Drumroll for the second annual Year-End Recap. Last year, I was lucky enough to visit 24 countries in 2024, and unsurprisingly, I did NOT beat that this year. 2025 was my first year working full-time after finishing my master’s, so I was honestly shocked to realize I still managed to visit 17 countries, 12 of which were new.
One trend I was proud to continue was visiting more African countries. In 2024, I bounced between West and Southern Africa; this year, I spent more time in West and East Africa. Some quick stats before diving in: half of my trips were solo, and 3 countries were repeats from 2024. Without further ado, here’s the journey that led me to visiting my 125th country.
Country 1: Senegal
My 2025 travels began where 2024 started and ended: West Africa. I rang in the New Year with friends in Saint-Louis, Senegal, after attending a wedding. One of the highlights was witnessing New Year’s Eve traditions like the Soumbou Gaïndé, where men dress in lion costumes and parade through the streets. I also got to stand on the beach at the border with Mauritania and spent time exploring Dakar with a friend. I talk more about how I spent my time in Senegal in this previous post.
Country 2: Gambia
I decided to tack on a solo trip to The Gambia, and it was a fantastic decision. In a previous post, I explained why I ranked The Gambia as having the best coastline of all the West African countries I’ve visited, and I still stand by that. The beaches and sunsets in Serekunda were unmatched. I also loved visiting Bijilo Monkey Park and diving into Gambian food.
Country 3: Guinea Bissau
With a few extra days to spare (and staying true to my chaotic tendencies), I added Guinea-Bissau to the itinerary. Getting from The Gambia to Bissau overland was definitely a hassle, but it was worth it to visit my second Portuguese-speaking African country. While Bissau wasn’t a standout destination in terms of activities or landscapes (a trip to the Bijagós Islands would have changed that), the people were incredibly kind. I’m especially grateful to the girl who recruited all her siblings to help me take down my braids LOL!
Country 4: Jamaica
In early March, I escaped the Chicago cold with my sister during her spring break. We based ourselves in Montego Bay, explored the city, and ate an unreasonable number of patties. The highlight was a day trip to Negril, where we visited Seven Mile Beach and the iconic Rick’s Café.
Country 5: Madagascar
Madagascar was hands-down my favorite destination of the first half of the year, and to top it up, my flights from the US were free using my Chase Card 🙂 I visited with a group of 7 friends, and despite having only 8 days, we managed to explore the Northern, Central, and Western regions. I’ve written extensively about Madagascar already, so I won’t repeat myself here, but between the beaches, rolling hills, national parks, baobabs, and lemurs, it’s a country that truly has it all. I can’t wait to return.
Country 6: Mauritius
I added Mauritius as a solo extension from Madagascar due to its proximity. What fascinated me most was the contrast between everyday local life and the luxury of high-end resorts, which reminded me a lot of the Maldives. Mauritius is also deeply shaped by its Indian heritage, and it was striking to see women in saris and Hindu celebrations taking place in an African country.
Country 7: Denmark
A quick two-day stop in Copenhagen on my way to Spain allowed me to check off the city’s classics: King’s Garden, Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn, and the National Library. I also enjoyed hopping between cozy cafés while working remotely.
Country 8: Spain
Spain is my favorite country in Europe, so I was so glad to have an excuse to return again this year. I traveled to Valencia for a friend’s wedding, with celebrations spread across the province, which let me explore beyond the city. By pure coincidence, a Spanish friend I met at an airport three years earlier was also in Valencia, and we ended up visiting Saler, a seaside town, together. I finished the trip with a few solo days in Madrid before heading to East Africa.
Country 9: Burundi
Burundi marked the start of a month-long overland journey through East Africa. I figured I might as well dive in by starting with the country I knew the least about. Though brief, my time in Burundi was memorable, from seeing royal drum performances in Bujumbura to watching sunsets over Lake Tanganyika and admiring rolling tea fields that reminded me of South Asia.
Country 10: Rwanda
After the logistical stress of Burundi, Rwanda felt like a breath of fresh air. Kigali is incredibly clean and easy to navigate, with beautiful cafés overlooking the hills. I visited the Genocide Memorial, explored art galleries, and caught up with an old friend. The highlight was trekking in Volcanoes National Park, where the landscapes were absolutely stunning.
Country 11: Uganda
Uganda was a pleasant surprise. I started in Lake Bunyonyi, one of the most beautiful places I visited in East Africa, where my days were spent hiking, cruising the lake, and eating lots of sugarcane. Kampala was a sharp contrast with regards to serenity LOL, but I enjoyed visiting museums and learning about Ugandan history, and I absolutely loved eating Rolex.
Country 12: Kenya
I spent a few days in Nairobi, though many places were closed due to protests. Still, I managed to reconnect with old college friends over live music and good food at Geco Café. The highlight was Naivasha, where I lucked into meeting a local who helped me visit Crescent Island for free, a walking safari filled with zebras, giraffes, and waterbucks. He also helped me negotiate a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, where I saw countless hippos. Easily the most bang-for-my-buck day of the year.
Country 13: Tanzania
Tanzania was my favorite country in East Africa, and choosing just one highlight feels impossible. The safari in Ngorongoro Crater was unreal: six lions and hundreds of wildebeest felt straight out of The Lion King. I became close with fellow travelers from my safari jeep, and we later reunited in Moshi to hike Materuni Waterfalls and tour a coffee farm where I drank some of the best coffee of my life. I also spent time in Dar es Salaam with old college friends and ended the trip with a spontaneous visit to Zanzibar.
Country 14: Oman
I visited Oman over Thanksgiving (with free flights again using my Capital One Card hehe) with one of my best friends and arrived during National Day celebrations, which meant decorated cities, free desserts, and dates everywhere. Highlights included Wadi Shab, the cattle market in Nizwa, Nizwa Fort, and the green mountains of Jebel Akhdar, and, of course, a much-needed hammam visit.
Country 15: Thailand
Though technically just a 12-hour layover, my time in Bangkok was incredibly well spent. I window-shopped at Emsphere Mall, indulged in desserts, treated myself to a spa visit, and visited Wat Benchamabophit before heading back to the airport. I enjoyed it so much that I may start intentionally planning Bangkok layovers.
Country 16: Australia
I was thrilled to revisit Australia, this time during summer and further south in Melbourne. I reunited with a friend I’d met in Vietnam years ago and did the iconic Great Ocean Road trip, where I saw the Twelve Apostles and some of the most dramatic coastline I’ve ever experienced.
Country 17: New Zealand
I ended the year — and reached Country #125 — with a solo trip to New Zealand. It ties with Tanzania as my favorite destination of the second half of the year. Winter in New Zealand is breathtaking, especially on the South Island, where snowcapped mountains and sheep-filled farms create postcard-perfect scenery. December meant lupins were in full bloom, and highlights included Queenstown, Arrowtown, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, and Christchurch. I also got to reconnect with a friend that I had made in Myanmar who was working in Queentown — and because Queenstown is the adrenaline capital of the world, she pushed me to face my fears and jump off a 110-meter cliff in Shotover Canyon.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, 2025 was a reminder that even with a full-time job, I could continue traveling, just with more intentionality. Reaching 125 countries wasn’t the goal at the start of the year, but it became a meaningful milestone along the way. Plus, I got to reconnect with old friends in 7 of the countries I visited! This year challenged me to balance structure with spontaneity, solo travel with shared experiences, and familiarity with constant discovery. This year’s top destination winners: Madagascar, Tanzania and New Zealand!
