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25
weeks - Europe to Capetown
Spain, Morocco,
Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon,
Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Angola, Namibia and South Africa.
1875 GBP +
Local Payment 750 GBP
Min donation of 100 GBP towards projects on the tour
Plus Visas
Next departure
Departs
6th November 2009 Arrives 30th April 2010*
*see departures
page for more info
The Route
We will meet in Malaga, Spain (we do this to avoid transit time through
Europe after all we are here to see Africa) Then we cross to the duty
free port of Ceuta and straight into Morocco… And Africa…
Spain to Cape
Town 25 Weeks
*these weeks are a rough guide only!!!
Week 1 - 4: Europe, Malaga in Spain Morocco, Mauritania
Week 5 - 8: Senegal, Mali,
Week 8 - 12: Burkina Faso, Ghana
Week 12- 16 Togo, Benin, Nigeria
Week 16 - 20: Cameroon, Gabon, republic of congo, Democratic Republic
of Congo
Week 20 - 23: Angola, Namibia
Week 24 South Africa
Week 25 Cape Town
THE MAP!!!
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man in Djalaba,
Marrakesh
Tannery in
Fez
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| Morocco |
|
This
is where our trip really begins; it is an amazing country complete
with ancient Roman and Arabic history and more recently that of
the French colonial era. Morocco tantalizes all the senses with
amazing smells, sights and most importantly tastes... and a great
place for the bargain hunters with quality carpets, rugs and leather
goods galore. We visit Fes (complete with around 9000 tiny streets
it is like a maze), Marrakech and Essawira on the coast. We will
have the chance to trek with the Berber people in the high Atlas
Mountains and even Climb Jebel Toubkal (at over 4000m). Morocco
is a fascinating blend of ancient society blending into a new and
cosmopolitan one. It is a great place to start a trip in Africa...
Population:
Main Languages: Arabic, French, Berber ………….
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Lively
night market in Marrakesh, Morrocco.
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| Western
Sahara |
| We
take the long drive down the spectacular desert coast of the Western
Sahara. (Now governed by Morocco but still contested. |
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| Mauritania |
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We leave
the road behind and for the first 500km we may dig and sand mat
down to the capitol Nouakchott. En route we pass through the Parc
d'Arguin and drive some of the way on the beach... then onwards
to Senegal.
Pop
2.5 million
Main Languages Arabic, Hassaniya, Fula, Wolof, Soninke…
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Main
road to Nouakchott
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| Senegal |
|
We cross
into Senegal for an immediate change in culture; Senegal is one
of the most visited countries in West Africa. It has an amazing
blend of African and French cultures that makes it a vibrant and
fun place to visit.
Pop: 10.3 million
Main Languages: French, Wolof, Mandinka/ Malinke, Fula, Serer, Diola…
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Fishermen,
West Africa
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| Mali
|
We
continue into Mali, We visit the capitol Bamako then follow the Niger
River to Djenne (home to the famous Djenne Mud Mosque, which is the
largest mud structure in the world). Continuing to Mopti you have
the option to travel to Timbuktu and visit Dogon country. The Dogon
people live nestled in the Bandiagara escarpment where they live unique
lives with fascinating animistic religious beliefs and architecture.
Pop 10.2 million
Main Languages French, Arabic, Bambara, Fula, Tamashek, Dogon, Bozo,
Songhai…
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Dogon
country, Mali
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| Burkina
Faso |
We
head south through Burkina Faso stopping for a few nights in Ouagadougou
(waga- doo- goo) which is famous for it's bustling markets.
Pop 11.6 million
Main Languages: French, More…
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| Ghana
|
Next
stop is Ghana (which is the first English speaking country since the
U.K) Here we can revisit Ghana's amazing history along with the more
recent and sad slaving history. Ghana is also home to amazing beaches
and you have the opportunity to visit the coast and Kakum National
Park before continuing into the capital Accra and the coastal forts
of colonial times. Ghana is one of the friendliest countries you are
likely to visit.
Pop 18.8 Million
Main Languages: English, Twi, Ga, Ewe…
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Cape
Cross Ghana
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| Togo
|
|
We enter
the tiny Togo after leaving Lake Volta in Ghana. We experience another
distinct change in culture. We visit the Capitol Lome and some of
the stunning beaches in the area.
Pop 5 million
Main Languages French, Ewe Mina, Kabye…
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Moto
taxi
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| Benin |
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Benin
I the home of voodoo and many ancient and powerful Kingdoms. Voodoo
is still widely practiced today. Here we can visit Abomey that was
once one of the largest palaces in west Africa. We can visit Ganvie
where beliefs bring the people to build there houses on stilts above
the water. We can spare a couple of days on the lovely beaches of
gran popo.
Pop
6.5 million
Main
Languages French, Fon, Bariba, Dendi…
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Beach,
Benin
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| Nigeria |
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Nigeria
is Africa's most populated country and is quite simply hectic. Traffic
jams, fuel shortages and power blackouts make our journey here an
adventure. Lagos is the biggest city in Nigeria and earns its name
as a "sprawling metropolis". Journeying towards Cameroon
we visit several national parks - a respite from the hustle and
bustle.
Pop
126.6 million
Main
Languages: English, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba………..
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Patience
is a virtue in Nigeria
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| Cameroon |
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Cameroon
has been described as Africa in a microcosm due to its amazing diversity,
Desert, rainforest, ancient kingdoms to modern cities. Douala Younde
and the beaches at Limbe (where you have the option to climb Mount
Cameroon at 4800m) are next with the beautiful white beaches of
Kribi - where the rainforests meet the ocean.
Pop
15 million
Main Languages French, English, Fulfulde, Ewondo, Douala…
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Rainforest
to the beach, Cameroon
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| Gabon
|
We
enter Gabon, a rainforest covered country. Here the lowland Gorillas
are omnipresent, and again the rainforest touches the ocean along
its splendid beaches. The Capitol Libreville is surprisingly modern
due to oil wealth outside this the country - is that more like the
surrounding countries.
Pop 1.45 million
Main Languages: French (official), Punu, Fang, Myene, Mbere, Sira,
Kota…
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| Republic
of Congo |
We
briefly cross the republic of Congo and make our way down to Pointe
noire where we cross into Cabinda (a small enclave of Angola rich
in oil reserves)
Pop 2.94 million
Languages: French, Lingala, Kituba, Teke-Nzikou, Yombe, Mbosi…
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| Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) |
This
massive and mysterious country remains one of the last frontiers for
the western traveller. Due to many years of civil unrest poverty and
ludicrous corruption it remains largely off limits to western tourists.
It was the inspiration for Joseph Conrad's famous "Heart of Darkness"
It is a tragic example of human corruption and greed… We will
spend a small amount of time in the stable west of the country on
our way to Angola.
Pop 56.6 million
Languages: French, Lingala, Koongo………
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| Angola |
This would be oil and diamond rich country is recovering from a long
and bloody civil war. And despite the poverty people are happy to
be at peace again!! We follow the bumpy roads down to the Portuguese
style capital Luanda. Then on southwards to Namibia.
Pop 10.7 million
Portuguese, English, Koongo, Chokwe, Mbunda, Kwanyama……..
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`
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| Namibia |
This sparsely populated country is home to some of the most unique
and fascinating desert landscapes in the world. It has amazing blend
of Tribal, German and Afrikaans cultures. We will Visit Etosha national
Park one of the world's best wildlife viewing opportunities. Get close
to the wildlife with specially designed watering holes. On to Swakupmund
the adventure sports capitol of Namibia, we will be ready for a good
party by here as this is a point that signifies our journey will be
a little plusher for a while. We continue south through the desert
visiting the famous Sossusvlei dunes at Sesriem
Pop 1.9 million
Languages: English, Diriku, Herero, Kwangali, Kwanyama, Lozi,
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| South
Africa |
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We cross
the Orange River into South Africa a country of amazing diversity
and culture and a past that most people are more aware of…..
It is however easy to forget that apartheid was just a reality just
over a decade ago.
We make
our way south and have a final stop in Stellenbosch we can tour
some of the local wineries a perfect way to finish up the end of
the first stage of 'Safari Salama"
We head
on the modern and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town with heaps of cafes,
bars……shopping ….we take a well deserved rest of
a week.
Pop
42.7 million
Languages Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Venda, Swati,
Sesotho, Sepedi, Tsonga and Tswana. ... (South Africa has 11 official
languages and 4 in its national anthem)
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