13 Day African Hotspot Tour

DAY 1                     ARRIVE IN BAMAKO/ DJENNE MALI 
Arrive in Bamako, Mali in the morning. Transfer from Bamako to Djenne. Your lunch is served in Segou en route. After lunch drive further North East to Djenne. Check into your hotel for dinner and overnight in Djenne, Mali

DAY 2                      DJENNE
After breakfast, cross the Niger to the 9th Century town of Djenne “The Jewel of the Niger” which has a wealth of intellectual and political history of Fulani and Western Sudanese civilization. You will have the opportunity to re-visit the past as you enjoy a drive through this town “that time forgot”. Visit the beautiful 11th century Sahel architectural style Djenne Mosque built out of mud brick. You will be intrigued by the historically rich archeological site of Djenne Djeno (old Djenne) and her beautiful veiled people dressed in indigo. Overnight at in Djenne, Mali.

DAY 3                      DOGON COUNTRY
After breakfast, depart Djenne and travel to Bandiagara, the gateway to the Dogon Valley.  After lunch on your own, you will have the opportunity to explore this stone and mud village built into an escarpment – a natural foundation. The architecture and location of the Dogon villages offer a unique picturesque view, which spans 150 kilometers of stunning scenery.  Overnight at hotel in Dogon Valley, Mali.

DAY 4                                      DOGON – MOPTI
Breakfast is served at your hotel.  Check out and depart for Dogon Country to Mopti. Embark on a spectacular tour of the city of Mopti, which includes the bustling harbor, where you will find large wooden pinasses with canvas covers and colorful flags waving in the breeze.  The city’s Grande Marche, Petit Marche and fish markets are all worth exploring. You will find a wide variety of items including earthenware pottery and calabash products. Again visit the Grande mosque and old town with its narrow pedestrian streets and gray banco houses. Overnight at hotel in Mopti.

DAY 5                     MOPTI - TIMBUKTU CITY TOUR

DAY 6                      TIMBUKTU – BAMAKO – ACCRA (Wednesday/Sunday)
After breakfast, fly from Timbuktu to Bamako. Lunch will be served at a local Malian restaurant. After your lunch, we shall transfer you to the airport for a flight to Accra. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Accra, Ghana.

DAY 7        CAPE COAST CASTLE/ ELMINA CASTLE

Breakfast at hotel.  Check out and depart depart for a drive to the Central Region to tour the infamous Forts, Castles and Slave Dungeons of Ghana. History will unfold the story of the slave trade, the impact of which is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. Visit the Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedes in 1653 and later taken over by the British. This castle also houses the West African Historical Museum established by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Ghanaian Government in 1994. 

DAY 8                      KAKUM NATIONAL PARK / POSUBAN

After breakfast enjoy a drive through the historic Denkyira kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests. Choose between either a 2 km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic fauna and floral species and the medicinal values they offer or take a walk on the canopy walkway hanging 100 metres above the forest ground.

DAY 9                                                                ACCRA CITY TOUR
Depart Elmina after an enjoyable breakfast on your beach front resort.  Drive east through scenic fishing villages to Accra. After check in at your hotel, enjoy a sightseeing city tour of Accra, the capital city of Ghana.  This 132-year-old city has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarize her history. Visit the W. E. B. Dubois Center for Pan African Culture, Independence/Black Star Square and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. After lunch on your own at Ghanaian Restaurant, you will end your tour at the Arts Centre where you will have the opportunity to use your bargaining skills  has a variety of crafts and artifacts from Ghana and West Africa, an opportunity to use your bargaining skills.  Overnight at hotel in Accra, Ghana

DAY 10                               ACCRA - COTONOU
Check out at hotel, breakfast and early morning departure from Accra through Lome to Cotonou, Benin. On arrival in Cotonou, check in and spend the rest of afternoon at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Cotonou, Benin. 

DAY 11                             GANVIE
After breakfast, make a sensational visit to Ganvie (the village on water), commonly referred to as the Venice of West Africa. Witness first hand, the people of Ganvie carrying out their daily routine as vendors in dugout canoes piled high with wares, transact commerce with one another and with tourists. You will enjoy shopping on floating shops and cruising the waterways of this exotic 300-year-old village. Return to Cotonou for and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Cotonou, Benin.  

DAY 12                                            OUIDAH - LOME - ACCRA
After breakfast and check out, depart Cotonou to Quidah, the cradle of African Traditional Religion. Tour the temple dedicated to the scared Python, which gives vitality and protection, and visits thesacred forest which houses many shrines dedicated to various gods. Visit the Port of No Return; a commemoration of the Africans that were taken from the Dahomey Empire during the Slave Trade. Depart Ouidah for Lome through Hila Condji. In the afternoon, you will drive through Aflao and the Volta Region of Ghana to Accra. Overnight at hotel in Accra, Ghana

DAY 13                  DAY AT LEISURE / FAREWELL
After being served with breakfast this morning, spend the rest of the day at leisure in preparation towards your journey back home. Transfer to airport for departure formalities..