31 Days West Africa Adventure
This is an exploratory tour that often travels through remote parts of West Africa, allowing you see a number of different countries in a short space of time. Perfect for those that are big on ambition but short on time.
Day One: Arrival in Bissau
Upon your arrival at the airport in Bissau, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome you and then transfers you to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Azalai or similar.
Days Two and Three: Bijagos Islands
After breakfast, you will sail to the Bijagos Islands, a unique world of authentic tribal traditions and wildlife. Visit the island of Bolama, once a colonial capital but now largely abandoned, its Portuguese buildings slowly being taken over by vegetation and goats. We then spend two days exploring the archipelago, looking for rare saltwater hippos and learning about the customs of the local people.
Day Four: Bissau
Today, you will leav the islands and return to the mainland. In Bissau we have time for a quick look around the city with its colonial Portuguese architecture. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Azalai or similar.
Day Five: Malinke region
On this morning, you will drive to a small village in the Malinke region. The Malinke are descendants of the ancient empire of Mali. Visit a community of ‘griots’ – traditional musicians and story tellers who play an important part in conserving the traditions of West Africa. We learn about their history and customs, and witness a traditional griot performance. Dinner and overnight at a simple hotel.
Days Six and seven: Fouta Djalon
We will head to the border of Guinea, through an area inhabited by Malinke and Fulani tribes, and we stop in villages. Then drive into the Fouta Djalon, a stunning area of mountains, waterfalls, plateau and savannah, where we explore the charming Fulani villages with their typical architecture. Dinner and overnight simple hotel (Day 6) and tourist class hotel (Day 7).
Day Eight: Dalaba – Mamou
Explore the small town of Dalaba, with its interesting ‘casa a palabra’, a finely decorated building used for local chiefs. We also visit the villa of Guinea’s first president, Sekou Toure, then continue to the market town of Mamou. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Balys or similar.
Days Nine and Ten: En route to Freetown
Drive to the border with Sierra Leone, where we stop at the village of Kamakwie to see traditional mask dances. From here continue to Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital. Dinner and overnight White House Hotel (Day 9) and Swiss Hotel (Day 10) or similar.
Days Eleven and Twelve: Freetown to Banana Islands
Explore Freetown visiting its lively markets and seeing examples of old colonial architecture, and heading out to its beaches. From here travel to the archipelago of the Banana Islands, with it’s stunning beaches and fishing villages. Dinner and overnight at Bafa Lodge or similar.
Day Thirteen: Bo
After breakfast, head back to the mainland and drive into the lands of the Mende people. Here we see a rare performance of the female Bundo masks – normally mask societies are for men only. Proceed to Bo for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Dohas or similar.
Day Fourteen: Monrovia
We will spend this morning learning about the process of diamond mining, as we join some villagers who show us their craft. From here we continue to the border with Liberia, and from here drive to Monrovia. Dinner and overnight at Cape Hotel or similar.
Day Fifteen: Monrovia to Gbarnga
Spend the morning exploring Monrovia. We visit the National Museum and the impressive Masonic Temple of Liberia that has played an important part in Liberian history over the years. Then drive to Gbarnga for the night. Dinner and overnight at Passion Hotel or similar.
Days Sixteen and Seventeen: Macenta to Nzerekore
Drive through northern Liberia and back into Guinea, to a lush region of thick forests and remote villages. We see mask dances while here, including one of the ‘bird men’, dressed in feathers and with their faces painted white with kaolin. This is a secret society, and its members are believed to have powers that make them invisible. We also see the impressive bridges made of living vines, believed to be built by spirits during the course of just one night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Macenta (Day 16) and Hotel Bethanie (Day 17) or similar.
Day Eighteen: Bossou to Man
Head to the small village of Bossou and explore the forest, home to a group of chimpanzees. Constantly monitored by researchers, they are relatively easy to approach. From here we cross into Ivory Coast and drive to the town of Man. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Les Cascades or similar.
Day Nineteen: Man
Today we visit a village belonging to the Dan people, known for their amazing mask dancers who perform on stilts. Explore the area to learn more about their local customs and then return to Man for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Les Cascades or similar.
Day Twenty: Daloa
You will go for a walk into the forest to reach some of the more isolated settlements of the Guere people. Here we will see their mask dances and if lucky, a dance of the ‘jongleurs’, a rare performance involving initiated women with white painted faces, and considerable acrobatic prowess. Continue to Daloa for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel La Grace or similar.
Day Twenty One: Yamoussoukro
This morning we see a ceremony of the Zaouli dancing masks, a tradition of the Guro people. Then drive to Yamoussoukro, once just a village but now Cote d’Ivoire’s bizarre administrative capital. Yamoussoukro is dominated by the gigantic Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, reputedly the largest Christian place of worship on earth, and we spend time exploring this vast complex. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Royal or similar.
Day Twenty Two: Abidjan
You will drive to the capital of Ivory Coast. Spend the rest of the day exploring Abidjan, with a ferry trip through the lagoon, a visit to its lively market and the elegant residential district of Cocody. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Afrikland or similar.
Day Twenty Three: Grand Bassam
After breakfast, you will drive to the city of Grand Bassam with its old colonial buildings to explore and learn about the history of the country. Dinner and overnight at Hotel La Roche or similar.
Day Twenty Four: Axim to Anomabu
You will cross into Ghana and drive to Axim. Here we stop at the 16th century Portuguese fort, one of many early European fortifications dotted along this coast. After exploring the fort, drive east to Anomabu. Dinner and overnight at Anomabu Beach Resort or similar.
Day Twenty Five: Elmina
On this day, you will visit the fishing town of Elmina, best known for St George’s Castle, the oldest European building in Africa and once used as holding centre for slaves. In the town itself we explore the old quarter with its unique Posuban shrines, made by the traditional ‘asafo’ societies which were once responsible for local defence. Dinner and overnight at Anomabu Beach Resort or similar.
Day Twenty Six: Kumasi
This morning, you will drive to Kumasi, Ghana’s second city and home of the old Ashanti Kingdom. Explore the city including the Ashanti Cultural Centre, which gives a great insight into what once was one of the most powerful kingdoms in the region. If possible, we will be able to see a traditional Ashanti funeral, quite a spectacle at which visitors are welcome. Dinner and overnight at Miklin Hotel or similar.
Day Twenty Seven: Accra
Today, you will drive to Accra. Visit the old quarter of Jamestown, as well as the quarter where craftsmen design flamboyant coffins for the deceased – a uniquely Ghanaian experience. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Villa Boutique or similar.
Day Twenty Eight: Lome
For this day, you will cross the border into Togo, and head to its capital Lome, the only African city to have been colonized by the French, British and Germans. Explore the city including its central markets and the fascinating fetish market, where animal parts are sold for use in traditional medicines. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Onomo or similar.
Day Twenty Nine: Grand Popo
This morning travel to a remote and hidden village, where we witness a voodoo ceremony – unique to this part of the world, and sure to be one of the highlights of your trip. We then cross into Benin and head to the small town of Grand Popo, on the coast. Dinner and overnight at Auberge de Grand Popo or similar.
Day Thirty: Ouidah
Today, we will see a performance of the Zangbeto dancing masks, another of the region’s secret societies. Then continue to the coastal town of Ouidah, a stronghold of voodoo and once an important slave port. We visit the python temple, where snakes are venerated as representations of gods, the old Portuguese fort and finally head to the beach and the sombre ‘Gate of No Return’, the point from which slaves left Africa for the New World. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Casa del Papa or similar.
Day Thirty One: Ganvie to Cotonou
After breakfast, we will head out onto Lake Nokwe to visit Ganvie, the largest stilt village in Africa situated in the middle of the water. Then drive to Cotonou and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.