Tracing the West Coast of Africa
Tracing the West Coast of Africa
Tracing the West Coast of Africa
Visiting: Gambia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZVW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
20 - 100
Physical rating:
Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
17 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
We are thrilled to return to West Africa on a new and improved itinerary that highlights the very best of this dynamic region. Visit Gabon, São Tomé & Príncipe, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, and Senegal to discover their intriguing cultural heritage, storied history, and numerous natural wonders of these lesser-visited African nations.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Libreville, Gabon.
Meals Included: dinner
Arrive in Libreville in the late evening and transfer to the /Radisson Blu
Okoumé Palace Hotel/ for overnight.
*Accommodation*: Radisson Blu Okoumé Palace Hotel
Day 2 : After Breakfast, Depart On A City Tour.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, depart on a city tour, visiting the local market, the lovely
seafront boulevard, and stylish Louis Quarter known for its fashionable
clubs, restaurants, and bars. Enjoy lunch at a lovely beachside restaurant,
before embarking the /Caledonian Sky/ in the early afternoon.
*Accommodation*: The /Caledonian Sky/
Day 3 : The Ship Will Spend The Day Anchored Off Idyllic /Bom Bom Resort /On Príncipe’S Northern Tip.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
The ship will spend the day anchored off idyllic /Bom Bom Resort /on
Príncipe’s northern tip. Birders and hikers set off for the lush interior
to search for several species of endemic birds, including the Príncipe
kingfisher, Príncipe sunbird, and endangered Príncipe speirops. The rest of
the group will enjoy a tour of photogenic Santo Antonio, home to 1,500
welcoming residents, lovely Portuguese architecture, and colorful produce
markets. This afternoon Zodiacs take you to Banana Beach for a swim in the
warm waters with the option to snorkel among the ancient volcanic rocks.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 4 : Set Out By Zodiac For The Town Pier At São Tomé. Drive Into The Interior For A Short Walk Through Picturesque Forest To The Stunning Sao Nicolau Waterfall.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Set out by Zodiac for the town pier at São Tomé. Drive into the interior
for a short walk through picturesque forest to the stunning Sao Nicolau
Waterfall. From here continue to the Monte Café Coffee Plantation for a
guided tour and tasting of what some consider the world’s best coffee. You
may then choose to enjoy lunch at the Bombaim plantation, view and photograph
another beautiful waterfall, and continue to tiny, picturesque Trinidade
Village. Or, opt for lunch in São Tomé and a tour of the Cathedral, the
National Museum, the local artisan’s gallery, and enjoy a folkloric dance
performance.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 5-6
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Enjoy two educational days at sea as lecturers recap your experiences in
Gabon and São Tomé & Príncipe.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 7
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
This morning choose a tour of the Cape Coast Castle, a World Heritage Site,
built by the Swedes in 1653 and subsequently conquered by the Danes, the
Dutch, the local Fanti tribe, and finally the British, who established the
seat of the British administration of the Gold Coast here until 1877. Or,
elect to travel into the Kakum National Park for a rainforest canopy walk
that includes one of the longest and highest suspended rope bridges in the
world. Both groups enjoy lunch at a nearby beach resort before setting off to
visit the 15th-century Portuguese Elmina Fort—Africa’s oldest permanent
building.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 8 : This Morning Choose A Tour Of The Cape Coast Castle.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cosmopolitan Abidjan is the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire and a city
tour takes you through the business district of Le Plateau, filled with
gleaming sky-scrapers, chic boutiques, and outdoor cafes. Observe interesting
colonial architecture and colorful markets as you continue on to Abodo,
Africa’s largest outdoor laundry where hundreds of Fanicos (washers) crowd
together in a stream to wash their clients’ clothes.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 9 : Visit Cosmopolitan Abidjan, The Economic Capital Of Côte D’Ivoire.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Spend your day at sea attending lectures on western Africa’s momentous
history, diverse cultures, and natural wonders.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 10 : Attending Lectures On Western Africa’S Momentous History.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Liberia’s capital and most populous city boasts beautiful beaches, a
thriving culinary scene, and a fascinating history. Visit the National Museum
which traces Liberia’s tumultuous history, and browse the bustling
Waterside Market, where you can find colorful textiles, leather goods, and
pottery.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 11 : Liberia’S Capital And Most Populous City Boasts Beautiful Beaches, A Thriving Culinary Scene, And A Fascinating History.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today arrive in Aberdeen, a suburb of Freetown, with beautiful white-sand
beaches lined with lively shops and restaurants. Permission pending, visit
the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, set in a spectacular rainforest habitat.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 12-13 : Today Arrive In Aberdeen, A Suburb Of Freetown.
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Just off the coast of Guinea Bissau, the Bissagos Archipelago is protected as
a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Today, join naturalists to explore Joao Viera and
Poilao Marine National Park, an important nesting site for green, hawksbill,
and olive ridley turtles, as well as several species of terns.
The next day, visit Parque Nacional do Grupo de Ilhas de Orango. Spend the
day exploring this unique habitat that is home to rare, saltwater-adapted
hippos, crocodiles, five species of marine turtles, and the African manatee.
In the afternoon, meet with the lovely Bijagos people to learn about their
traditional matriarchal system.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 14
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Birders set out this morning for the Abuko Nature Reserve where more than 290
bird species can be seen—including African paradise flycatchers, violet
turacos, little greenbuls, and Abyssinian rollers. A second group departs for
a tour of the Makasutu Culture Forest showcasing the five ecosystems
protected here. Traditional Joal tribal dancing, a pirogue ride, and palm
wine tasting are highlights. During lunch, sail upriver to Albreda Village
and Kunta Kinteh Island, a World Heritage Site, where The Gambia’s slave
history began.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
Day 15
Meals Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today, visit the infamous slave-trading center, Gorée Island, including the
moving 18th-century House of Slaves, the Women’s Museum, and the fortified
Le Castel. An afternoon tour of Dakar includes the Great Mosque, French
colonial buildings, the President’s Palace, and the impressive new African
Renaissance Monument. Check in to the /Radisson Blu Dakar Hotel /for dinner
and a chance to relax before your independent late evening flight.
Tour ends here.
*Accommodation*: The Caledonian Sky
What's Included
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All accommodations
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Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear
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Arrival and departure transfers on group dates
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Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance
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Meals
12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners.
What's Not Included
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Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages (other than listed above), and other incidentals
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Email/Internet/fax/telephone charges
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Travel insurance
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Passport and/or visa fees
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Excess baggage charges
Accommodation
Food
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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