Pelumi Nubi Just Drove Solo From London to Lagos and She’s Already Planning Her Next Trip

There are 195 countries in the world, and at the age of 27, Pelumi Nubi has been to 77 of them, across six continents. On January 24, Nubi embarked on a journey that would establish her as the first Black woman to travel from London to Lagos by road. April 7 saw Nubi arrive at the University of Lagos, Nigeria to what can only be described as a colorful, buoyant festival held in her honor. The celebration lasted the day and rolled into Monday, where Nubi was named brand ambassador of tourism in Lagos state and awarded a new car and home by the Governor of Lagos state to go with her new title.

Nubi journeyed by day and slept in her car by night, covering 10,000 kilometers (over 6,200 miles) over a stretch of two months in a purple Peugeot 107. She survived a terrifying accident in Ivory Coast that damaged her car but still didn't deter her from achieving her goal.

“Easy, safe and doable,” Nubi tells OkayAfrica. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted to show that travel can be, especially to Black women who are thinking of traveling solo.”

The journey wasn’t all that seamless, Nubi says. “It was difficult juggling multiple things and wearing multiple hats. I often felt lonely as well. Missing home, missing familiarity. I mean, I was constantly on the go; quick hellos and quick goodbyes. But this is something I’ve always wanted to do and none of that deterred me. I might do Lagos to South Africa next. The adventure never stops.”

Nubi, in an Instagram Live conversation with OkayAfrica, spoke about her amazing experience traveling across 16 countries from London to Lagos.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

OkayAfrica: What was the inspiration behind making this trip?

Pelumi Nub: I did 4,000 kilometers (almost 2,500 miles) across Namibia. Backpacking, camping, stunning sights. That’s how the London-to-Lagos idea began to germinate in my mind. It wasn’t a lightbulb moment kind of decision. It was really a gradual thing. After I did that across Namibia, I started to wonder if I could do London to Lagos too. I’d mention it lightly to family and friends and they’d say, ‘Are you sure?’ or ‘You can’t do that.’ You can’t tell me I can’t do something, because then I have to.

What was it like traveling all that distance with your car? Did you ever have to leave it behind?

I never left my car behind, I was always with her – her name is ‘Lui’ by the way. I traveled with her across three bodies of water. First was the English Channel, going from London into France, it was about an hour and thirty minutes. How it works is that you drive the car onto the ferry, park, go upstairs, have a drink, and do what else you wish to. Then you come downstairs when you reach the other side, and be off on your way.

What was your biggest setback?

The accident was definitely a big deal. I was in a foreign land all by myself. I didn’t speak their language. Another thing is borders within Africa; they’re not as accessible as they should be. Lack of freedom of movement, and difficulty navigating cross-border movements was one of – if not - the toughest bit of my journey. Too much bureaucracy, bribery, corruption. But I’m looking forward to some policy changes. It’s something I’m hoping to speak more about now that I’m back home.

Which African country were you pleasantly surprised by once you got through the borders?

Mauritania was surprising. There’s not much out there about them. I did some research on the web because I wanted to know a bit about where I was getting into. I couldn’t find much. So I didn’t know what it would be like, but on getting there, they were so warm and welcoming.

What other African countries are you excited to go back to?

Senegal. The Gambia; they have such great food and culture. Sierra Leone too. I did a genetic test that was 99 percent Nigerian and 1 percent Sierra Leone, so maybe I’m biased.

What’s the playlist like when you’re driving 10 thousand kilometers?

Sometimes I’m listening to everything, sometimes nothing. But I’m big on podcasts. Makes it feel like someone else is in the car with me, talking to me, and that’s always nice.

What’s the first thing you do when you get into a new country?

First thing I do when I cross the border is get a physical sim. Some people prefer e-sims but I find that this is a great way to connect with locals, and I’m big on connecting and staying connected. Now I have a little collection of sim souvenirs.

What would you like to say to your growing community, and to the people who have followed your progress and rooted for you over the past two months?

I’m here now. All odds were stacked against me, but I’m here now. I want people to know that there is nothing that’s impossible and there is nothing they can’t do. Whether it’s starting a business or leaving a toxic relationship. I want my journey to inspire them. You can never be 100% ready. Just set a date and go for it. There will always be obstacles once you decide to do something, but the magic is in the doing.