Location Monrovia, Liberia — Calabash Hotel Lagoon & Libassa (Lillaby) Eco Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary

Episode Notes

Good day — November 22nd.

I realized I forgot to record part of the previous evening, which turned out to be worth revisiting. Next door to my hotel is the Calabash Hotel, and behind it sits an enormous lagoon-side space dedicated to karaoke — and not in a small way. You pay $15 to enter, almost entirely handled in U.S. dollars, which are far more practical here than Liberian dollars due to the exchange rate.

The system was simple: the entry fee goes toward food and drinks, and if you order more, you just pay the difference. Prices were reasonable, the selection was wide, and the crowd was incredibly enthusiastic. Performers stayed on stage while the lyrics played, so you could watch both the singers and the words at the same time. It was lively, social, and unexpectedly fun.

The next morning, I ran into Bram again. Even on a Saturday, he was heading out for Ministry of Energy meetings, which struck me as a sign of real motivation. After that, I was on my own and decided to visit Libassa (Lillaby) Eco Lodge, located next to a wildlife sanctuary.

The sanctuary was established after 2016, when animals received protected status. It’s home mostly to monkeys and small antelope, along with a few crocodiles. While the goal is always to release animals back into the wild, many can’t survive on their own — including one blind crocodile — so the sanctuary becomes their permanent home.

At the time, it was being run by a Belgian couple: she’s the veterinarian, he’s the director. I also met a wildlife veterinarian from Malawi who is taking over, and a Belgian veterinary student doing a short placement. We all ended up sitting together at the eco lodge, sharing food and conversation, which made the visit even more meaningful.

The lodge itself is beautiful — right on the beach, with multiple swimming pools because the ocean can be dangerous. Seasonality plays a big role here, with strong dry seasons and very quiet wet ones, yet this lodge stays open year-round. It was educational, relaxing, and deeply connected to conservation.

Back at my hotel later, I spoke with the owner about future travel toward Abidjan and adjusting plans while waiting on visas. All in all, it was one of those days that perfectly captures why I travel.

Key Moments

00:00 – Realizing I forgot to record the previous evening

01:10 – Discovering lagoon-side karaoke at the Calabash Hotel

03:05 – Why U.S. dollars dominate daily life in Liberia

05:00 – Food, drinks, and high-energy karaoke performances

07:30 – Running into Bram and Saturday government work

09:15 – Deciding to visit Libassa (Lillaby) Eco Lodge

11:10 – Touring the wildlife sanctuary and meeting the animals

14:20 – Conversations with veterinarians and conservation workers

17:30 – Lunch and deeper talks at the eco lodge

20:40 – Eco-tourism seasons and year-round operations

23:10 – Beach dangers and why pools matter

25:00 – Travel plans toward Abidjan amid visa delays

27:20 – Reflections and sign-off