Benin – Through My Lens

Hi folks! Time to turn the clock back a decade plus to my time in the West African country of Benin. A country with a history linked to the slave trade to the Americas, it has it's own beauty and despite the fact I only had five nights there, I appreciated visiting. Apart from the …

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Sunday Spotlight – Mopti, Mali

Today I’m stretching my memory back to the time I went to Mali, 2007, one country in West Africa which really has a lot to see and do. From the Dogon country, to the incredible mosque at Djenne, Mali is a real surprise packet in West Africa, but sadly is not really safe for travel …

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Niger – Through My Lens

Well. Here it is - my last post before I jet off to South America on Sunday morning. I'm back with another photographic journey (as far as my camera skills will let me) to the land-locked West African country of Niger. A mostly desert country, Niger is probably the most remote country I've ever visited. …

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First Taste – Douala, Cameroon

I once was planning a trip to West Africa and was telling a friend about it. He told me he really wanted to go to Cameroon, which was not one of the countries I had originally considered. This was back in the early naughties. I didn’t go until my third venture to Cameroon. I’m not …

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First Taste – Accra, Ghana, West Africa

Ahhh Accra. Like a pie in the face, it hits you with some serious humidity not dissimilar to Bangkok. I challenged myself to go to West Africa, and despite reservations (mostly revolving around diet) I ended up getting there for the first time in 2006. I’ve been back to the region twice since and back …

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The Best of Train Journeys

Today's 'Best of' is looking back at my four favourite 'Train Journeys'. I'll let you in on a secret - I think Train Journeys is my favourite segment I have written. Here are four amazing train journeys that if you're in the region you simply must visit! 4. The Ghan - Darwin to Alice Springs …

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Travel and Hospitals – Burkina Faso, Part Two

After my experiences in Banfora, I hoped I wouldn’t end up in another hospital in Burkina Faso. BAH! I ended up in another TWO! Suffice to say it’s not the ideal country to end up in hospital in, should you have a choice. In Bobo-Diolosso I was taken the main hospital there. Far far bigger …

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Hospitals, Travel and Me – Burkina Faso (Part One)

Here’s my final two parts of my hospital experiences. Burkina Faso, and this is where it all happened, I got my first ever serious tropical disease, malaria. I was in Banfora, a large town (but definitely a town) six or so hours south west of the capital Ouagadougou. I remember the lead up – I’d …

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Planning a Dogon Trek (Mali)

Hi folks. Here’s a post I planned to write weeks ago but my sabbatical has made it hard to get around to it. But finally, here she be! The Dogon Escarpment is an amazing geographical feature in Mali. It needs a few days to be visited at the very least, and it’s pretty much obligatory …

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