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24 Days West Africa Exposition Tour Package
Our Exposition tour takes us to an astonishing six countries over a period of three weeks, as we experience the 'true' face of West Africa. Beginning in Dakar, Senegal, the westernmost point on the African continent, we experience a dynamic and modern urban centre with a strong French colonial flavour and enjoy the scenery at the rugged Atlantic coastline. Making our way through the country, we visit colonial buildings dating from the 18th century, World Heritage-protected islands and one of the most important bird sanctuaries on the planet, along with a plethora of museums and historic sites that teach us about the area and its people. Crossing into Mali-- one of the cradles of African civilisation and the birthplace of the powerful empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai-- we find a land that is home to numerous colourful ethnic groups and one in which is to be found the largest mud building in the world: the Great Mosque at Djenne. Stopping in at fishing villages and traditional markets en route, we make headway for the magical destination of Tomboctou (Timbuktu), before travelling onwards to witness the traditional animist beliefs and lifestyles of the Dogon people and see their villages, granaries and burial sites that were built on the narrow ledges of cliffs as protection from enemies. In Burkina Faso, we explore one of the few places in Africa where the majority of people still cling to ancient animist beliefs and as we travel out of arid landscapes into lush vegetation, we have the chance to view wildlife such as hippos and wild elephants. We tour ancient remnants left by African megalithic cultures of years gone by and then cross into Ghana, where we admire the thatch and mud tribal village compounds that are arranged in a circular pattern and plethora of national park wildlife, such as lions, leopards, antelope and monkeys. We pay a quick visit to partake of the bounties of Togo, before we cross into plentiful Benin, the birthplace of Voodoo and the last country on our tour.
Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Dakar Today we arrive in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. A NOTE ON SUITABILITY: The is a tour for the hardy! If you are uncertain of your suitability for this trip, please contact our Sales Department. Overnight in Senegal. Dinner if required. Day 2 Dakar & Goree Island This morning we take a tour of Dakar, the westernmost point on the African continent. Dakar is a dynamic and modern urban center with a strong French colonial flavour. Our city tour shows us the Independence Square, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and the Grand Mosque. We also visit the Dakar IFAN Museum with a rich ethnographic collection of masks, statues and other artifacts from all over West Africa. We finally drive around the Corniche for scenic views of the rugged Atlantic coastline. At midday we take a short ferry ride to the nearby island of Goree. Discovered by the Portuguese, the island was disputed in the following 450 years between the Dutch, the British and the French and changed hands many times. Goree is a World Heritage site (UNESCO) and is infamous for being one of the main gathering and embarkation points for millions of enslaved Africans who were crammed into ships and sent to the Americas. On the island we visit the chilling House of Slaves where captives were chained in tiny cells waiting to be shipped overseas. Our walk around the island also takes to the impressive fortress, the Catholic Church and the old colonial quarter. Goree boasts many former grand buildings from the 18th & 19th centuries and since there are no cars on the island, it is a beautiful place to unwind and wander among the historical remains away from Dakar's hustle and bustle. Overnight in Dakar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Dakar - Saint-Louis This morning we head northward to historic Saint-Louis, which until 1958 was the capital of French-administered Mauritania and Senegal. En route we stop at the Rose Lake, a center of salt extraction where traditional methods are still in use. This is the finishing line of the demanding Paris-Dakar rally. We reach Saint-Louis at the end of the afternoon driving along a road bordered by large and impressive baobab trees. The city of Saint-Louis is situated on an island at the mouth of the Senegal River and like the island of Goree is recognized as a World Heritage Site. Overnight in Saint-Louis. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Saint-Louis - Djoudj National Bird Park - Saint-Louis Heading out early this morning, we drive to the Walo Delta of the Senegal River, a vast area of marshes and wetlands. This river has its source in the Fouta Djalon Mountains of Guinee (where the great Niger River also rises) and marks the border between Senegal and its northern neighbour, Mauritania. Our destination this morning is the Djouj National Park, considered one of the most important bird sanctuaries on the planet. Situated on a major migratory route, this park is a paradise for bird enthusiasts and was awarded World Heritage status. Some of the world's greatest concentrations of white pelicans and pink flamingos can be seen here. We board a motorized boat and cruise along the splendid waterways to observe the immensely rich birdlife. Various ethnic groups live along the Senegal River, notably Fulas, Tuculors and Moors. In the afternoon we return to Saint-Louis for our city tour. We visit the Provincial Museum, the Faidherbe Square, the Central Mosque, and pass by the old Slave Market, a gum Arabic warehouse and countless colonial buildings painted in flaking pastels. At the height of the French period some 4000 French nationals lived here. We finally drive through the lively fishing community of Guet Ndar and its huge wholesale fish market. Overnight in Saint-Louis. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Saint-Louis - Dakar, Senegal - Bamako, Mali Today we drive back to Dakar and connect with our flight to Bamako, the capital of Mali. Mali is a fantastic country stretching from the unforgiving Sahara to the dry Sahel belt and the wooded savannahs of the south. It is the land of the great Niger River, third longest river in Africa after the Nile and the Congo. Here in Mali, the Niger travels along a northern loop and forms an immense inland river delta, bringing life to an otherwise desolate region. Mali is all about history and people. This land is a cradle of African civilization, the birthplace of the powerful empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai, home of the fabled trans-Sahara trading centers of Djenne, Mopti and Tomboctou where Muslim North Africa meet tribal black Africa. Today Mali is home to numerous and colourful ethnic groups like the Bambaras, Bozos, Dogons, Fulanis, Touaregs and others. On arrival we visit the National Museum, featuring the most important archeological and ethnographic collection in West Africa. Overnight in Bamako. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Bamako - Tomboctou: Town Tour & Desert Experience We have an early breakfast today before our scheduled flight to Tomboctou (Timbuktu).* Rooted in legend, Tomboctou, the well of Bouctou, was founded by Touareg tribes. The oasis became fabulously wealthy in the 16th century from the trans-Saharan trade. Loaded with blocks of salt and other goods from North Africa and the Mediterranean basin, long convoys of camels would travel for weeks on end across the unforgiving Sahara to reach this all-important commercial center. It was here in Tomboctou that Arab caravans would trade their salt, often on a pound-for-pound basis with African merchants bringing gold, slaves and ivory along the Niger River from the depth of tropical Africa. The city rose from the hostile desert as a shimmering mirage of hundreds of mud buildings: mosques, caravanserais, trading houses and Koran schools. At its height Tomboctou had more than 100,000 inhabitants and became not only an important place of commerce but also a seat of learning and religion. The city was fiercely Islamic, and the fact that all non-Muslims were totally banned from entering only added to its mystique. It wasn't until 1828 that the first European, disguised as an Arab, entered the city to return alive and tell his story to the world. Upon arrival we have a tour, including the three great old mosques: Djinguiraber, Sankore and Sidi Aya. We visit the museum, Bouctou's well, and some of the three first explorers' residences (Gordon Laing, Rene Caille and Heinrich Barth). We stop at the Central Market and the Centre Artisanal. In the afternoon we embark on a Touareg desert experience. Our camel excursion takes us over sand dunes to a Touareg camp for a display of traditional songs and dances. We complete this unforgettable day by a mechoui dinner in the desert under the stars, Sahara style. We return to our hotel. * NOTE: Due to limited availability on internal flights within Mali, we may have to re-order our overnight points closer to departure date. Overall sightseeing content and highlights will remain as per the original; only their sequence may vary. We will advise of any such changes just prior to departure. Overnight in Tomboctou. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Tomboctou - Mopti: Town Tour This morning we fly to Mopti (one hour), a vital port of the Niger inland river delta. Mopti is built on several interconnected islands and located at the confluence of the Bani and Niger rivers. On arrival we have a walking tour of the city. We visit the Fula quarter, explore the vast Public Market, walk all the way to the Central Mosque through the colourful old town and spend some free time at the Craft Centre. This afternoon we visit the Fullani traditional quarter. We will see Fullani women doing their hair and wearing big earrings. We also visit the traditional Belle houses before returning to our hotel. Overnight in Mopti. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 Mopti - Djenne - Mopti Today we have an excursion to Djenne, one of the most amazing places on the continent. Here we find what is perhaps the greatest symbol of Sub-Saharan Africa and the architectural jewel of Mali: the great Djenne Mosque. Djenne has scarcely changed since the Middle Ages. Centuries ago it rivaled Tomboctou in wealth and power. The city is picturesquely built on an island of the Niger and is surrounded by decaying mud brick walls. We admire the Great Mosque, the largest mud building in the world, and tour the various historical sites of the medieval town. Generation after generation, every year before the rain season, a guild of skilled master-builders, the Baris, have ensured Djenne's architectural integrity by resurfacing the mud walls with a new coating of banko. Our visit coincides with the bustling weekly market day. Return to Mopti. Overnight in Mopti. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Mopti: Niger River Trip After breakfast, we set out upon a river journey along the mighty River Niger. Known to the Greeks and Romans as Nigris, a combination of the word Niger, (black) and the Berber word 'gher nighren' meaning 'river of rivers', the Niger fascinated Europeans for nearly 2,000 years before explorers finally found the source and the place where it emptied into the ocean. The Niger flows for 4180 km (2,600 miles) through Mali, Niger and Nigeria emptying into the Gulf of Guinea. Our vessel, called a "Pinasse", a modern version of the traditional Pirogue river boat, is a 24 m (80 ft) long motorised canoe like craft with comfortable cushioned seats, sun-shades and basic toilet facilities. Setting off along the river we pass fishing villages of the Fulani and Bozo people and numerous pirogues carrying a variety of goods as well as fishermen reaping the bounty of this flowing lifeblood of the region. There may be a chance to spot hippos on this section of the river. The delta also contains large populations of a variety of bird species including ibis, fish eagles, kingfishers and cormorants. We meet our vehicles in Kona and return to Mopti. Overnight in Mopti. Breakfast and dinner. Day 10 Mopti - Bandiagara - Tely - Ende - Bandiagara Today we drive to Songho where we visit the rock paintings and the circumcision cave. We continue to Bandiagara in time for lunch. The Dogons are largely animist. They worship their ancestors and the forces of nature through an arcane calendar of ceremonies, offerings, sacrifices, music and dances. Among African art collectors, the Dogon people are famous for their powerful masks and their imaginative wood carvings depicting their unique vision of the world. This afternoon we have an excursion to Telly and Ende, two Dogon cliff villages famous for their handicrafts: wood carvings, indigo, and mud clothes. We return to Bandiagara via Djiguibombo, which exhibits components typical of a Dogon village, including a menstruation house, the togu-na; the house of the ginna bana, and the ever-present baobab trees. The granaries were built in the typical style--conical straw roofs, mud/rock walls, and raised stone legs to help protect the crops from vermin. Houses were built with rock and mud brick, a flat roof, and interlocked stone walls. Overnight in Bandiagara. Breakfast and dinner. Day 11 Dogon Country We have an early breakfast and drive to Sangha (45km) for a full day excursion to the cliffs, taking us to the most beautiful Dogon villages perched on the cliff-sides. Driving down the cliffs from Sangha, we will have a panoramic view over the villages of Banani, Irelli, and the UNESCO sites of Amani and Tirelli. Later we participate in a Dogon traditional village dance ceremony, featuring a spectacular array of ritual masks, vigorous drumming and costumed dancers, some of them performing on stilts. We will enjoy this cultural presentation in the company of the entire community, from children to village elders. It will be one of the greatest moments of your West African odyssey. We return to Sangha for lunch. Later we explore the Dogon market in Sangha and drive back to Bandiagara. Overnight in Bandiagara. Breakfast and dinner. Day 12 Bandiagara, Mali - Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso Today is a long transit day as we travel from Mali to Burkina Faso. From Bandiagara we drive first to the town of San then across the border to Bobo-Dioulasso. Despite being Burkina Faso's second largest city, Bobo is remarkably friendly and laidback. The southern part of Burkina offers a beautiful landscape of savannah and forest and is home to the most colourful tribal groups in the country: Bobos, Senoufos, Bwas and Lobis. Burkina Faso is a landlocked country and one of the few places in Africa where the majority of people still cling to ancient animist beliefs and have not fully converted to Islam or Christianity. Overnight in Bobo-Dioulasso. Breakfast and dinner. Day 13 Bobo-Dioulasso - Banfora We begin our day with a brief sightseeing tour of Bobo-Dioulasso: the Provincial Museum, the public market, the Grande Mosquee and the old quarter of Kibidwe. We then travel to the southern town of Banfora where we spend the night. In the afternoon we have a cruise on Lake Tengrela (there's a chance to see some hippos) and we see the pretty Karfiguela Falls. The region of Banfora is lush and well forested in sharp contrast with the arid lands we've travelled so far. Overnight in Banfora. Breakfast and dinner. Day 14 Banfora - Gaoua From Banfora our itinerary takes us deeper into tribal Burkina all the way to the town of Gaoua, in the heart of the Lobi homeland, arguably the best culturally preserved area of West Africa. Due to their past war-like practices, secret societies, and general antisocial nature, the Lobi people have retained a way of life much like that lived during first European contact. Here we have the opportunity to explore the local chief's fortress-like, multiple dwelling compounds, observe their agricultural techniques and view colonial period photographs at a local museum. Overnight in Gaoua. Breakfast and dinner. Day 15 Gaoua - Ouagadougou From Gaoua we travel northeast to the national capital, Ouagadougou, home of the Mossi people, the dominant ethnic group in the country. The road travels through remote areas where wild elephants are still found. On arrival we conduct a city tour of Ouaga: the Cathedral, the Mosque, Revolution Square, Independence Boulevard and the Presidential Palace. Overnight in Ouagadougou. Breakfast and dinner. Day 16 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - Tamale, Ghana It's an early morning departure as we travel from Burkina Faso to Ghana. After crossing the border, we stop at the Paga Kassena tribal community and the Navrongo Catholic Mission and Church. We have lunch in the town of Bolgatanga and in the afternoon we get to Tamale, Ghana's Northern commercial centre. The entire countryside shows amazing thatch and mud tribal village compounds, all arranged after a circular pattern and very organic in essence. Tamale is a bustling regional capital located 400 miles from the Atlantic coast. With over 300,000 residents it is one the fastest growing cities in West Africa. The regional economy is predominantly agricultural but Tamale is also an industrial, administrative, educational and medical center. The architecture is fairly modern. As elsewhere in Ghana, English is the official language but in daily life most people use Dagbani, the lingua franca of the Mole-Dagomba people of Northern Ghana. Overnight in Tamale. Breakfast and dinner. Day 17 Tamale - Mole National Park En route from Tamale to the Mole National Park we visit one of the many tribal villages to learn more about the daily life and the challenges facing those remote bush communities. We arrive in Mole for lunch and have a rest before discovering the park. Mole National Park is one of the largest national parks in West Africa and Ghana's finest. Established in 1971, it covers a wide array of ecosystems: rivers, marshes, gallery forests and open grasslands. Wildlife is varied with elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, kob and roan antelopes, hartebeest, duikers, warthogs, baboons, monkeys and good birdlife. The lodge is quite spartan but occupies a great location on top of a steep escarpment overlooking waterholes. Mole is one of the rare parks in West Africa where we can do walking safaris under the guidance of experienced forest rangers. Wildlife viewing can be up-close-and-personal, to say the least. It is very impressive to observe wild elephants at close range. During our stay in Mole we will make two sorties: the first one in late afternoon and the second early morning the next day. Note: Tourism in this unspoiled region is at a minimum. The Mole Park Lodge is a basic property with few amenities other than private bathroom facilities. Electricity and water supply can be erratic and the rooms are not air-conditioned but fan-cooled. Overnight in Mole. Breakfast and dinner. Day 18 Mole National Park - Kumasi After our early morning safari and breakfast we leave Mole National Park for Kumasi. En route we stop at the Labaranga Mosque, the oldest in Ghana and designed in the attractive Sudanese style. As we drive south to Kumasi via Techiman, we note a sudden shift in vegetation as we leave the savannah belt and enter the tropical rainforest of Southern Ghana. Kumasi is the second largest city in Ghana and home to the biggest market in West Africa. It is the capital of the Ashanti people whose rapid rise to power was fueled by the slave and gold trade. The Ashanti was a highly centralized and well-administered militarist empire whose expansion brought it head to head with a new force in the region: the British. It took several wars before the British army could finally defeat the mighty Ashanti Kingdom and take control of the rich gold fields of central Ghana that became known as the Gold Coast. Overnight in Kumasi. Breakfast and dinner. Day 19 Kumasi - Elmina Our tour of the Kumasi region will take us to the neighbouring villages of Bonwire, the weaving center or the famous Kente cloth, and Ahwia, renown for its wood carving traditions. After the village tour, we come back to Kumasi proper in order to visit the Asantehene Palace. From there we drive down to the Atlantic coast via Obuasi, home of the Anglo-Ashanti gold mines, to enter the Fanti homeland and reach the ocean at the end of the day. The historical town of Elmina is one of the oldest European settlements in Africa. Like other trading places on the African coast it was heavily disputed among colonial powers and changed hands several times before becoming a British outpost. In fact, much of the attraction in Ghana is based upon its legacy as the center of the gold, ivory and slave trade during the 17th & 18th centuries when the Fantis, allies of the British and their enemies, the Ashantis, held sway. European forts and castles dot the spectacular coastline, often first built by the Portuguese and later taken over by the French, Dutch, Danish, Swedes, Germans and British. These forts were originally intended as trading posts but ended up as slave dungeons for millions of Africans captured and forced into slavery. Many of these forts have been restored as testimonials to the tragedy that plagued Africa throughout most of the colonial period. Overnight in Elmina. Breakfast and dinner. Day 20 Elmina - Kakum National Park - Cape Coast Castle - Accra Before leaving Elmina this morning, we will proceed to Fort St George for a view and exterior photos. Our preferred fort for actually visiting is Cape Coast Castle, one of our stops later this afternoon. Our next destination is Kakum National Park, a large stretch of tropical rainforest home to one of the rare canopy walks in Africa. We enjoy a 30 meter-high walkway that links large emergent old growth trees above the forest canopy. From Kakum we drive down to Cape Coast to visit the Cape Coast Castle. Once a base for the slave trade, the castle continues to be a silent witness to the suffering of Africa. The whole tour is extremely poignant and crystallizes the African experience of slavery, partition, colonialism, racism, emancipation and human rights. On to Accra, the large and vibrant capital of Ghana. Formed by the merger of the British Gold Coast and part of the German Togoland, English-speaking Ghana was the first country in colonial Africa to achieve independence in 1957. As we enter Accra we take a scenic drive around the main administrative and commercial districts of the city. Overnight in Accra. Breakfast and dinner. Day 21 Accra, Ghana - Lome, Togo Before leaving Ghana we pay a visit to the Accra National Museum. We then drive to the Togolese border. Upon arrival in Lome, we will have a tour of this capital city, including the "Grande Marche" (open air market), the Fetish Market, to get acquainted with the different materials and the religious observances of the majority of Togolese. We end our tour with a visit to the Fishing Harbour. Overnight in Lome. Breakfast and dinner. Day 22 Lome, Togo - Ouidah, Benin - Cotonou Today we travel to Cotonou, Benin, via Ouidah, the birthplace of the Voodoo religion. Ouidah offers a calm and relaxed atmosphere with its old colonial buildings and lush vegetation. We begin our tour with the Sacred Forest and the Temple of the Pythons, both important voodoo shrines. By the main square, we find the imposing cathedral and the old colonial quarter. Nearby the Portuguese Fort now houses the History Museum. The exhibits focus on the slave trade and Benin consequent cultural links with Brazil and the Caribbean. From the city centre we retrace part of the infamous slave route, passing the slave market and numerous shrines and memorials, most of those erected by the African Diaspora. We travel all the way to the coast and end our visit at the "Door of No Return." We continue to Cotonou. Overnight in Cotonou. Breakfast and dinner. Day 23 Cotonou - Abomey - Cotonou When the French landed on the shores of the Slave Coast they faced a formidable force: the Kingdom of Dahomey. Like the Ashantis of Ghana the Dahomeys were a people on the rise. Young, ambitious and aggressive, they sought control of the slave trade and rose to power in the region. Abomey still retain many remainders of its glorious past, including the Palace, the Museum of History and the Royal Sepulchres, standing witness of a brave and powerful people. Worth admiring are the works of artists and craftsmen who have carried on the traditions of their glorious ancestors. We return to Cotonou to meet a voodoo priest and witness first hand the faith of his followers in a ceremony marked by percussions, chants and devotion. Overnight in Cotonou. Breakfast and dinner. Day 24 Cotonou - Ganvie - Cotonou - Depart One of the highlights of any trip to West Africa is Ganvie, the "Venice" of the continent. In ancient times people took refuge on Lake Nokoue from the attacks of the Fons and the Dahomey warriors who were forbidden by a deep belief to fight on water. Our boat cruise on Lake Nokoue takes us through the tranquil waterways to the village of Ganvie where we discover the stilt dwellings, the daily activities of the fishers and the small floating market. In the afternoon, back in Cotonou, you will have some time to explore the large Craft Market and make some last purchases before boarding your evening flight homeward. Breakfast and dinner (if evening flights require). Day rooms.
10/09 |
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