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Exploring the Allure of Senegal: A Tranquil Gem in West Africa
Senegal truly gets it, emerging as a destination that demands attention and admiration. Despite the initial frustration and disappointment surrounding the entry process, these sentiments swiftly dissipate upon setting foot in the country. Oh, what a magnificent sight to behold! In the grand symphony of travel, Dakar takes the lead, showcasing the profound impact that town planning and city landscapes can have on a traveler’s first impression. The architecture seems to follow an unspoken directive, dictating the precise height, width, color, and form of each building to maintain a harmonious urban tapestry. As I navigated the cities, I couldn’t help but reflect on the broader question of whether Senegal, in its entirety, encapsulates the spirit of West Africa. The meticulous orderliness, the structured cityscape, and the unwavering commitment to maintenance and security create an atmosphere that is truly thought-provoking. Senegal’s commitment to orderliness, structure, and maintenance is evident in the meticulous planning of its towns and cities. The value placed on security and well-maintained roads becomes apparent, contributing significantly to the livelihood of its people. Venturing through four cities in Senegal, it becomes evident that the country’s efforts extend beyond making its capital a focal point. The commitment to well-structured transportation, good roads, and housing permeates even the smaller cities. While Senegal may not boast an abundance of tourist attractions or ecotourism sites, the true gem lies in its hospitality. The accessibility, meticulous maintenance, and profound commitment to preserving history and culture make every penny spent on the experience worthwhile. Stepping into Senegal feels like a privilege, a journey through a country that cherishes its rich heritage. During my escapade, I gained insights into the elevated standard of living in Senegal, particularly concerning the acquisition of quality accommodation. This realization, in contrast to my experiences in Nigeria where numerous choices cater to individuals across different income brackets, offered a fascinating perspective on lifestyle variances. Senegal emerges as a blessing to tourism in West Africa, upholding its reputation as one of the most peaceful and safest countries to explore. While it may not boast extravagant tourist offerings, Senegal’s charm lies in its commitment to maintaining a delicate balance between modernity and cultural richness. To have stepped foot in this country feels like unlocking a treasure trove of experiences, revealing the nuanced layers of a destination that transcends the ordinary.
The ECOWAS Travel Certificate: My Near Deportation Experience in Senegal
My journey with the ECOWAS travel certificate led to an unexpected and eye-opening experience in Senegal, a nation that is part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This article delves into my encounter with the ECOWAS travel certificate and the challenges I faced when trying to exercise my right to free movement within the ECOWAS region. Discovering the ECOWAS Travel Certificate As a young Nigerian, I came across the ECOWAS travel certificate, which in lieu of the ECOWAS passport offered the promise of unrestricted passage to the 15 ECOWAS member states including Senegal. It seemed like a golden ticket to hassle-free travel through countries such as Benin, Togo, and Cote d’Ivoire where the mere sight of an ECOWAS passport typically grants one entry. However, my encounter with Senegal spotlighted an issue that seems to be flying under the radar. My Deportation Dilemma Senegal, a fellow ECOWAS member, acted contrary to my expectations. Unlike Mauritania which formally exited the ECOWAS community in 2000, Senegal seemed to have stayed, yet its stance was unusual and unsettling. My near-deportation experience in Senegal as a bearer of the ECOWAS travel certificate, made me question why I should find myself detained and at risk of being sent back to Mali. Senegal’s Reasons for Rejection The Senegal Border Officials provided two primary reasons for their rejection of the ECOWAS travel certificate, especially when travelers were coming from Nigeria. My Counterargument Senegal’s first stance, which was their shift to digital processing clashed with my observations. A significant portion of travelers crossing West African borders still used their National ID cards, necessitating manual documentation upon entry with a register and pen. If this manual process with National ID cards was considered legitimate, it raised the question of why the ECOWAS travel certificate, which could not be digitally confirmed, was being singled out as unacceptable. Air Travel Woes The problems with the ECOWAS travel certificate extended beyond land borders, affecting air travel as well. The dream of unrestricted movement as outlined in the ECOWAS treaty appeared to be slipping away, buried under stamping fees and bureaucratic protocols faced by ECOWAS members during their travels. It was evident that a collective effort was needed among ECOWAS member states to revisit and revamp the existing protocols. Achieving the true essence of free movement within the ECOWAS region should be a shared goal. Conclusion My personal experience with the ECOWAS travel certificate revealed the complexities and challenges surrounding free movement within the ECOWAS region. The rejection of the certificate in Senegal and the barriers faced by travelers underscore the need for a reevaluation of the ECOWAS treaty’s goals. To make the dream of seamless travel a reality, ECOWAS member states should come together to revisit and update the existing protocols, ensuring that the fundamental principles of free movement are upheld.
Traveling To Ghana, Senegal with NIN or International Passport?
Do I need a passport to travel to Ghana, Senegal, or other West African countries? NO| But with exceptons.
Top 10 waterfalls in Nigeria and why you should Visit:
Nigeria is blessed with some of the most beautiful and fascinating waterfalls in Africa. if you think I’m lying, wait till the end of this article and come argue with me in the comment Section. Welcome Alarinkaz, Today In no particular orders I will be sharing these top waterfalls destinations based on their accessibility and my experiences. Leggos! 1: Farin Ruwa waterfall Farin Ruwa waterfall is arguably one of the most beautiful, stunning and stand out waterfalls in Nigeria. The majestic waterfall also called “White waters is located in Wamba local government area in Nasarrawa state. Accessibility of this waterfall is not an easy task and definitely not one for the faint-hearted. It’s about an hour tedious with almost no pathway to the waterfall from Wamba LGA and about 2 hours from Lafia which is Nassarawa Capital. The good news is that this waterfall is rewarding, the sight, the clouds, and the chilled crystal clear water will make you forget all the hardship you passed through and you won’t want to leave at any time soon. Direction From Lafia- take a bus going to Akwanga for about N400, and take another bus to Wamba LGA for about N200. From the park, you can get a bike man to get you to the waterfall for about N3,000 to and fro Note: they can’t get to the point of the waterfall. You’ll be dropped about 20km and you’ll have to walk to the fall. Is this destination worth it?: Absolutely yes, all your sweat and penny. Erin-Ijesha Waterfall I schooled in Osun state for 4years and I never thought of going to this waterfall until I was intentional about traveling in 2018. You see, traveling has to be intentional but aside that; the news about the bad road and maintenance of this destination back then was a turn off for me. But here is the good news: Erin Ijeshu is the most popular, easily accessible, most structured, most touristic waterfall in Nigeria because of its close proximity to Lagos. Olumirin waterfall also known as Erin -Ijesha waterfall is located in Erin-Ijesha, Osun state southwest Nigeria. The waterfall is in seven stages; Stage 1&2 is where the am waterfalls graciously from the top of the rock Stage 3-7: Is an adventurous hike to the top of the mountain and another village called Efon-alaiye in Ekiti state. There is a myth about the seventh Stage that has everyone going up there to see for themselves. it’s said that the waterfall pours from a small pot on the seventh Stage from a small stagnant stream. You should go see for yourself. The waterfall is beautiful and it’s a must visit for all Nigerians and any foreigners that find themselves in the country. The new development at this attraction made it ranked as one of the best attractions that attract tourists into the state of Osun. There are now availability of chalet, easy access to transportation to convey people in and out of the falls, vendors and hospitable receptions. Is this attraction worth it?; Hell yeah…. 3: Arinta waterfall Remember the small village from the top of Erin-ijesha, this waterfall is facing south of Olumirin, it’s located at Efon-Alaiye and it’s also in Seven stages. This waterfall is easily accessible with a good road network, accommodating reception and a beauty to behold. The Waterfall also has facilities for relaxation, picnic and hangout . It cost N500 to access the fall but if you have extra cash to tip the guide, it will be highly appreciated by them. The waterfall only flows gracefully from stage one to three and the rest are more like a mini fall or let’s say a rocky stream. It’s quite an adventurous hike to the seventh stage, I didn’t know about this information when I decided to go visiting the falls so I went wearing slippers, I hiked to the seventh stage with my bike man without wearing slippers and I must say I enjoyed every bit of the adventure. location 4: Awhum waterfall the mysterious self glorifying waterfall like I love to call it is still one that leaves me speechless every time the thought of how beautifully situated in the middle of a big cave is something indescribable. Awhum waterfall, which is situated at Amaugwe village of Awhum town in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu state. Is a waterfall that is said to have been birthed by natural disaster. Well that natural disaster turned out to be a blessing to the country. CLICK HERE to read more about the waterfall 5:Owu waterfall This is arguably the tallest waterfall in Nigeria and in West Africa water. Owu fall is undoubtedly a beautiful sight to behold and a must see. The only waterfall that its flow intensifies with the volume of sound of songs sung by people or screams is still a thing of mystery to every tourist that has been there. This destination just like Farin,it isn’t for the faint hearted. My journey to this particular destination wasn’t a pleasant one, the road is terrible,there’s no network connection, zero to nothing on the road that leads there. I navigated my way to Owu falls from Ondo state which took about 4hours to get to Oke-Onigbin at Owu-Esin the local government where the water is located. From Oke-Onigbin, you can get bikes for N2,000 or more to and fro to the fall depending on your negotiation skills. Owu Falls is said to be at its best during the rainy season but I won’t advise this judging from the bad Rocky and muddy road. Owu fall is best explored in groups, it’s not a destination for a solo traveler. Mastgira waterfalls This is that one waterfall in Nigeria that comes with ease and absolute bliss and it’s as easy as walking into your room from the kitchen. Matsigra waterfall is located on Madakiya road,Kafanchan Kaduna state. This is also one of the most unique attractions , beautiful natural waterfalls we have in
Ecowas Passport: Crossing West Africa Borders
You don’t have to wait for 6 months to get your international passport to travel to Ghana, all you need is a Ecowas Passport.???? Hey there, Alarinkas! Welcome back to my blog! Remember when we embarked on that amazing journey five years ago, exploring all 36 states in Nigeria? Well, guess what? We’re going global now and venturing into West Africa! Our mission is to explore 10 West African countries in just 50 days using the incredible ECOWAS Travel Certificate. Now, you might be wondering, what exactly is this ECOWAS Travel Certificate? Well, it’s not your usual Nigerian International Passport. This special document allows you to travel freely across all 16 West African countries. So if you urgently need to visit Ghana, Benin, or Ivory Coast and can’t wait for the lengthy process of obtaining an international passport, the ECOWAS passport is the way to go! So, how can you get your hands on this magical travel document? It’s actually quite simple! Depending on the state you’re in, you can obtain it within a day, or even in as little as three hours. Here’s what you need to do: Requirements: Cost: The price for the ECOWAS passport is around 25,000 Naira or even less, depending on your state. As of now, I’ve already crossed eight West African countries with this passport, and I haven’t encountered any issues. It’s been smooth sailing all the way! However, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for any situation while traveling. I recommend carrying alternative forms of identification, such as your NIN. In some cases, it might even be more powerful than your passport when traveling within West Africa. Apart from the ECOWAS Travel Certificate, there are a few other documents you’ll need for your West African adventure: During my trip, I’ve found that some countries, like Mali, rarely ask for these additional documents at the border. However, it’s always better to have them handy, just in case. In my upcoming blog posts, I’ll be sharing my border-crossing experiences while traveling through West Africa with the ECOWAS passport. I’ll talk about the good, the not-so-good, and everything you need to know about the countries I’m visiting. I’m super excited about this journey, as we’re already 21 days into it! So make sure to keep an eye out for my future posts because you’ll get some exclusive insights and tips. If you’re planning to travel to West Africa soon or dreaming about it, stay tuned! I’ll provide you with all the information you need to make your trip unforgettable. Speak to you every weekend from now on, and remember to come back for more exciting updates. Sending love always, Omotoke {Alárìnká}
How to “FUND” your Travel as a Broke Inspiring Travel Blogger.
I know you’re wondering what “ Travel & “Broke” is doing in the statement. Because to travel is to have money. 😂 That’s what I’m about to get to in a minute. A few weeks ago, I took to my Newsletter family & social media to share the financial mistakes I made as an inspiring newbie travel content creator and how I went about funding my trip, which was a wrong money decision.to “ I’ve learned sha.” I promised to share how I was able to fund the rest of my trip and hopefully for my forthcoming trips so that it can help more people out there. So How did I get myself out of the travel mess? Have you heard the excellent saying, “Nobody dey rush you? And in the book of Odogwu, “Run your race.” I had to prioritise my finances and how much I could afford to fund my trips Monthly, quarterly & yearly. This is important. When I first started travelling, I wanted to see the world, and I paid no attention to its effect on my finances. So at every slightest penny I get, I travel with it—this was a terrible financial decision for me. Intentional Savings. You see, saving hasn’t been my forte. I never saved any money as a teenager because I had no reason to. So to travel more intentionally, open a savings account. I Downloaded a saving platform app with an Automation of N500 daily. I know I couldn’t afford much at the time, so N500 seems reasonable. Hence, I have been preaching about saving for your travel plans; you can join me to learn how to use this link CLICK HERE Travel Frequency I reduced the frequency I travelled because I am mainly on the road every other day of the month. When I travel, I go for 2-3 months at a stretch. So there is an advantage to this, and I will share it in a later letter. But my dear, You don’t have to see the whole world in a year. You have our lifetime to do that. FUNDRAISING: For God who loves the World & me, I have been blessed with a community of you who loves my content & maybe my personality and are keen to watch me reach my goal. I’m like, okay! If you like what you see on here, Oya gbanjo mo gbede . I designed a branded Community T-shirt Merch and used it as my FUNDRAISING TOOL. I asked anyone who would love to support my last leg of the trip to purchase one or maybe 10 & do a giveaway. The T-shirts went for N5k; after the deduction of production cost, the profit went straight into my savings app to keep me on track with my travel budget. In the first week: we sold 30piecies, so the ministry moved forward. I had sent the profit to my @cowrywise app, which was locked for the next three months, and within that space of time, I began to plan more on my trips and do other side hustles. Like: Social media Management By the time I would finish my last leg in February 2020, we had sold 100piecies of Tshirt + Good Samaritan that were nice enough to help financially. More Income stream I was determined to complete the 36/36 by 2020, so there was no stopping. All these can be applied to your travel plans too. If it can work for me, “ The broke girl from downtown Lagos, ” I am confident it will work for you. HIGHLIGHT ON HOW YOU NEED TO FUND YOUR BROKE GIRL BUDGET TRAVEL PLANS. Top Five things you need to Do: 1: Find a reliable source of income that can sustain your daily expenses and help you set a 1% or 5% of the income aside for your travel plans. 2: Save: Opening a travel savings plan is the most excellent advice you should take out is that Daily N500 savings will go a long way in 3months. You can join my savings community for accountability. JOIN HERE 3: Travel conveniently, when and where you can. If you have 3months of savings and can only afford IITA Ibadan conveniently, go there, have fun, relax, create your content, and steadily build your brand from it. You don’t have to go to juggle much in one trip. If you can only afford one new city or country in a year, make sure you’re doing it with all enthusiasm. I know this is a long read, but I promise to share more juicy tricks to travel for free in my future emails. I want to hear back from you about your upcoming travel plans. I want to help you plan and strategise how we can make it happen. Remember, I’m always here to read about what’s going on with you. Could you not shut me out? 4:FUNDRAISING: Fundraising is not shameful as people seem to tag it. I have known people who travel the world on a Gofundme plan, and they didn’t die. There are ways to go about it and different means to raise funds. If you think starting on social media is too grand style, you don’t have a strong media presence or the community to support you yet. Ask friends and family. Fundraising is quite broad, and we will talk about it deeply soon. 5: Group Travel: The best way to minimise travel costs is to go with other people. This way, you can split costs across the board, Such as; Accommodation expenses, transportation e.t.c While some of you are reading this article, I know you feel these things are general examples, and you already know about them. Yes! You are right but are you applying it? Are you taking the necessary action required to achieve your goals? Reading other people’s experiences is meant; To inspire you and start taking the required actions to achieve your desired result. I hope this article inspires you to do just that. Let me