Senegal, home to the Wolof people, situated on the Atlantic coast of West Africa and westernmost point of Africa, has no less than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites (2 natural, 5 cultural): Saint Louis, former capital of Senegal and all of French West Africa; Djoudj National Park, one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the world; Ile de Goree, former major slave trading center on the African coast; Sine Saloum River Delta, a marine ecosystem with a labyrinth of mangroves, inlets and channels and a valued breeding ground for birds; Senegambia Stone Circles consists of 52 stone circles made up of 1,100 almost identical 2 metre high pillars with skeletons, tools and ceramic ornaments found buried beneath them; Niokola-Koba National Park with 1500 species of plants, 60 species of fish, 20 species of amphibian, 80 species of mammals and 330 species of birds and Bassari country, home to the Bassari, Bedik and Fulani peoples living there since the 11th century. Senegal also has a desert on the beach (Lompoul), Bandia and Fathala safari parks and its very own "riveria" along the coast called the Petite Cote located 80 km south of Dakar.
Learn MoreThe Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, a tiny sliver of land only 50 km long along the Atlantic coast and 474 km wide, wedged between Senegal and Casamance. It is home to 2.5 million people and is a bird watcher's paradise with 560 different species of birds. Also a lure is its Gambia River with its mangroves, chimpanzees at Baboon Island, Kunta Kinteh island named after the character in Roots, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the megalithic Wassu Stone Circles where circles of stones mark 1,200-year-old burial grounds, Makasuta Cultural Forest, a private eco-tourism tropical 1000-acre reserve encompassing five different eco-systems including forest, savannah, mangroves, palm forest, wetland, Mandina Hotel with luxury rooms floating on the river and a coastline of pristine beaches with fishing, water sports and horseback riding. The Gambia is also a well-known sex tourism destination for older women to meet young African men
Learn MoreBenin is a small narrow country, its 10 million inhabitants are divided into 40 different ethnic groups, with Fon being the largest. The Fon had one of the most powerful empires in West Africa (Kingdom of Dahomey) and ruled for 300 years. For the Beninese, spirituality is very important, especially Voodoo.. it embraces rich and poor, young and old. 92% of the Beninese practice Voodoo. The top must-sees in Benin are the Batammaribe tribe living in Tata Sombas in the north; the Royal Palaces of Abomey, formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey and today a UNESCO World Heritage Center; Ganvie, a stilt village built on Lake Nokoue inhabited by 50000 people with fishing their only resource and pirogue (canoe) their only mode of transport; and Ouidah, Voodoo capital of the world and its annual Voodoo Festival every January.
Learn MoreGuinea-Conakry has a coastline of 320 km and the largest deposit of bauxite in the world. They also produce iron ore, gold and diamonds. Guinee-Conakry has the potential of being one of Africa's richest countries yet more than half the population are below the poverty line...no wonder they have a long history of political instability! Hiking in Foutah Djallon, the heartland of the Fula people, is without a doubt the biggest draw; it is a lush region of jungles, hills and countless waterfalls. Just north of Foutah Djallon, a stone's throw from the frontier of Senegal lies Mali-Yemberem, the highest town at 1400m, and famous for its "La Dame de Mali", whose rock formation resembles that of a woman's profile. On a clear day, the 7 km hike to the top is rewarded with breathtaking views across the Foutah, and all the way to Senegal and the Gambia river. The Malinke Plains in the northeast boasts the source of the Niger river and Parc National du Haut Niger; with a good guide and patience, you can see chimps, buffaloes, duikers, waterbucks, hippos and crocodiles.
Learn MoreMali boasts some of the world's most fascinating architectural traditions and historic sites. Unfortunately, its north has been off limits to travelers since the 2012 Taureg rebellion which has morphed into violent extremism and criminal activities of trafficking drugs, weapons and migrants; the violence has now spilled over into Mali's central region. With 4 World Heritage sites, Mali truly was the jewel of West Africa, known for its unforgettable treks through Dogon country, sailing up the Niger river in a traditional covered canoe to the remote and fabled town of Timbuktu, annual Festival du Desert and Timbuktu's twin sister city, Djenne, whose market unfolds in front of its majestic mosque, the largest mud (adobe) structure in the world. However, unknown to most, Mali also has breathtaking hikes in the Bamako and Siby areas complete with waterfalls, fascinating rock formations and rolling hills. Please visit our Upcoming Tours section and click on Mali to see hiking videos. Bamako currently hosts an annual Dogon Festival (last week in January) and Segou has continued to host is annual music festival (Festival sur le Niger) unfolding the first weekend in February. Although Mali is now completely in the red with the exception of Bamako which is orange, we consider Bamako, Siby and Segou safe areas to visit.
Learn MoreTogo, on the Gulf of Guinea, similar to Benin in shape and size, has 45 km coastline of palm-lined beaches and it is only 516 km north to south. Wedged between the two great Kingdoms of the Ashanti (Ghana) and Dahomey (Benin), it served as a buffer zone and its various ethnic groups lived in isolation of each other. Do not miss a visit to the UNESCO Heritage site of Koutammakou, inhabited by the Batammariba people, a traditional settlement of fortress-like clay huts dating back to the 17th century. Togo, like Benin, is "voodoo country" where animism and ancestors are part of every day life . . The amazing fetish market in Lome is the largest in West Africa and is also not to be missed, nor are the festish priests and the impressive fire dancers in Sokode
Learn MoreGhana is a destination that has it all .. 560 km of coastline with amazing beaches, 30 slave castles & trading posts, stilted village in a lake, canopy walkway in Kankum NP, Mole NP known for its elephant population, Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, stunning waterfalls, Gurnunsi people whose women decorate the outside walls of their adobe houses with elaborately painted murals, Tallensi people living in the animist Tenzug Tongo Hills & Shrines, kente cloth unique to Ghana, quirky coffins made in the shapes of the deceased person's hobby or favorite thing such as a coke bottle, car or boat. The powerful Ashanti Kingdom, wealthy from the slave and gold trade, has about 70 annual festivals with Akawasidae being the most frequent (every 42 days it unfolds at Kumasi's Royal Palace ). Ghana is the second most populous country in West Africa with a population of 31 million people of which 70% are devout Christians. The Akan people are the largest ethnic group who dominated gold, mining and trade in the region.
Learn MoreSierra Leone has everything adventurous travelers could want .. from the most beautiful white sand, serene beaches in West Africa to the depths of Tongo Hills where blood diamonds are still mined today .. from a visit to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary to hiking through the rainforests in the Loma mountains to climbing Mount Bintumani, one of the highest peaks in West Africa .... from the idyllic environment of the Banana Islands to Tiwaii Island, home to pgymie hippos .. from Freetown's famous Cotton Tree to visiting amputee survivors at their camps .. it is hard to imagine the brutality that ripped this country apart from 1991 to 2002 because its people are among the warmest and friendliest in West Africa .. Sierra Leone is an undiscovered treasure, bypassed by many travelers ... it makes it all the more appealing ..
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