trying to fix the brakes. After few minutes the ticket guy told us we were ready to go, looking at me directly. He smiled to me and I smiled back and we shaked hands and both laughed a bit. No bad feelings, I just love Africa sometimes! All of this for two free seats on the bus..
A beautiful girl waiting at the station in Gabu, Guinea-Bissau
Finally off to Guinea, my country number 113
When we got in the small mini bus with windows that couldn’t close, we were sitting there super close to each other and it was impossible to move. This was going to be a long drive! Everyone was smiling at me and greeting me, because people were happy to leave today and not tomorrow.
Right when we left the station, two local people were asking if the bus went to Labe, Guinea.. Really? So why did we need to change bus!? Anyways, in the bus with them too! The bus was absolutely packed now!
Some Of The Most Bumpy Roads Ever
We drove for hours on some of the most bumpy roads I’ve ever experienced driving on, even as an experienced African traveler, and then the Rastafarian guy told me that we were now at the border when it was late evening.
Me and the Rastafarian guy, both very tired!
We went out of the bus and there was this big lake we had to pass. We were standing in Guinea Bissau and on the other side of that lake was Guinea.
The big problem was there was no bridge.
I could see a small tree platform and some goats on the other side and nothing more, except for some pretty interesting observations in the water.. Crocodiles and other interesting stuff? Most possibly!
Standing in Guinea-Bissau, ready to cross the river to Guinea! Completely covered in dust, because the windows in the bus couldn’t close
We waited for three hours until night time, and then someone came to the tree platform on the Guinean side and brought it over to our side.
Passing the border on an old, shaky, tree platform
We then put the mini bus on the tree platform and me and 8 African guys had to pull a rope by hand power to get us over the river. We were all drained when we made it to the other side. Talk about an adventurous border crossing!
It was totally dark now on the other side and we went through 4 or 5 border stops, where we all had to get out of the bus each time, having our passports and documents checked, before we squeezed together again and continued on the dusty, narrow, bumpy African roads. I knocked my head into the windows several times and had to buy coffee on every stop we made, because sleeping on this route would leave you seriously damaged. And I hate coffee!
At around 3am in the night the Rastafarian guy, who apparently went to Germany, showed the pictures of him there to a lady in the bus and the lady didn’t believe him. They started to shout at each other for the next hours and everyone in the bus was suddenly taking part in the argument, except for me! Nuts!
Trying to stay positive in the drama bus
Good thing was the discussions helped me to stay awake. But damn, Guinean people can get angry, that’s a fact! Didn’t need to buy any coffee for these hours at least..
At 5 am it all culminated with a woman’s baby puking on my bag and on another Guinean guy, because of the crazy driving on the dust roads! The smell some African busses can have with lack of deo/perfume, motor oil and other ingrediens, just got even worse. When I arrived in Labe, Guinea at 10 in the morning, I was so super exhausted and relieved to have reached the destination.. It was great to get in a taxi!
When arriving in Labe, Guinea completely done with dust everywhere. I took a shared taxi to a guesthouse to sleep a bit!
But also happy to have taken part in such a cultural, adventurous, scary, off the beaten path bus ride from Guinea Bissau to Guinea, which I’m now thinking back on with a smile.
What a way to enter my country number 113!
Guinea
Here at the Kambadaga Falls in Guinea. One of the most stunning waterfalls I’ve ever seen!
A travel backpack is an ESSENTIAL item. You should invest in a sturdy, comfortable backpack which you can carry all day long. Anti-theft backpack is what I recommend. I use the 
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