The vast continent of Africa is so massive, it is larger than the United States, China, and Brazil combined. There are 54 countries (and, no, not one of them is…
West Africa on a Shoestring: What to Expect from a Budget Hotel
Sometimes you just don’t know what you’ll get! Image by Flickr user John Stavely. I’ve stayed in hotels all across Togo, in addition to making shorter trips to Burkina Faso,…
Budget Safari in West Africa: Journey to Pendjari National Park
The author en route to the heart of Pendjai. Image by Mark Hanss. This March I took time off from volunteering in Togo to visit Pendjari National Park in neighboring…
Can Love Travel? Tips for Long-Distance Relationships
Image from Pixabay. Sustaining a relationship across the miles is not most people’s idea of the ideal situation, but for lovers of international travel, sometimes circumstances and opportunities necessitate a short-…
Tailor-Made: How to Get Your Own, Custom Pagne Outfit
Health clinic employees celebrate Togolese Labor Day, May 1, with a set of matching pagne. Image by Winter Heath. Why Get a Tailored Article of Clothing? In big cities and…
Traveling with Goats: How to Survive Your First Bush Taxi Ride
When there isn’t room inside the bush taxi, people improvise. Image by Alison Griner. Your first experience traveling in a country where bush taxis are a mode of transportation can…
West African Villages Don’t Have Closets: Coming Out (or not) in Rural Togo
To come out in the savanna. Image courtesy of Chelsea Clarke. Why would a lesbian want to live in West Africa, anyway? Months before my departure for a two-year-long volunteering…
Make Your Own Net: Tips for Conquering the Unknown and Finding Adventure
Make your own travel safety net by getting prepared! Image from moneymagpie.com. As I write this, 9 days, 216 hours and  1,3140 minutes separate me and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa,…