I am extremely excited to be here! It’s the end of my second week and I’m having such a good stay so far. I visited the Great Pyramids of Giza with Mark over the past weekend and collided full force with an enduring challenge of being a world traveller: how to properly appreciate the great wonders of the world. How does one fully grasp and appreciate the moment they’re in without being carried away by theatrics?

Pyramids of Giza, Cairo

It helps to know a bit about the places you’ll be visiting, even if you visit with a guide. I was glad to have Mark with me, so I had a bit of a back story and knowledge of the history of the Pyramids before our visit. I recall standing at the base and just being struck with awe. How were these structures constructed and how are they still standing – mostly intact after almost 5,000 years? There are many theories about this and it’s been so interesting to hear and read about them. By the time I leave the country, I would have come up with mine…

The Great Pyramids of Giza

First Impressions of Egypt…

Somehow, I expected Cairo (Egypt) to be very similar to cities in Morocco, but the two countries (at least the place I’ve visited) are strikingly different. The ‘feel of the city’, its architecture (there are so many tall brown futuristic-looking buildings in the city), the food are quite different. I also found cities like Marrakesh and Casablanca in Morocco to be slightly more laid back than Cairo. The culture is slightly similar. Other than that, nothing much is.

Cairo Holiday Inn Maadi Cairo 1

Getting a Visa to Egypt from Nigeria

Sphinx PyramidsThe process of getting this visa was quite easy and straightforward – well if you exclude having to fly down to Abuja to submit my documents. I arrived at the embassy at 9:00 am and got a number assigned to me. At 9:40 am, an official called our numbers and we lined up to gain access into the building.

After going through security, we proceeded to the main auditorium where I submitted my documents. A rep checked them and handed me a slip to come to pick up my passport later. That was it. My visa was approved after 7 working days and my passport was ready to be picked up after another 3 days.

PS: The Egyptian Embassy Address is;

Egyptian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria
Plot 340, Diplomatic Drive,
Central Area, Abuja
Nigeria

The embassy opens from 9 am to 12 pm, Mondays through Fridays, except public holidays. These are the documents required for submission. Please note I applied for a business visa, it may vary slightly for a tourist visa. You can check out this post for more information.

  • Invitation letter from Egypt
  • Confirmed Hotel reservation
  • International passport with at least 6 months validity a minimum of 2 free leaflets
  • 6months bank statement/Payslip
  • 4 passport pictures ( white background )
  • Flight itinerary
  • Filled Egypt visa form
  • Resident permit for Expatriate
  • Letter of Introduction
  • Copy of Work ID card
  • International vaccination certificate ( New Yellow Card)
  • Medical fitness certificate
  • Personal appearance embassy at the in Abuja

Getting to Egypt from Nigeria

If I could go from Nigeria to Egypt by road, honestly I would. I still hate flying but luckily, I had a good time flying with Turkish Airlines. The flight time from Lagos to Cairo by air using a direct service like Egypt air is about 5 hours. With Turkish Airlines, I had to transit through Istanbul first before heading to Cairo. The entire flight time including layovers was about 9 hours.

Cairo- view from the Holiday Inn Maadi

Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

So far, I’ve had no reasons to feel unsafe. I love the area where I am staying at and I’ve been to places close by, including the Pyramids. I am looking forward to seeing more of Cairo – which is the city I’ll be spending most of my time and if possible, exploring other places within the country.

HELLO EGYPT

Have you been to Cairo or any other parts of Egypt? What are some of your recommendations for places to visit and things to do?

13 comments

  1. Morning, please I need contact details of Egyptian consulate in Lagos. Thank you

  2. How did the embassy contact you that your visa was ready as I just applied and can’t find a contact number for the embassy

    1. Hi Susan, they didn’t contact me directly. I had a representative in Abuja who helped make the calls to the them on my behalf. From the look of things, that might be the best route to go with.. or you could visit the embassy if you live in Abuja.

      1. Hi Amarachi, OK Great. Its been over a month now and haven’t heard back from them. I live in Lagos which is why I was hoping to get a working phone number for the embassy. I would really appreciate if I could get a contact number from your representative if possible.

  3. Your travel store inspire me.

    Quick queshun… Must the visa application docs be submitted in person? And how much is the visa fees?

    1. I think it can be submitted by a trusted travel consultant on your behalf. You can send a message to Globe Jaunters or Diamond&Pearls Travels to see if they can offer this service. I think it’s better value for money than going to Abuja.
      Visa Fees cost $120 – multiple entry and $75 for a single entry.

  4. Hi.
    Your biggest fan here.
    I’ve been dying to take a vacation and finally have some free time coming up. I’m stuck between egypt and zanzibar.
    Which would you suggest and can you give me an aggregate of how much each costs? Flights, accommodation et cetera

    1. Hey Christie! Both are excellent travel options and costs will depend on many things, such as time of travel (i.e peak or low season), how far ahead you book your flights and what activities you choose to do. (It’s difficult to project how much these trips would cost without taking the time to do so) Right now, Egypt’s quite hot, so if your free time is now, I’d advise Zanzibar.

  5. Baby girl! I have not been to Egypt o! Just out here seeing it through you 🙂

    1. Haha, thanks Busayo, I hope you enjoy the journey and maybe it’ll inspire you to visit someday.

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

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Guess where! 👀
Guess where! 👀
20 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
What a beautiful city! 😍

#kamoriver #kyoto #japan
What a beautiful city! 😍 #kamoriver #kyoto #japan
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
6 days ago
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5/9
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
6 days ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
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