For years and probs for many more to come, Black people have been trying to explain that slavery is not where our story starts. The curriculum taught in schools isn’t helping, the shows we have on TV aren’t helping either. So, it’s always great to see when an institution is doing its part to educate the masses effectively.
The International Slavery Museum is very comprehensive and I thoroughly enjoyed my exploring. I felt pride, I felt inexplicable sadness and hope – it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
There are three main themed galleries:
Life in West Africa – exploring the story and culture of Africa and its peoples, who are central to the story of transatlantic slavery.
Enslavement and the Middle Passage – revealing some of the brutality and trauma suffered by enslaved Africans on the voyage across the Atlantic; then the oppression of their lives on plantations in the Americas.
Legacy – highlighting the continuing fight for freedom and equality; the contemporary impact of transatlantic slavery, such as racism and discrimination; and the achievements of the African Diaspora.
The World Cultures gallery showcases World Museum’s huge collections from Africa, The Americas, Asia and Oceania. Featuring more than 1,600 objects, the gallery explores the exchange of ideas and objects between Europe and the many cultures represented in the displays.
The Museum was a pleasant surprise, I loved the way it showcased the different cultures and also continued the conversation surrounding museums and their complicity within systems of oppression.
It’s also FREE, and you can donate what you see fit.
The ‘Black’ story is full of so much culture and richness and visiting off of the back of the Euros loss – it just felt so timely.
There is an Egyptian part of the museum, that has a mummy on display – so be prepared. I have many thoughts on this but we’ll keep them for another time…
Baraka Natural Aquarium is located in the northern part of Nungwi. As with everything these days, I originally saw it on the gram and was very pleased that it matched up to my expectations 😻😻.WE LOVE TO SEE IT 🗣
Baraka is a turtle rehabilitation centre run by local people; the turtles here have been rescued from fishermen capture. They are then nursed back to full health before being released back into the wild. You can wade through the shallow water in the low tide, and swim with fish and other small marine animals.
Price: $10 to get in and the seaweed needed to coax the turtles closer is provided. If you would like to snorkel, you can hire gear in destination.
Here are some tips for making the most of your time:
No prebooking – just arrive turn up and you will be directed to the location.
Arrive early just as they open to get a shot without other people – I say early rather than later because the sunlight hitting the water is something special.
The turtles are just trying to eat, so you can very easily bribe them with the seaweed provided 😂
Seaweed is salty; so bring a towel and water to wash your eyes out. (I learnt the hard way 😂)
There are showers on site – so you can bring a change of clothes
It’s by no means a whole day activity.
The turtles will bite! Once they know you have the seaweed they’ll swarm.
The turtles have a rubbery texture and they don’t seem to mind you stroking them (follow any instructions given by the guides).
Don’t put on too much sunscreen if you plan to go into the water, it will contaminate the water and we don’t want that for the turtles.
Photo op tips:
When you walk in, find the cove to your right and coax turtles with seaweed. It’s a good point for a photo with no one else in.
If you want a picture on the podium in the middle, you’ll need someone high up to capture it for you.
If you’re a confident swimmer, go further out and again use the seaweed to coax the turtles
Most importantly, have fun! It’s an amazing experience.
Nungwi Beach is one of the main areas you will find information about online when planning a visit to Zanzibar, and for good reason. It has powdery white sand, turqouise blue water that simply looks unreal – I remember standing in awe. I never get tired of looking at beautiful water.
Nungwi is all you expect from a tourist beach front; restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, water sports and regular party boats that include food, bottomless drinks and music you can groove to. I even got some beautiful henna done.
Here are 10 reasons you should visit Nungwi if you go to Tanzania:
It’s an island paradise(!) 😍 (hyperbole?, yes but no)
It’s warm all year round. Zanzibar is located near the equator and gets sunny weather most of the time, so tan me up please! (Averaging up to 32°C & 9 hours of sun) 🌞😎
Beautiful sunset views. Again because Zanzibar is on the western coast at the top of the island, its perfect to get your insta moments and have people wishing they were laying up there too. You can enjoy a drink on a rooftop as the sun sets or get on a sunset cruise on a dhow. (Did someone say baecation criteria being ticked?) 🌅
Experience nature up close. Baraka Natural Aquarium is a conservation site run by locals, but that deserves a blogpost all of its own. So keep an eye out 😉
Nightlife! As the sun sets, the beach comes alive. Visit Cholo’s Bar – it’s the oldest in the village. 🥂
Enjoy local flavours. There are countless restaurants that will cater to your tastes, you have everything from French inspired to classic Italian in addition to local flavours. 🥘
Build a dhow. You won’t actually do the back breaking work yourself, but you can get a personal look at how it’s done. Dhows are used to catch fish and other seafood in Zanzibar, and some of the fisherman will give a ‘Dhow building 101’. 🚣🏾♀️
Walk, walk, walk. Locals are used to tourists walking around, but please be respectful of the local culture and cover up – shoulders and knees. Try the village market and get the best in local fruits and veg. Try the local faves; date nut bread, fried plantains and octopus! Spice galore again – so much to take back home for friends and family.
Melting pot of cultures. Nungwi beach is in Zanzibar which is an important location for the spice trade, trade always brings people together and as people pass through they leave bits of their culture behind. Asian, European and African cultures, can be seen in the religion, values and cuisine.
Beach boys. The souvenirs will come to you, or maybe it’s a dhow cruise you’re after? Water sports? A picture. The Maasai people will try and sell it all, but they are not overbearing. A firm ‘no’, and they will leave you alone.
There are many beautiful beaches in Zanzibar, but Nungwi stays top 5 no debating. Nungwi has so much hustle and bustle, but you still feel secluded; I don’t know but it’s beautiful. 🧘🏾♀️
Best time to travel: All year round; June – October, January and February are the driest months
I remember being in primary school and singing a song about Zanzibar, something about the ships going down there…whilst I don’t remember the song well (obviously). The impression Zanzibar left it my mind never faded, so being next door in Nairobi – I had to make my way to this place that had lived in my imagination for so long.
My 1st stop was Stone Town, it’s the old part of Zanzibar. The architecture mostly dates back to the 19th century, and reflects the diverse influences of the Swahili culture. There are a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements and for this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. We love a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before slavery was abolished in Tanzania black people weren’t allowed to live within the city walls (go figure), but in the 21st century any and everyone is free to live here – in true Hakuna Matata fashion.
Exploring Stone town you find different doors which other than offering a cheeky photo op; they show a history of the demographic within the city. The gold on the doors is a symbol for protection from elephant attacks (there aren’t elephants native to this part of Tanzania) so it is indeed a nod to the Indian influence that is part of Stone Town blood.
Walking around and exploring the deep depths of Stone Town, doesn’t require much pre-planning as you can find a guide in the square who has a wealth of knowledge to offer for a small price.
It was awesome to spend time exploring Stone Town.
Here’s our list of top things to do, places to see and eat in Stone Town:
Forodhani Gardens – much like Drake, Forodhani comes alive in the nightime! It’s set right on the seafront and whether you are veggie, pesci or a serious meat-eater – there is indeed an option for you. Food is a huge part of any culture, and visiting Forodhani is a must do.
Visit the ‘House of Wonders’ – it was originally opened in 1883. It is the tallest and largest building in Stone Town.
Make an International Call at Jaws Corner – it works.
Buy souvenirs – you’ll find something to take back for someone (any excuse, I know)
The Swahili House – provided awesome rooftop views, delicious food. If you’d like to spend time in Stone Town you can also lodge here. this seafood platter that consisted of a whole lobster, calamari, shrimps, mashed potatoes and a cup of tea ☕️ was a mere £20 🥺🥺
Join the Fish Auction at the Darajani Markets. There are a variety of fresh seafood options and you have to get stuck in if you want a chance to win.
Take a Spice Tour – every spice you can think of is available. Freshhh! Take some home for your friends, your flatmate, your colleague.
Buy some coffee – everything is so fresh and pure 🥺 buy it all.
Prison Island – another excursion you don’t have to neccesarily pre-book. See the Giant Tortoise and learn how prison island was built with the intention of housing prisoners; but was repurposed to help contain the bubonic plague epidemic that government officials feared would make its way on ships coming in from Egypt and Mumbai.
Visit the Slave Museum – if you fancy it (I opted not to, it’s not everyday relive trauma).
Visit Freddy Mercury‘s house! – arguably Tanzania’s most popular export.
Mombasa is Kenya’s oldest and second-largest city. It sits along the coastline, so you’ll have access to fresh seafood! And beautiful coastline views.
Mombasa was one of those places that I found via Instagram, I love visiting as many places as possible in one trip. I love walking around old towns and learning all their old history, you see the things that were left behind and the parts that have been included into the present day-to-day life.
Places to visit:
Fort Jesus. Mombasa offers a blend of cultures; due to the colonial past the mark of each group can be seen in the city walls. Fort Jesus which was built by the Portuguese – (well it was physically built by Kenyan slaves under the instruction of the Portuguese but I digress 👀). My guide explained how the Portuguese came very arrogantly, but their only motive was to trade. The British came and spread Christianity ✝️, the Omanis spread Islam ☪️ causing great divide amongst the coastal Kenyan people. It’s weird because a building that was used to oppress now offers a livelihood for so many in Old Town.
2. Haller Park offers some more animal lovin’! It is the transformation of a quarry wasteland into an ecological area. Kenyans are serious about their nature conservation, (aside from it obviously making up for a significant amount of their GDP) they feel it’s their job to keep the animals and earth safe. Haller Park is a true marvel to me and one of the many things we LOVE to see. If you time your arrival well you’ll be able to see various animals at their feeding times – giraffes 🦒(not as phenomenal as the Giraffe Centre), crocodiles 🐊 , hippos 🦛 and some elderly buffalos 🐃 too.
It’s a fun day out and can be tied on to the back end of your exploration of Mombasa. Insider tip: listen out for the story of the Haller millipedes.
3. Spice Market – spices, herbs, coffee or tea leaves. It would be silly to not grab a bag of something and bring it back home with you. I see it as extending your holiday ever so slightly, the Kenyan coffee and tea is the truth!
4. Moi Avenue – is known for two pairs of giant aluminium elephant tusks. The tusks were commissioned in the 50s for Queen Elizabeths visit to Kenya, they also serve as a reminder to Kenyan trade poachers that elephants should never be paoched for the ivory trade.
Places to eat: Cafesserie Mombasa
It’s also worth mentioning that if you are safari’d out, Mombasa is a great gateway to other areas of Kenya that allow you to experience some hiking and/or cycling. I genuinely think there’s something to do for every type of traveller in Kenya.
Nairobi will most likely be your first stop in Kenya if you’re flying in. Nairobi is amazing as it offers quite a few wildlife activities right in the heart of the city. Nairobi National Park is the only national park in the world to be in a capital city – on its savannah plains you can see rhinos, lions, giraffes with the city skyline as a backdrop.
There are bars and restaurants like you would expect from any capital city and the easiest way I found to get around was uber.
I spent my first night going for dinner at Carnivore, which is an open-air restaurant. Carnivore’s specialty is meat, and features an all-you-can-eat meat buffet – they offer a range of unusual meats; alligator, ostrich etc. The atmosphere was lovely, complete with a live band performance.
If you’ve watched Uncle Attenborough’s many animal documentaries, you will have heard of the Maasai Mara. The image of wildebeest and birds alike making the big migration.
Then if you love Lion King, I meannnnnn. I won’t go on too much, but my point is the idea of visiting this natural wonder has been in my mind and heart for a long time.
Now, in my experience of curating tailormade holidays; going on a safari is not cheap. So it was always a bucket list thing and I thought it would be unattainable for a while. However, when the opportunity to visit Kenya arose – I knew I couldn’t let the chance pass me by.
So, here they are – my tips on how to go on a safari in the most cost effective way. Hakuna Matata 😉
When to go: As with most trips, deciding what season you go will determine how much you spend overall.
December to February – it’s not dry season but when I went in December the weather was amazing, and we saw all of the Big 5 too. This time period will allow cheaper airfares, hotel stays and possibly discounted activities 🏌🏾♀️ (The weather was even good enough for a hot air balloon ride, but I’ll get into that later 😁)
June to October – is the ‘best time’ to visit Kenya as its during the Dry season. Late June to October are meant to be the the best wildlife viewing months. The wildebeest migration usually reaches the Masai Mara in August and remains until October when they move back to the Serengeti in Tanzania.
As Kenya sits close to the equator, its seasons are the opposite of ours. So going in December I was greeted with at 26 degrees Celcius 😍😍
Where to stay: Outside
I would recommend setting aside 3 days minimum to make the most of your time in the Maasai Mara. This way if you miss animals on one day, there’s still more opportunities to see them.
So, I’ve just told you to spend at least 3 days on the nature reserve. You’ve checked prices for lodges and you’ve come back to tell me I’m crazy 😜
Relax friends, relax and walk with me 😂
I too, was impressed by the price of lodges on the nature reserve! If you have the funds to splash out, definitely stay on the nature reserve you save some time driving. However, if you want to save some coins – stay on a lodge just outside the gates of the Maasai Mara! They offer all the same services; game drives, glamping etc. but for a lot less. We even booked our hot air balloon tour with our accommodation.
We were lucky enough to spot nearly all of the Big 5 during our game drive and we only needed to go on one day 🥺. A lot of the game drives will allow you to go again for free if you don’t see them on your first try.
What to pack:Layersss
So I made a little song and dance about how warm it was in December. But, the temperature really does drop 🥶 as soon as the sun goes down and as it’s rising.
Hiking boots/weatherproof boots
Hat
Jumpers, cardigans (anything you can layer)
Mosquito spray
Water bottle
Camera
Torchlight
Some people will go as far as hiring their own 4×4 and trying to drive the nature reserve themselves – you can do this and it will cut costs as you’ll only need to buy a ticket for entry. However, I wouldn’t recommend; I saw too many people stuck in the mud – literally. The guides who are local people, know the routes like the back of their hands and know how to navigate the plains. (You may also have the opportunity to visit one of the local Maasai families.)
Top site to see: Great Rift Valley
Other than the Maasai Mara itself, on your way there you will pass the Great Rift Valley. The Earth moved when Kenya was created and the evidence can be seen with the Great Rift Valley, it cuts across the country’s length. There are lakes, savannahs and volcanoes that stretches from Jordan all the way to Mozambique. The drive from the city to nature reserve is quite long, so it makes a good stop for a photo op and a toilet break. The toilet is not anything fancy, so be prepared!
Once in a lifetime means there’s no second chance…*clears throat* I’m all for saving your money on certain things so you can luxe out on others! We luxed out on a hot air balloon ride, and oh boy what a dream.
You have to get up super early and it’ll be freezing, so driving around in a 4×4 with no heating sounds like a terrible idea. The ride you’re blessed with after you see the balloons being blown up tho? So worth it. 10/10 would recommend without a question.
After your flight you get to celebrate the succesful flight with everyone you flew with – there is a buffet breakfast and unlimited champage – (yes, I made myself countless mimosas). You get a certificate and a visual souvenir of the ride itself. Your guide is ready on the otherside to pick you up and take you back to base, or you can tie on a game drive since you’re already out there.
We hope this guide helps you get started on planning your own trip, or serves as a way back to fond memories of a safari trip.
You walk off the plane and as the doors open, the heat engulfs you.
You make your way outside of the madness that is luggage claim and immigration; although the skyline is darkening, the streets are still so alive.
The short walk to the carpark has already caused a bead of sweat to fall down your forehead, you manage to slide into the car just in time and the ice cool AC is a welcome embrace.
Lagos, Eko, Gidi; whatever you choose to call it – I do think you’ll have a soft spot for it and will be looking forward to returning.
I hadn’t been back to Lagos in over 10 years, so coming back as a young woman the experience was much different from how I had experienced it as a child. This trip was for the funeral of my Grandmother, she left behind 7 kids, 21 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and an even bigger hole in our hearts. In true Naija style her funeral processions were a true celebration of her life and a welcome opportunity for many of us to come back home after being away for so long.
I took a week prior to the funeral processions to explore some of the sites Gidi had to offer me, and although it was mid-June – I promise you Gidi really doesn’t sleep.
Home to the longest canopy walkway in Africa, it’s a protected icon of nature conservation and a pearl of ecotourism. The fact that you enter another world just off of Lagos-Epe Expressway is a feat in itself.
Pack on the insect/mosquito repellent, slap on the sunscreen and beware of the cheeky monkeys.
The Nike Art Centre is full of a variety of sculptures and paintings by Nigerian artists. It’s spread across 3 floors and if you fall in love with a piece there is a chance to buy something and take it with you.
You may catch Ms Nike herself, she frequents the grounds and is so accommodating with a lovely story to tell.
If you are interested in seeing some Nigerian theatre and learning about the history of the Theatre, this is a great place to go. You can get a good few hours out of exploring here there are cool photo ops, a mini art gallery and a restaurant so you can chop until your belle full! I took the opportunity to try some Palm Wine – I’m not fond of it but sometimes you gotta do it for the ‘gram.
I love the feel of old books, films, records – I blame Love Jones, so being able to step into somewhere like this in Lagos was magical. There are old prints from concerts, vinyl copies of records, it’s all so very ‘alté’ and I was living for it.
The decor here is absolutely beautiful inside and out, situated on a secluded street you are transported away from the busy streets. Alara is bringing your traditional favourites with a sophisticated angle.
Price: Meals start from around £23/$20
Balogun Market
I wouldn’t recommend going here without a local 👀 it’s BUSY, BUSY. So you need to be fast to cross, be sharp to not get pick-pocketed and it’s probably best to just look so your accent doesn’t fully give you away and get you bumped 👀.
Anything you could be looking for you can find here; waist beads, fabric, soap – you name it.
Farm City is the location for shisha, a cold drink, vibes and some serious fish 😍. If you’re not a fan of seafood then there are other menu options but if you do love seafood you won’t be disappointed.
There are a range of clubs on the Island, so you can club-hop to your hearts desire to find the right location, however if you want to party until the early hours Quilox is the place to go.
Entry Cost: Free, you’ll need to buy a booth to get somewhere to sit down but if you don’t mind standing just get a drink and catch a vibes.
With all the stress of day-to-day life and being stuck in Lagos traffic and you will get stuck in Lagos traffic!
Being able to have some R&R is so important, I love the Oríkì vibe and they offer a great service; pedis, manis and a range of massages.
Entry Cost: prices can be found on their website
Owambe
An ‘Owambe’ is the name given to a Nigerian party; a wedding party, a birthday party, any type of party. Whether rain or shine you are guaranteed to find one happening; do I start on the food? the money spraying? the live band?
The vibes are unmatched. Dress to impress and be ready to dance.
Trippin’ with SJ 