2024: The Year in Review

Welcome, one and all, to the 2024 edition of my travel blogging year in review! Every year since 2016, I have written a monthly recap of all the wonderful adventures I had during the year. I often go back to read these reviews, as I do many of my other blog posts, and it gives me so much joy to reminisce on past adventures.

This year, I wanted to switch up things by doing away with the month-by-month breakdown altogether. But this breakdown has saved me several hours when filling out visa applications. So, I guess I’ll be keeping it 🙂

But I’ll start this review by sharing the different types of trips I embarked upon this past year. Once again, I would love to thank everyone who visits, reads and comments on the articles here.

a note of thanks!

Thank you for following my adventures around the world and I hope these articles have inspired you to visit some of the destinations featured or have made it easier to plan yours. Now, without further ado, let’s review the 2024 travel year!

2024 Trips: Baecations

A baecation refers to a vacation or trip taken with one’s romantic partner. It’s typically used to describe a getaway focused on spending quality time together and strengthening the relationship. This could be anything from a weekend city break to a longer tropical holiday.

Mark and I had a fantastic start to 2024, exploring some European cities. Our journey took us across Prague, Czechia to Austria, culminating in a memorable New Year’s Eve in Vienna, where we welcomed the new year by attending a superb concert in the heart of the city.

A European City Tour: Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary), Berlin (Germany)

Our trip began in Berlin, where we enjoyed spending time with my sister and visiting several Christmas markets in the city. By the time we reached Budapest, many had closed down for the season. We however managed to catch a late market in Prague and Vienna.

A 16-Day Holiday in Thailand

Our next beacation was a Thai holiday. Getting a visa to Thailand easily is one of the greatest benefits I have received from moving to Kenya. The process of obtaining this visa from Nigeria is a bit tumultuous, however, in Kenya, following a recent change to the application process, I could apply for and receive my visa within 2 days.

And so, we arrived in Phuket, the starting point of our adventures in Thailand and a destination that we both agreed we would love to return to. From Phuket, we visited Krabi and Ao Nang, then explored the Northern Thailand cities of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, before ending our trip in Bangkok.

Later in the year, we travelled to Namibia for 10 days and this destination was the perfect blend of our interests.

10 Days in Namibia

We began and ended our journey in Windhoek, the capital city. Our most memorable experience here was our short stay at the beautiful Voigtland Guesthouse. This was something of a bucket list stay for me, so when a rare spot opened up in the otherwise fully booked guesthouse – and perfectly aligned with my birthday! – it felt like absolute luck.

After our time in Voigtland, we drove down to Sesriem, the gateway to Sossusvlei, visited the otherworldly Deadvlei landscape, and hiked up Big Daddy Dune.

Then we travelled up the coast to Walvis Bay, known for its stunning lagoon and flamingos, before continuing to the German colonial town of Swakopmund. From there, we ventured inland to the dramatic granite peaks of Spitzkoppe, before making our way back to the capital city of Windhoek.

Our last beacation for the year was to Naivasha, where we camped at Camp Carnelly’s and hiked up Mount Longonot for the third time.

2024 Travel Year: Girls’ Trip

2024 was also a good girl’s trip year, with the highlight being my sister’s wedding in London.

But first, we started the year in Berlin – I spent some time with NG here. Then in January, NG and Ezy visited Kenya for the first time.

Nairobi, Watamu, Naivasha – Kenya

We started our mini-exploration of Kenya in Nairobi before hopping aboard the SGR to Mombasa. From there, we took a taxi ride to Watamu to enjoy its pristine beaches and turquoise waters.

The grand finale of our Kenyan adventure took us to Naivasha, where we explored its serene lakes and wildlife before everyone reluctantly headed back home, carrying memories of an unforgettable Kenyan experience.

London, UK

Later in the year, we met in London to celebrate NG’s wedding. I also took the time to see family and friends and it was such a rewarding experience.

Solo Trips

Another adventure chapter in 2024 was written through my solo travels. If you’re a long-time reader, you must know how much I love solo trips! While 2024 didn’t see as many solo adventures (and I almost feel guilty calling these “solo trips”), I still managed to squeeze in some magical me-time.

Bath & Cardiff

Taking advantage of my early arrival in the UK before my sister’s wedding, I carved out a little window for exploration. This turned into a delightful jaunt to the historic city of Bath, followed by a trip to Cardiff, Wales.

It was my first taste of Welsh charm, and even though these were more like mini-solo adventures compared to my usual independent trips, they still gave me that familiar thrill of discovering new places on my own.

Nairobi Day and Weekend Trips

2024 was filled with delightful escapes around Nairobi. I knocked off some classic local spots with day trips to the Giraffe Centre, where my sisters and I got up close with these gentle giants, followed by amazing meals at two of my favourite restaurants in Nairobi – Talisman and Kitchenette Bistro (my favourite Nigerian restaurant).

Mark and I also discovered the fascinating Kiambethu Tea Farm, diving into Kenya’s rich tea heritage and enjoying those stunning views of tea plantations stretching into the horizon.

True to tradition, Naivasha remained our faithful weekend escape from Nairobi’s hustle. It’s funny how, no matter how many times we visit, it never loses its charm—I guess that’s why it keeps making its way into our yearly travel highlights!

These little adventures proved you don’t always need to venture far from home to find something special!

Hiking Trips

We took our hiking adventures to incredible new heights! Mark and I conquered the rugged terrain of Spitzkoppe in Namibia – honestly, it pushed my limits but turned out to be one of my absolute travel highlights of 2024. Those dramatic granite peaks against the desert landscape were unlike anything I’ve experienced!

Back home in Kenya, we tackled Mount Longonot again. Mark did 2-4 runs around the crater nearly every weekend, while I joined him once for my third trip up the mountain.

But speaking of epic achievements – I have to brag about Mark for a moment! While I cheered from the sidelines, this incredible human ran a mind-blowing 75k up Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania – a whole other level of endurance!

Whew! And that brings us to the end of the year! Let’s recap, shall we?

Month by Month Adventures on Travel with a Pen

• January: Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Nairobi, and Watamu
• February: Naivasha
• March: Phuket
• April: Ao Nang, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok
• May: Windhoek, Sesriem, and Walvis Bay
• June: Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, and Windhoek
• August: Naivasha again 🙂
• October: Bath, London, and Cardiff
• December: Kiambethu Tea Farm

Thank you again for following my adventures in 2024 and I wish you an amazing 2025! Please share your 2024 highlights and 2025 travel wishlist with me in the comment section below! And if you left a wishlist comment last year, I’d love to know which cities/countries you were able to check off the list 🙂

Happy New Year!