Dakar to Douala Dakar and Douala Overland

This fantastic route from Dakar to Accra opens up a side of Africa that is completely different to the traditional safari route. This is the Africa of bustling markets, colourful festivals and music - with Mali and Senegal in particular famous for their performers. Relax on the Atlantic shores of Senegal and soak up the colour of this country before exploring Niokolo-Koba National Park. Cross into Mali to the musical capital of Bamako before visiting the magnificent mud mosque of Djenne and cruising up the Niger River to Mopti aboard a local boat before trekking through the dramatic Dogon country. After a stay in Burkina Faso, rarely visited by outsiders, we head into Ghana for some game viewing in Mole National Park. We'll travel through the Ashanti kingdom en route for the Gold Coast, visiting community projects along the way, and taking time to unwind from the rigours of the road on beautiful Elmina Beach.

This is one of our overland expedition leaders favourite trips. West Africa is still a destination off the tourist map and it is tough to even travel overland through the region. For any adventure traveller wanting to see West Africa overland travel is perhaps the best (and for some the only) way to experience the area. Adventure travel should broaden horizons and beliefs and there is no area of the world better suited to do this than travelling overland along the route between Dakar, Senegal and Accra, Ghana. This overland journey opens up side of Africa that the East Africa safari totally misses out. This is the Africa of vibrant historic cultures, stunning fabrics, colourful markets and above all Africa music. Travel Mali and you travel music, and we will try to take in as many musical aspects of the country as we can. Mali tourism is based around the area's tribal make up. The country is home to the ancient Malian and Soninke Empires along the Niger River and we will visit the ancient settlements of Djenne and Mopti travelling by boat between these two cities. This is nothing like the adventure cruises along rivers like the Nile, it is a unique journey down a historic river by local motor pinasse (think long wide banana with a sun canopy). Life is pretty basic on-board but you will be travelling through the world of everyday Malian life. This type of grassroots travel is core to our mission statement of "getting back to the principles of responsible travel as opposed to tourism". For those interested in walking holidays, we will trek around the Bandiagara escarpment to witness the incredible lifestyle of the Dogons. Ghana travel provides a relaxing place to enjoy some R&R on the stunning beaches of the Gold Coast and to see the wildlife of Mole Nat. Park. Ghana holidays are not yet on the tourist map, but as a holiday destination Ghana will one day take off, as it has beaches, friendly people, wildlife and a long historic culture; see it before Ghana tourism becomes a reality!

Travel in West Africa is often challenging, and you'll need a well-developed sense of adventure to overland through the region. Beginning on Ghana's Gold Coast we'll head for Togo, where voodoo is still very much a way of life. Crossing this long, thin country we make for Benin where we'll stay in a stilt village, visit Ouidah, a poignant former slaving port, and explore Abomey, the former royal capital. It gets even more adventurous as we cross into Nigeria, visiting a wildlife reserve and heading up to the Jos Plateau. We'll travel right the way across this African giant, skirting the edge of the Afi Mountains - home to drill monkeys and chimpanzees - before crossing the border into Cameroon, overlanding through the rainforest on mud roads to Douala and the end of this epic trip.

To the traveller West Africa can be very daunting and this is where overland travel really comes into it's own. We have an overland truck, we have equipment, we have backup, we have trained crew and we have about 25 years of West Africa adventure. We would love to say that we can remove the hardship, hassles and frustrations of adventure travel in this region, but that were not be true. What we can do is make it a hell of a lot easier and much more fun. It won't be an adventure holiday, in fact it won't be any kind of holiday, but then I doubt you are looking for one if you are considering West Africa travel. What you will have is an adventure tour, a tour of the amazing things that Ghana, Togo and Benin have to offer. These countries have superb tribal history. This is where the great kingdom of the Ashanti people sprang up and we will make a fascinating visit to their ancient capital, Kumasi. In Benin, we will explore the Dan Homey kingdom, whose capital of Abomey dates back to the 17th Century. Voodoo is still a strong influence along this coast and in Togo we experience the voodoo culture of Togoville. The other main influence was the slave trade and we will visit Ouidah, historically a main centre to both. In Cameroon and southern Nigeria, we enter the steaming tropical jungles of West Africa. Be warned jungles are hot, jungle travel is uncomfortable, the roads will be awful, but if you approach it with the right frame of mind your jungle adventure will be something you never want to forget. If beautiful forests are your interest, then Kakum Nat. Park with its aerial tramways and the immense rainforest of Cameroon will impress you. This is certainly not your everyday journey and although the adventure trip is not designed as an Africa safari, we will have some chance to experience African wildlife. In Nigeria we will visit Yankari Nat. Park and an amazing Drill Monkey sanctuary to see these beautiful creatures as well as chimpanzees. But for the real fauna enthusiast, for the budding butterfly bod, in Togo we hike in the hillside forests of Mont Klouto. Finally there will be a number of chances along the way to relax on the wonderful beaches of the Atlantic.

Week 1: Senegal Explore Dakar, Senegal's capital city Overland trip on rough roads and wildcamps through Senegal Canoe trip in Atlantic mangroves 2 night stop on the beautiful beaches at Palmarin Week 2: Senegal to Mali 2 or 3 night break in Bamako, the music capital of West Africa Overland through western Mali 2 nights and game safaris in Niokolo Koba National Park Week 3: Djenne & Niger River Witness the masked dance and hear the rhythms of Dogon music Overnight pinasse journey from Djenne to Mopti Visit to the Djenne Monday market and vast mud mosque 2 or 3 day trek through the Dogon tribal region on the Bandiagara Escarpment Week 4: Burkina Faso & Ghana Overland and 2 night stay at Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso Big game time in the excellent wildlife area of Mole National Park, an elephant paradise Week 5: Ghana Relax at Lake Bosumtwe, a stunning crater lake Visit to Brenu School and community to see what Sabre Trust have achieved Visit to the stunning jungles of Kakum Nat. Park including an amazing canopy trek Relax and unwind on Elmina Beach and Cape Coast Explore the capital city of Accra Journey through central Ghana

Week 1: Ghana & Togo Explore the Ghanaian slaving forts at Elmina Beach and Cape Coast Accra and the beaches of the Gold Coast Discover voodoo, a religion firmly embedded in local culture, amongst the jungle-clad hills of Mount Klouto Visit to the stunning jungles of Kakum Nat. Park including an amazing canopy trek Week 2: Togo & Benin Discover the history of slavery at the Ouidah 'Route des Esclaves' Afternoon visit to Ganvie, where fishermen live in stilt houses on a marine lagoon 2 nights to relax on Benin's Grand Popo Atlantic beaches, meeting the local fishermen Guided city tour of the voodoo centre of Togoville Local pirogue dugout trip across Lac Togo to Togoville Week 3: Central Nigeria 2 nights in Abomey, capital of the Dan Homey Kingdom with guided tour of Palace and Museum Overland through southern Nigeria to Jos Plateau Big game safari in Yankari National Park, Nigeria's best wildlife reserve. Stay at the beautiful hot springs Week 4: Southern Nigeria & Cameroon Overland through Nigeria to the Afi Mountains, the edge of the rainforest Jungle mayhem: drive dirt roads into Cameroon's rainforests, digging out when it rains 3 night stay at the Drill Ranch Monkey Conservation Project in the Afi Mountains Week 5: Cameroon Time for some R&R on the black sand of the Atlantic beaches at Limbe More R&R on the white sands of Kribi Beach Explore Douala, the capital of Cameroon