Beaches & Jungles of West Africa

4.5 Weeks - 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.

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.

Itinerary:

Week 1: Ghana & Togo Accra and the beaches of the Gold Coast 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 Discover voodoo, a religion firmly embedded in local culture, amongst the jungle-clad hills of Mount Klouto Week 2: Togo & Benin Guided city tour of the voodoo centre of Togoville 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 Local pirogue dugout trip across Lac Togo to Togoville 2 nights to relax on Benin's Grand Popo Atlantic beaches, meeting the local fishermen Week 3: Central Nigeria Big game safari in Yankari National Park, Nigeria's best wildlife reserve. Stay at the beautiful hot springs 2 nights in Abomey, capital of the Dan Homey Kingdom with guided tour of Palace and Museum Overland through southern Nigeria to Jos Plateau 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 Explore Douala, the capital of 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

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.