See The World With Amaka Amaku

The world opens itself up to those curious enough to explore it. It’s one thing to see pictures of faraway places online, but it’s another to walk their streets, taste their food, and hear their stories. Travel changes the way we see the world,  and even more, the way we see ourselves.

In this episode of our 'See The World With' series, we explore the world through Amaka, a Nigerian traveller and storyteller whose adventures are driven by curiosity, culture, and connection. From spontaneous solo trips to carefully planned getaways, Amaka believes every journey, no matter how far,  has something to teach.

Can you please introduce yourself?

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Hi, my name is Amaka. My full name is Charmy Chamaka Amaku. I’m a 30-year-old content creator, entrepreneur, marketing professional, and storyteller.

Travel is my biggest passion. It’s something I’ve always known I’d do. When I discovered it and even built a business around it, it felt like perfect alignment. Creating travel content comes so naturally to me; it’s just my thing. I’ve worn many hats in life, but right now, being a travel creator and enthusiast is my favourite.

I can actually tell from your voice how much you love it. So how did you get into travel? What was that moment that made you realise, “Yeah, this is what I want to do”?

Honestly, the wanderlust bug is genetic. My dad loved to travel. He didn’t get to do it much, but he’d been to a few countries. Funny story,  when I was born, he wasn’t even in Nigeria; he was in Togo for trade. He used to travel around French-speaking African countries for business. My mum’s the opposite, she likes to stay in one place. So I guess I got that from him.

But the real moment everything clicked was my first international trip to Ghana in 2019. I worked in publishing at the time, and one of our authors was invited to a literary event there. I asked if I could pay my way and join, and they agreed.

The bus ticket cost ₦18,000, and flights cost around ₦52,000,  so I chose the road. What the other passengers and I didn’t know was that it was a cargo bus. There were only 10–15 humans on board, and the rest were goods. It was a 24-hour trip. Very stressful and exhausting, but when I arrived in Accra and took that first breath of a new country’s air, it was magical.

Despite the stress?

Despite the stress. The bus stopped somewhere high up, maybe on a hill. I remember taking pictures and feeling on top of the world, even after 24 hours without a shower. The next day, I went to the beach and dipped my feet into international waters for the first time, and I just knew. I knew life couldn’t go back to what it was before.

At the time, I was earning ₦20,000 monthly, so travelling felt impossible, but I promised myself I’d make it happen again.

There’s something about Accra that just makes you want to see the world.

Exactly! Ghana is a chill, beautiful, and eye-opening experience. It makes you realise there’s more to life than Lagos.

If you could describe the world through the places you’ve been, how would you describe it?

Unpredictable.

You can be in London freezing in the morning, hop on a train to France, and arrive in warm weather. Then by evening, it’s freezing again. The world changes so fast—weather, language, food, culture, even water colour. You just have to be open and ready for anything.

How many places have you been to now, and which surprised you the most?

I’ve been to 25 countries. The most surprising was Montenegro,  mainly because of the food. They’re European and very Italian-adjacent, but their food tastes seasoned. Like, black-people-level seasoning! Every meal was delicious. I didn’t have one bad dish there.

Another shocker was discovering that many Europeans don’t actually wash their dishes; they wipe them. I first noticed it in London, then in Montenegro. Even in my hotel, the cleaner wiped the plates instead of washing them. I had to call her back like, “Please, ma’am, wash this plate properly. I beg you.”

So now, whenever I eat out in Europe, I always check my plate.

Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. It has all the beauty of Amsterdam, but it’s calmer,  peaceful, family-friendly, and filled with flowers. It feels like the countryside in a city. If I were to live in mainland Europe, it would be there.

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That’s so lovely. Now let’s talk about money — which city has cost you the most?

Definitely Paris. And London too, but Paris takes the win. The hotels are small and overpriced, and everything is too expensive. I remember landing in London once and taking an Uber from the airport — £120. I immediately brought out my calculator and exclaimed, “That’s over ₦200,000!”

Then in Paris, dinner in a nice restaurant could easily cost over €100. And don’t get me started on Singapore. I once spent about $240 on a meal at LAVO. It was a fantastic dinner, with a few lowlights, but the food was good, and I was broke afterwards. Luckily, it was my last night before flying back to Lagos.

How do you afford your travel?

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I don’t spend much in Lagos. I don’t do nails or lashes regularly. When I do, I do my own hair, and I don’t go out unless it’s for a brand event or a friend’s invite. I’m a homebody. I cook a lot and love staying in.

Travel is the one thing I splurge on because I see it as an investment. I’m investing in my happiness and memories. I can scroll through photos from old trips and feel joy all over again.

This year, I made two significant investments. One was moving to a new house and embarking on a European tour that took me to nine countries: England, Scotland, Montenegro, Albania, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Austria.

That’s incredible. With all of that travelling, what’s been the most challenging part for you?

Honestly, the Nigerian passport.

I’ve been denied boarding before. I had a ticket from Amsterdam to Berlin, and they said it was a “standby” ticket. Meaning I could only fly if the plane wasn’t full. I had never heard of that before. I paid €120, only to be told to wait. There were two seats left—one in business class and one next to a girl with a dog—but they still wouldn’t let me board. I was furious.

That’s the thing, as a Nigerian traveller, there’s always one unexpected hurdle. But I keep going. I love it too much to stop.

So I’m going to ask about money again. Have you ever used a multi-currency account? How do you handle payments when you travel? 

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Yeah, that’s definitely one of the most challenging parts of travelling as a Nigerian. Due to these access issues, I’ve had to open multiple bank accounts and have occasionally used my Monzo card. That one does the heaviest lifting!

If I need to send money from Europe, I usually use Send App by Flutterwave. However, generally, when I’m travelling, I always make sure to have some cash with me—not a lot, maybe $200 or $300—just in case of emergencies. Because my Uber doesn’t always work when I’m in Europe, and sometimes my card won’t connect.

Before I figured all this out, I really suffered. However, I now also have an American bank card that I use for international payments. It just makes things easier.

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Do you know that Pesa offers a multi-currency account that allows you to hold and send money in different currencies from a single wallet? Imagine having a single digital wallet that lets you store multiple currencies and make direct payments while travelling. If you’re in Europe, for instance, you can pay straight from your Pesa wallet. It’s very easy and seamless.

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That sounds perfect! But does it integrate with Apple Pay? Can I just tap to pay?

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Not yet, but it’s coming before the end of the year.

Fair enough. Most fintechs that offer virtual cards don’t provide tap-to-pay. I use Monzo. But even recently, when I was in Cotonou and went for drinks at the Sofitel, my Monzo card stopped working for no reason. I didn’t have a physical backup card, and it was frustrating.

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Pesa’s card is coming soon, I promise. 

I can’t wait!

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Now, let’s talk destinations. What’s one underrated place you’ve visited that you’d recommend?

I’d say Togo. Maybe because I was there recently, but it completely surprised me. I’ve been there four times, but before, I would just stay in a nice resort for a few days and head back to Lagos. This time, I actually explored the country; we drove up north, saw waterfalls, and even visited animal reserves. I didn’t know Togo had lions and elephants!

It’s beautiful and close to Benin, calm, and full of character. Africa is honestly so underrated.

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That’s so true.

The Gambia, too! They have some of the most stunning beaches. Africa has everything. We just make it difficult to explore due to restrictions. The payment systems and visa processes are all so fragmented. If travel within Africa were easier, I swear I’d barely bother with Europe.

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Facts! So, what’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned about another culture while travelling?

Asians and their food portions! They really believe in sharing. When I was in Singapore, I noticed the meals were huge but meant to be shared. I went with a friend, and we would order one meal, and both would be full.

Also, chewing gum is banned in public in Singapore.

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Really?

Yes! You can actually get fined or arrested for it. I didn’t even see gum being sold anywhere. Maybe that’s why people there have such clean streets.

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You’ve been to many places. Do you still have a bucket list location?

Japan and South Korea, too. I really want to explore Asia properly. I love Europe, but I’m a bit tired of it. I’ve seen so much of it already. Asia just feels more vibrant and whimsical.

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What’s something you think new travellers should know?

Stay open to spontaneity. Make your plans, yes, but leave room for surprises. You’ve already spent so much money to travel, so say yes to new adventures. You never know what you might discover.

Also, have contingency plans. Things will go wrong sometimes — flights get delayed and plans change. Be flexible. You’ll enjoy your trips much more that way.

Some travellers just stay indoors, like homebodies on vacation. But travel is meant to be lived! You should be curious, explore, and try new things. That’s how you create real memories.

This has been such a great chat, Amaka. Thank you for your time and for being such a wonderful storyteller.

Thank you! I really enjoyed this conversation.