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Fareedah, Product Marketing Manager at Busha, spent 10 days travelling across the Republic of Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
What started as savings for a completely different goal turned into a multi-country adventure filled with unforgettable experiences, birthday celebrations, unexpected costs, and a few surprises she didn't see coming.
Here's what the trip really cost.
Tell us about yourself and your relationship with travel
First off, I’m someone who lives like I have multiple tabs open.
Outside work, I spend a lot of my time building lifestyle and food-related projects. My life is usually a mix of work, content, and making everyday experiences feel a bit more intentional.
I don’t travel all the time, but I romanticise travel heavily and try to make it happen whenever I can. I’m the friend who creates itineraries and researches all the good spots before a trip.
When I do travel, I like to experience places properly: eat the food, walk the streets, sit too long in cafés, get a little lost, and come back ready to make it my entire personality.
So, what made you decide to explore West Africa?
Ever since I was a kid, I’d wanted to see more of West Africa. I even had a bucket list that included visiting all 36 states in Nigeria and every West African country. I haven’t achieved either yet, but the curiosity never really went away.
At the same time, I’d spent years putting travel off. I applied for visas, got rejected a few times, and convinced myself it was too much work. I was always telling myself I'd go one day, while other priorities kept taking over.
Then I came across a travel opportunity that fit my lifestyle and budget, and something just clicked. I realised there was never going to be a perfect time to do it.
I chose these countries because they were accessible and realistic for my budget. I also wanted to see what an extended trip would feel like. Turns out, I’m not built for long trips, but it was a really solid experience.
Which countries did you visit, and what made each one memorable?
I set off on April 3, beginning with two days in the Republic of Benin before heading to Lomé, Togo's capital, where I spent the next three days. The final leg of the trip took me to Accra, Ghana, where I spent four days before returning home.
Of all three destinations, Lomé exceeded my expectations. The city had a calm, welcoming energy that made it easy to settle in. The people were warm, the food was great, and our hotel was beautiful and cosy. I spent my time taking night walks, going on little side quests around the city, riding bikes, playing in the sand, and fully soaking it all in.
My birthday was one of the highlights of the trip. I celebrated it across countries, listened to "Joyeux anniversaire", blew out candles on croissants instead of cake, and ate an unreasonable amount of buttery pastries.
Ghana was memorable for different reasons. I finally met some online friends in real life, which felt like a full-circle moment. I also had one of the best shopping experiences of the trip and somehow ended up wishing I had more luggage space.
Every stop gave me a different version of West Africa, and I'm glad I got to experience it for myself.
»You might also like: I compared 7 Nigerian savings apps so you don't have to
How much did the trip cost in total?
Now, disclaimer: I’m not really a budget traveller. If I can afford the convenience, I’m taking it.
The whole trip- flights, accommodation, and a curated itinerary- was handled by a travel company.
I paid in two instalments, and in total, it came to about ₦3 million.
Outside that, I still had my own spending buckets: pre-trip prep (hair, nails, outfits), daily spending per country, and a small buffer for extras.
I went into full spreadsheet mode because I didn’t want to return broke. I also timed work payments around my return, just to be safe.
For daily spending, I budgeted about ₦300k–₦450k per country, depending on how long I was staying.
I expected Ghana to be the most expensive, but it wasn’t. On my last day there, I was literally just buying things to finish my cash.
Benin was the real shock. I stayed within budget, but barely. Everything felt more expensive than expected, especially compared to Lomé, Togo, where my money stretched a lot further.
How did you save for the trip?
I wasn’t actively saving for the trip. I’d been putting money aside for a different purchase, but I lost interest and redirected the funds toward travel instead.
I mostly park my money in a Busha Savings plan (I mean, I work here). I like that I can create different savings plans for different goals, so when this trip came up, I simply changed my savings goal, instead of starting from square one.
Even then, the money still wasn’t enough, so I picked up some consulting work and cut back on small spending like eating out and ordering food. Every penny mattered.
It didn’t take me long to pull the rest together, maybe about a month.
Honestly, I don’t really overthink big purchases. Once I have the money, I’ll usually just go for it, then work twice as hard afterwards to make up for it.
» On Busha, you can save in Naira and earn up to 13% annually on Flexible Savings or up to 20% on Fixed Savings. Start here.
What was your biggest expense across the trip?
Oh, definitely transportation. I Ubered almost everywhere.
In Benin and Lomé, I took bikes because I wanted the experience, but everywhere else it was Uber.
I needed reliable transport at all times, especially with all my little side quests and solo activities, like leaving my hotel at 11 pm to go grocery shopping in Lomé.
I also spent a fair amount of money on food. My appetite can get finicky when I travel, so I dined out more often than I ate local food. Still, it wasn't a major expense.
I didn’t pay for any tourist sites since the travel company handled that, and most of the extra things I did outside the itinerary were free anyway.
What was it like accessing and spending money across different countries?
Honestly, the biggest adjustment was going back to a cash-heavy lifestyle.
Every few days, I was dealing with a new currency, figuring out exchange rates, and making sure I had enough cash on hand for wherever I was headed next.
The travel company connected us with a verified Bureau de Change (BDC) operator — a local currency exchange service that helped us convert money whenever we needed it, which made things much easier.
Still, I hated carrying cash around. It stressed me out, especially because some of these countries still use coins. Chai, Nigeria.
In Ghana, I set up a MoMo account but barely used it because I already had enough cash. Apart from the occasional exchange-rate shock, I didn't run into any major money challenges.
I also kept backup funds in foreign accounts and some stablecoins in my Busha wallet, just in case. I never had to use them, but it was reassuring to know they were there.
If you were planning a similar trip tomorrow, what would you do differently?
I wouldn’t take this exact trip again, not because it wasn’t amazing, but because I’d rather explore different cities within these countries next time.
I’d probably rent a car, though. I love wandering when I travel. I can go from a gallery to a local market to an arcade all in the same day. The cost of getting from point A to point B adds up quickly when you're constantly chasing your next little adventure.
What's your advice for someone dreaming of a similar trip but worried about the cost?
I’d say just do it.
Your work will survive if you disappear for a few days. Be flexible with your budget, too. One country might be affordable, and the next might have you spending three times as much overnight.
And honestly, we need to retire the idea that African travel is second-tier or only for budget travellers. It’s rich, diverse, fun, and one of the easiest ways to see the world. All it takes is curiosity, an open mind, and a willingness to go.
Ready to build your travel fund?
Busha is an official partner of the I Said What I Said podcast for the rest of 2026.
And because we love a crossover moment, we're running the ISWIS x Busha Savings Challenge, “Big Money, Small Problems.”
The rules are simple: Save consistently on Busha every month, build better financial habits, and stand a chance to win rewards. Winners will be announced across our social media channels and shouted out live on the pod.
Whether you're saving for your first trip or your next big goal, now's a good time to build your savings. And if you’re a certified FK and Jollz fan, this is your sign to tap in.
If you’re not... well, now you have two excellent reasons to start saving anyway. Start here.
