Having traveled this route through West Africa, I am lucky enough to have visited all eleven countries on the coast from Dakar to Lagos.

Using my Top 10 destinations in South East Asia as a template, I will using the following criteria.

These places/countries are judged on:

•   - Natural beauty / Historical wonders
• – Unique Experiences offered
•  - The Chill-out Factor (Off the beaten track, smoke etc.)
• – The Craic! (Irish term meaning fun or entertainment)
•  - The Girls  (the real X factor)

 

So here they are…

Naughty Nomad’s

TOP 10 Spots in West Africa!

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10. Cap Skirring, Senegal

In a word: Moo.

  I’ts got an alright beach with lazy cows.

 Meeting random cows on the road and the Beach. Enjoying fresh fish by the sea where you effectively rent the whole restaurant. The atmosphere is enhanced when the owners come out with the Djembe drums.

Many hotels have pools and you’re not far from the beach. Smoke is easily available, albeit overpriced considering the area is touristy by WA standards.

Night time options are limited but the two or three venues open late are really good fun.

 A decent gaggle of friendly girls around at night. Most speak French.

Bottom Line: The best that Senegal has to offer, but that’s ain’t saying much.

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9. Senegambia, The Gambia

In a word: Simple.

  I’ts got a pretty good beach and a laid back village feel.

 Checking out all the old grannies getting stuck in the young local guys… Hilarious.

Hammocks, beach, weed everywhere – not a bad spot for chilling.

Good Restaurants and wild nightlife (but only one or two options). Check out my Gambian Coast guide for info.

 Party most nights with a good few girls about at night. They come from all over the region and nearly all speak English.

Bottom Line: Better than Senegal, but local guys can be pretty bothersome.

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8. Labadi Beach, Ghana

In a word: Slick.

  Beach and babes, that’s enough.

 Smoke Sheesha and check out a beach concert.

There’s lots of people around but your still by the beach drinking, it’s hard not to relax.

Plenty of people having fun partying. After sundown it sedates but during this is probably the best spot for partying during the day in WA.

 Loads of sexy chicks from all parts of the world strutting around in bikinis. This is the best place in Ghana to pick up.

Bottom Line: Wicked hang-out. I’d score it higher if wasn’t surrounded by crappy Accra.

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7. Lake Aheme, Benin

In a word: Juju.

  Quiet lake with beautiful sandy shores.

 The eco-tours there are excellent. You will learn traditional fishing methods and you learn all about voodoo. If you’re really lucky (as we were), you get to witness a voodoo sacrafice.

A 5 star set up with no tourists. Smoke available. Grab a beer lakeside and enjoy. The lake is the perfect getaway from the capital Cotonou.

Not much going on, but at weekend’s there is a local disco.

 A lot women walk around topless, but are conservative in every other respect. Wasn’t there on the weekend but I’d imagine you’d try to be sold someone’s cousin. Not a place to pick up chicks.

Bottom Line: For me, West Africa’s ultimate chill out spot.

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6. Togo (in general)

In a word: Pleasent.

  Between Lome’s pristine sands and butterfly walks in Kpalimé’s beautiful forests, Togo ranks high for natural beauty.

 Learn about coffee & coca plantations on a guided tour exploring the area around beautiful Kpalimé. The guides are great too.

Lomé is West Africa’s most chilled capital. Kpalimé got some nice waterfalls if you willing to trek to see them.

Lome has a laid back vibe but it hosts West’s Africa’s biggest nightclub! Check out the Lomé city guide to get a better feel for the nightlife.

 A few nationalities about. Not the easiest place to pick up but still very doable. VIP Privé club has some fine women.

Bottom Line: A breath of fresh air on the road from Accra to Lagos.

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5. Monrovia, Liberia

In a word: Threesome?

  Not great as beach isn’t up to much and apparently quite dangerous.

 Having girls call to your door late at night for threesomes. Before they rob you that is…

City isn’t so hectic. Roof toop bars are the best places for unwinding.

Liberia by night is truly an adventure. Check out my Monrovia City Guide for more info.

 Girls in Liberia love to f**k. I never had to refuse so much sex in my life as I did here. The only problem is knowing who to trust. But dam, Liberian girls are a little addictive. Hence the high ranking.

Bottom Line: West Africa’s most off the beaten track country is well worth it.
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4. Lagos, Nigeria

In a word: Chaos.

  Nada. Although Victoria Island has some nice parts.

 Some the world’s worst traffic and daily dealings with bribery and corruption.

There’s weed around, but not much places to chill.

The craic in Lagos in unrivaled. The place is exhilarating. Probably the wildest nightlife in West Africa. Plenty of options with cheap beer and live music.

 Arguably the best looking (and friendliest) girls in Africa. You’ll understand if you read my Lagos City Guide.

Bottom Line: You haven’t been to Africa if you haven’t been to Lagos.

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3. Cote d’Ivoire (in general)

In a word: Magnifique!

  Great jungles near Liberia and lagoon views in the streets of Abidjan.

 Having the world’s biggest church all to yourself (I’m not religious but wow!). Enjoying the Marquai bars.

The capital is really laid back and it’s not hard to get your hand on weed from the Marquai bars.

Nightlife in Abidjan is mega. Biking from the Liberian border is also an epic jungle trail.

 The sexiest girls I’ve experienced in Francophone West Africa. Often friendly and well educated too.

Bottom Line: For many who visit the region, this is their favorite country in West Africa.

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2. Guinea (in general)

In a word: Unexpected.

  With many of the region main rivers originating in the Fouta Djallon, this place is filled with mountains and waterfalls. For me, the most beautiful country in the region. Beaches in the capital.

 The Journey from hell. Ultimate jungle treks. Having to put on hoody because the chill in the mountain air (a welcome temperature change).

Taking a swim over a waterfall. Weed is abundant. Very chilled. Even in the capital you can find quiet moments by the beach.

Conakry has a pretty decent nightlife and displays great variety. The beach parties are a blast too.

 The Fula girls are gorgeous. English isn’t that prevalent but with a little French you can bag yourself a hottie.

Bottom Line: Reminded me of Ethiopia… my favourite country in West Africa.

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1. Freetown Peninsula, Sierra Leone

In a word: Heaven?

  Jungle mountains by the sea. Fantastic beaches.

 Being able to smoke joints in nightclubs.

Beach bars with hookahs? Aberdeen is the ultimate chill out spot. Everyone smokes and it’s not problem in some restaurants even. You can even buy joints in clubs.

Wild nights, every night. Options are limited, but the venues are Grade A. Beers are cheap too. Freetownians really know how to have a good time. Check out my Freetown city guide for more info.

 It’s very easy to pick up in Freetown 5/5. Only Monrovia is easier. You can find some real gems here as well. There’s also Lebanese and other expats for the taking.

Bottom Line: Beautiful scenery,  loose women, weed and cheap beer in clubs = awesome. Easily the best location in West Africa!

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Honourable Mentions

I decided to only include places I’ve actually been in the top 10. As such, the list above only covers countries on the coast from Dakar to Lagos. I contacted some fellow globe-trotters to give their top 10 on the route as well. Here are some other picks from fellow travellers…

• Robertsport, Liberia
• Goree Island, Senegal (I’ve been here. Good escape from Dakar but very small.)
• Ganvie, Benin
• Kokobrite, Ghana (Been here. It could have made the list if I had went on the weekend)
• Sine-Saloum Delta, Senegal
• Bissagos Islands, Guinea Bissau (nice place, but get out of Bubaque and explore further)

Check out my my West African City Guides!

Please share your favourite places! Leave a comment below!

 

Gambia in a word: Brotha’.

Chance of Hooking up: 3.5 / 5
Quality of Girls: 3 / 5
Nightlife: 3.5 / 5
Smoking tolerance level: 4 / 5

City guide ratings explained

Costs €$£

Beer: €1 for a local Julbrew.
Bed: €15 – 20 for a private room. (Leybato)
Bud: €2 buys you enough for a week!
Board: €5 for a meal in tourist areas.
Budget other: You will need taxis to get around. Add €5 a day to your budget.

Currency Conversion

Overview

The Gambian coast is cheap, fun and relaxed. Did you know it’s also one of the biggest desinations in the world for female sex tourism? 50 year old fat German, Dutch and British chicks with attractive, 6-pack 20 year old Gambians are a common site.  My problem with the Gambia – tourists get hassled more here than anywhere else on the West African Coast. “Bumsters” as they’re known, will approach you constantly. Some of them are alright, but some are just plain annoying. “One Love”, “You are my Brother” and “It’s nice to be nice” will be ringing in your ear every twenty minutes. While Gambians are decent enough and honest, many will try and leech off you. Be polite but assertive in your interactions. That said, Gambians are very relaxed and love to party.

The Girls

If you haven’t already, I’d strongly recommend  you read my article Sex in Africa 101 before continuing.

English is spoken by almost everyone. The majority of local girls are from the Mandinka tribe(42%), followed by the Fulani (18%) then Wolof (mostly in Banjul)  and others. The Mandinka look is quite diverse but in Gambia they are typically quite dark. The Fulani are the lightest tribe, are slighter and have smaller facial features. In general, Gambians aren’t the most beautiful in the region, but plenty have slim and sexy bodies. 90% of the population are Muslim; as a result, most do not drink alcohol. That said, Gambian girls like to let their hair down (but can be hard to find sometimes!). At night, many of the girls come from  other West African countries. They come to earn money as hookers. Most are from Guinea, Mali and Senegal, with some from Liberia and Sierra Leone. These girls tend to be hardcore and are more likely to give you trouble. If you’re looking for a good time, I’d suggest actively hunting down a local Gambian girl. Forget day game and pipelining. If you don’t want to shore, I’d suggest going for bar girls or waitresses (but you probably will be shoring anyway!). If you want to check out more Gambian girls check out this poorly made music video.

Nightlife Recommendations

At night, Senegambia is the place to be. Decline any invitations to reggae parties, they usually all men.

Jokor nighclub

Located in Senegambia, this big open-air club is a little unpredictable. It’s more of a giant function hall so it’s depends on what night you go. It’s very much a local scene. Ask around. Outside of the weekends it can be dead.

Inside Wow

Wow Nightclub

This is the place to be. It’s a little pokey and overpriced, but every night it’s packed full of sexy chicks from all over West Africa. The Balcony outside is a good place to chat up girls. If you’re a white guy you should have no problem picking up here. Just watch your ass! And try and avoid foreigners.

Getting High

Where to buy marijuana: EVERYWHERE! You will be offered it constantly. But ask the staff in your hotel, they will get you a good deal.

Prague Marijuana Prices: It’s practically free, but average quality. Our first night we paid 30 cent for a few grams. 100 Gambian worth (around  €2.50) will get you stoned for a whole week!

My Gambian Experience

This was our first stop on the Siege of West Africa. I was on the coast for 3 nights. I stayed on the beach at Leybato motel and spent my time getting stoned on a hammocks and partying at night. My second night there I met a sexy Gambian Mandinka girl in Wow who invited my back to her place. She was very sweet. My mate Gary the fish also dated a beautiful Gambian who worked at Jokor. In our experience, we found Guinea girls slightly problematic. They’re hardcore, be careful. Also, be wary of bumsters. They became so annoying we just started to pretend we were both from Azerbaijan and spoke no English.

Why not check out more Cheeky City Guides?

Sitting on a hammock by the beach, smoking some fine Gambian green. Ahh… this is the life. I sip my Jul Brew as the sun descends.  As I write this post, I search for sobriety to entertain you, my dear readers, in order to deliver you from boredom. Well that’s not happening. I’m fucked. All I can do is make you jealous, hopefully motivating you to consider your lifestyle.

This is my office…

 

It’s good to be back in Africa. It’s only been 48 hours, but the hours have stenched and sedated the hands of time. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s because I just bought €50 worth of weed for €3,  or maybe it’s because I got my Gambian flag last night (dressed a Mexican pirate). All I know is, I’m happy as a pig in shit.

I got some solid tips on the country, which I will share later. Next stop Dakar! Let the Siege of Senegal commence!!!