On the blog...
Here on the blog you’ll find (at least some of) our stories from the road, plus itineraries and plenty of first-hand advice that we like to think is useful.
Obvious exceptions like Turkmenistan or Bhutan aside, we travel on our own, sorting out the details as we go. Which works most of the time. Story, guide, or trip-report-hybrid, I write about what really happens to us as a direct result of this kind of independent travel. What we do, the people we meet, and everything else that rolls up together to make a great trip (…or not. But mostly great).
Since we travel by road (or rail, or sea) most of the time, there’s a lot of exactly that here – getting around on local transport in one form or another. And for some of our best self-driving adventures, I’ve laid out our itineraries and how to plan a similar road trip for yourself.
This type of travel inevitably involves more than a few border-crossings. So you’ll find plenty of posts explaining the ins-and-outs of some of the more complicated borders we’ve come across.
If you’re irresistibly drawn to the endless adventures and challenges that come with overland travel, then have a look below. Happy travels:)

Ghana – All Good Things
We’d had a long, rough, and unique journey. We decided to wrap it up with some blissed-out days relaxing on Ghana’s beautiful beaches.

Burkina Faso – A West African Crossroads
Burkina Faso doesn’t feature on a lot of bucket lists (so much the better). Bobo Dioulasso is as close to a ‘tourist destination’ as it gets here – and there’s plenty to explore nearby.

Borders, Busses and Burkina Faso
Crossing the border from Benin to Burkina Faso. We’ve seen a lot of creative transport solutions but the mini-busses of Burkina Faso take the prize.

Benin – Win Some Lose Some
Some ups and downs in Benin. A running start at Contonou; lazy days in Porto Novo; drifting around Ganvie, a stilt-village built on a lake; Abomey’s palaces.

A Very Voodoo Christmas in Benin
How we spent a few days at Lac Togo and then travelled on to the beaches in Benin. But best of all, Christmas in Ouidah, the ‘voodoo capital’ of Benin.

A Quick Change Of Plans: From Togo to Ghana and Back in One Day
It’s amazing how quickly plans change. This morning we woke up in Lome, intending to go to Lac Togo. But instead, three hours later we were back in Ghana.

Tales From Togo
Lost in Lome, Togo. Arriving in a big African city can be daunting at the best of times. Arriving during a political protest – even more so.

Ghana: Africa For Beginners?
Deciding on Africa was simple enough, but the question was where to begin. We weren’t new to Africa – would “Africa for beginners” be exciting enough?

Sierra Leone: Diamond in the Rough
Despite its problems – Sierra Leone is an amazing place to visit, with so much fascinating history and potential for beauty and peace.