Welcome The Team
Mali was formerly known as the Sudanese Republic. It became the Republic of Mali in 1960. Mali’s history dates back to the 4th century and in the 14th century was the most powerful empire in West Africa. Due to its location Mali became the crossroads in the Trans Saharan trade. Many of West Africa’s most interesting cultural sites are located in Mali and include the ancient desert city of Timbuktu and Dogon Country.
Mali including Ghana and Burkina Faso
Your tour of Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali will be a feast to your senses and different from anything you have experienced before. Your journey will be an overland adventure from Ghana through Burkina Faso to Mali. In Ghana you will experience colourful rich culture and infamous historical sites. The landscape will change as you leave Ghana and cross the border to Burkina Faso. This will be the beginning of uniting with mother earth as you enter a land untouched by industrialization and technology. Burkina’s charming capital city, Ouagadougou speaks of another world, place and time with its Sudanic and Islamic influences. And finally you will arrive in Mali; where Timbuktu, the world’s first centre of learning is located. From where the music we call the Blues originated. Also visit Dogon Country, a place where the people have kept their culture intact for hundreds of years. Trek up and down a 150 km escarpment to discover the mysteries of the Dogon. This is Africa as it was yesterday, is today and will be tomorrow.
Mali Including Ghana
As you tour the lands of Ghana and Mali you will be impressed with the richness of both cultures. In Ghana you will get to sample the popular Ghanaian hospitality; you will also visit various historical landmarks such as the renowned Slave Castle at Cape coast (UNESCO World Heritage Site); you will also visit various natural attractions such as Kakum National Park. After Ghana, you will be given a tour of Mali – the land of meeting places; a cross road intersecting the North and Sub-Saharan Africa. You will be given a tour of the major city of Bamako; view the cone shaped sheds, magical landscapes interweaving the Bandiagara Cliffs and mystical cosmology of the Dogon Country. From here your next stop will be the famous Timbuktu the mystical, intellectual, commercial and cultural capital of the Sahara during the 15th and 16th centuries. While there, one can still see the azalai, the famous camel caravans of the salt trade, beautiful arts and handicrafts, ancient mud-brick mosques and the mysterious libraries with ancient manuscripts.
African Hot Spots
The African Hot Spots Tour starts in the exotic country, Mali. Some have suggested that being at the sites in Mali was like transportation into the height of the Songhai Empire. Here you will delight yourself in the 800 year old vivacious city of Djenne, the most beautiful in the Sahel with its mud buildings and Sudanic architecture. As you trek down the Bandiagara Cliff you will be able to relate to the ancient Dogon people who brilliantly built their homes with the intention of camouflaging themselves against danger. If this climb wasn’t enough for the adventurous traveler, come with us as we take a walk on the brinks of the Timbuktu desert as you experience how others traveled this terrain on camelback. From Mali we will visit Ghana via air, stopping in Cape Coast to visit the Slave Castles and the renowned Kakum National Park. As you get closer to the end of your tour you will be given the opportunity to visit the sensational floating village in Ganvie, Benin and also visit Togo’s capital, Lome.
Mali Desert Festival
This one of a kind cultural festival is modeled on traditional gatherings and celebrations of the Tuareg people, referred to as the "Blue Men of the Desert." It is a musical event, full of dancing, singing, sword play, camel races and artisans’ exhibits. During the tour you will have the opportunity to interact with the Tuareg people. You will delight yourself in the 800 year old vivacious city of Djenne, the most beautiful in the Sahel with its mud buildings and Sudanese architecture. As you trek down the Bandiagara Cliff you will be able to relate to the ancient Dogon people who brilliantly built their homes with the intention of camouflaging themselves against danger. You will also get to visit Timbuktu referred to as the "Rome of the Sudan”, the “ Athens of Africa”. This city stands as the most prestigious in humanity’s history. Timbuktu still serves as the gateway to the Sahara Desert much as it has done since the 11 th century.
Niger River Festival
We would like you to relax and enjoy the third annual Niger River Festival Tour which takes place in Segou, Mali. You will be given a tour of the major city of Bamako; view the cone shaped sheds, magical landscapes interweaving the Bandiagara Cliffs and mystical cosmology of the Dogon Country. After getting a fill of the surrounding countries you will then participate in the Festival which gives rise to art and crafts exhibitions, particularly in the form of textiles, sculpture and jewelry. There will be traditional dances, canoe river races, hunting galas. All this and more awaits the adventurous traveler that knows no boundaries.
TOGO
Togo received its name from the village now known as Togoville. Togolese people are made up predominantly of the Ewe tribe. Other tribes include the Twi speaking people of Central Togo and the Kabyé and Tamberma. Togo is noted for its beautiful countryside . The Grande Marche is in the centre of the capital city, Lome and is a place other West African nationals come to purchase their products. This beautiful, mountainous country is one of the smallest countries in the region but is very diverse in both geography and culture.
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Togo including Ghana and Benin
The tour of Ghana, Togo and Benin is our most popular West African package. If you only have under 2 weeks and want to have a comprehensive feel for West Africa, this is the tour to take. You will enjoy Anglophone Ghana and Francophone Togo and Benin. One of the highlights in Benin is a visit to Ganvie, the village built on stilts on Lake Nokue and referred to as the Venice of West Africa. Here you will be mesmerized as you watch market women row their dugout canoes, piled high with goods, enjoy shopping on a floating market, watch as fishermen throw their nets skillfully and artistically into Lake Nokue; providing you with a wonderful photo opportunity. This is a National Geographic experience and you will pinch yourself to believe you are in the midst of it. Between Ghana and Benin lies Togo where you will visit the Grand Marche and Marche des Feticheurs. On this tour you will experience the culture and feel the beauty of these tropical countries.
Togo including Ghana
The tour of Ghana and Togo is considered one of our interesting tours we offer; in just over a week you will enjoy Anglophone Ghana and Francophone Togo. In Ghana you will partake of the popular Ghanaian hospitality; you will also visit various historical landmarks such as the renowned Slave Castle at Cape coast and some natural attractions such as Kakum National Park. After Ghana you will move on to its neighbouring country, Togo. Here you will visit the Grand Marche, Marche des Feticheurs, the Voodoo Market and the 17th Century Catholic Cathedral which hosted Pope Paul during his visit to Togo.