Naija Xplorers is a journey collection on calabargist that options African journey content material creators and fanatics. They share their experiences about the most effective locations to journey, the best way to take pleasure in a solo journey, and recommendations on budget-friendly adventures, each regionally and across the globe. From the foodie who is aware of the place to get the most effective meals in Lebanon, to the explorer who has travelled to all 36 states in Nigeria, they’ll present a novel perspective on the world, sharing journey hacks, hidden gems, and their private experiences.
Within the earlier episode, journey content material creator Ipinmi took us by means of her journey of changing into a journey content material creator after exploring her metropolis, Lagos, throughout the pandemic. She additionally shared three price range journey hacks everybody ought to learn about. Did you miss it? Learn it right here.
This time, we chat with journey and way of life influencer, Nikeh who calls herself journey 36 states in Nigeria, and she or he did all that on the age of 26. Wow!
Inform us three enjoyable details about your self.
The primary enjoyable truth can be that I’ve explored all 36 states in Nigeria plus the FCT, and I accomplished all of it at age 26. Final 12 months, I visited about 27 states alone.
The second truth is that I’m obsessive about animal movies and memes. I like watching cute cats and canines on the web. They’re so cute. I’m at the moment a cat mother.
The third truth is that I used to play the violin, piano, and recorder once I was 12 years outdated. I, nonetheless, deserted all of them after coming into college at age 15.
You’ve visited all 36 states in Nigeria. Wow! What state did you begin with, what was the bottom and highest price range, and for which of the locations? How did you go? Give us particulars.
The primary state I ever deliberately visited for tourism was Ogun State. I didn’t have any plans to go to all 36 states. I simply needed to see Olumo Rock. I used to be doing my NYSC in Ibadan in 2018, and it was barely 1 hour, and half-hour away. Once I was a child, my main college organised an tour to Olumo Rock, however my mother and father didn’t pay for me to go, so I at all times had it in thoughts to go for myself once I grew up.
The bottom price range I ever spent on a visit was about ₦3,000. That was what it value me to go to Olumo Rock on the time. Transportation from side to side was ₦2,000, and the entry payment was ₦1,000. I’ll at all times suggest this place for anybody seeking to start touring Nigeria.
The very best price range I’ve ever spent was about ₦150,000–180,000. It was my journey to Mambilla in Taraba State. The Mambilla Plateau is the best level in Nigeria. The journey alone took 3 entire days by highway due to the space, and in contrast to my common journeys, this specific journey wasn’t solo. I travelled with a small group, and the journey was organised by a tour information.
What had been the issues that fascinated you throughout your journey throughout Nigeria and that you simply’d love for others to expertise?
Nigeria, in its entirety, is an interesting nation. The area that blew me away probably the most was northern Nigeria. The heat, magnificence, and high quality of the individuals I met had been very spectacular.
The very first thing I seen once I entered the area was the superb roads. I wasn’t anticipating it, particularly with the best way the media has projected the North as underdeveloped. The roads had been good, and the individuals had been so type and welcoming. Regardless of not having the ability to communicate Hausa, I used to be handled with a lot kindness. I like to recommend that each Nigerian go to the North. Bauchi, Borno, Jos, and Kaduna are on the high of my checklist. Yeah, I do know the media tasks Northern Nigeria as a loss of life zone, however I guarantee you that’s not the case.
I used to be additionally fascinated by the quantity of pure magnificence the nation possesses. From the clear blue rivers to the luxurious rainforest, magnificent waterfalls, seashores, majestic rocks, hills, and the beautiful sizzling desert. The nation was fantastically created by God, and He was exhibiting off the pure points of interest He created.
I might love for individuals to go to locations like Mambilla in Taraba State, Obudu in Cross River State, and River Ethiope in Delta State, particularly in the event that they’re nature lovers like me. These are the highest three magical locations I’ve visited.
What sparked your ardour for journey, and what retains you motivated to discover new locations?
The very first thing that sparked my ardour was the novelty of being someplace new. I’m a naturally curious individual, and I’ve at all times liked the concept of latest experiences. Once I tasted dwelling in Ibadan for NYSC, I realised how a lot of a field one was in when dwelling in Lagos. The life-style was totally different. It was extra laid-back, stress-free, and handy. Instantly after I tasted it, I knew that I needed to expertise extra states, particularly as a result of individuals in Lagos falsely painting each different state as inferior.
One other factor that sparked my ardour was the sensation I obtained once I visited Olumo Rock. The expertise was exhilarating, and the view was magical. The sensation of being on high of the town whereas wanting all the way down to see how lovely God’s creation is and the way tiny we’re within the grand scheme of issues.
I additionally realised how ignorant many Nigerians had been. They regarded down on the nation a lot that they didn’t realise how lovely it was. They hardly step out of their consolation zones, they usually don’t affiliate the nation with tourism or magnificence.
That is one thing that motivated me. The need to maintain proving individuals fallacious showcases the wonder and the drive to vary the stereotypes in regards to the nation.
Identify the 5 states in Nigeria which have actually left a mark in your soul.
This can be a robust one, however the high states which have left a mark on my soul can be Cross River, Bauchi, Taraba, Delta, and Abuja. These are exceptionally lovely states.
Budgeting is a giant concern for many individuals. What are your high 3 money-saving hacks for price range journey?
Because the queen of price range journey, my high 3 money-saving hacks can be:
- Reduce your coat in accordance with your garments. Which means as a substitute of getting frightened about visiting an costly vacation spot, begin by exploring locations near you with no matter cash you will have. Journey inside your means, particularly if you happen to’re simply beginning. In case you can’t afford airplane tickets, attempt highway journeys. In case you can’t afford a resort, attempt Airbnb, and so forth.
- Get a bunch if you happen to can. Which means you must attempt to attain out to individuals in several states or nations to accommodate you so it can save you cash on lodging. The most costly a part of travelling is lodging and transportation. Out of the 36 states I explored, I solely stayed in a resort in 3 states. Even once I visited Benin Republic in 2022, I spent lower than N50,000 as a result of I obtained a bunch within the nation. You may make use of relations, social media, and the CouchSurfing app to seek out individuals to accommodate you if you happen to’re on a decent price range.
- Journey with somebody to separate payments. In case you can’t get a bunch in a brand new state, you possibly can at all times journey with somebody and cut up the lodging and tour payments.
What are the security measures you place in place when exploring?
I might say I’m fairly daring, so I hardly get scared when solo travelling. Nevertheless, some security measures I noticed are:
- I gown minimally. I don’t gown to draw consideration in a brand new place, particularly when travelling interstate. I attempt to slot in as a lot as potential. I’m additionally very observant.
- I let sure individuals know my whereabouts and stored them up to date. I additionally generally share my dwell location, relying on the place I’m visiting.
- I attempt my greatest to get somebody who lives within the state I’m visiting. Both earlier than I get there or once I arrive, having an indigenous individual as an acquaintance makes all the pieces 10 instances simpler. It may very well be a daily individual, a tour information, or perhaps a bike man. They may help with data, navigation, and safety.
- I attempt to study the fundamental language once I’m in a area the place individuals communicate one other language. I take advantage of my Google Translate app typically too.
- Lastly, I smile rather a lot. I’m pleasant with random individuals I meet, and this eases no matter pressure might have been there. Random conversations with strangers can result in data you didn’t know you wanted.
How do you stability experiencing a vacation spot authentically with creating partaking content material to your viewers?
I used to wrestle with this rather a lot once I began. I at all times needed to expertise locations for myself, however the obligation of making content material made it arduous for me to take action. I, nonetheless, obtained used to it and located a option to stability it. As I obtained to create journey content material extra typically, I grew to become higher and quicker at it. I already know the issues I need to shoot once I go to someplace, so I spend the primary jiffy observing the realm, then taking pictures rapidly, earlier than settling in to benefit from the place for myself. I take advantage of much less time to shoot than to benefit from the place. There are additionally some situations the place I simply permit my cellphone to constantly report whereas I’m having fun with the place for myself.
What’s the one journey app you possibly can’t dwell with out?
Google Maps. I can’t go to anyplace with out checking my maps. It’s a lifesaver.
What’s your final consolation meals after getting back from an journey?
I’m not a lot of a foodie, however it’s in all probability jollof rice or yam (boiled or pounded).
For somebody who aspires to pursue a profession as a journey content material creator, what recommendation would you provide them?
To start with, be sure to’re doing this since you adore it. Travelling and creating content material just isn’t for the weak, so you have to be in love with the method as a lot because the end result. Have a robust purpose for doing it, so you possibly can at all times refer again to it whenever you’re low on motivation.
Be taught as a lot as you possibly can about creating content material, then discover your distinctive fashion. Don’t attempt to simply replicate different individuals’s types. Authenticity is essential. Search inspiration, however nonetheless be authentic.
Comply with quite a few journey content material creators at residence and overseas to study from them.
Deal with giving worth to your viewers and constructing a group.
What’s subsequent in your journey bucket checklist?
Visiting different African nations. My eyes are set on Togo, Ghana, or Cameroon.
