The Gambia

The Gambia is known as the Smiling Coast of Africa and enjoys a sub-tropical climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons.  There are many different excursions designed to give the tourist a good feel of The Gambia. There are land-based tours, river trips and mixed excursions. Many of the excursions are conducted in the coastal area but others take place in rural Gambia.  Relax on a tropical river island and see hippos and Monkeys. Discover a wide range of varieties of birds and also meet the people and appreciate the rich culture of the smiling coast.  Juffureh is a famous attraction site. Juffureh is a traditional village, an easy trip from Banjul. It gives visitors an African background and discovery of their roots. At nearby Fort Albreda and Fort James, visitors can see many reminders of colonial history.  Tendaba Camp, 100 miles up-river from Banjul, was the country’s first inland hotel, constructed to replicate an African village with traditional huts. The camp is a good starting point for daytrips by boat and for bird-watching.  Another attraction site is the River Gambia National Park about 100 miles east of the Atlantic coast, the vegetation changes from swamps to thick forests, and many islands appear in the river. Five of these form a park known for its chimpanzee-rehabilitation project.  Other exciting activities are Camel rides at Tanji, visits to Abuko Reserve and other nature reserves, lots of places to eat & drink and you can also enjoy fishing and more. 

There are four main resort areas in what is referred to as the Tourism Development Area – the palm-fringed coastline overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There are modern hotels of all classes as well as small but comfortable motels and guest houses. Outside this area, there are exotic camps mainly situated on the banks of the beautiful River Gambia.

Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is unique in so many ways.  It was the first African country to attain independence from colonial rule. It is an English speaking country surrounded by French speaking Togo, Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. The southern border is a stretch of beautiful coastline with inviting beaches.  Each of Ghana’s 10 regions offer a different experience; from infamous slave castles and traditional artisans to game parks and the only canopy walk in Africa. Originally a fishing village, Accra is now a cosmopolitan capital with an international airport. Ghana is near the equator with warm and humid temperatures, a summer rainy season, and a beautiful spring like August.  “Feel Free” is an expression you hear often in Ghana. It means that you are free to be yourself and to explore what interests you. The people are known for their friendliness and hospitality and Ghana has a democratic government that makes keeping visitors happy a priority.  Although Ghana is a small country, the indigenous crafts are collected worldwide and there are many festivals and activities that celebrate its rich culture and heritage. Ghana is the perfect destination for anyone with an interest in African art and culture.  The main attractions in Ghana include Akosombo and Volta Lake, Tongo Hills and TengZug shrine and various Castles and Forts.  There is also the Wichiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary and many wildlife protected areas and National Parks.

Mali

Mali is the jewel in West Africa’s crown.  It is a destination that has all the right ingredients for any visitor. The country occupies the heart of a region that once supported Africa’s greatest empires and is rich with historical energy. This history left Mali some of its most dramatic attractions – the legendary city of Timbuktu – a name which has never lost its allure for travellers, the glorious mosque at Djenné and the vibrant river port of Mopti are three of the most popular.  Mali’s history is filled with stories of deserts and rivers. The lucrative trade routes of the Sahara once made the region among the world’s richest, and the Niger, one of the grand old rivers of Africa, is still the lifeblood of the country; to journey along the Niger River route (preferably on a slow boat to Timbuktu) is one of the continent’s great adventures. Not far from the riverbank, the extraordinary Falaise de Bandiagara rises up from the plains, and shelters one of West Africa’s most intriguing peoples – the Dogon, whose villages and complex cultural rituals still cling to the edge of rocky cliffs. The entire country of Mali is alive with a fascinating cultural mix of peoples, from the Niger fishing societies of the Bozo to the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara.  Everywhere you go there are fascinating ceremonies, world-famous musical traditions with strong roots in the local soil, and traditional cultures as accessible to travellers as any you’ll find in Africa.

Senegal

Senegal boasts a stunning array of sights, sounds and flavours, from the arid desert lands in Northern Senegal to the lush tropical forests in the south. Dakar is situated on the tip of a beach-lined peninsula.  It is a busy city with vibrant markets and glittering nightlife.  In contrast the meditative calm of the historical Île de Gorée or the golden sands of Yoff and N’Gor seem somewhat out of place. Saint-Louis, the first French settlement in West Africa, boasts a vibrant urban culture without the inner-city bustle and is architecturally beautiful. North and south of Dakar, wide strips of white sand invite swimming and sunbathing. At the deltas of the Casamance and Saloum Rivers, the coastline is broken up into a maze of thick mangroves, tiny creeks, wide lagoons and shimmering plains. A pirogue trip through these striking zones reveals hundreds of bird species, from the gleaming wings of tiny kingfishers to the proud poise of pink flamingos.  Senegal is the place to be, whether you want to mingle with the trendsetters of urban Africa, or be alone with your thoughts and the sounds of nature.

Benin

Benin was once one of the most powerful empires in Africa – the Dahomey kingdom. The ruins of the Dahomeyans’ palaces and temples can be seen in Abomey, while Ouidah is a poignant reminder that the riches came from the slave trade. The Route d’Esclaves in Ouidah was the last walk on African soil for slaves bound for Brazil and the Caribbean. Cotonou, in contrast is urban Africa at its most frazzling and polluted – but has a few attractions, a lively nightlife and good shopping being a couple of them.  There are plenty of treasures on Benin’s dusty streets and palm-fringed beaches. This is the birthplace of voodoo, the country’s national religion, exported by the slaves and distorted by Hollywood. Voodoo is an important part of everyday life and most towns bear signs of it, such as the fetish markets stocked with the heads and skins of every animal imaginable.   Elephants, lions and crocodiles can be found in the northern wildlife parks, notably Pendjari, one of the best in West Africa. Then there are the stilt villages, home to thousands in the southern lagoons, and the northern tata somba (fortlike mud huts) built by the insular Somba people. Benin is a richly historical and cultural country.  It is a politically stable nation and is one of the easiest parts of West Africa to travel in.