Whirlwind West Africa tour:
Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo & Benin
in only 10 days
9 nights hotel; no camping
NB: This is a very rapid tour of West Africa, as the name "Whirlwind" implies; travellers must be prepared to travel hard and fast, with some early morning departures, and every night in a different hotel.
It is also possible to add Niger to this itinerary; with Niger added, tour is 12 days long
Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.
Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify how many persons are in your partyprices are digressive, so a better value per person for a party of four than a party of two, etc.
ITINERARY
Day 1 : Arrival in Bamako, MALI
International flight arrives in Bamako in the evening; airport-to-hotel transfer; overnight in Bamako (Grand Hotel, or similar)
Day 2 : Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs)
Begin your West African journey with a city tour of Bamako, Mali's lively capital city; visit the National Museum, the city market and artisans' village; afternoon drive to Segou, Mali's former colonial capital; overnight in Segou (Hotel Independance, or similar) -
with Breakfast
Day 3 : Segou - Koutiala - Bobo Dioulasso, BURKINA FASO
(380 km; ~4½hrs)
Onward drive through picturesque countryside in the heartland of West Africa, through Mali and cross into Burkina Faso; city tour of Bobo Dioulasso, as time permits: see the old mosque, the Houet Museum, and visit the old Kibidwe artisans' district, where you will see blacksmiths, potters, and dyers at work; overnight in Bobo Dioulasso (Hotel Auberge, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 4 : Bobo Dioulasso - Ouagadougou (355 km; ~4 hrs)
Onward to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's vibrant capital city; after lunch, visit the Grand Market and the National Museum, with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues; also visit the crafts markets at the Artisans' Center, where you will find basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, jewelry, leatherwork and bronze castings; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day A: optional extension to NIGER (500 km; ~6 hrs); city tour as time permits: visit the National Museum, the large city market, and the artisans' village of Wadata; overnight in Niamey (Grand Hotel, or similar)
Day B: return to BURKINA FASO; overnight in Ouagadougou (Hotel Silmande, or similar)
Day 5 : Ouagadougou - Tamale (400 km; ~5hrs) - Kumasi, (390 km; ~4½hrs) GHANA
Depart francophone Burkina Faso for anglophone Ghana; lunch stop in Tamale; onward to Kumasi for overnight (Hotel Georgia, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 6 : Kumasi - Elmina (240 km; ~3hr)
Visit Kumasi, in Ghana's Ashante country: the National Cultural Center, the Manhyia Palace, and the Kejetia market, the largest market in West Africa; afternoon drive to Elmina; enjoy a walking tour of St. George's Castle, and finish with a stroll to St. Jago Hill for a panoramic overview of historic Elmina; overnight in Elmina (Elmina Beach Resort, or similar) -
with Breakfast
Day 7 : Cape Coast (15 km; ~¼hr) - Accra (150 km; ~1½hrs)
Short drive to Cape Coast; visit the historic old town section; and visit Cape Coast Castle, former bastion of the Atlantic slave trade, now a Unesco World Heritage site; drive to and overnight in Accra (Novotel Accra, or similar) -
with Breakfast
Day 8 : Accra - Lome, TOGO (200 km; ~2½hrs)
Onward drive across the border to Lome, Togo (and back into francophone Africa); afternoon city tour of Lome: visit the National Museum, the large and colorful city market, the fetish market (for voudou practitioners) and the artisans' village; overnight in Lome (Hotel Sarakawa, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 9 : Lome - Ouidah (110 km; ~1½hr) - Cotonou, BENIN (40 km; ~½hr)
Depart Togo for Benin, last stage of your West African journey; visit Ouidah, an important traditional religious center and ancient slave depot, which sent tens of thousands of slaves to the new world; visit the Museum in the old Portuguese fort, the temple of pythons, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Kpasse sacred forest; trace the route of the famous "Slave Road" which leads to the slavery memorial of Zoungbodji; perhaps also witness a traditional voodoo ceremony featuring the spirits of departed ancestors; onward to Cotonou for overnight (Novotel Orisha, or similar) - with Breakfast
Day 10 : Cotonou/Ganvie - final departure
City tour of Cotonou, including the huge Dantokpa market, the second largest in West Africa (after Kumasi in Ghana); pirogue excursion to visit Ganvie fishing village, built on stilts over the lagoon; this village was created in the 18th century by the Tofinu people, to escape the slave-raids of their neighbors; in the evening, transfer to the airport for your final departure -
with Breakfast
1 km ~ 0.6 mile; distances are approximate
Driving times are approximate, depending on local conditions, stops, and border crossings
NB: Hotels subject to availability.
Please let us know if you would like to include the extension to Niger.
10-day Tour includes the following:
- 9 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast
- day-room in Cotonou on the final day
- 9 breakfasts (B)
- private ground transportation by air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, with driver and fuel
- experienced English-speaking guide throughout
- pirogue excursion to Ganvie village
- airport transfers upon arrival in Bamako and departure in Cotonou
- all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- all touring and entry fees as per tour program
10-day tour package does not include: international flights to Bamako, MALI and onward from Cotonou, BENIN; tourism visas (Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin); lunches, dinners, drinks/bottled water; tips, optional items, and personal expenses.
NB: Posted itineraries are subject to change, and quoted prices are accordingly subject to change; itineraries and prices are locked-in when a tour is booked.
Please note: Saga Tours does not handle international air reservations and ticketing.
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