13 Day African Hotspot Tour

DAY 1                      ARRIVE IN BAMAKO/ DJENNE (Tue/Fri)
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. An opportunity to re-visit the past as you enjoy a drive through this town “that time forgot”. Visit the beautiful imposing 11th century Sahel architectural style Djenne Mosque built out of mud brick, boasting an, the archeological site of Djenne Djeno (old Djenne) and her beautiful veiled people dressed in indigo. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Djenne, Mali.

DAY 3                      DOGON COUNTRY
After breakfast, depart Djenne and travel to Bandiagara, the entrance door to the Dogon Valley. After your lunch explore this stone and mud village built into a scarp – a natural foundation. This architecture and location of the Dogon villages offer a unique picturesque view, which spans 150 kilometers of stunning escarpment. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Dogon Valley, Mali.

DAY 4                      DOGON – MOPTI
After breakfast is served at your hotel check out of your hotel and depart for Dogon Country to Mopti. After lunch take a tour of the city of Mopti which includes its bustling harbor where you will find large wooden pinasses with canvas covers and colorful flags waving in the breeze. Moptis Grande Marche, Petit Marche and fish markets are all worth exploring. You will find 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 (Flight)  
After breakfast, depart to the airport to join flight to Timbuktu. On arrival embark on a city tour and experience the ancient city of Timbuktu, originating back to 1100AD. Explore this city, which is known for being the first center of learning for mankind. Visit the Ethnological Museum, which houses a collection of ancient books on religion, science, history and mathematics. Dinner and overnight in Timbuktu, Mali.

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
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 which the impact is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. Visit the Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedes in 1653 and was 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.  After lunch, visit the Elmina Castle built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is also known as St. George's Castle.  This castle was the first European structure built in Sub – Saharan Africa.  The view of the colorful harbor nestle below the Elmina Castle, full of pirogues preparing to go to sea offers one of West Africa’s best picture perfect opportunities.  Dinner and overnight at hotel in Elmina.

DAY 8                      KAKUM NATIONAL PARK / POSUBAN
Early morning departure for a drive through the historic Denkyira Kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests. Extending over 360sq km, Kakum is the home to over 40 large mammals and 400 bird species as well as many species of butterflies, flora and fauna. The most popular attraction is the Canopy walkway which is made up of seven bridges extending 330m, hanging 30m (100 feet) above the forest floor.  Choose between a 2 km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral species and the medicinal values they offer or take a walk on the canopy walkway. After lunch, spend the remainder of the afternoon at the beach after a visit to the Posuban Military Shrine where the Asafo companies, (Fanti traditional soldiers), prepare spiritually for war. These shrines are wonderful examples of how art is used in the daily lives of Ghanaians.  Dinner and overnight at hotel in Elmina.

DAY 9                                                                ACCRA CITY TOUR
After breakfast depart hotel for a sightseeing city tour of Accra. You will drive through the administrative and economic districts of Accra, the capital of Ghana. This128-year-old city has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarize her history.  You will visit the W. E. B. Dubois Center for Pan African Culture, Independence/ Black Star Square and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. After lunch in a local Ghanaian restaurant, you will end your tour at the Arts Centre where you will have an opportunity to use your bargaining skills to shop from an open-air market for artifacts from Ghana and West Africa. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Accra.

DAY 10                               ACCRA - COTONOU
Check out at hotel, breakfast and early morning departure from Accra through Aflao to Cotonou, Benin. On arrival in Cotonou, check in and lunch at hotel. Spend the rest of afternoon at leisure. Dinner and 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 pile high with wares, transacting 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 lunch. 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 of your hotel, 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 the sacred 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. Lunch will be served at a restaurant in Lome, Togo. After which, you will drive through Aflao and the Volta Region of Ghana to Accra. Dinner and 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. Dinner at hotel, Accra. Transfer to airport for departure formalities.