Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 2) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz

What would you do if your bus driver bought six Coca-Colas at the border, cost you your exit stamp, and forced you to sleep outside in malaria country between two countries?  Co-hosts Gunnar Garfors and Jacqui Kunz are back to share part two of their overland travel adventure through West Africa, covering the final stretch of their seven-country journey through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast.  If you've ever been curious about what it actually takes to travel overland through West Africa, this episode gives you the unfiltered picture. You'll walk away with concrete tips on visa strategy, border navigation, shared transport logistics, and honest guidance on when to push through and when to bail and book a flight. Beyond the tactics, Gunnar and Jacqui model what it actually means to travel slowly and patiently through challenging terrain, staying flexible when things go sideways. If you're considering overland travel in West Africa or anywhere similarly complex, this episode cuts through the romance and gives you the real picture.  Have you ever had a travel experience where everything went wrong and it somehow turned into the best story you came home with? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I hope you’ll share them by sending me an audio message.  Gunnar Garfors is a Norwegian traveler, journalist, and author who became the first person to visit every country in the world twice. He is known for seeking out unusual routes and lesser-visited destinations, often traveling far beyond typical tourist paths. Jacqui Kunz is a full-time traveler who has explored more than 100 countries and was named “World’s Most Intrepid Traveler” in 2023, recognizing her commitment to exploring challenging destinations and traveling well off the beaten path.  Tune In To Learn:  Why Sierra Leone's land border crossing was a surprisingly smooth and welcoming experience  What Freetown is really like to explore, from the historic Cotton Tree to its beaches and police checkpoints  Why the city of Bo is worth a stop, and where to go nearby to see diamond mining  How a fellow passenger buying Coca-Cola at the border kiosk resulted in an overnight stay between two countries in mosquito country  Why Monrovia has a surprisingly American feel and where to stay, eat, and get cash  When it makes sense to give up on overland travel and just book a flight  How paying for an extra seat in a shared taxi can save your sanity, and why the "imaginary bag fee" is a negotiation you can usually win  Why timing your trip just after the rainy season can make roads far worse than expected  How Gunnar ended up in a Norwegian hospital with malaria, and why taking preventatives seriously is not optional  And so much more  Resources:  Sign up for our FREE newsletter  Gunnar’s website  Gunnar on Instagram  Jacqui on Instagram  iOverlander  Want More?  Overland Travel in West Africa Across 7 Countries (Part 1) with Gunnar Garfors & Jacqui Kunz  5 Surprising Experiences in Africa, How to Transition to a New Career After Travel, and Exploring the African Diaspora With Jay Cameron  Adventure and Conservation - A 6,000 km Tuk-Tuk Journey Through Africa  Thanks To Our Sponsors  Earn Cash Back and rewards on nearly every purchase with Rakuten.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices