What does travel abroad feel like while COVID-19 and Monkeypox are still working their way around the world globally? It felt fabulous! I felt safe traveling to Africa and for two whole weeks while in Lagos (West Nigeria) and Owerri (Southeast Nigeria) I was able to bask in the sun, enjoy the company of friends and family and eat local favorites like egusi, okra and pepper stew/soup served with FuFu or Eba (made from Garri). I also got the pleasure of drinking Malta; and I ate a sweet decadent desert called Puff-Puff. Some of the food was spicey but absolutely delicious once I had the cooks temper down the spice. You can enjoy recipes for Nigerian cuisine by visiting https://insanelygoodrecipes.com/nigerian-foods/.
I am sure you are wondering where I was able to eat all of this wonderful food. Nigeria! Nigeria not only has wonderful food, but the people are kind and welcoming. So, welcoming that at every venue visited I was pleasantly surprised to encounter people from China, India, UK and the USA. Why did I feel safe to travel to Africa? I did my research before traveling to determine the right time to travel, what was needed in terms of vaccinations, Visa requirements, safety protocols and any other issues related to the was to visit.
Yes, there are travel advisories for Nigeria, but those travel advisories do not accurately portray many of the safe places to visit there. The majority of security issues are in the Northern region of Nigeria and Delta State. Just like in any country you visit globally; you should always take precautions and be mindful of any safety concerns. For global health and safety travel alerts you can visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices and for travel.
I chose to visit for personal reasons which gave me access to local cultures and cuisine. I am familiar with the regions I visited and I have family and friends connections there so I was able to plan my own trip. However, you may choose to use a professional service and if you are not familiar with an African country, you may want to consider doing an African safari tour which is the safest way to visit an African country. You can find information on safaris as well as safety tips at https://www.go2africa.com/.
Other resources I have used for travel are as follows:
Centers for Disease Control: Before You Travel, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/travel-vaccines.html
5 Ways to Embrace Cultural Differences While Traveling, https://www.worldpackers.com/articles/ways-to-embrace-cultural-differences-while-traveling
On the World Map, https://ontheworldmap.com/nigeria/
Travel.State.Gov, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/americans-traveling-abroad.html
Trusted Traveler/Global Entry Programs, https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry
TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: Which Is Right for You? https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/tsa-precheck-global-entry-explained
Why Culture is an Important Part of Travel, https://awesomewave.net/why-culture-is-an-important-part-of-travel/
