Have you ever visited a place you found intriguing and wished to be left alone? Or do you take it longer than other people to assimilate the beauty of nature? Then pick up the dial because solo travel is calling you.
Solo adventures are increasingly being popularized, with selfies of these independent explorers making rounds on social media. Presently, a UK-based Nigerian, Pelumi Nubi, who went on a solo trip from London to Lagos, has used this singular act to inspire others by uploading pictures from her solo travel on Instagram.
What does it mean to solo travel in Nigeria?
When you set on a trip across the cities in Nigeria without having anyone you’ve known as a companion or friend throughout your entire trip, you’re said to make a solo trip there.
Solo travels exist for the sake of being alone. This means you’ve automatically become everything you’d wish a supposed partner would be. People who travel solo to Nigeria do so for several reasons. They include:
- To feel more confident
- To express one’s self and feel freedom
- To get empowered
- For a journey to self-discovery
- To improve one’s social circle
- To prove one’s self
- To support a certain cause
For a more delightful and fulfilling solo travel in Nigeria, here are useful tips you need to know.
Tips For Independent Explorers Who Solo Travel In Nigeria
1. Picture Your Travel
You should be able to imagine yourself in the cool places you’ve seen online or that people have told you about before your travel. Think about the locals, the change of environment, the food, and the city’s landmarks, and keep them in mind until you get there.
Have a list of all the things you need to enjoy your solo travel. Your “survival kit” should contain snacks, a gallon of water, spare clothes and tires, an umbrella, a first-aid box, handy tools, a flashlight, a whistle, and other materials to keep you going.
Picture the activities you’d engage in that will keep boredom far from you. When you are away from people on your solo adventures, what will help you discover yourself, rejuvenate, or refresh your mind? How can your hobby help you on your trip? Get ideas from your friends or relatives about their go-to activity when alone.
2. Do Your Homework About Your Destination
Just like you would research your destination when traveling with friends and family, take some time to do the same before a solo travel in Nigeria. This is important because there are some places whose inhabitants reject visits from strangers.
Also, knowing the basics of the people’s culture, especially their manner of greeting and language, will attract friendliness from the locals. Although it is solo travel, you don’t want the locals to think you are a spy who wants to cause their downfall.
Another tip is to talk about your intended trip with some trusted people. Listen to their experiences and personal stories so you can learn from them and avoid any mistakes. You’ll be better prepared when your little homework is done.
3. Let Your Phone Map Be A Second Handbag
Just as you wouldn’t leave your handbag, never leave your phone map. Rather, let it be a second handbag. Don’t hesitate to mark your location on the map so you’ll know exactly where you are.
In places with little access to the internet, a downloadable map is crucial. You can look through the map to understand any symbols or complexities that may accompany it.
4. Meet New People
Let’s say you traveled solo to Nigeria for self-discovery and read this tip. You may feel a bit off. But hang on a second…
When you meet new people, they have no idea who you are, nor do they know any piece of you. By sharing a conversation with them, you are simply putting out the “latest” form of you, which may still be delicate, and imprinting that version on the people you meet.
By this, you have encouraged the newly evolving form of you and transformed it into permanence. So, don’t stay isolated; try saying “hello!” with a smile on your new face.
5. Allow Yourself to Adapt
Many people have a particular school of thought in mind that they’re only passing through at their travel destination and don’t belong there. How about this- the world is yours, so give yourself a chance to belong to as many parts of it as you want.
For your solo travel in Nigeria, get engrossed in the city you’re in. Get the fullest out of it. Be flexible and amend your to-do list when opportunities call in. Attend local events, ask for the best local fast-food restaurants, and dine with the locals. Don’t sit idle. This is your moment; take a chance on it.
The Pelumi Nubi Solo Travel Experience
Lagos state’s ambassador for tourism, Pelumi Nubi, has been a social media sensation for some weeks now because of her solo travel from London to Lagos. Like any other independent explorer, Pelumi Nubi had to overcome her fears as she set out for the 73-day journey through 17 countries.
Upon her arrival, the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, awarded her ambassadorship. She has been interviewed by several media houses and appeared in headlines as the first black woman to solo drive from London to Lagos. Her experience helps this article.
During an interview with Bellanaija, she said it took more than a year to make her decision to travel solo in a car. She had to prepare mentally because it required self-reliance and a sense of resilience. Her friends and family gave her emotional support before and during the journey.
Speaking on the challenges of solo traveling, Pelumi responded that it’s best to study cultural norms and conduct in-depth research to ensure respect for other cultures. She also hinted that learning different languages would go a long way.
She said, “The magic is the doing. It was a personal challenge”. She engrossed herself with lots of music and podcasts, sightseeing of beautiful landscapes, while the silent times were used to think about her life.
Conclusion
Like Pelumi Nubi, we don’t know how much there is to discover and appreciate until we say goodbye to our comfort zone. Solo travel in Nigeria and other parts of the world requires resilience to complete the journey no matter the obstacle.
Remember, “the magic is in the doing”. Get prepared and do it.