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THE WEST AFRICAN EXPLORER
West African Explorer
Special Departure - July 14, 2008 |
| LOCATION:
Senegal, The Gambia, Mali |
DAYS:
16 Days
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| FITNESS
LEVEL: Easy |
| HIGHLIGHTS:
Dakar * Goree Island * Pink Lake * Banjul * Canoe Trip in Makasutu * Sunset Sail on Niger River * Camel Trek in Sahara Desert * Bamako * Timbuktu * Dogon country * Djenne * All accommodations in Africa * Bed & Breakfast Style * All Airport Transfers * Air-Conditioned 4x4 Vehicles * Complete Pre-Tour Documentation * Tour Bag & Tags * All Entrance Fees Included * Shopping * Limited Group Size |
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Mali, one of the three beautiful countries on this tour. This country has stunning desert landscapes, superb mud buildings from mosques to the granaries decorated in a very unique rough but exquisitely detailed style. This country alone offers diverse prismatic land with very fine people, not to mention the magnificent Bandiagara Escarpment and camel treks from the legendary town of Timbuktu. |
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Package
Price
| Contact Born Free |
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Day
1 - July 14, 2008 - USA - Dakar
Board your flight in
your nearest gateway city and connect in New York City for your onward flight to Dakar.
SENEGAL
Day
2 - July 15, 2008 - USA - Dakar, Senegal
Welcome to the land of hospitality. Dakar, the capital of Senegal is a modern city. It is home to all of Senegal's ethnic groups including the Wolofs, Peulhs, Diolas, and Lebous. Upon an early morning arrival you will be met by our local representative and escorted to your hotel. After time to relax and freshen up you will be escorted on a half of a day tour of this amazing city.
Sofitel Teranga (B)
Day
3 - July 16, 2008 - Dakar / Gorée Island
This morning, take a ferry to Gorée Island for a full day tour and exploration. The Island is the historic site on the West African coast where hundreds of thousands of Africans were shipped to servitude in the Americas. This infamous place is now a shrine of sorts, where all may come and remember the tragedy of the slave trades. Gorée island has been on the World Heritage List since 1978 and it's significance and memory is here for all of us to remember. In the evening, return to your hotel in Dakar.
Sofitel Teranga (B)
Day 4
- July 17, 2008 - Dakar / Pink Lake
An hour’s drive east of Dakar is the Pink Lake, where minerals in the water turn the lake a remarkable pink at certain times of the day. The lake provides a habitat for a breathtaking number of birds such as flamingoes, egrets and spoonbills. It is a magical stretch of water surrounded by sand dunes and a baobab forest. The local people in the surrounding villages, known as salt-harvesters will continue to make this a wonderful cultural experience. Enjoy a traditional Senegalese lunch before returning to your hotel.
Sofitel Teranga (BL)
THE GAMBIA
Day
5 - July 18, 2008 - Banjul, The Gambia
Visit small villages on your way to The Gambia, Africa's smallest country. Spend the morning on an escorted tour of the markets, which are filled with creative batiks, carvings and tie-dyed fabric. There is time to meet the local people and learn about their lifestyle. Banjul, capital of The Gambia, is situated on St. Mary's Island where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean. It is the only large urban area in The Gambia and is the country's economic center. Its port handles the exporting of it's chief industry, peanuts! Today you will also visit Arch 22 located on Independence Drive. The Arch was built to commemorate the July 22 1994 bloodless coup when a young army officer Yahya Jammeh took control of the country ousting the existing President.
Atlantic Beach Hotel (B)
Day
6 - July 19, 2008 - Banjul, The Gambia
Visit markets, which are filled with creative batiks factory, carvings and tie-dyed fabric. Visiting a batik factory, you will see the batik making process from the design, waxing, boiling to the finished product. You will see batiks being drawn, waxed and boiled. A stop is made for lunch at Lamine Lodge, an unusual floating log cabin restaurant.
Atlantic Beach Hotel (BL)
Day
7 - July 20, 2008 - Makasutu / Banjul, The Gambia
After breakfast, drive to the Makasutu cultural forest, a palm forest situated on the banks of a beautiful meandering tributary of the River Gambia. The area is home to hundreds of varieties of birds, as well as monkeys, monitor lizards, pygmy deer, mongoose to name but a few. In Makasutu, you will take a traditional canoe trip down the waters seeing wildlife, fishermen and women collecting oysters from the mangrove. After a short bush walk, return to your lodging for traditional dancers and drum troupes.
Atlantic Beach Hotel (B)
MALI
Day
8 - July 21, 2008 - Banjul / Bamako, Mali
Today you'll travel from Banjul to beautiful Mali. Your first stop is Bamako, the lively capital of Mali. With excellent markets, friendly people and a laid back atmosphere Bamako allows an exploration of another culture. Tonight you'll overnight in a local hotel.
Hotel (B)
Day
9-10 - July 22-23, 2008 - Mopti
After breakfast, drive to Mopti, sightseeing en route. Mopti is build on three islands connected by dikes, situated at the confluence of the Bani and Niger river and therefore is called the Venice of Mali. Enjoy many of Mopti's sights including the markets, mosque's and docklands. Tonight, relax with a sunset sail on the Niger River.
Hotel (B)
Day
10 - July 23, 2008 - Mopti / Timbuktu
This morning enjoy a city tour of Mopti. See the beautiful Sudanese-style mosque, the fishing port, and the bustling local market. The bustle of the many peoples, the diverse ethnic groups, and the sights, sounds, smell are simply breathtaking! At mid-morning, drive to Timbuktu where you will overnight.
Hotel (B)
Day
11 - July 24, 2008 - Timbuktu / Sahara Desert
Today you will have a full day to explore this fabled city: visit the old mosques, which are former universities, the museum and archives of ancient Islamic manuscripts, the explorers' houses, the city market and the artisans' center. You will also get the opportunity to enjoy a Sahara Desert excursion by camel caravan to visit a Tuareg camp on the dunes.
Hotel (B)
Day
12 - July 25, 2008 - Timbuktu / Dogon country
Drive across the Sahel, to Mali's fascinating Dogon country where you will overnight in Sangha.
Hotel (B)
Day
13 - July 26, 2008 - Dogon country
Visit Dogon villages along the Bandiagara escarpment, often referred to as one of the most picturesque parts of West Africa. You will see many examples of the classic traditional Dogon architecture and contemporary fetishism. You will have the option to witness a traditional Dogon mask dance.
Hotel (B)
Day
14 - July 27, 2008 - Dogon country / Djenne / Bamako
Depart Dogon country and drive to Djenne, ancient sister-city of Timbuktu. See the magnificent Grand Mosque, the world's largest mud brick architecture, one of Unesco's World Heritage sites. This afternoon return to Bamako to overnight.
Hotel (B)
Day
15 - July 28, 2008 - Bamako / Dakar, Senegal
Today you will have a Bamako city tour; This is a time to visit the National Museum, the city market, and the artisans' village. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight to back to Dakar. Once in Dakar, enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner with your group before boarding your late night flight back home.
(BD)
Day
16 - July 29, 2008 - Dakar / USA
Fly into New York City and then to your final destination... Home.
How
about extending your stay in Africa with a breathtaking exotic retreat
to one of our Jewels Of The Indian Ocean? How about adding a Gorilla Trek through the Uganda rain forests to discover the wonders and brilliance of the
elusive mountain gorillas, up close and very personal? They are both perfect extensions to any safari!
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