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Route: Dakar to Accra or v.v.
Length of Section: 5 Weeks
Comfort Zone: 4 out of 5 [what's this?]
Physical Rating: 4 out of 6 [what's this?]
Crew: 2 crew, local guides as necessary.
Vehicle: Overland expedition vehicle, motorised canoes.
Accommodation: Basic campsites, some wildcamps, small hostel/hotel. (85% camping, 15% hotels)
Why not add one of these trips to the start or end of your adventure:
Madventurer Ghana Volunteer Project (a 2, 4 or 6 week building and teaching project)
This fantastic route from Dakar to Accra opens up a side of Africa that is completely different to the traditional safari route. This is the Africa of bustling markets, colourful festivals and music - with Mali and Senegal in particular famous for their performers. Take a tour of Timbuktu, cruise up the Niger River to Mopti aboard a local boat, see the magnificent mud mosque of Djenne and go trekking through the dramatic Dogon country. After a stay in Burkina Faso, rarely visited by outsiders, we head into Ghana for some game viewing in Mole National Park. We'll travel through the Ashanti kingdom en route for the Gold Coast, visiting community projects along the way, and taking time to unwind from the rigours of the road on beautiful Elmina Beach.
what's included?
Week 1: Senegal
- Day to explore Dakar and the atmospheric Island of Goree
- Overland trip on rough roads and wildcamps through Senegal
- 2 nights and game safaris in Niokolo Koba National Park
Week 2: Mali
- Overland through western Mali
- 2 or 3 night break in Bamako, the music capital of West Africa
- Trace the footsteps of explorers up the Niger River basin up to Timbuktu
Week 3: Mali & Niger River
- 2 night stay and guided tour of Timbuktu
- 3 day Niger River motorised canoe trip to Mopti via the late Ali Farka Toure's village of Niafounke
Week 4: Mali & Burkina Faso
- 2 or 3 day trek through the Dogon tribal region on the Bandiagara Escarpment
- Witness the masked dance and hear the rhythms of Dogon music
- Overland and 2 night stay at Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou
- Visit to the Djenne Monday market and vast mud mosque
Week 5: Ghana
- Journey through central Ghana
- Explore the capital city of Accra
- Visit to Brenu School and community to see what Sabre Trust have achieved
- Overland journey via the Ashanti capital of Kumasi to the Gold Coast
- Relax and unwind on Elmina Beach and Cape Coast
- Big game time in the excellent wildlife area of Mole National Park, an elephant paradise
what can I do on the way?
(Activities available at extra costs)
- Sunset camel ride into the Saharan dune with Tuareg nomads in Timbuktu
- Visit the sacred fish pond or the hilltop village of Kori near Bobo
- Experience the music and nightclubs of Ouagadougou
General Notes:
Because of the nature of this tour, the itinerary may well vary from that published. This trip will involve crossing remote areas and there will be an element of discomfort. This is a tough but very rewarding trip.Kitty does not cover food while staying in hotels and hostels. All kitties are quoted in USDs, however in North and West Africa, Euros are much easier to use. Please ensure you bring Euros and not USDs for the kitty and for personal spending. The exchange of USD to Euro for the kitty will be decided by the tour leader on Day 1 of the trip.