Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories: Hey everyone, it’s Backpacker Ben here, and after years and years of traveling to nearly 80 countries, I’m finally going to share the scariest stories that happened to me. These are the top 10 most dangerous, most stupid things, and by the end, you’ll probably wonder how I’m still alive. Let’s get on with it!
Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories
Story 1: The Gili Islands, Indonesia | Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories
Five years ago, when I was 24, I went to the Gili Islands in Indonesia with some friends. It wasn’t as touristy back then. We bought something off a local that we shouldn’t have, and it wasn’t what was promised. When we refused to pay, the seller got violent. He chased us for 10 minutes but eventually left us alone. Later, we were confronted by four locals, one with a knife, demanding money.
My friend withdrew $100 from an ATM to pay them off. After a night out, the locals returned, this time all armed with knives. We managed to find a policeman, but he was involved with the gang. We had no choice but to run for our lives, finding refuge in a hotel. By morning, they were gone, and we left the island immediately, never to return.
Story 2: Zanzibar, Tanzania | Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories
During the pandemic, I spent three months in Zanzibar. On the fourth day, I tried a tuna steak at a local restaurant. It smelled off and was raw, but I ate it anyway. My face and throat started to tingle, and my heart raced. I was having a severe allergic reaction, and my throat closed up. A local nurse made me throw up and gave me antihistamines, which helped a bit. I spent a terrifying night thinking I might die in my hotel room, but thankfully, I survived.
Story 3: The Afar Region, Ethiopia | Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories
In 2020, I went on a four-day trip to the Afar region in Ethiopia, hoping to see a volcano and the salt flats. It’s the hottest place on Earth, and our tour guides were unprepared, bringing insufficient water. If our car had broken down, we could have died. We were warned about the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in the area. At one point, locals hid us from passing terrorists. After seeing the salt flats, we rushed back to a safer area and returned to Addis Ababa, relieved to be alive.
Story 4: Bangladesh Food Poisoning | Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories
In 2019, I got severe food poisoning from undercooked chicken biryani in Bangladesh. I was on a ferry when I started feeling extremely sick, throwing up green vomit all night. In Barisal, a local friend helped me to a hospital, where I was treated in terrible conditions. I moved to a private hospital and spent three days on a drip. It was the sickest I’ve ever been, and I had to cut my trip short, flying back to the UK to recover.
Story 5: White Water Rafting in Uganda | Top 5 Scariest Travel Stories
During the pandemic, I went white water rafting in Uganda, where the river was ten times higher than normal due to floods. The rafting company, desperate for money, took us down dangerous rapids. I was underwater for about 25 seconds, feeling like I was in a washing machine, hitting rocks. My friend and I were stuck behind rocks, fighting to stay afloat. We eventually got rescued by a local in a kayak, but it was a terrifying experience.
That’s it for today’s stories. Stay tuned for part two next week, where I’ll share the rest of my top 10 scariest travel experiences. Thanks for watching, and remember, stay safe on your travels!
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