Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Bamako
You will be met on arrival at Bamako International Airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of today is free for you to spend as you wish. Mali's capital is full of interesting places, including the Grande Marche – a maze of food stalls, clothing and household goods spread over several city blocks. If time permits, you may consider an optional visit to the exceptional Musee National with its stunning collection of masks, textiles and ancient artifacts, as well as a bookshop and restaurant. Set amid tranquil, leafy grounds, the Museum is an excellent introduction to Malian life. There are often excellent live music acts in the city during the weekend, with esteemed artists such as Salif Keita, Bassekou Kouyate and Toumani Diabaté regularly playing. The lively Rue de Bla Bla also offers an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars.
Day 2: Bamako/Dogon Country
After breakfast, you will take the morning flight to the major town of Mopti; known for its port, which links all of Mali’s towns and villages along the Niger. From here you continue to the unique Pays Dogon region. The Pays Dogon is an area where the vibrant local people still live as they have for centuries. The area is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural and cultural significance, with a 200 kilometer length of escarpment. The area is still the object of study by anthropologists around the world. In the afternoon you begin your trek down the escarpment through a breathtaking gorge; the Falaise de Bandiagara. The trek takes 2 to 3 hours, over rocky terrain, and at times can be strenuous; however the rewards are worthwhile as the glorious sands of the Sahel stretch before us to the horizon as you descend the escarpment. A further walk on flat, sandy terrain (approx 90 minutes) will take you into the Dogon villages where you spend an unforgettable night sleeping on the rooftop of the chief's compound. Tents and or extremely basic rooms can be hired locally if preferred but the normal practice is to sleep on mats on the roof. Includes: (B).
Day 3: Dogon Country
You will be awakened at first light by the resident roosters and donkeys - part of the Dogon experience! However, you will not mind as the opportunity to watch the light of sunrise bathe the rocky escarpment in a golden glow is spectacular. After some time exploring the village you are treated to the sights and sounds of the incredible Dogon Masked Dance Ceremony – an energetic, ritual dance featuring elaborate masks and dancers on stilts, it is truly a privilege to witness. You will then continue trekking among the northern Dogon villages, while viewing some of the best-preserved examples of the habitats of the Tellem and Dogon peoples. The trek is along flat, sandy ground and takes us amongst the surprisingly lush vegetable gardens of the Dogon people, who are particularly known for their onion exports to other parts of the country. The trek is not strenuous, however temperatures in the Dogon region can be quite high and there is the option to take an ox or cow-cart for part or all of the way if you so choose. Includes: (B).
Day 4: Dogon Country / Mopti
To begin your final morning of the Pays Dogon trek before you begin the walk up to the top of the escarpment and out of Pays Dogon. This walk takes you through a beautiful valley with many Tellem houses nestled in the upper reaches of the rock face. The walk is quite steep at times and you do need to traverse rocky, uneven surfaces, however you take your time and rest along the way to soak up your last views of this amazing place. Once out of the valley you depart for Mopti - a drive of 100 kilometers that takes approximately three hours. In the afternoon, time permittining, you may get to visit Old Mopti town as well as the bustling harbor where you can see the big slabs of salt that come from the far north, carried across the Sahara Desert by the Tuareg camel caravans to Timbuktu where they are loaded on to pinasses and sail down the Niger to Mopti to be bought and sold. In the early evening you have the opportunity to board one of these traditional pinasses yourself and take a relaxed excursion along the Niger River, sailing past interesting fishing villages and keeping an eye out for some of Mali’s abundant birdlife as the sun sets. Your hotel this evening is a gorgeous boutique guesthouse, and a welcome comfort after your adventurous Dogon dwellings! Includes: (B).
Day 5: Djenne Market
After breakfast, you drive to Djenne, a distance of approximately 200km. Djenne, the sister town of Timbuktu, is one of the oldest towns in West Africa. It is built on an island in the Niger River Delta and you must cross on a ferry to reach it. Monday is market day and the most interesting day to visit Djenne. The market sells an incredible array of goods, from exotic fabrics, to spices, billy goats and watermelons and with street stalls selling delectable local treats, this market is sure to dazzle all of your senses! During your visit to Djenne there will also be time to walk through the narrow, winding streets to see the beautiful architecture of the clay houses that make Djenne such an original and beautiful “city”. In the late afternoon you (along with hundreds of others!) leave Djenne by crossing the Bani River once more and head to Mopti. As the ferry crossing time can be unpredictable, you may not arrive into Mopti until the early evening. Includes: (B).
Day 6: Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
Today you head east to your second country on this expedition; Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso is a landlocked savannah, crossed by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas. Literally, ''Burkina'' is translated “men of integrity,'' from the Moré language. The Burkinabé, as the local population is known, belong to two major West African cultural groups--the Voltaic and the Mande. Making up one half of the population, the Voltaic Mossi claim descent from warriors who migrated to present-day Burkina Faso from Ghana. Predominantly farmers now, the Voltaic Mossi kingdom is led by the Mogho Naba who still hold court in Ouagadougou today. Along the way to Burkina Faso you will stop will be to visit the village of Dogon village of Songo (55 km), famous for its picturesque setting and rock paintings at the site of circumcision. You'll have a picnic lunch in the southern Dogon village of Teli before continuing to the border. After completing border formalities, you enter Burkina Faso and continue to Ouahigouya (pronounced waee-gee-ya) where you spend the night. Includes: (B).
Day 7 & 8: Gorom-Gorom
West Africa is known for its eclectic, bustling and incredibly colorful marketplaces, none more fascinating than the unrivalled Gorom-Gorom Thursday market. The small village, in the far north-east of the country is in a true Sahel landscape – blistering temperatures, sandy terrain dotted with acacia trees and plenty of red dust! Each Thursday, diverse ethnic groups diverge on the market, from the Bella people who were the former slaves of the Tuareg to the Songhai farmers; from the striking Fulani women, adorned with heavy gold earrings to the unmistakable indigo-clad Tuareg nomads, who arrive by camel from the Sahara Desert. The market sells anything from camel milk and cola nuts to handcrafted leather sandals, elaborate African printed cotton and intricate Tuareg jewelry. Goats, camels, donkeys and cattle are all traded at the adjacent animal market. A feast for all the senses – the Gorom-Gorom market is sure to be a standout highlight! Includes: (B).
Day 9: Ouagadougou
Venturing further east, along the border with Niger, you visit a Songhai village near the small town of Markoye before departing on a 5 hour drive to Ouagadougou (pronounced waga-doo-goo), one of the cultural centers of West Africa. Ouagadougou has a population of approximately 1.5 million people and is the capital of Burkina Faso (which was known as Upper Volta up until the 1980s). The name Ouagadougou purportedly goes back to the 15th century where it was originally known as "Sogomogobogoyogowogodogo", meaning "palace of the worshipful camel-faced bush boy where people get honor and respect". It was later changes to “Wogodogo,” meaning simply "where people get honor and respect". You arrive in the mid-afternoon and after checking into your hotel and refreshing yourself there is the opportunity to visit Ciao Village or get acquainted with the sights of ‘Ouaga’ and hopefully some of its inhabitants, known as “ouagalais”. Includes: (B).
Day 10: Bobo Dioulasso
You depart Ouaga for 1.5-hour drive to Sabou, to visit the sacred crocodiles, which the local people swim with. Continuing into the verdant southwest corner of the country you reach Bobo Dioulasso. With free time in the afternoon you may wish to visit the Grand Marche; famous for being the crossroads of numerous tribes and displaying a great selection of tribal arts from all over West Africa; or take a walk through the Kibidwe District for some fascinating people watching and an insight into the daily lives of the Kibidwe people. But no highlight in Bobo Dioulasso is greater than it music. The town is known as the music capital of Burkina Faso and on weekends it really comes alive! A melting pot of markets, music and nightlife, it’s rich in traditional music and an extraordinary blend of West African cultures. You will have the opportunity to wander down to local cafes and soak in the atmosphere and sample the local delicacy of ‘French fried caterpillars’, and perhaps head along to the Bolomakoté Cabaret, where people go to play percussion and traditional African instruments. There you can sample the local mijo beer and let yourself be carried away by the seductive African rhythms. Includes: (B).
Day 11: Banfora
A further 2-hour drive takes us to Banfora, a sleepy town set in a lush green landscape surrounded by waterfalls and small lakes. Here you spend the afternoon visiting the wonderful attractions of the surrounding area. Sindou – its incredible rock formations are perfect for a short hike to witness the narrow 3 km chain of sandstone, occasionally crowned or hatted by more erosion-resistant pieces of rock. Lake Tengrela - home to more than 100 hippos, here you will also see local fishermen and a variety of birdlife. Karfiguela Waterfalls - worth the journey whatever the season, you will catch sight of them after making you way though a magnificent avenue of mango trees and a chaotic jumble of rocks. Includes: (B).
Day 12: Gaoua / Oagadougou
Today you travel to Gaoua (210km SE of Bobo), located in the heart of Lobi country. This area is culturally distinctive and fascinating due to is unique architecture and preserved age-old traditions. Lobi homes are made with high brick mud walls and small slithers of windows, not unlike a miniature fortress. Not found in villages these homes are built out in the fields, with a small family compound being up to several hundred meters from their neighbours. In these rural areas the Lobi are not used to foreigners, and may feel nervous. Please do not take any photos here without express permission. In the afternoon you visit the ancient stone ruins of Loropeni. These ruins are the best preserved of the larger Lobi Ruins. No one is sure of the origins of the stones, one theory being they were once a slave-palace for a Lobi king from antiquity, while another is they were a fortified village, which stretch through a 18,600-square-kilometer cultural corridor shared by Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Ghana. At the end of the day you head back to Ouagadougou for an overnight stay. Includes: (B).
Day 13: Pendjari Reserve, Benin
Heading east, you spend the day traveling to the third country on your expedition; Benin. This relatively small, club-shaped country was once home to one of the most powerful empires in West Africa, the Dahomey Kingdom, as well as being the traditional home of the voodoo religion. Musically, Benin's most famous export is the fabulous Angelique Kidjo who helped West Africa stamp its authority on the world music scene in the early 90s. Crossing just under 600km, and stopping for lunch along the way (own expense), your final destination is Pendjari Game Reserve. Located in the north-West corner of Benin, Pendjari Game Reserve is known for its abundance of wildlife, including elephants, monkeys, lions, hippopotamus, buffalo and antelope, but most prominently it is famous for its wide variety of birds. The isolation of the park creates a unique ecosystem, often described as one of the most interesting in West Africa. You visit the reserve in the evening for a PM game drive, which is the best time for viewing the wildlife. Includes: (B).
Day 14: Natitingou
A short drive takes us to Natitingou by way of Tanougou Falls where you have the opportunity to take a refreshing swim. Natitingou is, located amid in the pleasant climate of the Atakora Mountains of northern Benin. Here you visit the remote Betamaribe people, who still hunt with bows and arrows and live in the middle of their cultivated fields, rather than in a village environment. Their small, fortress-like houses consist of 3 levels; ground floor for the animals; first floor for the kitchen; top floor for living space and sleeping. Includes: (B).
Day 15: Abomey
Continuing south to Abomey (520km), you reach the ancient capital of the Dahomey Kingdom. Previously one of the greatest empires in West Africa, here you visit the must-see restored Royal Palace and learn about the incredible history of the Fon Kings. Illustrating the gory history of Dahomey, exhibits include graphic tapestries of war and Ghezo’s throne which is mounted on the skulls of his four enemies. This evening you will experience the unique Dance Geledin des Fons – known for its vibrant color and costumes. Includes: (B).
Days 16 & 17 Grand Popo Beach
A short 2 hour drive brings us to the lake village of Ganvie where you take a 'pirogue', a traditional West African fisherman’s boat out on to the lake. The afternoon is then spent driving the coastal highway, passing through small villages dotted with white flags identifying voodoo practitioners. Or final destination for the day is Grand Popo Beach. Especially relaxed for a tourist destination, Grand Popo Beach is stunning and clean. With 2 nights here there is plenty of time to relax in the shade of coconut groves and watch the waves after a few substantial days of travel. Swimming is limited due to strong currents, but this won't lessen sleepy charm and tranquility of the place. On day 17 you will have the opportunity for an optional excursion to Ouidah (70km return) to learn about the origins of Voodoo and meet local practitioners. Ouidah is the historic centre of Voodoo, with thousands of believers often flocking there to rejoice in their faith. Includes: (B).
Day 18: Lome
Cross the border into Togo, approx 2-hr drive from Grand Popo to Lome - visit Lome including the National Museum which houses historical artifacts, potteries, costumes, traditional musical instruments, wood carvings and traditional medicinal remedies. Your visit will also include the various markets: central market, arts market and the fetish market at Akedessewa just 4km from the center of town where you will see remarkable supplies of traditional medicines use by sorcerers including skulls of monkeys, snake skins, warthog teeth, lion skin, leopard skin & birds. Includes: (B).
Day 19: Ada
This morning you drive approximately 45 minutes to Lake Togo then continue by boat to visit Togoville, a historical town interesting for its royal palace and colonial church. It was here that Voodoo practitioners were taken to Haiti as slaves. The town still shows a strong influence of voodoo today, with plenty of Fetish stalls in the streets. From Togoville, you will cross the border into Ghana, driving directly to Ada (approx 110km) where the Volta River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Includes: (B).
Day 20 & 21 Kumasi - Ashanti Kingdom. Today you have an approximately four hour drive to Kumasi, the region of the Ashanti people. In the afternoon your tour of Kumasi will include the Manhyia Palace museum and the Armed Forces museum. You will end the day by visiting the Kejeta market, one of West Africa’s biggest markets. Includes: (B).
Day 22: Axim Beach. Travelling south to Axim, you stay at Ghana’s most isolated and luxurious beach resorts. 2 km from the hotel is Axim town, a historical town with a population of about 20,000. The main occupation here is fishing. There are several historical places not far from the hotel e.g. Fort Antonio (1515, old Portuguese trading port), princess Town (Fort Grootfriederichburg 1683), Akatekyi Crocodile Village, Ankasa Forest Resource, Nzulezu village (the houses are built on stilts), trekking in forest, whale watching. Includes: (B).
Day 23: Elmina
This morning you will take a 1-hour drive to Elmina to visit Elmina Castle. Known in it’s time as ‘The Slave Castle’, its one of over twenty castles built along the shoreline of the Gold Coast (now known as Ghana). The Gold Coast was one of the richest markets for slave traders during the peak of the slave trade and you will learn about this tragic history through visiting some of the key historical sites of the region. You visit a fishing village and the Pursubans animist shrines – then take a short drive (10 km) to Cape Coast which was the centre of British Administration and capital of the Gold Coast between 1700 until 1877, as well as being known for it’s notorious slave castle. You return back to Elmina at end of the day. Includes: (B).
Day 24: Kakoum National Park - Accra
This morning you visit Kakoum National Park where you have the opportunity to experience the amazing canopy walkway that meanders through the park. After your visit, you resume the 3 hour drive to Accra, the nation's capital. An afternoon exploration of the city includes time at the National Museum and the Kwame Nkroumah Memorial Garden. The remainder of the day is at leisure. For those of us who are flying out this evening, a day room (for group use) has been booked at your Accra hotel. This will be available for you to freshen up prior to your flight home. An evening transfer is included to Accra airport where your expedition comes to an end.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Breakfast and dinner (local restaurants and hotels) daily
- All transport, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, porters
- Airport transfers for land & air customers arriving / departing on tour dates.
Price Excludes:
- Tour Leader gratuities
- Lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc)
- International (if applicable) and domestic air taxes
- Visa fees and excursions referenced as 'optional'
- Airport transfers for early / late arrivals / departures or Land Only customers
- Optional trip cancellation insurance.
Note: Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on optional meal costs, shopping, and visas.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Mali
Benin
Ghana
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
National Parks
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