Raw Dogging Travel: The New Trend of Unplanned Adventures Explained

It’s 3 AM, and you’re at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, scanning the departure board. Your finger lands on “Zanzibar – 5:30 AM.” You buy a ticket on the spot. This is Raw Dogging Travel – the art of embracing chaos and ditching plans

Raw dogging travel isn’t new, but it’s exploding. In 1970, Tony Wheeler raw dogged from London to Australia, birthing the Lonely Planet guides. Today, a new generation is reviving this free-spirited approach.

Take Oneika Raymond, the Jamaican-Canadian travel guru. In 2019, she dogged through 20 countries in 12 months. Buckle up as we dive into why more Africans in the diaspora are raw dogging their way across the globe.

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The Raw Dogging Travel Toolkit

Let’s break down the nitty-gritty of raw dogging travel:

1. Freestyle Itinerary

Raw dogging travel means your plans are as fluid as the Nile. You might land in Nairobi intending to hit the Masai Mara but end up in Lamu after hearing about a dhow-building workshop from a fellow traveler. It’s all about following your gut and the local grapevine.

2. Ultralight Packing

Raw dogging travelers are masters of minimalism. A 30L backpack is your home. Pack quick-dry underwear, a couple of t-shirts, one pair of versatile pants, and sturdy sandals. Don’t forget a universal power adapter and a microfiber towel. 

Pro tip: Always carry a small bottle of hot sauce. You never know when you’ll need to spice up your ugali.

Grassroots Accommodation

Forget five-star hotels. When you’re raw dogging travel, you’re sleeping where the wind takes you. Maybe it’s a $5-a-night guesthouse in Stone Town, Zanzibar, or a homestay with a Xhosa family in the Eastern Cape. Use apps like Couchsurfing or Airbnb for last-minute bookings, or simply ask locals for recommendations.

Street-Level Gastronomy

Raw dogging travel means eating like a local on a budget. Follow your nose to the busiest street food stall in Dakar for some thieboudienne. In Lagos, hunt down the best suya spot by asking motorcycle taxi drivers. Your stomach might protest at first, but your taste buds will thank you.

Public Transport Adventures

Ditch the tourist buses. Raw-dogging travelers embrace local transport in all its chaotic glory. Squeeze into a matatu in Nairobi, decorated with neon lights and blasting the latest Gengetone hits. Hop on a sept-place taxi in Senegal, sharing sardine-tight quarters with locals, chickens, and maybe a goat.

Spontaneous Cultural Immersion

Without a fixed schedule, you’re free to dive into unexpected cultural experiences. You might stumble upon a traditional Voodoo ceremony in Ouidah, Benin, or get invited to a Berber wedding in the Atlas Mountains. These unplanned encounters are the heart of raw dogging travel.

Why Africans in the Diaspora Should Embrace Raw Dogging Travel

Remember Woni Spotts? In 2018, this African-American woman became the first black woman to visit every country and continent. Much of her journey was raw and dogged. 

In Kenya, she ended up in a Maasai village near Amboseli, learning to jump higher than the warriors. In Nuuk, Greenland, she found herself ice fishing at -20°C with Inuit guides.

Here are more reasons why Africans in the diaspora should consider raw dogging travel:

• Root Reconnection: Spontaneous travel can lead to unexpected discoveries about your heritage.

• Stereotype Breaking: Your presence in unexpected places challenges preconceptions about black travelers.

• Authentic Experiences: Without rigid plans, you’re more likely to have genuine local interactions.

• Personal Growth: Embracing uncertainty builds confidence and adaptability.

• Inspiring Others: Your adventures can encourage other diaspora Africans to explore freely.

Conclusion: Ready to Raw Dog Your Travel?

Raw dogging travel isn’t for everyone. It requires the flexibility of a Senegalese Sabar dancer and the quick thinking of a Lagos taxi driver. But for those who dive in, it offers unfiltered world experiences.

So next time you’re planning a trip, consider not planning at all. Toss out the Bradt guide, pack a 40L bag, and see where the wind takes you.

Your next raw dogging travel adventure could lead you to a secret cove in Ngor, Dakar, or an underground Ethio-jazz club in Addis Ababa. The world is vast, unpredictable, and waiting. Go raw dog it!

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