Fifteen days to explore a part of West Africa : you will ride from the Mossi’s country in BURKINA FASO, pass through the Woodoo’s kingdom in BENIN and arrive to the Ashanti’s kingdom in Ghana. You will be fascinated by the cultural diversity of these people and impressed by so many changes in the landscape. An adventure which will give you the opportunity to be better aware of the specificity of that region of Western Africa.

DAY 1:
Arrival in OUAGADOUGOU. Night in the Grand Calao.

DAY 2:
Departure for the east of Burkina Faso. In LAONGO, you will tour a site where sculptors, coming from different countries have cut the rock to give rise to contemporary sculptures ; a kind of open-air museum. Lunch in a local restaurant in FADA N’GOURMA (capital of Gourmantché’s country and the largest town before the Niger’s border). Dinner and night in Thialy Lodge, located on an island of the Kompienga dam.

DAY 3:
You will cross the border by the north of Benin to arrive in the biggest nature reserve of West Africa. There you will surprise cobs, bubbles, elephants, monkeys and off course, many kind of birds. With a little chance you may also see some lions and buffaloes. Night in the PENDJARI’s hotel (swimming pool).

DAY 4:
Last tours of the reserve with a stop over at the pond of BALI, to see all kinds of animals that live there. Picnic at noon. Tour to the waterfalls of TANOUGOU (where bathing is possible). Night in the encampment of Tanougou, built near the water, under shady big trees.

DAY 5:
Discovery of Somba’s villages, an ethnic group of the north of Benin. They live in a mountainous region called ATAKORA, in a kind of farm-fortresses (Tata Sombas), highly characterized by their architecture. Night and dinner in PLM Tatas Sombas, in NATITTINGOU.

DAY 6:
Then, you will ride through the land of DASSA, a holy place devoted to the pilgrimage of the Black Virgin. Dassa is a town built around spectacular rocks. Later, you will stop in SAVE for trying to meet the king. Dinner and night in the inn of Dassa (simple, clean and hospitable).

DAY 7:
Visit of the royal palaces (Temple Zewa, Aglongo, Gelele Behanzin,) in ABOMEY, the historical capital of Dahomey’s kingdom, where you can admire some beautiful objets d’art remembering us the prestigious period of these Kings. Thanks to a dugout canoe, we will visit GANVIE, a lakeside city of 40,000 inhabitants on the lagoon (floating market, huts on piles…). This lakeside city was build because of slavery : the people coming from the Dahomey’s kingdom had seeked refuge in this lakeside, where nobody else wants to come… Night in the Lake Hotel, in COTONOU.

DAY 8:
Discovery of COTONOU and its craftsmen’s center, its market. After that, you will ride to PORTO-NOVO, the administrative capital of Benin (ethnographic museum, the Royal Palace). In the end of the afternoon, you will assist to a presentation of Voodoo before taking the way to GRAND POPO, to spend the night in the inn, near the beach, under coconut trees.


DAY 9:
Visit to the fishermen’s villages on the lake Aheme (big fishing center) : may be, you will assist to a traditional fishery. Then discovery of the Python’s Temple, the Sacred Forest, and Slaves Door… of OUIDAH : you will cover the road of slavery. Then departure for LOME (capital of Togo) to explore the famous fetish market of BE. Dinner and night in the Veronica Guest House.

DAY 10:
Tour of LOME’s city, last purchases and departure for Ghana, after the lunch. You will cross the border just at the exit of the town. Dinner and night in the SSNIT in ACCRA.

DAY 11:
During the morning, you will go to the National Museum of African Art, discover the town of ACCRA and have your lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon you will begin the visit of the castles, situated along the coast, and of the ancient slave trade center ; an opportunity to realize how important was the slavery and gold trade. Dinner and night in the Elmina Beach Resort, in ELMINA.

DAY 12:
Departure for KUMASI, the capital of the Ashanti’s (the most important and rich ethnic group of Ghana) : tour of the museum and of the market (well known in West Africa owing to the trade of the famous cloth of Kente). Tour to the three famous Ashantis craft villages AHWIAA for the home of famed fertility doll, NTONSO for the “Andinkra” cloth and BONWIRE, the home of the rich and colorful Kente cloth. Dinner and night in the Royal Basin Resort.

DAY 13:
Departure for TAMALE in the north of Ghana with an interruption to admire the Lake Volta (about 156 miles long). We will find again wooded savanna with its baboons. You will visit the local tannery, which supplies the whole country with tanned leather. Dinner and night in the Mariam hotel.

DAY 14:
Back to Burkina Faso. During the travel you will visit TIEBELE, considered as the heart of the Gourounsi’s country (a small ethnic group from South East of Burkina Faso, who lives in fortresses nicely painted). Arrival in OUAGADOUGOU at the end of the afternoon. Dinner and for those who desire : Ouagadougou by night. Night in the Grand Calao.

DAY 15:
Tour of OUAGADOUGOU with its bronze makers, its market and its craftsmen’s center. Lunch in restaurant in town and departure for the airport.