Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Dakar. After our International flight arrives in Dakar, we are met, assisted and transferred by our local guide to the hotel. Overnight: Novotel, Dakar (1 night)

Day 2

Dakar / Saloum (drive)

Situated in the westernmost tip of the African continent, Dakar is Senegal's largest city and its administrative and economic center. The city is the busiest port in West Africa, serving Mali and Mauritania as well as Senegal. Dakar grew up around a French fort built in 1857 by the Ocean and the first major pier was completed in 1866. Dakar's importance increased significantly after 1855, when a railroad linked it with the Senegal River. Dakar replaced Saint-Louis as the capital of French West Africa in 1902 and since the city has expanded greatly.
After breakfast we take a Dakar city tour including the colorful Kermel Market, the Roman Catholic Cathedral (inaugurated 1929), which is currently the seat of an Archbishop, the University of Dakar. Later we leave for the Saloum River Delta, passing through Rufisque, the baobab forest of Sindia and the traditional villages of the Fatik region, where we'll start our initiation into the rhythms and dances of the Serer ethnic group, while visiting these Serer villages. Dinner will be served at our hotel Niominka, while a local folklore group will perform dances of their villages. Overnight: Niominka Lodge (1 night). Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 3

Saloum / Toubacouta (drive)

We depart in the morning for Toubacouta via Ndagane, Fatick and Kaolack. En route we will experience other rhythms and sounds of the area, proving the richness of the Serer culture. Once arrived in Kaolack we'll have lunch and later visit the village of Kahone, where we will meet the “Masters” of Ndaga, a typical traditional dance with its own music performed by “Ndaga” drummers. From here we'll proceed to Toubacouta. Overnight: Paletuvier Lodge, Toubacouta (2 nights). Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 4

Toubacouta

We start our day by visiting the village of Toubacouta. Here we will have a workshop on drumming with the famous drumbeaters of the village. After Lunch, in the afternoon we'll continuation with an initiation to Sabar and Tama drumming. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 5

Toubacouta / Banjul (The Gambia) / Ziguinchor (drive)

After our early Breakfast, we drive to the border of Senegal and Gambia. Past border formalities, we'll proceed to Juffureh to visit the mythic village of Alex Haley's ancestors. It's been over 30 years since Alex Haley's Roots became a cultural touchstone, a book, which chronicles the life of Haley's ancestor Kunta Kinteh who was captured here in Gambia and sold into slavery. From here we continue our trip to Banjul, the Capital city of Gambia and arrive early in the afternoon. We will have here a short visit of the city of Banjul. The tour of The Gambia's capital city will start with a photo stop at Arch 22, which was built to commemorate The Gambia's independence.

Our next stop is at the National Museum where the collection traces African Culture and European Colonialism. A short drive through the city streets leads up to Albert Market to experience the hustle and bustle of a market, where you can buy anything from live chicken to fresh vegetables and false hair! From here, we proceed to Ziguinchor visiting on the way the traditional villages of Baila and Diouloulou. Meet with the women association in Badiana and perform with them the “harvest dances”. Overnight: Hotel Aubert, Ziguinchor (2 nights). Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 6

Ziguinchor

In the morning, we tour Ziguinchor. First we visit the St. Maur Market and the handicraft village, two popular districts so colorful and alive. We will have lunch in Cap Skirring Beach resort and enjoy the traditional food of Casamance. In the afternoon will visit Seleti and Enampore, two villages famous for their architectural style. This will also be an opportunity to meet the Diola ethnic group and see traditional animist villages in the lower Casamance area. Here dances and ethnic music are the basis of all initiation ceremonies and rites, like initiation to “Bougarabou” rhythms and dances. We will also be initiated to Inconting, a traditional Diola music, which is generally retained as being the roots of Blues music. Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 7

Ziguinchor /Tambacounda (drive)

We leave Ziguinchor after breakfast and drive through the Casamance region from West to East. On the way, we visit Fuladou, the former Kingdom of the Fulani, as well visit Kolda. Early afternoon we proceed via Velingara and various Fulani villages to Tambacounda. During our stops we meet with the villagers and the notables, as most of the population here are cattle breeders and have semi-nomadic way of living. We arrive in Tambacounda at the end of the day for Diner and overnight stay. Overnight: Relais de Tambacounda (1 night). Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 8

Tambacounda / Kayes (Mali) (drive)

After our Senegalese experience, we leave this morning Tambacounda for Kayes in Mali, via Goudiry and Kidira : the border crossing between Senegal and Mali. This way we'll have the chance to visit the Fulani ethnic groups, Bambara and Soninke ethnic groups in their villages. We'll arrival in Kayes early in the afternoon, when we also visit the surroundings of Kayes. Overnight: Hotel Kamakole Palace (1 night). Includes: (B), (L), (D).

Day 9

Kaye / Bamako (drive)

After an early wake-up and breakfast, we'll have a short visit of the city and the markets of Kayes then leave for Bamako. During our drive to Bamako we will have several stops while visiting tribal villages. Will have Lunch on the way and will arrive in Bamako late in the afternoon. Overnight: Le Grand Hotel, Bamako (2 nights). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 10

Bamako

The Capital city of Mali, Bamako is situated on the Niger, one of Africa's great rivers. Mali is a country of many tribal peoples, each with its own exuberant style of clothing and jewelry. There is nowhere better to see this colorful diversity than in the streets and markets of Bamako. After a refreshing night-rest and breakfast at our hotel we start with a leisurely Bamako city tour and visit the Point G for the panoramic overview of the city, the National Museum, the city market, the antiquary's village and the artisan's village. The city has a large art and craft centre where sculptors, weavers, leather workers, jewelers and metal workers exhibit their wares and skills. You can spend hours exploring the hundreds of stalls. From carvings and cassettes, to fabrics, beads, brass and gold, the variety of goods is staggering. One area of the market is devoted entirely for traditional African medicines. Here you'll find the freshly shrunken heads of birds, monkeys and crocodiles, along with lizard skins and other gruesome treatments. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 11

Bamako / Segou (drive)

After breakfast, we leave Bamako and drive northeast to Ségou, Mali's second largest city and former colonial administrative center. At Segou we will observe the city's old, beautiful Sudanese-style colonial architecture, then visit the lively port on the Niger, the pottery makers, the traditional weavers and mud cloth artisans. Later we drive to the nearby village of Sekoro, former capital of the Bambara Kingdom and see the tomb of King Biton Coulibaly. Overnight: Independence Hotel, Ségou (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 12

Segou / Mopti (drive)

We'll continue today Mali's exploration and after breakfast we drive along the banks of the Niger River to Mopti, known as the Venice of Mali. Nestled between the Niger and the Bani Rivers, Mopti is a major fishing port and has a bustling market, where we can spot many of Mali's ethnic groups, an effervescent amalgam of cultural diversity like: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Touareg and Songhay. Here we can shop gold or silver jewelry, Touareg leatherwork, or Fulani blankets of cotton or wool. Spend some time cruising on the Bani and Niger rivers by visiting the fishermen's village. After we visit the city's beautiful mosque, we'll enjoy a sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue. Overnight: Kanaga Hotel, Mopti (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 13

Mopti / Sangha - Dogon Country (drive)

After breakfast, drive to Mali's fascinating Dogon country. Being among of the most enigmatic people of Africa, the Dogons are living in stones and mud houses and granaries built up high on the narrow edges of the cliffs. The Dogons are animists, worshipping their ancestors and the spirits of nature. Having preserved their traditions through the centuries, the Dogon architecture is certainly the most well known element by external world, along with other practices such as mask dances (to request to a deceased spirit to leave the village and then rejoin the ancestors) or the fox divinatory game. The Dogons are farmers cultivating their fields either high on the cliff, in the plain or down of the cliff.
The Dogons fled the advancing of Arabs coming from the north, and found shelter in one of West Africa's most inhospitable areas difficult to reach. This difficulty contributes to Dogon's isolation even between them, and in time each village developed its own dialect, un-comprehended by the neighbors. Today, there are about fifty of idioms in spoken Dogon language. First we'll visit the Dogon village Songo, renowned for its rock paintings and circumcision grotto, and then continue to Sangha, on the edge of the Bandiagara escarpment, where we stay overnight. Overnight: Campement Hotel Guina, Sangha (2 nights). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 14

Dogon Country

This morning we descend the Bandiagara escarpment to visit the village of Banani, where the ancient Tellem Cave dwellings in the cliff face, further the Ireli Village. Then Amani, where we visit the sacred crocodile sanctuary, and Tireli, where we may witness a traditional Dogon mask dance. See the caves of Deguimbere and other small but interesting villages on the escarpment edge, before returning to Sangha. Includes: (B), (D).

Day 15

Sangha / Djenne (drive)

We'll spend another morning exploring Dogon country, before our early afternoon drive to Djenne. Djenné, Timbuktu's ancient sister city when they were at their glory time, has been preserving the atmosphere for centuries with its mud buildings along the old narrow streets. The city was an important port for caravans selling the salt coming from the desert to the south areas. Presently, Djenné is well known for its interesting weekly market and the big mosque, the biggest mud architecture in the world, built in the 13th century and declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Even now, Djenné is continuing to be an important trade center. Here we can spot all of Mali's ethnic groups: Bambara, Malinké, Peul, Bobo, bozo, Dogon Songhaï, Tuareg, Haussa, all coming to exhibit their wares in the bustling market. Overnight: Hotel Campement Djenné (1 nights). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 16

Djenne / Mopti (drive)

As we have set the departure with this event in our mind, today we will experience Djenne on its weekly market day, when Djenne is at its colorful best. The atmosphere on the streets ‘teleports' you back to medieval times. We will visit the magnificent Grand Mosque, the largest mud brick architecture in the world and wander around, before returning to Mopti. Overnight: Kanaga Hotel, Mopti (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 17

Mopti / Timbuktu (flight)

After our early wake-up and breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for our short flight to Timbuktu. Upon arrival in Timbuktu we'll be transferred to hotel Hendrina Khan for check in. The historic town of Timbuktu is located at the precise point where the Niger flows northward into the southern edge of the desert. As a result of its unique geographical position, Timbuktu has been a natural meeting point of Songhai, Wangara, Fulani, Touareg and Arabs. According to the inhabitants of Timbuktu, gold came from the south, the salt from the north and the Divine Knowledge, from Timbuktu. Timbuktu is also the crossroad where “the camel met the canoe.” It is to this privileged position that the city owes much of its historical dynamism. From the 11th Century and onward, Timbuktu became an important port where goods from West Africa and North Africa were traded.
Later we begin our sightseeing tour of Timbuktu and visit the Djingereiber Mosque, the Sankore University, also known as Sankore Masjid or University of Timbuktu, the Sidi Yahia mosques, the Houses of the Explorers (Rene Caillé), the Museum, the Ahmed Baba Library and the Central Market. After our Lunch at the hotel, we'll go for a camel ride to a Touareg campment, meet the Touareg people and also observ traditional dances. We will return for dinner and overnight to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Hendrina Khan, Timbuktu (1 night). Includes: (B), (D).

Day 18

Timbuktu /Bamako (flight) / Homebound

We leave today Timbuktu and arrive in Bamako, where in the evening we'll have a farewell dinner with folk performances. Later we are transferred to the airport for our flight back home. After this impressive West African journey we return home with soul-enchanting and mind-bending memories.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

- Hotel accommodation as mentioned (or similar category) - Private transfers and ground transportation by AC cars or minivans - Experienced English-speaking guide - Flights as indicated and luggage handling - All hotel taxes and local tourism taxes - All tours and sightseeing with entry fees - Meals as indicated (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner).

Exclusions -

Airfare is not included in the tour price.