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Experience all the of West Africa's highlights on this incredible 69-day adventure. The journey begins in the vast sands of the north, where you have the chance to cruise the Niger River on a traditional pinasse boat, trek the Bandiagara Escarpment in search of the reclusive Dogon people and visit legendary Timbuktu. Head south to explore the lush tropical wilderness on game drives in Niokolo Koba and Mole national parks, then visit the unique stilted lagoon settlement Ganvie and laze on the remarkable black sands of Limbe's beaches. Along the way, meet welcoming folk in eight West African countries and discover some of Africa's best nightclubbing.
This tour is operated by our experienced local partners Dragoman Overland. Dragoman share our ethos for adventure travel and have many years' expertise in overlanding.
To save you money and the hassle of booking multiple trips, this journey is a combination of some of our most popular adventures. As this is a combination trip your leader and group may change.
Style
Trip Map
Itinerary
Culture Shock Rating
Physical Rating
Physical Preparation
Included Activities
Optional Activities
Spending Money
Tipping
Kitty
Important Notes
Group Size
Accommodation
Meals
Meal Inclusions
Big adventures through big landscapes; whether it's a road trip along world famous highways or an off the beaten track adventure along rugged roads, on an Overland adventure you'll experience the sights, sounds and smells of the world up close. Travelling in purpose built vehicles you'll explore bustling cities or isolated communities, search for wildlife, visit vast national parks, see changing landscapes and camp in tents. On an Overland journey you're more than just a passenger, you're part of the crew, pitching in to set up camp, shop for food and even cook. And, like all great adventures, the more you put in the more you'll get out!
IMPORTANT: Both the Australian and British Foreign Affairs departments now have Timbuktu as Level 5 - Do Not Travel areas.
http://smarttraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Mali
Your safety whilst travelling with us is our highest concern and priority and therefore based on this official advice, we will need to reroute this itinerary. If there are subsequent updates to these travel advisories that allow us to travel to Northern Mali we will look at running the original itinerary after gathering our own information from local partners. Your tourleader will have the final decision for you at your group meeting on Day 1 of your trip.
The affect of this is that we have to stop visiting Timbuktu for the time being and implement a contingency itinerary. This shall involve spending more time in Ghana and also include a visit to the beautiful city of Segou on the banks of the Niger.
Bonjour! Welcome to Cameroon.
You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting tonight at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where and when this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.
Your leader will collect the first part of your kitty payment on day 1. The remainder will be collected in Accra on day 34. Please bring notes/bills in large denominations.
Please note this is a combination trip. The composition of your group, your group leader and your overland vehicle will change in Accra on day 34.
Cameroon is a much-underestimated destination and not one to be found in many tour brochures. However, with beautiful rain forests, beaches, wildlife, stunning scenery ranging from tropical to virtual deserts and some of Africa's most scenic mountains, it is definitely a place to visit if you intend going to West Africa. It is a country of transition, climatically, topographically and culturally. The south is deeply Christian and the north Islamic. The people vary from forest Pygmies in the south through to the Fulani, semi-nomadic cattle herders of the Sahel and semi-deserts in the north.
Douala has a delightful, tropical ambience not unlike Singapore before the high rise boom. Leafy, colonial decay rubs shoulders with the modern, marble facades of banks, five-star hotels and business houses. It's a very lively and cosmopolitan city which you could very well grow to like a lot.
In Douala we stay in a hotel.
This afternoon we head to Kribi, a drive of about 2.5 hours (198km).
Kribi has yellow sand surrounded by palm trees and the rolling waves of the Atlantic. The area has recently become the playground of the rich and foreign and a number of hotels have sprung up along the coast. However this is a great place to relax before the journey through the jungles of West Africa.
In Kribi we stay in a hotel.
After two nights in Kribi it is 234km and 4.5 hours drive to Limbe.
Limbe is small, scenic and restful with Mount Cameroon forming a dramatic back drop. You will have time to relax under palm trees and enjoy the black sand beaches that run along the shore of Ambas Bay.
Our accommodation in Limbe is a hotel.
We have a long drive day on a very bumpy road (approx. 8 hours, 205km) to reach a bush camp for the evening. Cameroon has some of the most amazing tropical rain forest in Africa (used as the set for Greystoke, the Tarzan movie) and this gives a perfect insight into how quickly the rainforests of the world are being destroyed. Deforestation is happening faster here than in the Amazon Jungle. The roads on this section can be very difficult and our progress will be slow; mud holes, obstacles and poorly maintained dirt roads make this part of the trip through remote forest the most adventurous part of the journey.
It is a further 3.5 hours (334km) the following day to the Drill Monkey Ranch, crossing into Nigeria enroute.
Nigeria grew rich very quickly in the oil boom of the seventies. Hospitals, schools, public buildings and excellent roads were built all over the country. The nation is going through a rough patch at the moment but the roads are still generally okay and we make good time heading across the country.
The area of Nigeria next to the Cameroon border is one of transition. It is fairly mountainous and the cultivated savannah lands give way to the vast rain forests that stretch across the border into Cameroon. There are various trekking opportunities also available in the area, but you should be aware that we will take this area as we find it. There is little to no tourist infrastructure and so each group tends to organise its own itinerary through here.
Situated in the Afi Mountains on the Cameroon border is one of Nigeria's most interesting wildlife projects. The Drill ranch is the world's most successful facility for the highly endangered drill monkeys. They have recovered over 62 orphan drills from the bushmeat trade over the last 14 years and over 80 drills have been born to these successfully rehabilitated animals. Bushmeat (monkeys and primates) is a major problem in this area, as it is traditional protein to many of the local inhabitants. The project is also home to 22 chimpanzees that have also been rescued. We will spend our time here either walking in the forests or hopefully being able to help around the sanctuary. This is a new project for us and one we hope in the future to become more involved.
We camp these nights at the ranch.
After a day of approximately 4.5 hours driving (573km), we bushcamp enroute to the Yankari Game Reserve.
The following day we drive about 2.5 hours (15km) to reach the lodge.
Yankari Game Reserve is quite remote and is therefore rarely visited. The game in this area is plentiful and the park does have large herds of elephant, as well as giraffe, ostrich, lion, hippo and antelope so there is certainly a chance of sighting some of these. Most people's favourite memory of Yankari, however, is the clear hot spring (known as Wikki Warm Spring) rising from a cavern under a sandstone cliff and surrounded by trees and lianas. You might want to spend the entire day immersed in the warm waters!
In Yankari we stay in a lodge.
We spend the next three days heading through country Nigeria, driving through the green and fertile interior.
The first day we drive about 7.5 hours (240km) to reach Jos. The two main attractions at Jos are the cooler climate and the unique Jos Museum Complex. At 1200m above sea level, the Jos Plateau is noticeably cooler than most other areas in the country. The stone-covered rolling hills also make it more scenic.
Our route then takes us through the city of Abhuja, Nigeria's capital, driving about 7 hours (946km).
The third driving day (approx. 9 hours, 491km) brings us to Ibadan, which was once Nigeria's biggest city and is now a sprawling metropolis.
The three nights we stay in basic guest houses, hotels or motels.
Ibadan to Abomey is 171kms and approximately 74 hours of travel, crossing into Benin.
Abomey is the ancient capital of the Dahomey kingdom. The original palace here was one of the wonders of West Africa and dates back to the 17th Century. We will visit the palace and the museum to see the amazing wealth of this great kingdom. The palace is full of gold, silver, thrones, tapestries of bloody battles and a prodigious amount of Voodoo.
In Abomey we stay in a hotel.
A drive time of approx. 2 hours and 70kms from Abomey brings us to Ganvie.
Ganvie is inhabited by more than 10,000 people even though it is built entirely on stilts in the middle of a lagoon and can only be reached by pirogue (dug out canoe). The ancestors of the Toffinu people used the lake as a refuge from the slave traders, and the Toffinu have lived on the lagoons ever since. We will stay overnight here to get a taste of this unique lifestyle, camping on the shore of the lake.
The following day we drive about 3.5 hours (126km) to Cotonou.
Cotonou with its Atlantic port, is the capital in everything but name. Cotonou, in Fon, means "mouth of the river of death" and is a reference to the role the Dahomeyan Kingdom played in the exportation of slaves. Cotonou is one of the best places in West Africa for trying African food and we will have time to explore Cotonou's attractions.
In Cotonou we camp for the night.
It is around a 2 hour drive (61km) to Grand Popo.
We make the most of the fantastic West African coastline and spend some time on the beach at Grand Popo. If the beach is not your thing then you may like to explore La Maison Bresil or take a guided tour of the History Museum in the nearby town of Ouidah.
There is the chance in the evening to join in a night walk with the locals to see the sea turtles on the beach (may be seasonal- please see optional activites section for approximate costs).
In Grand Popo we stay in a hotel.
Driving time from Grand Popo to Agbodrafo is approx. 5 hours and 86kms, crossing into Togo.
Agbodrafo is the old Portuguese city formerly known as Porto Seguri. It is a quiet small town on the shore of Lake Togo. The real draw here is the lake itself, a 13 square kilometres. This is a really idyllic place to relax and do some watersports. There are a number of water resorts, which are very popular with the Togolese from Lome. The lake is surrounded by a number of small villages and fishermen ply the waters in dug-out canoes. It is possible to get a ride across the Lake to Togoville in a dug out canoe with the local fishermen. These 'pirogues' ply the lake between Agbodrafo and Togoville and if you wish to travel by pirogue, the truck will be driving around to Togoville.
Togoville is a small town on the shores of Lake Togo. The town still feels like it must have a hundred years ago and is a centre of the voodoo culture with a number of shrines and fetishes, including two great fertility shrines. It is a very historic place and we will organise a guided tour. This will include a visit to the beautiful German church (built in 1910) with its large terrace dominating the lake. The church is decorated with the paintings of African Saints and a statue of Our Lady of Lake Togo. The village spreads out in a semi-circle around the church.
For two nights we'll be camping.
Drive time from Agbodrafo to My Klouto is 5 hours and 200kms.
Mont Klouto is situated a couple of hours north of Lome, away from the heat of the coast. The mountain is covered in dense forests, with numerous streams and waterfalls. It is an ideal place for hiking and a local favourite is to take a guided walking butterfly safari. There are over five hundred different types of butterflies on the mountain and we will have a free day up on the mountain so that you have time to explore this remote gem. The drive up to the mountain is also very spectacular.
We'll camp here for two nights.
Enroute to the Ghanaian Coast today, we travel about 6 hours before bush camping for the evening.
It is a further all day drive (6 hours and 309kms) before our arrival the following day.
The Ghanaian coast was made to relax on. Its atmosphere is great, laid back, warm, ethnic, without the tourist infrastructure that plagues much of the East African coast and it has a long, long history. We spend a lot of time on the coast at a variety of different places. There is tons of stuff to see and do. Eighty kms outside Accra we stop at Big Millie's Backyard, a beautiful spot surrounded by coconut palm. This little gem of a place sits right on the beach with a funky bar, great cocktails and an awesome restaurant, serving the tastiest lobsters. What could be better than watching the local fishermen bringing in today's haul in their nets before settling down for a massage; you will never feel the same again. Just up the road is a tiny reggae recording studio; think Bob Marley and his mates in a tin hut at mega decibels. Here the locals musicians (and boy they are musicians) will teach you the basics of Ashanti drumming. There were numerous forts built on this coast over 300 years ago by Europeans to protect their interests in the trading of ivory, precious metals and slaves. Many of these forts still survive and some, (such as the one at Elmina) have undergone considerable restoration. It is well worth taking a thought provoking, if somewhat harrowing visit the same cells where unfortunate slaves were subdued by being deprived of food and water for three days in order to prevent them from causing trouble as they were being loaded onto ships.
We camp these nights by the beach.
Driving about 4 hours (256km) we reach the Kakum National Park today.
Kakum National Park will allow you to recreate your tarzan fantasies, walking along the vertiginous canopy walkway through the tops of the trees and looking down onto the rain forests. Cheetah may not be available, but monkeys there certainly are. The National Park is an area of 360 square kilometres of protected forest, harbouring monkeys, elephants, antelope, warthogs and buffalo.
We overnight at a camp site.
We travel 190kms and 4.5 hours from Kakum to Accra.
A playground for the rich of the Middle East, Accra, Ghana's capital, is a beautiful coastal town with many beaches to please the most discerning sun worshipper. After a day on the beach you can frequent the many bars that also dot this surprising city. We tend not to spend too long in the city itself, using it as an administrative centre to get various visas. Instead we prefer to get out of the city to the nearby beaches along the coast. However Accra does have great nightlife, bars and musical haunts.
The Gold Coast or Ghana as it is now known was the first black African state to be granted independence in the 1950's. It has had a chequered post colonial history, but certainly now appears to be forging ahead both economically and politically. It is a very friendly country, which surprisingly has close ties to its French speaking northern neighbour, Burkina Faso. Its beaches are the envy of all West African nations, its Ashanti culture is fascinating and it has one or two excellent national parks. Internationally Ghana is acclaimed for its music.
As this is a combination trip the composition of your group may change on day 34. There will be a group meeting to meet your new travelling companions and for your leader to give you some information about the next leg of your journey. Please note your leader will collect the next part of your kitty payment at this meeting.
IMPORTANT: Both the Australian and British Foreign Affairs departments now have Timbuktu as Level 5 - Do Not Travel areas.
http://smarttraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Mali
Your safety whilst travelling with us is our highest concern and priority and therefore based on this official advice, we will need to reroute this itinerary. If there are subsequent updates to these travel advisories that allow us to travel to Northern Mali we will look at running the original itinerary after gathering our own information from local partners. Your tourleader will have the final decision for you at your group meeting on Day 1 of your trip.
The affect of this is that we have to stop visiting Timbuktu for the time being and implement a contingency itinerary. This shall involve spending more time in Ghana and also include a visit to the beautiful city of Segou on the banks of the Niger.
Today we have ashort drive of 3 - 4 hours (173km) to Elmina.
In the Central Region of Ghana we are invovled with the Sabre Charitable Trust working in partnership with the Local Education Authority to improve the standard of basic education. Historically we have supported Brenu Akyinim, a coastal fishing community. However, other communities with more pressing needs have now been highlighted by the Education Director. Our work will reflect these local needs and our itinerary will remain flexible allowing us to offer the physical and financial support required to assist the community to fulfill their aims. Depending on the skills of the group our work could range from small building/renovation projects to educational workshops. Towards the end of the stay we will visit Brenu for a chance to see what can be achieved with continued support. For more information about this project visit www.sabretrust.org.
This night will be spent camping.
Situated in an enormous ancient meteorite crater, Lake Bosumtwe is the only natural lake in Ghana. A popular recreation spot, the Ashanti people of Ghana consider the site sacred, believing that the souls of dead ancestors go to the lake to bid farewell to the god Twi. As a result the lake is surrounded by the shrines of local communities.
Today we drive about 5.5 - 7 hours (196km) to Kumasi.
Kumasi was the ancient capital of the Ashanti Empire. This is a thriving, bustling provincial city with a very atmospheric and colourful market. This city is one of the main centres of West Africa's cultural heritage and it is well worth visiting the National Cultural Centre and museums. The Ashanti Drums are now famed around the world and in Kumasi we will try to organise a visit to the workshops where these amazing instruments are made. Traditionally these drums were used to communicate over vast distances. Today they are a integral part of modern Ghanaian music.
In Kumasi we stay in a campsite.
It is around 8 - 9 hours and 400km from Kumasi to Mole.
Mole National Park is one of the best parks in West Africa. It is home to elephants, lions, leopard, buffaloes and a variety of antelopes and monkeys. We stay at a lovely hotel overlooking a water hole at which the animals come to drink. Complete with bar, swimming pool and restaurant, you could almost be in East Africa, except there are fewer animals and far, far fewer tourists. That is the real beauty of travelling around a country like Ghana, you have the place to yourself. As well as driving, we will also enjoy a guided walking safari out into the national park.
At the Mole National Park we stay in shared dorm rooms at a basic motel.
It is 6.5 - 8 hours and 356km to Bobo Dioulasso.
Bobo Dioulasso is one of the most vibrant small cities in West Africa, capital of the Bobo tribe. It has an excellent market, and is a great place to buy the unique masks made in this area. Just outside of the town is an unusual spot called 'la mare aux poissons sacres de Dafra' (the sacred fishpond of Dafra). Local people come here to sacrifice chickens to the fish, which are understandably enormous! You may also wish to go and see the sea of hippos north of Bobo - one of the best places to see hippos in West Africa.
These nights we stay at a campsite.
We spend a night bushcamping between Mole and Ouagadougou after travelling approximately 4 -5 hours and crossing into Burkina Faso
If you have talked to travellers who have visited this small and little known country you will already have heard that Burkina Faso (affectionately called BF) is perhaps the most friendly of the French speaking West African countries. It may not have the spectacles and attractions of its neighbour Mali, it may not have the beaches of its other neighbour Ghana or the attraction of Niger's vast Sahara desert, but it has style. Its people are great, very laid back, so very friendly and the music and nightclubs are second to none. Whether you are visiting Ouagadougou or Bobo Dioulasso (any country that can come up with these two names has to be worth a visit) you must try out the nightlife, the music and the beer. The country is poor, an agrarian society based in the precarious Sahel belt south of the Sahara. It is very dependant on the annual rains and on the fluctuations of international markets. However, it is a peaceful and cultural place, which works amazingly efficiently and should not be missed.
The following day we drive about 8 hours and 360kms to reach Ouagadougou.
Lying in the centre of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou is a place not to be missed. Ouaga as it is affectionally known, may at first appear shabby, down at heel and chaotic, but this is part of its charm. Get behind this veneer of decay and you have one of West Africa's most vibrant cities. This was the traditional capital of the Mossi empire, but all the country's major ethnic groups, religions and languages co-exist here with remarkable harmony. Life moves at a brisk pace and you'll find that contact with the people is much more immediate than in many other West African cities. The night life in Ouaga is famed throughout West Africa, with excellent music, bars and nightclubs. The music goes on all night.
In Ouagadougou we stay in a campsite.
We travel 3.5 - 4.5 hours and 164kms from Sevare to Bandiagara.
Bandiagara is a small, dusty town on the edge of the Dogon territory. At its heart is the market, with the main day on a Monday, when the Dogons of the Bandiagara escarpment come to town to sell their produce. This is one of the few places where mainstream West African people meet the otherwise isolated Dogon people. You will also find several shops selling Dogon artefacts.
In Bandiagara we will spend the night at a campsite.
It is from Bandiagara that we organise our trek into the hinterland to visit the home of the Dogon people. The Dogon have inhabited this area since 500 BC, and their civilisation has survived intact until the present day. When threatened by Islam, the Dogon moved into the mountainous Bandiagara Escarpment and ferociously defended their unique culture. We trek around the escarpment from village to village, getting an insight into the lives and customs of these unique people. This is a challenging trek over a variety of different terrains so it is vital that you remember to appropriately equip yourself; a pair of sturdy boots and a relatively good level of fitness as essential for the Dogon trek. We trek for between 5km - 14km each day.
We spend two nights at basic homestays or hostels in villages on the trek, and at the conclusion drive about 1.5 hours (63km) back to our hotel in Sevare.
From Mopti, we organise one of the world's most unique river boat journeys, an overnight trip down the Niger River on local motorised pinasse boats. These boats are very large, elongated motorised canoes with a sunshade to protect the occupants from the heat. We will have to provision the boat for the expedition and you will moor up and sleep on the banks of the Niger. The journey is an amazing trip down a river that breathes life into an otherwise desolate desert. You will travel through the area where the river becomes an inland delta. Although we will generally hire our own boat, these vessels are used by the local people as the main trade route. The roads in the areas are poor, and much of the trade passes along the river. We will stop along the way, visiting local markets and villages. Life will be
rather basic on board the boats, but that is more than made up for by the journey itself. It is not for the faint hearted, but for those with a spirit of adventure this is an incredible journey.
We will drive around 10 - 12 hours and 413km to reach Djenne in Mali.
Of all the countries that we visit in West Africa Mali historically may well be the most interesting. Its great empires, trading towns, and its spectacular river, the Niger, make this country a fascinating place to visit. There is so much to see and do in this fabulous destination.
Djenne is the oldest and most impressive of the Saharan trading towns. It was the capital of the Soninke Kingdom in the Eleventh Century and by the Thirteenth Century it had become a very wealthy city, trading in gold, ivory, spices, arts, woods, etc. In 1325 the city was conquered by the Malian Kingdom and later by the Songhai Empire. Trade flourished between Djenne and Timbuktu, the Songhai capital, until the Moors and Moroccans finally destroyed the Songhai Empire. Djenne remained in Moroccan hands until the Eighteenth Century, when the town went into decline. we attend the famous Monday market at Djenne, thronging with a mixture of tribespeople each wearing their own distincitve brightly coloured robes. The great mud mosque dominates the city and the market place is still a turmoil of yelling, laughing, haggling, dealers and customers jostling one another, with activity beginning in the early morning.
In Djenne we overnight at a bush camp.
The modern city of Segou was founded in 1852 near the historic capital of the ancient Bambaran kingdom. It is a charming and laid back place with a stunning setting on the banks of the Niger River. The city has a great market which is excellent for materials and batiks. From Segou there are a variety of optional daily boat trips up or down the Niger River. You have a choice of boats, either dugout pirogues or the larger motorised pinnasses. You will travel by these, to explore either the local potters village, an area where the mud cloth is produced or if you prefer you can visit Segou–Koro. This small village was once the capital of the proud Bambara Empire and still shows much of its history and way of life. After an introduction to the chief of the village, you are free to explore the place. Segou is a cultural centre and once a year in the month of February it hosts the amazing Festival of the Niger. At other times of the year, it is still a great place to visit, with a really good feel. We will try to organise a visit to one of the local nightclubs where local musicians come to play for the crowds.
We drive approximately 8 - 9 hours and 400kms today before bush camping for the evening.
The following day its a drive of about 5 - 6 hours (235) to Bamako.
Bamako, the capital of Mali, is an easy town to get around and explore. It has one of the best small museums in West Africa, as well as an excellent market. This is a city of great vitality and being the capital of Mali, it is also the hub of the countries prodigious Music industry. Mali has produced some of West Africa's finest musicians and has a long tradition of tribal music. Today the traditional has fused with the modern and has become famed around the world. The clubs of Bamako are a hub for local musicians including some of the most famous such as Salif Kita. If you are lucky one of the greats may be playing while we visit. We will ask our local guide to source the best venue in town while we are there. During the day, it should also be possible to organise a drumming or perhaps kora workshop, to learn how these instruments should be played.
In Bamako we stay at a campsite.
The next two days we cover 920km, driving a total of 20 plus hours and crossing into Senegal on the second day.
We travel through dramatic, remote areas of the sub-Sahara. We will bush camp and our journey will take us through various towns and remote settlements including Tambacounda, Kayes and Yelimane. This rural area of Mali is seldom visited by outsiders and the roads are often poor. The going is slow, but this gives us the opportunity to get a real feel for the area. En route we can visit various different local attractions, depending on the time available to cross through the area. The itinerary throughout this area will be pretty flexible. For instance, outside Kayes is the small Fort de Medine, an old French colonial fort with a very beautiful railway station which can be reached by taking a pinasse or pirogue up the Senegal River.
This will be a tough section of the journey, with few western facilities or luxuries. You will be travelling through some of Africa's most rural areas and we will be bush camping each night.
A short drive today of about 4 - 5 hours (97km) and we reach the Niokolo-Koba National Park
We spend the next couple of days exploring the Niokolo-Koba National Park heading out on game drives to spot game and birdlife. Chimpanzees, leopards and hippopotamus can be found, as well as the Derby eland, the largest antelope species in the world. The river Gambia that covers over 10% of the National Park is home to over 60 different types of fish and 20 amphibians, the landscape around the fertile river banks providing vital over wintering areas for migratory birds.
These nights we stay at a camp site.
We have two long transit days through Senegal with approximately 8 hours to cover the 220kms the first day and a futher 6 hours for 150kms the following day.
We bush camp on these nights.
We stay a few hours south of Dakar, at the small fishing community of Djifer, which is situated on the Sangomar Peninsular. The peninsular is a long thin area of sand that separates the Saloum River from the Ocean. There is an excellent fish market here and some beautiful Mangrove swamps. The peninsular protects the river from the ocean,
but is being eaten away by huge ocean rollers. We will spend our time here exploring the mangroves by canoe with the help of the local fishermen.
Lac Rose, or Lac Retba as it is also known, is situated on the Cap Vert peninsula and is named as such because of its pink colour which is particularly visible during the dry season. Due to its high salt content the lake allows people to float easily and has a small salt collecting industry. It is often the finishing point of the Paris - Dakar Rally and it is here we spend a night relaxing in the beautiful surrounds.
Today's drive is about 2 - 3 hours (100km) to reach Dakar.
The cosmopolitan city of Dakar is a perfect place to stay with its coastal location, temperate climate and vibrant atmosphere. You can spend time browsing around the museums, one of the two major markets, or just relaxing on the beaches. The beautiful Ile de Goree is certainly worth a visit. During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries, it was a bustling centre for the slave trade. You can visit the many museums housed in the historical buildings or just wander around and soak up the beautiful surroundings.
In Dakar we stay in a hotel.
There are no activities planned for day 69 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time.
The itinerary attached is correct at time of printing. Please note: occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research. Our brochure is usually released in November each year. As such the information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the brochure. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you print and review a final copy of your Trip Notes a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. For the latest updated trip notes please visit our website: www.intrepidtravel.com
You're really out there! You'll need to pay specific attention to health and hygiene. A large proportion of locals' living conditions are a world away from standards you are used to. You may have difficulty finding an English speaker and there is little or no access to services. Paying heed to local customs is essential.
This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.
This is a list of included activities on this trip. All other activities are optional and at your own expense. For a list of optional
activities and sightseeing available on this trip, see the optional activities section below. If you choose not to participate in the included
activities on this itinerary, the cost will not be refunded.
Visit Drill Monkey Conservation Project - Drill Ranch Monkey Sanctuary
Game drive and visit to hot springs - Yankari National Park
Guided tour of Palace and Museum - Abomey
Stilt Village Boat Trip - Ganvie
Pirogue (dug out canoe trip) on Lake Togo - Agbodrafo
Guided city tour of Togoville - Agbodrafo
Dinner and local music performance - Mont Klouto
Brenu Akyinim School project - Elmina
Cape Coast Castle - enroute from Elmina
Entrance and rainforest canopy walk - Kakum National Park
Participation in a Sabre Trust project - Elmina
Entrance, game drives, walking safaris - Mole National Park
Visit Djenne Monday market and vast mud mosque - Djenne
Dogon tribal trek on the Bandiagara Escarpment - Dogon Village Trek
3 day Niger River Pinasse (motorised canoe) trip - between Timbuktu and Sevare (or vice versa)
Guided tour and Museum entry - Timbuktu
Entrance, guide and game safaris - Niokolo Koba National Park
We list the following optional activities for your information. This is not an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only.
They are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by Intrepid nor included in price of this trip. If you do any of them, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and does not form part of your contract with Intrepid.
Pygmee Excursion (overnight), Kribi Beach - US$60 (depending on passenger numbers)
Overnight forest trek - Drill Ranch Monkey Sanctuary - US$20
Entrance and guide Jos Museum Complex, Jos - US$1
La Maison Bresil at Ouidah, Grand Popo - US$3
Entrance Ouidah History Museum, Grand Popo - US$2
Turtle Conservation guided night walk, Grand Popo - US$12 (seasonal)
Butterfly Safari and forest walk (3 hours), Mont Klouto - US$6
Butterfly Safari and forest walk (full day), Mont Klouto - US$15
Elmina Castle - Elmina - US$8
National Cultural Centre, Kumasi - US$1
Camera/Video fee, Mole National Park - US$2
Sacred Fish Pond (moped hire), Bobo Dioulasso - US$5
La Guinguette (Crystal Swimming Lake) Entrance and taxi, Bobo Dioulasso - US$38
Mare de Hippopotames transport by van, Bobo Dioulasso - US$10
Mare de Hippopotames canoe on lake, Bobo Dioulasso - US$5
Drumming performance (3 hours), Sevare - US$10 (approximate, depending on numbers)
Camel Ride to Tuareg Encampment, Timbuktu - US$20
Drumming or Kora Workshops, Bamako - US$10
Got extra time before or after your Intrepid adventure? Maybe there is an URBAN ADVENTURE in one of the cities that you're visiting on your trip?
Intrepid's Urban Adventures are the city tour with a difference - there are more than 100 to choose from in over 30 cities around the world, with new trips added regularly. They are a great way to get under the skin of the city you're visiting, in just a few hours. To make a booking contact your local travel agent, Intrepid consultant or visit www.urbanadventures.com
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
If you are happy with the services provided a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid destinations. We recommend that any tips are given to the intended recipient by a member of your group, rather than collected and passed on by the group leader.
The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:
Restaurants: Please check the bill and if there's an addition of 10% service charge, there's no requirement for tipping. Otherwise, 10% of the total bill amount is appropriate.
Local markets and basic restaurants - leave the loose change.
Local guides/porters: Throughout your trip you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. We suggest US$1 per person, per day for local guides/porters.
Your crew (including the leader, cook and driver): You may also consider tipping your crew for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however as a guideline US$2-3 per person, per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
A trip kitty of USD $1270 CASH per person will be required
On some overland trips you contribute to a kitty. The Kitty is an on-ground payment put into a central fund and overseen by travellers and the crew. On some trips it is compulsory while on others it is an optional contribution. It helps fund accommodation, camp meals and some included activities. Kitty amounts are subject to change to reflect local price increases.
Your kitty will be collected when you arrive for your trip either one the 1st day or in stages throughout your trip. Refer to your trip notes for exact details.
Local Partner:
Intrepid runs this trip in conjunction with Dragoman Overland. Dragoman shares our ethos for adventure travel and has many years' expertise in over landing.
Flexible Itineraries:
We must emphasize that the routes, activities and places visited or described in these Trip Notes are intentions and are meant as a rough guide only. We intend following the route detailed but exact night stops cannot be guaranteed. It sometimes happens that we decide to make a change to our basic planned itinerary. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, road or bureaucratic conditions may demand it. Or it may be because we find a better, more interesting route. While actually en route, unexpected hospitality, a local festival or a great place to chill out can determine our exact route and itinerary on any given trip.
Overnight stops and driving distances each day may vary to best suit the needs of the group.
Group composition:
The minimum age for this trip is 18 years old and bookings for minors, even if accompanied by a parent, cannot be accepted. The upper age limit on this trip is 70 years of age.
Kitty
In West Africa Kitty's need to be paid in EURO
Rather than bringing the full amount of your kitty in cash, it is possible to pay half in EUR traveller's cheques. These must be issued by either American Express or Barclays Bank. Please note; it is important you are aware that if you decide on this option you are prepared to go with your leader to the bank sometime during the trip for the countersigning necessary to cash the cheques. You will also be asked to cover any exchange or commission fees.
Kitty does not cover food while staying in hotels and hostels.
This is a combination tour and the make up of your group may change in Accra.
Maximum of 21 travellers per group
Hotels (12 nts), camping with facilities (43 nts), bush camping without facilities (13 nts)
The type and variety of accommodation is determined by conditions on each of our routes. Each route is different - on some we use a mixture of campsites and wild camps; on others we also use hotels. In Africa it is not usually practical to camp when staying in towns and cities so we use hotel accommodation and eat out in local restaurants. The frequency and regularity of hotel stops depends on the route and area.
There may be the occasional night stop, when staying in the grounds of a hotel, or at a campsite which may also have cabins available. In this case there may be a choice of camping or upgrading to a room (at additional cost). Some areas demand longer stretches without hotels than others.
Standards of hotels will obviously be different to those of western countries and an African 3 star hotel is more likely to be comparable with a European or Australian 1 star.
Nights spent camping may be in a recognised campsite, in the grounds of a hotel, or wild camping in the countryside. For these days, the duties rota system (Overland only) is adopted and all members share in general camp duties - cooking, shopping, washing up, collecting firewood, etc.
Campsites do have facilities but are usually not to the same standard as you would find in western countries. For example the bathroom facilities can be very basic (the toilets may be squat style hole in the ground). There is rarely toilet paper provided and shower facilities can be as simple as a hose pipe spurting out cold water. Not all campsites are as basic as this description; it's just to make sure there are no surprises for you. Wild camps have no facilities at all.
Accommodation on this trip is mainly in two person dome tents. Please refer to the Checklist to see if you require a mattress or sleeping bag.
Please note there may be times when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own at start or finish point hotels. If you have purchased pre or post trip accommodation you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
While camping on Overland journeys, most meals will be included. You may be required to share in cooking and shopping duties for the group's meals. When you are not camping you will have the freedom to decide where, what and with whom you eat. Please check the itinerary for details of meals included.
Allow USD $690 for meals not included.
All meals while camping
When travelling on an Overland trip you have chosen a participation camping tour. This means that you will be helping your cook prepare meals for the group. You may also get the chance to help with the shopping.
Your cook (East Africa only) will come up with meal ideas and quantities needed for large groups. Participating in the camp is usually done on a duty roster system with group of 5 or 6 people (depending on group size) having a different camp job each day. If you have any dietary requirements please tell us at the time of booking and also remind your crew at your welcome meeting.
A typical camp breakfast might be toast with spreads, cereal and something hot such as eggs or pancakes as well as tea and coffee. Lunch is almost always a sandwich with healthy salad and assorted fillings, sometime with fruit to follow. There may be a chance on occasion to buy your lunch. Dinner might be a BBQ, rice dish, pasta dish and there is always the chance to try some African food such as ugali and stew.
One thing is sure; you definitely won't go hungry or lose weight on your safari! When you are not camping you will have the freedom to decide where, what and with whom you eat.
Please Note: On the more remote sections of your trip (for example in West Africa & North Africa), your food and diet will be dependent on what is available locally as well as tinned and dry ingredients.
Overland truck
Our trucks are purpose-built, self contained safari vehicles. Intrepid's fleet of vehicles varies depending on your group size, trip route and style.
Please Note: In South Africa some departures may use vans and luggage trailers subject to group size and vehicle availability
On this trip you will be accompanied by 2 crew members, a Group Leader and a Driver. (Depending on your group size – from time to time your leader will also be your driver) note: in east Africa we have a 3rd crew member on board! Your Cook!
Your Intrepid Group Leader’s role involves organizing the overall operation and smooth-running of the trip, managing trip logistics, coordinating the kitty (where applicable) and will form work groups to take turns cooking, cleaning and shopping.
Your Group Leader will work towards making the trip as safe and enjoyable as possible for all travelers. Intrepid trips are built around the co–operation and participation of all the group members under the supervision of the group leader. The group leader will show the group how to set up and use the equipment.
While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting, especially when tracking and identifying game - we think it's the best of both worlds. Our Group Leaders are chosen for their leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for our company and our beautiful continent and its people.
Your Driver’s main responsibility is to get you to your destination safely; they are also responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles along the way.
Your Cook (East Africa only) is responsible for the cooking and will help to coordinate the work groups for preparing the meals and washing up! Cooks are also responsible for organizing food shopping (they are always happy to have you on board) and most importantly, they make sure high hygiene standards are kept at all times while camping.
Everyone is expected participate and carry their share of the workload, making camp chores easier. If the whole group participates it will be quicker, easier, and more fun.
We endeavor to provide the services of an experienced leader and driver; however, situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders.
Hotel La Falaise
Rue Kitchener Bonanjo
Douala
B.P. 5300
Cameroon
Phone: 33 43 28 32
Fax: 33 43 28 31
Rooms have en-suite bathrooms, cable tv and air-conditioning. The hotel also has a restaurant/bar onsite.
The distance from the airport to the hotel is approximately 5km or 8 minutes. The cost is approximately CFA3500.
We don't expect any problems (and nor should you!) but if for any reason you are unable to commence your
group trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer (where available) and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing
customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions in the Trip
Notes. Should this occur, please apply to your travel agent for a refund of the transfer cost on your return.
No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to a different flight arrival or delayed flight arrival. Any
additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense.
Al Baraka
35 Rue Abdoul Karim Bourgi
Dakar
Senegal
Al Baraka is located on a main road in central Dakar near Independence Square and the ministry buildings. Shops, markets and art galleries are also nearby, and there is a supermarket over the road.
The hotel features 24-hour reception, currency exchange, luggage storage, restaurant and laundry service (for an additional fee).
Rooms have en-suite bathrooms and are air-conditioned and have colour tvs.
Your leader or hotel reception will be able to help you organise transport to the airport.
24 HOUR EMERGENCY NUMBER Tel: +44 (0) 1728 862 222 This an answer phone. If outside UK office hours for non urgent questions, please leave a message. There is a number provided to call for a 24 hour manned mobile in case of genuine emergency.
Please also make sure you have access to an additional USD$400, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary
depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible,
but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself.
CAMEROON
Please organise your Cameroon visa before arrival. The procedure and cost will vary depending on your nationality but it is common to require quite a lot of paperwork for this visa. This may include a copy of our vehicle carnet (license to travel through Cameroon in our truck), guarantee letter with full itinerary, reservation letter from a hotel in Cameroon confirming your first nights' accommodation and stamped by the local police. Because of this letter we STRONGLY recommend that you arrive the day before the trip start date and book your hotel through Intrepid. We can then supply you with the proof of confirmation that you need for the visa. The charge for this is USD25 per person and is payable locally to your crew. Please contact us at pretrip@intrepidtravel.com when you require paperwork to support your Cameroon visa application.
NIGERIA
Visas will be obtained en route in Douala, Cameroon. Please bring at least 3 passport photos. The cost is approximately USD60-100 depending on your nationality.
BENIN
Visas can be obtained easily at the border. Please allow USD25 cash and 3 passport photos.
TOGO
Visas will be obtained en route at the border. Please bring at least 3 passport photos. The cost is approximately USD20.
GHANA
Ghanaian visas will be obtained en route. Please allow USD50 and 4 passport photos.
BURKINA FASO
Visas can be obtained en route at the border. Allow USD20.
MALI
Visas will be obtained en route in Accra, Ghana. Please bring at least 6 passport photos. The cost is approximately USD25.
SENEGAL
Visas will be obtained en route. Please bring at least 2 passport photos. The cost is approximately USD25.
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a small charge. Self-service laundries are scarce in Africa. There are few laundry facilities outside of the large cities in Africa. We recommend you bring non-polluting, biodegradable laundry soap and hand wash while travelling in this region. You may wish to bring a piece of rope to tie between trees to act as a line and maybe even a few pegs. Our trucks carry tubs which can be used for cold water hand washing.
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage and although you will not be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes) we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg/22lb.
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for daytrips.
WATER
The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 liter plastic bottle takes 2 liters of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments. Please avoid the purchase of bottled water by using the chemically sterilized water stored in the purpose built storage tank or in water jerry cans in your Overland vehicle. You are free to refill your bottle as many times a day as you like. You are helping the environment and your hip pocket! In some Southern African countries, tap water is treated and good to drink so you can avoid the purchase of bottled water by refilling from the tap.
LUGGAGE
The size of baggage that can be brought on this tour is limited by the locker space on the truck. Different trucks have different-sized lockers however to be safe we recommend that your bag be no larger than 66cm deep, 30cm wide, and 30cm high. The weight limit for luggage on all trucks is maximum 20kg. Backpacks should not have an external frame unless it can be easily removed and stored separately to avoid damaging other people's luggage.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT
A sleeping bag (we recommend a 3–4 season). It can get very cold at night in winter months in desert and mountainous regions. If you are travelling during the hot season you may wish to also pack a sleep sheet so you will be comfortable no matter what the weather. Pillows are not provided so please bring a travel pillow along.
In West Africa we do not provide a mattress so please bring your own (a thermarest/inflatable mattress is recommend)
A simple plastic bag/waterproof toiletry bag (that can hang on a nail on the back of a door) will be useful to keep your clothes dry inside basic camp shower structures.
CLOTHING
You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing, some warm items for the evenings, and long shirts and pants for protection against mosquitoes in malarial areas. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Some people like to take jeans for evenings out but they can be tough to dry and should not be used for trekking. Avoid nylon and other synthetics, which can be very uncomfortable in hot weather. Ex-military or military style clothing and equipment is NOT recommended.
BATTERIES/POWER
Most of our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras every couple of days. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery for your camera just in case. Your vehicle will be equipped with a 12 volt “cigarette lighter” socket which may be used at the crew’s discretion, however, do bear in mind that only one piece of equipment can be charged at a time and it will not be allowed if there is a risk of running the vehicle’s batteries low. Batteries may also be recharged from hotel room wall sockets. We suggest you bring a mix of normal and rechargeable batteries and the appropriate recharging unit. Hotels and most campsites have electricity and charging of batteries is advised before checking the following day.
VALUABLES
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safe and the safe on the overland truck to store the bulk of your money, passport, and airline tickets. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden.
We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
When packing, be aware that dress standards can be conservative in some parts of Africa. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means covering shoulders and no short shorts in culturally sensitive areas (mosques, small villages, etc). We recommend a mixture of loose, lightweight clothing and warm clothing for the evenings. Topless sun bathing is unacceptable through out the whole of Africa.
The following checklist is to be used as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete packing list. Any other items that you wish to pack are at your own discretion however you should attempt to comply with the suggested luggage weight limit.
Passport
Any Visas required for this trip
Vaccination Certificates
Travel insurance including insurer details, 24 hr emergency contact telephone number and policy number
Flight Tickets
Intrepid trip confirmation voucher
Photocopies of important documents to be kept separately (we recommend you keep a copy at home as well)
Latest trip notes (this information)
Money (travellers cheques/cash/credit cards)
Travellers' cheques- keep a note of the serial numbers of your Travellers cheques and also the emergency contact numbers. Keep these details separately from the cheques.
Your local payment/Kitty ( where applicable)
Money belt or pouch (to be worn under clothes)
First aid kit
Personal Medication/prescriptions
Prescription glasses
Contact lens solution
High protection sunscreen
Lip balm
Hat / wide brim hat
Sunglasses
Insect repellent
Antihistamine / insect bite cream
Antibacterial gel / wipes
Eye mask
Ear plugs
Alarm clock
Torch/flashlight and spare batteries
Night clothes/sleepwear
Travel pillow
Travel sickness tablets
Swimming costume
Swimming towel
Sarong for bathing
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Refillable water bottle
Camera
Film, memory cards
Binoculars
Spare batteries
Comfortable daypack to carry your personal needs during the day
Local language phrase book
Personal audio player
Portable games / playing cards
Reading material
Luggage lock (and keys)
Smarter clothes for nights out
Warm clothes for the cooler nights
Waterproof jacket or small umbrella
Comfortable travelling clothes (light, easily washable cotton clothes are best). 2 sets recommended
1 set of casual but smart clothes for evenings out, visiting centers of religion, etc. Women should bring a skirt that covers their knees and a scarf for visiting mosques, churches and other places of worship.
Toiletries
Bath towel
Travel plug / international adapter
Mobile phone - check you have international roaming access
Rubber flip flops for showers
Camping Equipment
4 season sleeping bag (one that zips down all one side is useful for warm nights).
Inner sleep sheet
Travel pillow
Thermarest/Personal mattress
Please refer to Trip Notes (What to Take) for more details
Currency exchange rates often fluctuate. For the most up to date rates please refer to the following website:
www.oanda.com.
The best way to manage your money in Africa is a mixture of USD cash, an ATM card (best to have both Visa and MasterCard) and some traveller’s cheques.
Cash
Cash is easily changed at exchange bureaus and they generally offer the best rates. USD large bills, in good condition, 2003 series onwards only are more widely accepted; any old or damaged notes may not be accepted.
EUR or GBP are also widely accepted. The South African Rand can also be used widely in countries of Southern Africa.
When changing money, only use reputable authorized money exchange vendors and never anyone on the street. There are many instances of travellers being given counterfeit notes or being tricked when money is being counted out.
Travellers Cheques
You should also carry some traveller’s cheques for back up emergency cash.
While traveller’s cheques are undoubtedly the safest way to carry money, they are becoming harder to cash around the world and can often result in unfavorable exchange rates. It can also be tricky to reach banks during banking business hours which are often short in many African countries. Note: Receipts for traveller’s cheques are required by banks and money changers.
Visa and MasterCard
With ATMs being increasingly available in the many major towns and cities, credit or debit cards are a convenient way to access money. A charge is made for each international transaction - please check with your bank how much this fee will be.
Check with your bank before leaving home that your card can be used as a debit card in Africa. You may also want to notify your bank that you are visiting Africa as it is not unknown for banks to freeze cards which show sudden transactions in other countries.
Kitty:
West and North Africa
Please ensure you bring EUR and not US$ for the kitty and for personal spending. The exchange of US$ to EUR for the kitty will be decided by the tour leader on Day 1 of the trip. Local currencies can be readily obtained at international airports, city banks and most major hotels. You are strongly advised not to walk around with large amounts of cash.
If you are on a multi country tour, your tour leader will be able to give you an approximate idea of how much money you may need for your stay in each country.
All departure taxes should be included in your international flight ticket.
If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend email. Email cafes are generally available throughout the regions we visit, although it is possible you may be without email contact for several days on some itineraries. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our emergency contact details. We don't recommend that family and friends try to contact you through hotels, as they are subject to change and the reception staff may not speak English.
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local partner straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case please ask the leader if you may speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip but we do ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is complete.
All Intrepid travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully in the group travel experience. If in the opinion of our group leader or company representative any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, Intrepid reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. We therefore ask that you read the itinerary in these trip notes thoroughly and then realistically self-assess your physical ability to complete the trip as described. Please consult with your doctor if you have any doubts.
There are no specific health requirements for this trip. However, you should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations and anti-malarial requirements before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses) as they may not easily be obtained at the locations on this trip. For legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drugs including headache tablets and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
Yellow Fever
A valid international certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever is required in many countries in Africa. You may be needed to present this on arrival at the airport or border crossing. Some countries will refuse entry if you are unable to present your certificate. It is also quite common for your home country to request a Yellow Fever certificate on your arrival back home. Please check with your doctor before leaving home about the Yellow Fever requirements for the countries you will be visiting.
Drinking water:
As a rule we recommend you do not drink tap water, even in hotels, as it contains much higher levels of different minerals than the water you may have at home. For local people this is not a problem as their bodies are used to this and can cope, but for travellers from other continents, drinking the tap water can result in illness. Generally this is not serious, an upset stomach being the only symptom, but it is enough to spoil a day or two of your holiday. Bottled water is widely available but we recommend that you fill up from your vehicle (we treat our water) if you are on a camping trip. Water consumption should be about 3 litres a day (this should be easy for most).
First Aid:
The leader will be carrying a basic First Aid kit, but can not administer any drugs. Re-hydration salts, motion sickness tablets, and diarrhoea blockers are available from many pharmacies.
Please inform the leader of any specific medical requirements on day 1 at your group meting.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. Please refer to our website's Safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips: www.intrepidtravel.com/safety.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Your leader will accompany you on all included activities however during your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Intrepid's operational safety policy at www.intrepidtravel.com/safety.
We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it is being implemented in the field.
Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in Africa differ from those in the western world and not all hotels have a fire exit or smoke detectors. You may stay at hotels with unfenced pools and no life guard on duty. Some hotel balconies do not meet UK standards in terms of the width of the balcony fence being narrower than 10cm.
Pick-pocketing is very common, especially in larger cities. We strongly recommend that you do not carry large amounts of cash and use a secure neck wallet or a money belt.
Travellers must exercise common sense and caution at all times. You should stick to set travel arrangements and avoid unknown areas. Always keep a photocopy of your passport, airline tickets and a record of your travellers' cheques and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals. You should avoid carrying large amounts of cash, or walking by yourself at night.
While staying in National Parks it is important that you listen to any advice given by your tour leader and the park rangers regarding responsible and safe behavior.
On some trip you will at times stay in unfenced campsites within National Parks. While this is a fantastic experience, there are a few safety rules to follow. Please listen to the safety advice of your leader and park rangers.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader.
If you have credit card insurance your tour leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact telephone number rather than the Bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
Please go to www.intrepidtravel.com/insurance.php for links to various travel insurance providers.
As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the
frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and
likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group
- patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience.
Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time,
ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best
trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on
your part.
Please note that due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information
about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.
Our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a compulsory single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same gender for the duration of the trip, in accommodation ranging from twin to multi-share. Please note some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed gender share basis - where applicable this will be specified in our Trip Notes. On a selection of our Comfort and Original style trips you have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure that you will have your own room (where available). Please refer to the important notes if this trip has a single supplement and any accommodation on the trip that the single supplement will not apply to. Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the tour, pre- and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis.
We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. Please refer to our website at www.intrepidtravel.com/responsibletravel for further details and suggestions on how you can be a responsible traveller.
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Intrepid travellers. Intrepid's philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make our destinations such special places. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Since Intrepid Travel commenced operating in 1989 we have been committed to giving something back to the communities we visit. One way has been through our support for local humanitarian, development and conservation projects. Many of our travellers want to contribute something too. To make things easier we established The Intrepid Foundation. All donations to The Intrepid Foundation will be matched by Intrepid Travel dollar for dollar, up to AU$5,000 per donor and a total of AU$300,000 for all donors in each financial year. And every cent gets there as Intrepid Travel pays for all the administration costs. Donating is simple and secure. Please ask your group leader for information on the projects we support in the region, through The Intrepid Foundation; or go to our website: www.theintrepidfoundation.org
We currently have 2 projects in North West Africa which you can support through the Intrepid Foundation and have your donation matched by Intrepid Travel:
1. Animal Care in Egypt (ACE) - you may visit their centre on the outskirts of Luxor where they work to rehabilitate injured, sick and mistreated donkeys, horses, mules, dogs, camels and other animals; and to educate local people in appropriate animal care.
2. Handicapped Project Horizon - in Ouarzazate, is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of local people with disabilities through rehabilitation, and developing their health, and social and economic empowerment. We may observe their local artisans and assist through making purchases from their wonderful range of handicrafts.
More information can be found at: www.theintrepidfoundation.org
Orphanage Tourism:
In recent times orphanage tourism has become popular in Africa. Intrepid Travel does not support unscheduled or random visits to orphanages and children's institutions, as these are a child's home - a place that should be safe and respect their right to privacy and dignity. Undoubtedly the majority of travellers have best interests at heart, but the reality is orphanage visits can negatively impact the children. For more information on how you can help protect children during your travels, see:
www.intrepidtravel.com/pdf/rt/ChildSafe_Traveller_Tips.pdf
www.childsafe-international.org
This trip may include some pre-arranged visits to organisations that have been vetted by Intrepid Travel, and these will be facilitated by your group leader.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! This is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 4 weeks of finishing your trip. Go to: www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback
Thanks!
Do you want to see your travel photos published? To celebrate all that is travel photography, Intrepid hold an annual Intrepid Photography Competition.
There are five categories - real life experiences, travelling families, local friends, landscapes, icons - each with a fabulous prizes.For more information,
entry form and competition conditions, please visit www.intrepidtravel.com/photocomp. Send entries to
The Editor,
Intrepid Travel,
PO Box 2781,
Fitzroy DC 3065,
Victoria, Australia.
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