Thirty One Days Guinea Bissau from Marakesh Adventure
Day One: Arrival in Marrakech
Upon your Aarrival at the airport in Marrakech – Morocco, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome you and then transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore Morocco’s most enigmatic city. Dinner and overnight at a tourist class hotel.
Day Two: Ait Ben Haddou
This morning, you will cross the High Atlas via the stunning Tizi n Tichka pass, with superb views of the mountains along the way. Driving through the Berber heartlands, we continue to the stunning collection of kasbahs at Ait Ben Haddou, then drive to nearby Ouarzazate for the night. Overnight tourist class hotel.
Day Three: Draa Valley
Today, you will explore this landscape of arid mountains, we meet isolated communities and some of the most traditional people in Morocco, some of whom still live in caves. Make our way towards the lush Draa Valley where we spend the night. Overnight tourist class hotel.
Days Four and Five: Erg Chegaga to Iriqui
On this day, you will enter the Sahara and drive to the dunes of Erg Chegaga, much less known than the famous Erg Chebbi but equally impressive, then continue to the dry salt lake of Iriqui. Dinner and overnight tented camp.
Days Six and Seven: Guelmime to Ksar Tafnidilt
You will continue to Guelmime, the last major town of Morocco proper and a former trading centre for the Saharan camel caravans. Then head off on rough tracks along the beach. Explore the remote region surrounding the Draa estuary, with tiny settlements and abandoned military posts. Dinner and overnights at Ksar Tafnidilt, a traditional style kasbah close to Tan Tan.
Day Eight: Tarfaya
You will drive south, our route taking us between the desert and the Atlantic Ocean, passing small caves inhabited by fishermen as well as the impressive Naila lagoon, an inland sea separated from the ocean by rows of dunes. In the afternoon we arrive at the small town of Tarfaya. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Casamar or similar.
Days Nine, Ten and Eleven: Laayoune to Western Sahara
This morning, you will drive to Laayoune, the main town of Western Sahara. From here we meet our local Saharawi guide and embark on an expedition into this largely unknown area. We venture into an untamed landscape of dunes and desert, stopping at wells to meet the Reguibat nomads and their herds of camels that eke a living from this unforgiving habitat. We camp for two nights, then on Day 11 reach Dakhla and stay overnight in a tourist class hotel.
Day Twelve: Dakhla
You will spend the day exploring Dakhla and surrounds, with its superb beaches and opportunities to fish in the Atlantic. Dinner and overnight in Buena Vista Hotel or similar.
Day Thirteen: Nouadhibou
Today, we will drive south to the border with Mauritania, following a remote road between the desert and the ocean. After completing border formalities, continue to Nouadhibou, Mauritania’s second city. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Medina or similar.
Days Fourteen, Fifteen and Sixteen: Desert crossing to Chinguetti
After breakfast, drove to Chinguetti, one of Islam’s holiest cities and a real gem of Mauritania. With its collection of historic buildings this is one of the Sahara’s most interesting towns, with a sense of history that is almost tangible. We travel south first to the small town of Chami, then accompanied by an expert guide we drive through a remote part of the desert, where we hope to encounter local nomads and see the traces of prehistoric man such as ancient pottery. We arrive in Chinguetti on Day 16. Two nights simple hotels, one night local guesthouse.
Day Seventeen: Chinguetti
You will spend today exploring Chinguetti, visiting its historic quarter and seeing one of the collections of ancient manuscripts for which it is famous. Dinner and overnight at a local guesthouse.
Day Eighteen: Ouadane
This morning, you will drive to Ouadane. Founded in the 12th century, Ouadane is a fascinating collection of old houses and mosques and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the historic quarter and return to Chinguetti in the evening. Dinner and overnight La Gueila guesthouse or similar.
Day Nineteen: Amogjar Pass to Terjit
Today, you will continue exploring Mauritania by driving along the Amogjar Pass with its prehistoric petroglyphs, as well as the visiting the ruins of the ancient Almoravid capital of Azougui. Proceed to the pretty oasis of Terjit for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sahara or similar.
Day Twenty: Nouakchott
You will arrive in the capital Nouakchott, the first major city we will have encountered for a few days. Dinner and overnight at tourist class hotel.
Day Twenty One: Djoudj National Park to Saint Louis
On this day, we will drive south to Senegal, and then travel to Djoudj National Park with its incredible bird life. We take boats on the lagoon to discover vast flocks of pelicans, flamingos and more, then continue to St Louis, once the capital of French West Africa. Dinner and overnight at Hotel de la Poste or similar.
Day Twenty Two: Saint Louis to Lampoul
You will spend the morning visiting Saint Louis, exploring its streets by traditional caleche (horse and carriage). Then we head Lampoul to our fixed camp amongst the dunes.
Day Twenty Three: Lac Rose, Dakar and Goree Island
On this day, you will drive to Lac Rose, along the beach to visit the largest fishermen’s village in Senegal. Lac Rose is a shallow saltwater lake surrounded by dunes and known for its striking pink color. Then head to the capital, Dakar, and visit nearby Goree Island, once a centre of the slave trade. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Municipal or similar.
Day Twenty Four: Dakar
After breakfast, explore the sights of Goree island and later return to Dakar and explore this bustling modern city. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Ganale or similar.
Days Twenty Five and Twenty Six: Kaolack, Sine Ngayene and Banjul
This morning, you will drive to Kaolack and then to Sine Ngayene, an astonishing megalithic site of over a thousand carved stones arranged into fifty two circles , recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then cross the border into the Gambia and take a ferry across the river, and transfer to Banjul. Visit the National Museum with its exhibits on local archaeology and history, as well as the city center, before arriving at our hotel. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Kabacoto Safari or similar (Day 25) and Atlantic Hotel or similar (Day 26).
Day Twenty Seven: Banjul to Casamance
You will spend the morning in the company of an ornithological guide, looking for birds in the large park by the hotel which is home to over 70% of the species that live in the country. Then cross into Casamance, the southern region of Senegal, head out into the surrounding villages to learn about the animistic customs that hold sway here, seeing a striking mask dance. Dinner and overnight at tourist class hotel.
Day Twenty Eight: Bissau
You will drive to the border with Guinea-Bissau and continue to Cachungo. Today we visit the villages of the local Manjaco people, known for their ancestor worship and unique wooden sculptures. Then continue to Bissau for the night. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Azalai or similar.
Days Twenty Nine and Thirty: Bijagos Islands
For this day, you will sail to the Bijagos Islands, a magical and unique world of authentic tribal traditions and unusual wildlife. First visit the island of Bolama, once a colonial capital but now largely abandoned, its Portuguese buildings slowly being taken over by vegetation. We then spend two days exploring the archipelago, looking for rare saltwater hippos and learning about the customs of the local people. Dinner overnight at Ponta Anchaca Lodge.
Day Thirty One: Bissau
After breakfast, you will depart the islands and return to the mainland. If time permits, have a quick look around the city before having lunch and transferring to the airport for your onward flight.