24 Countries I Visited in 2024: Year Recap (Part 1)

This post is coming a little late—it’s already late January—but since this entire blog is retrospective, nothing is ever truly “too late.” 2024 was another incredible year of travel. What set it apart from previous years was that I took relatively fewer solo trips. I visited 24 countries in total, 20 of them new, and only half of them solo. While I love my own company, it was refreshing to experience more adventures alongside family and friends.

As I looked back on my travels in December, I was surprised to realize that I had journeyed across five continents. The highlight? Finally exploring much more of Africa, something I had barely done despite spending most of my life in Nigeria. Because I visited so many places, I’ll keep this recap short and sweet—just my favorite memories or standout experiences. So, without further ado, here’s the first half of my rundown of the 24 countries I visited in 2024.

Country 1: Benin

I kicked off the year with a road trip from my hometown, Lagos, Nigeria, through West Africa. My most vivid memory of Benin was experiencing firsthand the impact of arbitrary colonial borders. When our lack of French made communication difficult, my aunt’s Yoruba fluency saved the day. Beyond that, I loved that Benin had well-maintained public beaches—perfect for unwinding at no cost.

Country 2: Ghana

Ghana was the second stop on our road trip, and as much as it pains me to admit this (given our friendly rivalry as Nigerians—haha), Accra felt like a more organized, less chaotic version of Lagos. Reliable electricity and the widespread acceptance of international bank cards certainly helped (LOL). While we spent much of the road trip beach-hopping, Ghana’s rich history stood out, from its excellent museums to the somber, powerful atmosphere of Elmina.

Country 3: Togo

Togo was the final stop of the road trip, and I’m genuinely sad we only spent a day and a half in Lomé. The most memorable part was the food! Moments like these remind me why I started this blog—to document experiences before they fade. A year later, I can’t recall exactly what I ate or where, but I do remember it being incredible. Restaurant prices were noticeably higher than in Nigeria, but the portions were massive—definitely enough for two or even three people. It was also my first time trying attiéké, thanks to an Ivorian student-run food stand, and it was delicious.

Country 4: Qatar

I visited Qatar in February during a 24-hour layover en route to India. The most striking thing was the lingering influence of the recent World Cup—billboards and signs were still everywhere. I explored several stadiums, with the standout being Stadium 974, built from recycled shipping containers. Beyond that, cruising through the Arabian Gulf and wandering the Venice-inspired Qanat Quarter were unforgettable highlights.

Country 5: India

India might just be my most memorable destination of 2024. As a solo female traveler, I was initially apprehensive, but I ended up spending nearly two months exploring over ten cities, and I loved every moment. India offers some of the best travel experiences for the best value. I’ve already written multiple posts about my time there, but some highlights bear repeating: witnessing the most breathtaking sunrise in Hampi, marveling at Rajasthan’s stunning architecture, cruising through Kerala’s serene backwaters, and, of course, seeing the Taj Mahal. It’s not a country for the faint of heart, but it’s packed with adventure.

Country 6: Maldives

I visited the Maldives with one of my favorite travel buddies, whom I met during my trip to Myanmar. We were both in India at the same time and decided to coordinate our flights into Malé. Our trip was filled with island-hopping—we explored six islands, including two resort islands. The highlight of the trip was the incredible scuba diving. I saw some of the most unique marine life and had an unforgettable experience swimming with manta rays.

Country 7: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka holds a special place in my heart—it was my 100th country! Like India, it packs an incredible variety of experiences at a great price. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved cities like Kandy and Colombo. Two moments stand out: the iconic train ride from Kandy to Ella, with jaw-dropping views of tea plantations and valleys, and an impromptu, free elephant safari. My hotel manager took some guests and me to his mother’s house for her birthday, and on the way, we passed the outskirts of Yala National Park, where we fed wild elephants from our car window—a thrilling experience!

Country 8: Bangladesh

Bangladesh was chaotic—which is ironic, considering I visited during Ramadan, a supposedly calmer time. Even as someone who grew up in Africa’s most populous city, I wasn’t prepared for the sheer density of people in Dhaka. Still, I loved it. The eerie, abandoned city of Panam Nagar was a standout, as was Sylhet, a tranquil northern town with beautiful tea plantations that were a lot less packed with tourists than Sri Lanka’s. The train ride through Sylhet’s lush countryside was absolutely magical and the family that were in my train cabin shared their dinner with me, representative of the great hospitality I experienced in Bangladesh.

Country 9: Nepal

My trip to Nepal took an unexpected turn. I originally planned to trek either the Annapurna Circuit or Everest Base Camp, but an untimely illness forced me to scrap those plans. In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise—I got to explore so much more of the country than I would have otherwise. I was also lucky to visit in April, just in time for multiple cultural festivals, including Nepali New Year, where I got to celebrate the start of the year 2081! I have so many great things to say about Nepal, I’ll have to designate another blog post to it.

Country 10: Ethiopia

Ethiopia was my second 24-hour layover of the year, this time en route to Mozambique. I spent the day exploring Addis Ababa with two Ethiopian girls I met in a café. We bonded over coffee, indulged in the best shiro wot and injera I’ve ever had, and ended the night chatting about life, dreams, and everything in between at a local bar. After just a few hours of sleep, I was back at the airport, but that whirlwind stopover left me eager to return for a longer trip.

So there you have it…

That’s it for the first half of my 2024 travel recap! Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll cover the next 14 countries. Which of these destinations have you visited or would love to explore? Let me know in the comments!