Learn why visitors leave Nigeria with transformed perceptions, lifelong friendships, and a changed view of the country. What makes Nigeria one of the world’s most misunderstood travel destinations? In this episode, Adenike Joondeph (Dara) shares why she is passionate about helping visitors experience the country’s warmth, hospitality, and rich cultural traditions beyond the headlines. She reflects on meeting her husband Chris, building Authentic Traveling Tours, and creating immersive journeys that introduce travelers to Lagos, Yoruba culture, local communities, and everyday life in Nigeria. Along the way, Dara discusses how international visitors’ perceptions transform through genuine human connection, why more people should consider traveling to Nigeria, and how authentic cultural experiences can foster greater understanding across borders.
Showing the World the Real Nigeria: Adenike Joondeph on Hospitality, Culture & Changing the Narrative (Ep 401)
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Adenike Daramola Joondeph
Adenike Daramola Joondeph is a travel content creator, tour operator, business owner and one of the most widely traveled Nigerians in the world. Since boarding her very first airplane in 2017 she has now visited over 100 countries on her Nigerian passport. With over 100,000 followers on social media, she is one of the most prominent advocates for Nigerian travelers and aims to make travel feel possible for people who have been told it is not. Based in Lagos, she is the founder of The Globetrotters, a travel company serving Nigerian clients with group trip around the worlds, private travel planning, and visa assistance. And she is the co-founder Authentic Traveling Tours with her husband Chris, which brings foreign visitors to Nigeria on culturally immersive group experiences.
What You'll Learn
- Why Nigeria’s warmth, hospitality, and rich cultural traditions surprise so many first-time visitors.
- How immersive local experiences can challenge stereotypes and transform the way people see an entire country.
- How Dara and Chris built Authentic Traveling Tours to create meaningful experiences that benefit both travelers and local communities.
Links From the Episode
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JOIN MATT AND DARA AT THE EXTRAORDINARY TRAVEL FESTIVAL IN BANGKOK IN OCTOBER 22ND TO 25TH 2026 (Use code Maverick to get $100 discount)
SIGN UP FOR DARA’S AUTHENTIC TRAVELING NIGERIA GROUP TRIP (Use code Maverick to get $200 discount)
CONTACT AND FOLLOW DARA
TOP AFROBEAT ARTISTS
TOP 3 FAVORITE COUNTRIES
TOP 3 BUCKETLIST DESTINATIONS
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Dara: Lagos (Nigeria)
APPS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PEOPLES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
MUSICAL ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE
- Don Moen
- Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti
- Fela Kuti
- Nas
- The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie)
- Tupac Shakur
- Wu-Tang Clan
- Wizkid
PLACES IN NIGERIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[2:29] Meeting Her Husband Chris via CouchSurfing
[5:37] Getting Married in a Traditional Nigerian Wedding
[9:32] Co-Founding “Authentic Traveling Tours” to Bring People to Nigeria
[13:55] The Biggest Misconceptions about Nigeria
[15:11] Who Comes on the Nigeria Tours
[16:41] Nigerian Hospitality
[20:52] How to Visit Nigeria with “Authentic Traveling Tours”
[27:09] How Americans Can Get eVisa’s For Nigeria
[28:28] How to Get a $200 Discount on Your Nigeria Tour
[29:11] How to Tell if Someone is Genuinely Curious or Just Checking Off a Country
[30:27] Why It’s Important for Nigerians to Travel Abroad
[32:22] Why It’s Important for American’s To Travel to Nigeria
[33:34] Creating Content for Nigerian Travelers
[35:35] The Impact of Travel on Dara
[36:44] What Travel Means to Dara Today
[37:59] Dara’s Upcoming Talk at the Extraordinary Travel Festival
[40:03] The Lightning Round
[44:52] The Best Jollof Rice
[47:41] Top 5 Afrobeat Artists
[49:04] Follow and Connect with Dara
