When reality exceeds expectations 🪄✨️
In a trip filled with many highlights, the landscapes in Sossusvlei stand out. Here's a mini guide if you plan to visit ⤵️
🛻 How to Get There: The best way is to rent a car and drive down to Sesriem. Google Maps is pretty accurate in terms of directions (not time 🚫). So leave Windhoek early ⚠️
🚍If you do not have a car, then joining a tour or shuttle service is the only other option.
From Sesriem entrance gate, Sossusvlei is another ~1hr drive to reach the 2WD parking lot. You can continue driving to the 4WD parking lot or take a shuttle from here if you're not comfortable driving on sand 🏜.
🛏 Where to stay: Budget camping ⛺️ - NWR Sesriem Campsite, Sesriem Oshana Camp. Luxury 💰 - Dead Valley Lodge, Sossus Dune Lodge
⏳️ Best Time to Visit: May to September. Plan to visit at sunrise🌤or later in the evening for the best weather conditions and light.
A detailed guide is available on my blog: www.travelwithapen.com. Leave me a comment below if you'd like to receive the link.
#explorenamibia #sossusvlei #dunesofnamibia #sossusvleisunrise #desertdreaming #namibiatravel
If South Korea is on your travel wishlist for this year or the future, I've got a minor about the visa application process. 🗞📰
When I applied for a South Korean visa in 2022, I had to submit my documents and passport to the embassy, and the visa was processed in 6 working days.
After that, I had to return to the embassy to pick up my passport, but I didn't get an endorsement in it. Instead, I received an e-visa that I could download from the website.
However, as of 2025 (not sure how long this change has been in place, though), the embassy no longer keeps your passport ❌️
While you still need to visit the embassy or VAC in person to submit your application, the process seems to be moving towards a more streamlined e-visa system 🤞🏼
Because, how do you do it? 🤔
I'm watching the prices go higher💸💸, but I can't bite the bullet cos I don't know if that approval is coming for sure! 🥲
✅️ I've been fortunate with my visa applications so far, but I approach each new one with the same level of apprehension.
One of the things I hold back on is booking a flight ✈️ without having my visa in hand. I've done this once, though - when the Thai visa requirement included "paid flights."
In this case, I booked a fully refundable flight and rebooked that flight once I got my visa in 2 days. Apart from this instance, I use the hold ✋🏽 option on Qatar or ET for my flight reservation needs. So far, I've gotten every visa I've applied for using this.
I'd love to know your approach. Which team are you on?
Picking from where we left off, here are 4 more incredible weekend getaways close to Nairobi!
🐘 Amboseli National Park: for numerous elephant sightings and a sneak peak of Mount Kilimanjaro!
🍃 Aberdares Cottages and Fishing Lodge: for its beautiful campsite by the river
🌊 Ngare Ndare Forest: famous for its gorgeous azure waterfals and pools, canopy walkway above the forest floor, and elephant sightings.
🦏 Ol Pejeta Conservancy: for a chance to spot the big 5, as well as to see earth's last two surviving Northern White rhinos + learn about conservation efforts...
#weekendtrip #nairobi
One of the things I love about Nairobi is the endless options for quick weekend getaways. Here are a few of my top picks for escapes from the city!🍃
#nairobi #weekendtrip #thingstodoinnairobi #kenya
Trip or destination combinations can be as easy as looking at a map 🌏 and figuring out which countries border each other + how easy it is to move from one country to the other.
And if you're Nigerian, there's also the visa element to consider.
On this list, places like Kenya, Seychelles, Rwanda, and Uganda have fairly favourable visa and entry conditions, plus 3 of these countries have direct flights to Nigeria ✈️
This makes them good bases for a combo-trip. If you're not looking to go far, a great combination from Nigeria is the route from Nigeria 🇳🇬 to Ghana 🇬🇭 via Benin 🇧🇯 and Togo 🇹🇬
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PS: While trip combinations can be fun + could help save money/build your travel history, some destinations require more time to have a more enriching experience. So weigh your options and choose carefully 💙
Share your favourite combo destinations in the comment section! ⤵️
🧳✈️ What kind of traveller are you?
My travel style is constantly evolving, but this is where I'm at right now!
🚦I'll take a lovely train ride 🚆 over a plane ride ✈️, even if the journey is longer..
I don't have plans to visit all countries in the world 🌎 - it would be pretty cool if that happened, but I'm happy to just return to places I love over and over again! 🥰
💸 These days, my travel style in terms of budget is a mixed bag. I appreciate more privacy and unique experiences, but I'm also down for a hostel stay if necessary.
🐌 Slow travel is my preference - as much as work and life permits, and I'll always try to choose an overnight trip over a day trip 😊
