West Africa Itineraries

A long weekend is only feasible if flying in from Europe. Head for Dakar, one of the region’s most vibrant cities. Spend 2 days soaking up the atmosphere in the streets, and be sure to spend a night enjoying the live music scene. Then spend a day lounging on one of the city’s many beaches, followed by a day at Ile de Goree to see remnants of the Atlantic slave trade.

Head to the Cape Verde islands for 7 days of island hopping. Alternatively, head to Ghana. Spend 2 days soaking up the atmosphere and frenetic nightclubs of the nation’s capital, Accra, before heading inland for 2 days in the Ashanti capital, Kumasi. Then spend 1 day learning about the slave trade at Elmina, and 2 days relaxing at one of the many beach lodges nearby.

Fly into Nouakchott and spend your first day exploring the fish market and mosques of the Mauritanian capital. Then head for the Adrar region and spend 1 day each in the labyrinthine towns of Chinguetti and Ouadane. Follow this with a 7-day camel trek through the Sahara, and finish with 3 days of bird watching at the Parc National du Banc d’Arguin.