Beaches & Jungles of West Africa

34 Days - from $2180

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.

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.

Itinerary:

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

Optional Extras

• Day's guided butterfly walking safari through forests of Mont Klouto
• Night walk with local Turtle conservationists along Benin's Atlantic beaches
• Jungle trip to visit the Pygmy villages around Lolodorf

Accommodation: Small local hotels, mainly campsites and wildcamps.(85% camping, 15% hotels)
Meals: All food is covered by the kitty while camping.
Vehicles: Overland expedition vehicle.
Crew and Guides: 2 crew, local guides as necessary.
Notes: Because of the nature of this tour, the itinerary may well vary from that published. This trip will involve crossing remote areas and there will be an element of discomfort. This is a tough but very rewarding trip.Kitty does not cover food while staying in hotels and hostels. All kitties are quoted in USDs, however in North and West Africa, Euros are much easier to use. Please ensure you bring Euros and not USDs for the kitty and for personal spending. The exchange of USD to Euro for the kitty will be decided by the tour leader on Day 1 of the trip.On the northbound journey from Douala to Accra this follows a slightly different itinerary - please see trip notes for more details.
Reverse Itinerary: trips that run in reverse are specified with an 'R' in the dates and prices table below.