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Danfina Tour - 12 days
Mali · Burkina Faso · Ghana
Journey through the heart of West Africa, from the Sahara Desert to the old Slave Coast
11 nights hotel, no camping
Every tour is private, scheduled on dates of your choice, beginning on a Saturday in Bamako, MALI and ending on a Wednesday in Accra, GHANA; there are no fixed-date scheduled departures.
Contact us for prices. Groups of any size are welcome. Be sure to specify the month/year of travel, and how many persons are in your party—prices are digressive, so a better value per person for a party of four than a party of two, etc.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Saturday: 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 Sunday: Bamako - Segou (235 km; ~3hrs)
Begin your West African journey with a city tour of Bamako: overview of the sprawling city from Point G, then visit the National Museum, the city market, the artisans' village, the fetish market for traditional medicine; in the afternoon, drive to Segou for overnight (Hotel Independance, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 3 Monday: Segou - Djenne (335 km; ~4hrs) - Mopti (130 km; ~1½hrs)
Drive to Djenne, Timbuktu's historic sister-city, arriving in time to see the bustling weekly market, when Djenne is at its colorful best; stroll around the market stalls, spread out before the magnificent Great Mosque—this is the world's largest mud brick architecture, originally constructed in the XIIIth century, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites; in the afternoon, drive to Mopti for overnight (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 4 Tuesday: Mopti - Timbuktu (550 km; ~6hrs)
City tour of Mopti, the Venice of Mali, nestled between the waters of the Niger and the Bani rivers; Mopti city tour: see the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the lively market where many of Mali's cultural groups can be seen: Bambara, Bobo, Bozo, Dogon, Fulani, Tuareg and Songhay; then drive across the Sahel, to the legendary city of Timbuktu, at the edge of the Sahara Desert ! overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 5 Wednesday: Timbuktu / Sahara Desert
Visit the ancient city of Timbuktu, gateway to the Sahara Desert; city tour of Timbuktu: see the old mosques (built in the 14th century) and former universities, the museum and Ahmed Baba Institute's collection of scholarly Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city market which receives the azalaïs, the salt caravans from the desert — historically salt from the north was exchanged for gold and slaves from the south; in the afternoon, excursion into the great Sahara Desert by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp; the Tuareg people are the Princes and masters of the Desert; overnight in Timbuktu (Hotel Hendrina Khan, or similar)
NB: due to security concerns we do not go deep into the desert.
with Breakfast
Day 6 Thursday: Timbuktu - Mopti (550 km; ~6hrs) / Niger River
Return drive across the Sahel, to Mopti; enjoy a tranquil sunset sail on the Niger River in a traditional pirogue; overnight in Mopti (Hotel Kanaga, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 7 Friday: Mopti - Dogon country (120 km; ~2hrs)
Onward to Mali's fascinating Dogon country; explore magnificent villages clinging to the walls of the Bandiagara cliffs, and see many examples of the unique traditional architecture and fetishes; visit Songo village, site of a rocky grotto where circumcision ceremonies are held every three years; note the old and new rock paintings which represent noble Dogon families; overnight in Bandiagara (Hotel La Falaise, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 8 Saturday: Dogon country - Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO (365 km; ~5hrs)
After breakfast depart Mali's Dogon country for Burkina Faso's capital city, Ouagadougou; afternoon city tour of Ouagadougou: 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 9 Sunday: Ouagadougou - Tiebele (180 km; ~2hrs) - Tamale, GHANA (280 km; ~3½hrs)
Depart Burkina Faso for Ghana, with a visit en-route to Tiebele village, in Gourounsi country; visit magnificent fortress-like houses and compounds, colorfully painted with traditional motifs; onward to Tamale for overnight (Gariba Lodge, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 10 Monday: Tamale - Kumasi (390 km; ~4½hrs)
Onward drive through the countryside to Kumasi, in Ghana's Ashante country; visit Kumasi: the National Cultural Center, the Manhyia Palace, and the Kejetia market, the largest market in West Africa, an unforgettable melange of colors and sounds; overnight in Kumasi (Hotel Georgia, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 11 Tuesday: Kumasi - Cape Coast/Elmina (225 km; ~3hr) - Accra (150 km; ~1½hrs)
Continue your southerly drive to Cape Coast; visit the Cape Coast Castle, former bastion of the Atlantic slave trade, now a Unesco World Heritage site; excursion to nearby Elmina, to visit the fishing harbor and the original old town; enjoy a walking tour of St. George's Castle; finish with a stroll to St. Jago Hill for a panoramic overview of historic Elmina; drive to and overnight in Accra (Novotel Accra, or similar)
with Breakfast
Day 12 Wednesday: Accra - final departure
City tour of Accra, including the National Cultural Center, the National Museum, and the Nkrumah Mausoleum; walking tour of James Town, and shop for local crafts at the Trade Fair Centre; 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.
Tour package includes:
- 11 nights hotel, double occupancy, with breakfast
- day-room in Accra on the final day
- private ground transportation by air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, with driver and fuel
- Sahara Desert excursion by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes
- sunset sail on the Niger River
- experienced English-speaking guide throughout
- airport transfers upon arrival in Bamako and departure in Accra
- all hotel taxes and local tourism taxes
- all site visit, excursion, and entry fees as per tour program
Tour package does not include: international flights to Bamako, MALI and onward from Accra, GHANA; tourism visas (Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana); lunches, dinners, drinks/bottled water; tips, optional Dogon mask dance, and personal expenses.
Optional traditional Dogon mask dance in a village - upon request
Hotel upgrades in the capital cities are available upon request.
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.
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