My 2021 Wish List: 10 Places I Hope to Visit

Welcome again to 2021! Honestly, I’m not sure why I am writing a travel wishlist this year considering the fact that a few countries have already begun putting another phase of lockdown in place. Yes, the pandemic is not yet over even though life seems to be returning to normal in certain places.

Here in Nairobi, Kenya, ‘normal’ for me is continuing to work from home, a 10 pm curfew and wearing a mask everywhere I go but at least I can still ‘go’ and I’m very grateful for that. Even though the prospects of travel in 2021 aren’t looking too bright at the moment, I’ve decided to put on my super optimistic hat and write my travel wishlist anyway.

As I mentioned in my 2019 travel wishlist post, I believe in writing down the vision. Ultimately, I believe there’s a ‘luck’ element involved but it’s been amazing looking back at old lists and seeing how many items have been achieved. Some of them, with minimal effort from me.

When I think about how the opportunities that led me to Mark, got me to work in Cairo for 3 months and move to Nairobi, I think about a quote by Paulo Coelho in the Alchemist and I write my life and travel wish lists, do my best to work towards achieving my goals and pray that the universe conspires in helping me do so.

All this to say, here are the places I hope to visit in 2021. Or 2022, I’m flexible, universe! 🙂

My Travel Wishlist: 10 Places I Hope to Visit in Kenya

It’s been very exciting living in another country for the past few months. Kenya is gorgeous and there are so many places I’m hoping to visit during our time here. We have already begun ticking off some items on our Kenya Living List, visiting the Masai Mara, a few places in Nairobi (like the Giraffe Centre, Karura Forest, Nairobi Arboretum, amongst others), Naivasha and the coast.

This year, Mark and I hope to venture out of the city more. I have begun planning for that by signing up for 2 hiking tours with Winnie of Justrioba.com and working with Aina of Ainadadablog to plan out trips to the coast. I’m also excited to explore more places with Mark and our friends here in Nairobi.

These are 10 places I hope to visit this year and I already ticked off place number 6! Be sure to look out for the post on this hike.

1. Ngare Ndare Forest – March 2021
2. Kilifi – March 2022
3. Diani – January 2021
4. Mombasa – January 2021
5. Lamu – May 2021
6. Mount Longonot – January 2021
7. Champagne Ridge – February 2022
8. Ngong Hills – May 2021
9. Kenton & Nathan Hills – May 2021
10. Sleeping Warrior – February 2021

My Travel Wishlist: 10 Places I Hope to Visit Internationally

I don’t know how feasible international travel will be this year. One thing I know though is that I don’t want to undergo more COVID-19 tests than necessary. My first and only one was so painful, the memory still haunts and hurts me to this day.

Having said that, let us pretend everything is back to normal. In a perfect, covid-free 2021, these are some of the countries I would love to visit internationally;

1. Rwanda – August 2022
2. Uganda (If I do the Kenya-Rwanda-Uganda trip, I would finally be able to kick off another item off my Living List)
3. Zimbabwe
4. Zambia
5. Seychelles – May 2022
6. Senegal
7. Turkey – September 2021
8. Nigeria – October 2021
9. West African Road Trip to Ivory Coast
10. Namibia

Some of these countries appeared on my 2019 travel wishlist. so, Universe, please take this into consideration as you conspire to help me visit these places!

Enough of my list, I would love to read about yours. What places would you love to visit if budget, time and restrictions surrounding the pandemic allow? Please share them with me in the comment section below!