WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.180 Welcome to the Travel Podcast by Excursion Pass. 00:00:02.339 --> 00:00:04.360 We are so glad you are tuning in today. Yeah, 00:00:04.419 --> 00:00:06.759 really glad you're here. Today we have a deep 00:00:06.759 --> 00:00:10.439 dive that is just, well, it is incredibly profound. 00:00:10.660 --> 00:00:13.119 I want you to imagine walking down this sandy, 00:00:13.240 --> 00:00:16.620 unpaved path. The West African sun is just beating 00:00:16.620 --> 00:00:18.320 down on your shoulders. Oh, and the humidity 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:22.300 is thick. like really thick exactly and in the 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:26.140 distance you hear the low rhythmic roar of the 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:28.980 atlantic ocean but you know you aren't just going 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:31.559 to the beach you are stepping into the exact 00:00:31.559 --> 00:00:34.340 footprints of millions of human beings who walked 00:00:34.340 --> 00:00:37.619 this specific path knowing they would never ever 00:00:37.619 --> 00:00:40.439 return it is heavy It really is. Today, we aren't 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:42.560 just taking a vacation. We are taking a pilgrimage. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:45.119 We are taking you with us on a historical journey 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.820 that we completely immersed ourselves in, traveling 00:00:47.820 --> 00:00:50.460 from the kinetic, vibrant streets of Lagos, Nigeria, 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:53.700 out to the ancient coastal town of Badagry. And 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:55.460 I know exactly what some of you listening right 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:58.119 now might be thinking. Because, well, we had 00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:00.840 these exact same hesitations before we actually 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.719 dug into the research and lived this experience. 00:01:02.859 --> 00:01:05.200 Oh, absolutely. It is intimidating. Right. You 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.939 might be feeling intimidated by the logistics 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:09.349 of West African travel. Navigating the roads, 00:01:09.430 --> 00:01:11.650 the infrastructure, the bookings. It can seem 00:01:11.650 --> 00:01:13.450 daunting if you haven't done it before. And then 00:01:13.450 --> 00:01:15.750 there is the emotional side of it. Exactly. The 00:01:15.750 --> 00:01:18.269 undeniable heavy emotional weight of confronting 00:01:18.269 --> 00:01:21.310 the transatlantic slave trade up close. But we 00:01:21.310 --> 00:01:24.349 want to reassure you, our mission today is to 00:01:24.349 --> 00:01:28.370 decode exactly how to navigate this journey respectfully, 00:01:28.629 --> 00:01:32.469 safely, and seamlessly. We are comparing two 00:01:32.469 --> 00:01:35.629 premium guided day tours to give you the absolute 00:01:35.629 --> 00:01:38.750 insider view. Okay, let's unpack this. Because 00:01:38.750 --> 00:01:41.349 to really understand how to visit Badajri, you 00:01:41.349 --> 00:01:43.629 have to understand the sheer whiplash of leaving 00:01:43.629 --> 00:01:46.090 Lagos behind. I mean, Lagos is this absolute 00:01:46.090 --> 00:01:49.329 explosion of energy. Oh man, it vibrates. Millions 00:01:49.329 --> 00:01:51.609 of people, constant movement, incredible music. 00:01:51.750 --> 00:01:54.129 Yes, just laughter and life everywhere. But as 00:01:54.129 --> 00:01:56.349 you take this guided journey westward toward 00:01:56.349 --> 00:01:59.230 the border of Benin out to Badajri, the landscape 00:01:59.230 --> 00:02:02.510 shifts. The noise just drops away. It gets very 00:02:02.510 --> 00:02:05.090 quiet. Right. You are entering one of the major 00:02:05.090 --> 00:02:08.030 historical arteries of the slave trade. But wait, 00:02:08.090 --> 00:02:10.930 before we get into the specific sites, I mean, 00:02:10.930 --> 00:02:15.930 why Badagry? Out of the entire West African coastline, 00:02:16.110 --> 00:02:19.370 how did this specific town become such a massive 00:02:19.370 --> 00:02:21.870 epicenter? Well, it came down to a pretty devastating 00:02:21.870 --> 00:02:24.270 combination of geography and local politics. 00:02:24.750 --> 00:02:27.310 Badagry is situated perfectly between the Atlantic 00:02:27.310 --> 00:02:31.069 Ocean and this complex network of... inland lagoons 00:02:31.069 --> 00:02:33.969 and creeks. Like a massive natural harbor? Exactly. 00:02:34.210 --> 00:02:36.270 In the 18th and 19th centuries, that made it 00:02:36.270 --> 00:02:39.889 a highly strategic sheltered spot. European ships 00:02:39.889 --> 00:02:42.590 could anchor off the coast, and the inland waterways 00:02:42.590 --> 00:02:44.710 provided a direct route to transport captured 00:02:44.710 --> 00:02:46.969 individuals. Right, from the interior region 00:02:46.969 --> 00:02:48.849 straight to the shore. Yeah, it became a highly 00:02:48.849 --> 00:02:51.710 organized, deeply entrenched economic machine. 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:54.379 Which brings us to the actual sites you visit 00:02:54.379 --> 00:02:56.319 on these tours, because this isn't just, you 00:02:56.319 --> 00:02:58.419 know, looking at artifacts behind glass. It is 00:02:58.419 --> 00:03:02.099 a deeply physical sensory experience. The itineraries 00:03:02.099 --> 00:03:05.219 take you to the Bedadri Slave Museum and the 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:08.280 Vlachet Market. And from what the sources describe, 00:03:08.539 --> 00:03:10.580 Phuket wasn't just a trading post for goods. 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:13.400 It was the largest slave market in West Africa. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.800 That is correct. And to understand the mechanics 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:18.060 of Phuket market is to understand the chilling 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:20.860 bureaucracy of the trade. I mean, this wasn't 00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:23.599 chaotic at all. It was systemic. Very systemic. 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:26.939 It operated on a specific schedule, drawing European 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:29.699 buyers, primarily Portuguese, Dutch and British. 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:32.879 They would negotiate directly with local chiefs 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:35.870 and middlemen. Human lives were bartered for 00:03:35.870 --> 00:03:37.930 things like brass and mirrors. Gunpowder and 00:03:37.930 --> 00:03:40.210 alcohol, too, right? Yes, exactly. And right 00:03:40.210 --> 00:03:42.629 next to this economic hub, you have the Moby 00:03:42.629 --> 00:03:45.469 Royal Family Slave Relics Museum. That is where 00:03:45.469 --> 00:03:48.229 you transition from understanding the macroeconomics 00:03:48.229 --> 00:03:51.830 to confronting the micro -physical reality. Yeah, 00:03:51.870 --> 00:03:54.300 that part. Gave me absolute chills when going 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:56.400 through the source material. The tours literally 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.659 take you into these preserved spaces like the 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:01.360 actual cells. It is intense. You are standing 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:04.800 in the exact dimensions of those walls. You get 00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:07.479 this terrifying sense of how suffocating it must 00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:10.419 have been. The lack of air, the heat, the sheer 00:04:10.419 --> 00:04:13.240 physical confinement. It is overwhelming to just 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:15.539 stand there. But what I found really compelling 00:04:15.539 --> 00:04:18.120 about the way these tours are structured is that 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:20.389 they don't just leave you in the trauma. The 00:04:20.389 --> 00:04:23.089 guides actively share untold stories of fierce 00:04:23.089 --> 00:04:25.850 African resistance and survival. That is a crucial 00:04:25.850 --> 00:04:28.370 distinction. You know, the historical narrative 00:04:28.370 --> 00:04:31.149 often strips the enslaved of their agency, painting 00:04:31.149 --> 00:04:33.170 them only as victims. Right, passive victims. 00:04:33.470 --> 00:04:36.050 But on the ground in Batagree, the local guides 00:04:36.050 --> 00:04:38.990 explain how these individuals fought back. They 00:04:38.990 --> 00:04:41.709 detail the uprisings and the subtle acts of sabotage. 00:04:41.970 --> 00:04:44.829 The desperate bids for freedom. Exactly. And 00:04:44.829 --> 00:04:47.069 the sheer psychological endurance required to 00:04:47.069 --> 00:04:49.579 survive those cells. You aren't just walking 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:52.040 through a graveyard of history. You are walking 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:54.899 through a testament to human endurance. And that 00:04:54.899 --> 00:04:57.360 endurance culminates in the physical walk across 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:00.899 Gripperfoo Island to what is known as the point 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:03.339 of no return. That walk is something else. You 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:06.060 are walking the same dirt, the same path towards 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:08.339 the Atlantic Ocean where millions of enslaved 00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:10.680 Africans took their final steps on home soil 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:14.699 before being forced onto ships. To put this in 00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:16.620 perspective, I have to draw an analogy here. 00:05:16.990 --> 00:05:19.509 Go for it. Visiting a place like the Coliseum 00:05:19.509 --> 00:05:22.009 or the Tower of London is like reading a chapter 00:05:22.009 --> 00:05:24.629 in a history book. You are observing the past 00:05:24.629 --> 00:05:27.870 from a safe, modern distance. But walking the 00:05:27.870 --> 00:05:29.689 path to the point of no return is like reading 00:05:29.689 --> 00:05:32.370 a diary. Oh, wow. That is a powerful way to put 00:05:32.370 --> 00:05:34.389 it. It forces you to step inside the emotional 00:05:34.389 --> 00:05:36.990 state of the people who lived it. It collapses 00:05:36.990 --> 00:05:40.170 the distance between past and present. So for 00:05:40.170 --> 00:05:42.009 the traveler who wants to pay their respects, 00:05:42.370 --> 00:05:44.870 how do these structured tours actually balance 00:05:44.870 --> 00:05:48.050 honoring such a devastatingly heavy history without 00:05:48.050 --> 00:05:50.350 leaving you completely emotionally broken down 00:05:50.350 --> 00:05:52.730 by Noom? Well, what's fascinating here is how 00:05:52.730 --> 00:05:55.410 deliberate the tour design actually is to prevent 00:05:55.410 --> 00:05:58.389 that exact emotional breakdown. These are not 00:05:58.389 --> 00:06:00.509 self -guided walks where you are left alone to 00:06:00.509 --> 00:06:02.550 absorb the trauma of the space. Right. You're 00:06:02.550 --> 00:06:05.360 not just wandering around aimlessly. No, the 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:08.259 tours heavily rely on knowledgeable local guides 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:11.839 who provide, as the source text notes, deep care 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.279 and respect. They curate the experience so that 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.199 there is intentional space for reflection. Casing 00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:21.279 you. Exactly. They are pacing you. By guiding 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:23.439 you through the mechanics of the history and 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:25.699 anchoring that tragedy in the narrative of survival, 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:29.240 they give your mind a framework to process the 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.180 grief. They act as your emotional anchor. Which 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:34.500 you really need because sitting with that heavy 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:37.000 history takes a massive physical and emotional 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:40.300 toll. It completely drains you. It really does. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:42.740 And that is exactly why the logistical framework 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:45.220 of these tours matters so much. You cannot be 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:48.300 worrying about how to hail a taxi or where to 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:50.379 find a safe bottle of water when you are emotionally 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:52.800 exhausted. Absolutely not. So let's talk about 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.720 how you actually make this happen from your hotel 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.779 in Lagos. We have two very specific tour options 00:06:57.779 --> 00:06:59.800 to compare from our sources. Let's break down 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:02.819 the logistics. Option A is booked directly through 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:05.620 Excursion Pass. It is a full -day heritage route 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:09.199 priced at $599 per adult. Okay, got it. It is 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.480 an eight -hour experience that includes your 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:14.879 private transport, the fuel, and a dedicated 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:17.699 English -speaking guide. Wait, hold on. Nearly 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:21.759 $600 for a day trip. In West Africa, where the 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:24.300 cost of living and general travel expenses are 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:27.339 usually much lower, that sounds incredibly steep. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:29.620 I know, it does sound high at first glance. Break 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:31.579 that down for me. Like, what are you actually 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:34.779 getting for that premium that justifies the cost? 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:37.300 It's a premium price tag, absolutely. Right. 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:40.379 But what justifies option A is the expansion 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:43.060 of the historical scope. You do all the intense, 00:07:43.259 --> 00:07:46.459 bedadry heritage sites, sure. Right. But it also 00:07:46.459 --> 00:07:48.779 takes you to the first story building and the 00:07:48.779 --> 00:07:51.300 first Nigerian primary school. Okay, which are 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:53.459 landmarks tied to early missionary and education 00:07:53.459 --> 00:07:55.699 history. But how does that connect to the slave 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:57.779 trade? Why are we visiting a missionary school 00:07:57.779 --> 00:08:00.420 on a heritage tour about slavery? Because they 00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:03.600 are historically inextricably linked. As the 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:05.620 transatlantic slave trade began to officially 00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:08.519 abolish in the mid -19th century, European powers 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:10.959 pivoted. Pivoted to what? To what they called 00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:14.000 legitimate commerce and colonization. Christian 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.660 missionaries like Reverend Henry Townsend, who 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:18.620 laid the foundation for that first story building, 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:22.339 specifically set up operations in former slaving 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:25.540 ports like Batagry. Oh, using the exact same 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:29.259 geographic trade routes. Exactly. So by visiting 00:08:29.259 --> 00:08:31.620 these sites, you are seeing the direct transition 00:08:31.620 --> 00:08:35.580 from physical enslavement to colonial cultural 00:08:35.580 --> 00:08:38.809 assimilation. you're getting a multifaceted view 00:08:38.809 --> 00:08:41.590 of how one era immediately bled into the next. 00:08:41.669 --> 00:08:43.850 Okay, that context makes the itinerary much more 00:08:43.850 --> 00:08:46.269 compelling. Now let's look at option B, which 00:08:46.269 --> 00:08:49.129 is listed via TripAdvisor by a local operator 00:08:49.129 --> 00:08:52.100 called Traveler's Guide NG. Right. This one comes 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:55.340 in lower at $438 per adult. And it includes an 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:57.519 air -conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup in 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:00.519 Lagos, a professional local guide. And crucially, 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:03.279 it covers your entry and admission fees. To Bedagri, 00:09:03.320 --> 00:09:06.320 Akeja, and Gibberafoo Island, yes. Plus, it explicitly 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:08.840 includes bottled water and a taste of a local 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:11.259 dish. It is a slightly different package structure, 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:14.220 focusing more on those all -inclusive on -the 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:17.179 -ground necessities. And honestly, I have to 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:19.580 playfully push back on the fine print of that 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:22.659 excursion pass option for a second. The $599 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:26.720 one explicitly excludes meals, entrance fees 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:29.299 were required, and beverages. Yeah, you have 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:31.679 to bring your own or buy them there? Look, an 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:34.679 eight -hour trek through untaved paths while 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:37.379 processing historical trauma in the West African 00:09:37.379 --> 00:09:40.710 heat is grueling. I need my snacks. You need 00:09:40.710 --> 00:09:43.470 stamina. You really do. The fact that the TripAdvisor 00:09:43.470 --> 00:09:45.690 option actively includes your water and local 00:09:45.690 --> 00:09:48.210 food isn't just a nice perk. It is essential 00:09:48.210 --> 00:09:51.529 fuel for a very heavy day. That is a very fair 00:09:51.529 --> 00:09:53.570 point about the fuel. Yeah. Physical stamina 00:09:53.570 --> 00:09:56.009 is non -negotiable here. But if you look closely 00:09:56.009 --> 00:09:58.610 at both of these options, they both provide the 00:09:58.610 --> 00:10:00.809 absolute vital necessities for this specific 00:10:00.809 --> 00:10:03.590 region. Private transport and the guide. Exactly. 00:10:03.889 --> 00:10:06.179 Secure. Private transport and a professional 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:08.299 local guide. That is what you are really paying 00:10:08.299 --> 00:10:10.799 for. The safety, the navigation through Lagos 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:13.860 traffic, and the local expertise. True. You do 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:16.019 not want to be haggling for a ride back to Lagos 00:10:16.019 --> 00:10:18.200 after walking the point of no return. That would 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:21.360 be awful. Exactly. But speaking of stamina, there 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:24.399 is something incredibly crucial in the fine print 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.940 of Option B, the TripAdvisor tour, that we have 00:10:27.940 --> 00:10:30.159 to flag for anyone listening. Oh, the physical 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.519 restrictions. Yes. They have very strict physical 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:35.320 restrictions listed. It is not wheelchair accessible. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:37.779 It is not recommended for travelers with back 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:40.139 problems and not recommended for pregnant travelers. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:42.039 And restricted for those with heart problems, 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.440 too. Right. Or other serious medical conditions. 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:48.480 That is a very specific list of medical restrictions 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:52.019 for a historical tour. Why is the barrier to 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:54.500 entry so high? Because of the physical reality 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:57.190 of the terrain. When you are walking the ancient 00:10:57.190 --> 00:10:59.950 slave routes, especially heading out to Bibrefu 00:10:59.950 --> 00:11:02.509 Island and the Point of No Return, you are dealing 00:11:02.509 --> 00:11:05.389 with unpaved, sandy paths. And you are totally 00:11:05.389 --> 00:11:08.149 exposed to the elements. Entirely exposed. Intense 00:11:08.149 --> 00:11:10.490 sun, high humidity. It is a physical journey 00:11:10.490 --> 00:11:12.750 that requires a solid baseline of mobility and 00:11:12.750 --> 00:11:15.669 cardiovascular stamina. It is vital that travelers 00:11:15.669 --> 00:11:18.490 are fully prepared for the physical reality of 00:11:18.490 --> 00:11:20.990 walking in those footsteps, not just the emotional 00:11:20.990 --> 00:11:23.129 reality. That makes total sense. You are literally 00:11:23.129 --> 00:11:26.570 hiking through history. You really are. So moving 00:11:26.570 --> 00:11:30.350 from the literal itinerary, you know, the dollars, 00:11:30.429 --> 00:11:34.029 the terrain, the physical restrictions, I want 00:11:34.029 --> 00:11:36.529 to talk about how this day actually feels on 00:11:36.529 --> 00:11:39.009 the ground. The human element. Yes, the human 00:11:39.009 --> 00:11:41.690 element of this journey. Because reading an itinerary 00:11:41.690 --> 00:11:44.769 is one thing, but experiencing it alongside another 00:11:44.769 --> 00:11:47.629 human being dictates the entire tone of the day. 00:11:47.769 --> 00:11:50.870 The guide can absolutely make or break an experience 00:11:50.870 --> 00:11:53.269 like this. They are the lens through which you 00:11:53.269 --> 00:11:55.649 view the history. And we really have to shine 00:11:55.649 --> 00:11:58.309 a massive spotlight on a highly rated guide named 00:11:58.309 --> 00:12:00.710 Michael from Traveler's Guide NG. Oh yes, the 00:12:00.710 --> 00:12:02.850 reviews for him are incredible. We pulled these 00:12:02.850 --> 00:12:05.009 five -star traveler reviews from the sources, 00:12:05.169 --> 00:12:07.990 and they paint an amazing picture of what this 00:12:07.990 --> 00:12:10.330 day is really like. Reviewers talk extensively 00:12:10.330 --> 00:12:12.649 about his sincerity and how attentive he is. 00:12:12.769 --> 00:12:15.330 There's one reviewer, Lourdes T, I think. Yes. 00:12:15.629 --> 00:12:18.570 She specifically highlighted how concerned Michael 00:12:18.570 --> 00:12:20.909 was with her safety while transmitting all this 00:12:20.909 --> 00:12:23.289 knowledge. Safety and knowledge, the two pillars 00:12:23.289 --> 00:12:26.070 of a master guide. But there is this other review 00:12:26.070 --> 00:12:28.590 that I found fascinating from a traveler who 00:12:28.590 --> 00:12:31.830 goes by M .G. Barcelona. They mentioned that 00:12:31.830 --> 00:12:34.029 Michael actually taught them how to effectively 00:12:34.029 --> 00:12:37.110 negotiate prices in the local markets to their 00:12:37.110 --> 00:12:40.250 advantage. I love that detail. It is such a specific 00:12:40.250 --> 00:12:42.710 and brilliant thing for a guide to do. Right, 00:12:42.789 --> 00:12:44.950 because it takes you out of the role of just 00:12:44.950 --> 00:12:48.289 a passive, detached observer. When a guide teaches 00:12:48.289 --> 00:12:50.690 you how to bargain, they are handing you the 00:12:50.690 --> 00:12:52.730 keys to interact with the community on their 00:12:52.730 --> 00:12:56.070 terms. It bridges the gap between voyeurism. 00:12:56.649 --> 00:12:59.129 And actual cultural immersion. You aren't just 00:12:59.129 --> 00:13:00.809 looking at the market, you are participating 00:13:00.809 --> 00:13:03.250 in it. Exactly. It shifts the dynamic entirely. 00:13:03.649 --> 00:13:06.370 You are learning the unwritten modern rules of 00:13:06.370 --> 00:13:07.929 the marketplace, which reminds you that this 00:13:07.929 --> 00:13:10.809 place is still very much alive. Yes. And that 00:13:10.809 --> 00:13:12.809 brings up this incredible contrast that the reviews 00:13:12.809 --> 00:13:15.129 highlight so beautifully. You have this review 00:13:15.129 --> 00:13:17.509 from a traveler named Bush Pathfinder. The one 00:13:17.509 --> 00:13:19.370 about the energy of Lagos. Yeah, they talk about 00:13:19.370 --> 00:13:21.370 spending time in Lagos with friends and describe 00:13:21.370 --> 00:13:23.970 the city as welcoming them with so much energy 00:13:23.970 --> 00:13:26.820 and life. The music, the la - after, the vibrant 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:29.899 beaches, the incredible real Lagos nightlife. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:33.139 And then the very next day is just a complete 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:35.659 shift. Totally. You take this tour and you are 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:38.279 plunged into the absolute solemnity and silence 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.919 of Badaigri. And here's where it gets really 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:43.899 interesting. Oh. Because the tours actually build 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:46.840 this contrast right into the itinerary. If you 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:49.080 look at the excursion pass route, after spending 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:52.039 the entire morning absorbing this heavy, heartbreaking 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:55.399 history, the route intentionally finishes at 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:58.379 Badaigri Coconut Beach for what they call a quieter 00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:01.669 close. That is it. a very profound and intentional 00:14:01.669 --> 00:14:04.350 design choice by the operators. It seems almost 00:14:04.350 --> 00:14:06.690 jarring at first glance. You experience this 00:14:06.690 --> 00:14:09.629 emotional whiplash of standing in preserved slave 00:14:09.629 --> 00:14:12.710 cells, walking the path of no return, and then 00:14:12.710 --> 00:14:15.029 an hour later, you are sitting on Coconut Beach 00:14:15.029 --> 00:14:17.450 listening to the waves. Or tasting a vibrant 00:14:17.450 --> 00:14:20.269 local Nigerian dish. Right. How is a traveler 00:14:20.269 --> 00:14:22.409 supposed to reconcile those two extremes? Well, 00:14:22.470 --> 00:14:24.350 if we connect this to the bigger picture, this 00:14:24.350 --> 00:14:26.490 contrast you were describing, the deep sorrow 00:14:26.490 --> 00:14:29.320 of the historical sites right alongside the joyful, 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:32.779 vibrant energy of the beaches and the food, that 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:35.360 is the very essence of modern travel in West 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.500 Africa. You have to experience both. You do. 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:40.360 You cannot truly understand the region by only 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:43.500 looking at its wounds. The beach at the end of 00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:46.659 the tour isn't just a scenic view. Psychologically, 00:14:46.940 --> 00:14:50.240 it acts as a decompression chamber. A decompression 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.559 chamber. I really like that phrase. It is so 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:55.360 necessary. You have to acknowledge the deep, 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:58.909 painful roots of the past absolutely. But ending 00:14:58.909 --> 00:15:01.250 the tour on the beach provides the traveler a 00:15:01.250 --> 00:15:03.429 space to breathe. To process the grief of the 00:15:03.429 --> 00:15:07.049 morning. Exactly. It forces you to simultaneously 00:15:07.049 --> 00:15:10.370 experience the living, breathing cultural richness 00:15:10.370 --> 00:15:12.669 of the present. Because the present, you know, 00:15:12.669 --> 00:15:14.690 the joy of Lagos, the beauty of Coconut Beach, 00:15:14.789 --> 00:15:17.470 the skill of negotiating in the market, it is 00:15:17.470 --> 00:15:20.490 the ultimate proof of that survival and resistance 00:15:20.490 --> 00:15:22.590 we were talking about earlier. That is a beautiful 00:15:22.590 --> 00:15:24.809 way to look at it. It is the culture that survived 00:15:24.809 --> 00:15:27.909 the transatlantic slave trade. Precisely. It 00:15:27.909 --> 00:15:29.809 is not a contradiction. It is a continuation 00:15:29.809 --> 00:15:32.570 of the story. You are witnessing the resilience 00:15:32.570 --> 00:15:35.190 of the land and its people today. So what does 00:15:35.190 --> 00:15:37.730 this all mean? If you are listening to this right 00:15:37.730 --> 00:15:39.129 now and you have ever thought about traveling 00:15:39.129 --> 00:15:42.669 to Nigeria, or you are fascinated by how we as 00:15:42.669 --> 00:15:45.950 humans interact with our darkest histories, the 00:15:45.950 --> 00:15:49.029 takeaway here is clear. It is about so much more 00:15:49.029 --> 00:15:52.929 than checking a box. Exactly. A deep dive into 00:15:52.929 --> 00:15:55.269 Badadri isn't just about checking a historical 00:15:55.269 --> 00:15:58.649 box on a list of tourist sites. It is about authentic 00:15:58.649 --> 00:16:01.629 connection. Completely. It is about allowing 00:16:01.629 --> 00:16:03.889 yourself to feel the weight of history, but doing 00:16:03.889 --> 00:16:06.730 so safely, guided by local experts who know the 00:16:06.730 --> 00:16:09.289 physical and emotional terrain inside and out, 00:16:09.370 --> 00:16:11.950 and who ensure you have the stamina to absorb 00:16:11.950 --> 00:16:14.460 it all. It really is about being willing to look 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:17.019 at the darkest parts of human history while being 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:19.320 held and supported by the warmth and expertise 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:22.179 of the local people who are its custodians today. 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:24.759 Which leaves us with a rather profound question 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.720 to consider. Yeah, I think about this a lot. 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:29.259 Millions of ancestors were forced to walk that 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:31.639 path to the point of no return on Kabirfu Island, 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.820 and they never came back. So when we, as modern 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:37.519 travelers, choose to walk those exact same footsteps 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:41.200 today and we do get to return home, what responsibility 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.549 do we carry? That is a heavy question. How do 00:16:44.549 --> 00:16:46.870 we ensure that those untold stories of survival 00:16:46.870 --> 00:16:49.490 we learned on that path continue to shape the 00:16:49.490 --> 00:16:52.809 way we view and treat our modern world? Wow. 00:16:52.990 --> 00:16:54.669 That is a question that will definitely stay 00:16:54.669 --> 00:16:57.309 with you long after the tour ends. It definitely 00:16:57.309 --> 00:16:59.190 stays with me. Thank you so much for joining 00:16:59.190 --> 00:17:01.750 us on this journey today. Keep exploring, stay 00:17:01.750 --> 00:17:04.349 curious, and we will catch you on the next deep 00:17:04.349 --> 00:17:07.029 dive right here on the Travel Podcast by Excursion 00:17:07.029 --> 00:17:07.170 Pass.