55 Day Grand Expedition: from Cotonou to Marrakech

55 Days Grand Expedition: from Cotonou to Marrakech
“A once-in-a-lifetime experience”

Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and the Bijagos Archipelago, The Gambia, Senegal and Casamance, Mauritania, Morocco and the Western Sahara Province.

Trip Summary

EXPERIENCE Be at the forefront of a "Great Expedition" that starts from the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, crosses forests and savannahs to reach and cross the Sahara from south to north. The itinerary traverses the main natural, cultural and religious environments of the African continent.

In Benin and Togo, the itinerary focuses on the African origins of Voodoo to witness ceremonies, drums, dances and trance states. In Ghana we discover the Ashanti ethnic group at the time of traditional rituals, enjoy wild beaches and ancient slave trade castles.

Along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, we travel between pristine coastlines and wild islands. We will cross remote forests and mountains where the arrival of foreigners is a rare event. In the lesser-known corners of Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, we will walk on liana bridges to isolated villages, discover sacred forests, be greeted by traditional chiefs, sit in council with notables and elders, and meet diamond seekers in action.

In Guinea Bissau, we will attend a "tribal concert" performed by the Griot: descendants of musicians and storytellers dating back to the 12th century. We will enjoy three days of sailing exploring the Bijagos Archipelago. Driving north, the landscape will change from forest to savannah. After the sacred dancing masks of Casamance, the silhouette of the mosques will be a sign that as the natural environment has changed, so has the cultural and religious environment, from traditional animism to a peaceful and local version of Islam.

In Senegal, Cap d'Almadine is the westernmost point on the African continent. In Mauritania, the landscape and environment will change again, moving from savannah to desert. While crossing the Sahara, we discover the oases of Chinguetti and Ouadane, dating back to the 13th century.

Driving north toward the Tropic of Cancer we reach Western Sahara (now Morocco's Saharan Provinces) and its virgin sands. A region forbidden to travellers for decades, where we are proud to be the first. Several references will enrich the expedition that follows the routes of birds migrating to Europe after wintering in Africa. Crossing the Sahara, we will partly retrace an ancient caravan route to rediscover the same stone architecture thousands of miles north, on the other side of the desert. Graffiti will also be a reference, from present-day urban graffiti to prehistoric rock art.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience: during this multifaceted expedition we will also interact with "contemporary Africa." Walking through the intense city life of Accra, Abidjan, Freetown or Dakar. Feel the exciting mix of urban culture, live music, meet young and urban artists, experience fusion cuisine.

The right terminal to end this expedition from the Gulf of Guinea to North Africa will be Marrakech, an ancient crossroads and caravanserai and now a modern, traditional cosmopolitan city.

CLIMATE. The departure dates have been chosen to enjoy the best climate. Late autumn (and spring) are the perfect seasons to travel through the Sahara: temperatures are mild and pleasant; nights are cool but not cold and the days are warm but not hot. Winter (and early spring) are the coolest times of the dry season in Sub-Saharan West Africa.

COMFORT is a must to fully enjoy a long travel experience off the beaten path.

Transports: modern, air-conditioned 4x4 vehicles will be the main means of transport on rugged routes, while on main roads, modern, comfortable air-conditioned minibuses will be used.

Overnights: in comfortable hotels, four stars (****) in the capitals. Recent hotels with air-conditioned rooms and private facilities in the rest of the itinerary. The accommodations have been chosen prioritizing comfort, quality of food, friendly service, typical architectural style, and scenic locations. In the remote areas of the Sahara, we will enjoy two nights at our mobile camp with large Bedouin tents, carpets, mattresses and chairs. In case of sand wind, a comfortable restaurant-tent will be set for dinner. A well-organized camp experience under the stars of the desert is a must for the “Sahara experience”.

SAFETY is our main concern. The expedition is based on our long experience of the area and is led by knowledgeable expedition leaders. The itinerary is safe, our local network constantly monitors it thanks to a permanent presence in the field providing updated information.

Day 1	Cotonou - Benin
Day 2	The Stilts Village - Benin
Day 3	Ouidah, Afro-Brasilian Culture - Benin
Day 4	Voodo - Benin - Togo
Day 5	Lome: Cosmopolitan and Stylish Capital - Togo - Ghana
Day 6	Accra “The Capital” - Ghana
Day 7	ASHANTI - Ghana
Day 8	Elmina Unique Atmosphere - Ghana
Day 9	From Gold to Ivory - Ghana - Ivory Coast
Day 10	Grand Bassam - Ivory Coast
Day 11	Abidjan, Skyscrapers and Lagoons - Ivory Coast
Day 12	Cathedral in The Savannah - Ivory Coast
Day 13	Magic Traditions - Ivory Coast
Day 14	Masks of Beauty - Ivory Coast
Day 15	Liana Bridges - Ivory Coast - Liberia
Day 16	Liberia: The Land of Freemen - Liberia
Day 17	Bundo: Female Masks - Liberia - Sierra Leone
Day 18	Diamonds - Sierra Leone
Day 19	Banana Island - Sierra Leone
Day 20	Freetown Peninsula - Sierra Leone
Day 21	The National Ballet - Sierra Leone - Guinea
Day 22	African Bas-Relief - Guinea
Day 23	Fouta Djalon - Guinea
Day 24	A Remote Core of Africa - Guinea - Guinea Bissau
Day 25	Griot: The African Trobadors - Guinea Bissau
Day 26	Bijagos Sacred Archipelago: The Ghost Capital - Guinea Bissau
Day 27	Vaca Bruto Dancing Ceremony - Guinea Bissau
Day 28	Islander Life - Guinea Bissau
Day 29	Between Water and Land - Guinea Bissau - Senegal
Day 30	Casamance: Kings and Masks - Senegal
Day 31	Gambian Birds - Senegal - Gambia
Day 32	Stone Circles - Gambia - Senegal
Day 33	Goree Island - Senegal
Day 34	Dakar Metropolis: World Cuisine - Senegal
Day 35	The Largest Fishing Village - Senegal
Day 36	Saint Louis - Senegal
Day 37	Djoudj Ornitological Sanctuary - Senegal - Mauritania
Day 38	Nouakchott - Mauritania
Day 39	Dunes and Mountains Mauritania
Day 40	Chinguetti, The Oasis - Mauritania
Day 41	Ouadane: The Remotest - Mauritania
Day 42 & 43	Lush Oasis - Mauritania
Day 44	Tropic of Cancer - Mauritania - Morocco
Day 45	Rio de Oro - Morocco
Day 46 & 47	Western Sahara: The Forbidden Track - Morocco
Day 48	From the Desert to The Ocean - Morocco
Day 49	Dunes and Lagoons - Morocco
Day 50	Estuaries and Fishermen - Morocco
Day 51	Camel Market and Caravan Terminal - Morocco
Day 52	The Oasis Trail - Morocco
Day 53	Dunes and Fossils - Morocco
Day 54	Rock Art - Morocco
Day 55	Marrakech – Morocco

Download Detailed Itinerary

DATES & PRICES

FULL WEST AFRICA & TRANS-SAHARA EXPEDITION
55 DAYS COTONOU – MARRAKECH
Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, Morocco and the Western Sahara Province.

PRICES: please request for rates

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Or Join us for one of the 25 possible legs of the expedition:

1) WEST AFRICA: 16 options, from 6 to 34 days itineraries. Savannahs and forests, unknown rituals, tribes and cultures in the most intriguing Sub-Saharan regions.

2) WEST AFRICA & SAHARA: 6 options, from 14 to 51 days itineraries. From the forests to savannahs and to the Sahara crossing. Experiencing a great variety of landscapes, peoples and tribal cultures from animistic villages and masks to desert nomads, oasis and camel caravans.

3) THE SAHARA: 3 options, from 12 to 19 days itineraries crossing the largest desert on earth, experiencing wild ranges of dunes, oasis, nomadic herders, and camel caravans.

View all possible legs of the expedition