Every other year, I make a list of places to visit in the coming year. I write these lists for fun, with the hopes of actually ticking off some of these places over the next two years. Because I never say never when travel opportunities arise, I often end up visiting places that don’t make it on the list.
The last time I worked on a list like this, I ended up visiting all the places I listed in Kenya and four out of the ten countries I mentioned. Not bad, right?
Also, in January last year, Mark had gone through my 2021 list and scheduled some trips for us based on that. So, am I writing this edition solely to mind-control him to do the same this year? Well, we shall see!
In the last two years, I feel like we both got to explore a lot of places in Kenya. I have a post coming up about my all-time favourite destinations, so be sure to look out for it. This year, there are only three new places that make this list and they are as follows:
Places to Visit in Kenya
- Tsavo National Park
- Meru National Park
- Any Tea Farm in Kenya – probably somewhere in Limuru
I am also hoping to revisit some of my favourite Kenyan destinations like Watamu and Naivasha this year.
As for international travel, I have made a list of ten countries I would love to visit in 2023. Some of these countries, like Japan, Uganda, Namibia and Jordan have appeared in previous editions of this list, so I hope that over the next two years, I will get to visit them!
There are a few places that I dropped off simply because of the logistics involved in getting a visa as a Nigerian citizen. I hope that conditions improve from next year and beyond, so we can begin to enjoy travelling with fewer restrictions.
10 Places to Visit Internationally
Here are the countries I hope to visit next year:
- Japan – after visiting South Korea this year, I am looking forward to exploring Japan! – Visited in Nov 2023
- Uganda – it’s about time, right?
- Singapore – if I can figure out how to obtain a visa independently, this will be a sure destination for the year – Visited in February 2023
- Malaysia – I plan to visit Malaysia as a combined trip with Singapore – Visited in February 2023
- Germany – to visit family and squeeze in another Europe Tour – Visited in December 2023
- Jordan – to see Petra and float in the Dead Sea
- Namibia: because my first visit doesn’t count! – Visited in May 2024
- Botswana: for incredible wildlife and landscapes
- Tied: Zimbabwe or Zambia: for the beautiful Mosi-oa-Tunya (aka Victoria Falls)
- Tied: Mauritius or Maldives: because there’s nothing quite like a good beach holiday!
Trip Planning Resources
Book your accommodation: Find accommodation options for any budget on Booking.com
Purchase Travel Insurance: I use SafetyWing for both my travel and visa application needs
Activities: Find fun activities and tours in your destination via Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook Travel
eSIM: Get your travel eSIM here
There you have it! My list of places to visit in 2023 (or 2024!)
And as usual, I would love to hear from you. Please share with me your list of destinations you hope to visit in the coming year(s). Perhaps we have a few in common! 🙂
If you have destinations you’re looking to visit but aren’t quite sure about the visa application processes (for Nigerians), do let me know and I will look into it and probably write more detailed articles about the processes and requirements next year.
![[Me after seeing glimpses of a certain streamer's visit to my beautiful country KENYA 🇰🇪] Nina furaha kukutana na wewe 💅🏾
I've tried to avoid watching any related videos of other countries 👀 but that's not how social media works! 😭
Anyway, it's Nyambura to you from now on. Thanks to @motherofpassports for bestowing this name upon me 🇰🇪💙](https://travelwithapen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/620327265_1629543314731655_3379033586039046390_n.jpg)
I’m already excited about your adventures this year. I can’t wait to see it!
Thanks, Favour! Excited about yours as well, both travel and life updates. Also, congrats again!
I hope to get explore more of Europe this year…I already have a ticket to Montenegro, and that is the only trip I can confirm. Scotland and maybe Northern Ireland will see be outside of England.
Europe is always a good idea! I hope you enjoy your travels around the continent. Montenegro sounds great too – haven’t seen much of it, so I’ll be keen on following your adventures if you choose to share them. Same with Scotland and N.Ireland.
New reader and I love your blog!! It’s encouraging to know there are Nigerian travel bloggers I can relate to. This year, I have plans to visit the US, UK, Denmark, Germany, Portuguese islands, and possibly Greece, Belgium, and the Netherlands. I would love to do the Caribbean, SE Asia, and South America, but I’m not sure yet and it depends on which countries have easiest visas to apply for. Traveling to African countries on my bucket list would be great, but flights from Europe can get crazy expensive sadly. Maybe I’ll save Africa for 2024.
Hi Ady, glad you found my blog! Many bucket list-worthy destinations you’ve listed! I hope you get the chance to visit them all! Visa applications are also important in choosing a destination for me. I had hoped to visit Thailand this year (or at least put it on the list) but when I read the requirements, I figured I’d just put it off until later. Regardless of the hassles, I hope 2023 is a great year travel and life-wise for you and hope to “see” you around on the blog this year too 🙂
Yay! I can finally leave my comment! First of all, I am so excited to see your East Asia travels particularly Malaysia and Singapore. Those were actually the first two places I ever visited all by my lonesome (young) self. Secondly, I hope we can travel together one day, would be awesome (maybe Namibia in December- yes I am being hopeful). Lastly, how on earth have you not visited Uganda?! That should be your first trip!!
Yaaay! Thanks for coming back! Reading that you visited Singapore and Malaysia solo puts me at ease because I plan to visit solo as well. I am also looking forward to travelling with you and someday I hope I’ll get an Expat name too! 😂
And Uganda, haha, this year, fingers crossed!! It just has to happen!
I hope you get to visit all these countries and destinations in 2023. Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are all amazing and safe places to explore, plus the food is incredible. I am looking forward to your future posts. Your list reminds me of all the wonderful countries one can visit in Africa, a continent I haven’t explored at all. I am not making any big travel plans for this year. What I would like is some chill time with no travel, a period to catch up with my blog posts and create a perfect little home for us. That said, we are not even at the end of January and already exploring a new country (Armenia).
Thanks, Leighton! I hope you’ll have a wonderful travel year and that you get to explore the African continent soon but I am also rooting for more chill time to work on blog posts from previous destinations. (Still waiting earnestly for Turkey posts 😂 and now, Armenia!).
Ha, I wish Jamaica was on the list but I won’t carry feelings. I hope to visit Europe this year myself but my countries of choice are the Netherlands, Italy and maybe France. One day I’ll make it to Africa and Asia 🙂 Best wishes! I hope you accomplish everywhere on your list and more
Haha, it is certainly not an extensive list and I will never pass up the chance to visit Jamaica! I hope to make it there someday – if that happens this year, that would be extremely exciting for me! 😂
Excellent country choices in Europe, I hope you get to visit them all and Africa/Asia soon as well!