Morocco

Morocco is the perfect starting point for any visitor to Africa . The open air markets, piled high with rugs and local crafts, are world renowned. The whole country exudes a romantic air, Casablanca , Marrakesh and Tangier, names that invoke cosmopolitan thoughts and stir exotic notions in everybody. The reality doesn't quite match the image although it has to be said that Morocco is one of the most beautiful and vibrant countries in the world.

The vast array of geological and social sights to be found in Morocco means that we will spend plenty of time here. There are many opportunities to trek, raft and at certain times of the year, to ski in the High Atlas Mountains. This combination of adventure along with the chance to experience ancient and modern cultures, makes Morocco a fantastic introduction to Africa.

Almost in direct contrast to the sleepy Hollywood image of Bogarts colonial outpost, Casablanca is Morocco 's centre of industry. The wide boulevards and parklands surround some of the worlds largest and most elaborate mosques.

- Rabat

Rabat is a wonderful mix of old and new, a largely modern city containing many examples of its glory days of the 12 th century, the Kasbah then was used as a base for campaigns against the Spanish, during these times, most of the architecture seen today was built. Rabat is an unusual Moroccan city, very few of the locals are into the tourism scams seen elsewhere and so it is a wonderful place to experience the mix of Islamic and European culture.

- Marrakesh

Famed for its markets and festivals, Marrakesh is an important cultural centre. The Souqs are amongst the best you will find anywhere and amongst the stalls and vendors, the snake charmers, story tellers, jugglers and magicians add a mystical air.

- Fes

Fes el-Bali or Old Fes is one of the largest living medieval cities in the world. There are over 9,400 streets and alleys containing many markets including the Henna souq, a market specialising in the dye used to colour hair and paint hands and feet. The overall impression of Fes is one of self importance and grandeur, seen in it's many labyrinthine streets. The most important part of exploring Fes is to employ a guide, as the risk of becoming lost is overwhelming!

- Todra Gorge

Todra Gorge is a highlight of any visit to Morocco . Reaching heights of 300m and at its narrowest point only 10m wide, this natural phenomenon is a sight to behold. There is a crystal clear stream running through the gorge and the opportunities for climbing are numerous for the experienced. The nearby town of Tinehir is worth a visit to experience the kasbahs and the local people.

- Volubis

Home of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins in Morocco , Volubis dates back to the 2 nd and 3 rd centuries AD. An awesome sight.

Western Sahara

- Desert Crossing

The Western Sahara is a barren place, the vegetation of Morocco quickly fades to sand and we will take several days to cross, stopping at the impressive city of Dakhla.

Dakhla is an impressive sight, beautiful beaches and dramatic cliffs provide a welcome stopover.

Mauritania

On the surface, Mauritania has very little to offer, the country is mainly barren, incredibly poor and has very little in the way of sights. It is this desolation that is the main draw to the area. Mauritania is dotted with prehistoric sights, nomadic tribesmen and Saharan architecture. Mauritanian music is to be heard everywhere, wailing voices accompanied by a "tidnit" a four stringed lute, take some getting used to! Most social activities are accompanied by traditional arab tea served in glasses with mint and the end to a good day in Mauritania will involve sipping tea with nomads, aware that the very remoteness of the place will mean that you are in one of the least trodden places in the world.

- Nouadhibou

The first town we hit in Mauritania is situated on a peninsular very close to the Moroccan controlled Western Sahara . Nouadhibou is a fishing town boasting huge stocks of fish. There are many opportunities to swim, water ski and fish in this beautiful area.

- Nouakchott

The capital, Nouakchott is a relatively new city, originally built on a grassy area in 1960, the Sahara has moved in and now the streets are lined with sand dunes. There are excellent beaches, always busy with fishermen, offering welcome opportunities to swim and watch the daily life going on around you. The people are very friendly and always open to talking about their daily lives and to showing local crafts.

The Southern Sahara

The crossing of the Southern Sahara takes us through oasis towns and meetings with nomads. We fully stock up on food, water, diesel and eye drops for the journey across the vast area that is the Sahara

The desert is rapidly eating away at Mali . As a result of the terrible famines and diseases suffered by the Malians, they have become an extraordinary peoples who's culture, religion and land are very important to them.

- Bamako

Situated on the North bank of the Niger , Bamako is a busy thriving city full of sights and sounds. The markets are a maze of stalls selling everything from gold to monkey heads! The Musee National is one of the most comprehensive museums in West Africa, full of everything from tapestries to weapons, definitely worth a visit.

Travelling on the Niger River is an entirely different way of seeing Mali life. The Niger is the heart of Mali and the busy ports up and down the river offer a different view. The only downside of the journey being living conditions on the boat, not the best!

- Mopti

As one of the largest cities on the Niger , Mopti has it's problems. Visiting Mopti involves running the gauntlet of hard-sell locals trying hard to offload their services as guides along with all manner of goods. Great care is needed to avoid being ripped off. That said, Mopti is a beautiful city with fantastic sunsets over the Bani and Niger rivers.

- Djenne

Djenne is not on the normal travellers route through Mali but it is a place not to be missed. Djenne is the oldest of one of the most beautiful of the Saharan trading towns. The entire place is built of mud and the Djenne Mosque is the largest mud built building in the world, adding to the surreal landscape of painted, thatched mud houses.

- Timbuktu

Regarded as the middle of nowhere, Timbuktu really is in the middle of nowhere!! The journey to Timbuktu is not an easy one and the remains of the once great trading town are unimpressive. The town is surrounded by desert and you will have to step down into most of the buildings as the sand builds up on the streets. It may not seem worth visiting but the name still holds a mystery and to say that you have been to Timbuktu is often reason enough to go, the Timbuktu stamp in your passport helps!

Discovering the Dogon people and their villages is a highlight to any visit to Mali . The Dogon have a vibrant and highly elaborate culture that mirrors Africa 2000 years ago and there villages carved into the pink sandstone cliffs are not to be missed. A large part of the culture revolves around colourful market days and an abundance of "millet beer"!

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a fascinating country, one of the poorest in West Africa , it has a reputation for having the ability to see the good side of everything. The hospitality is second to none and it is one of the most welcoming countries you can visit. There are very few resources held by the people of Burkina Faso and yet they have been able to create a cultural sophistication that belies their poverty. The Fespaco Film Festival a cultural event to rival Cannes!

- Bobo-Dioulasso

Home to the Bobo people, Bobo-Dioulasso is an amazing place. The laid back lifestyle, tree lined boulevards and welcoming people add a friendly air to the colourful markets and rewarding museums. Taking time out to sit in the leafy shade of the Culturel Francais Henri Matisse is a must.

Capital of Burkina faso , Ouagadougou is a relatively modern city. The opportunity to email, relax with friendly people, drink coffee and visit the local nightclubs is a welcome one. The lack of historical monuments is more than compensated for by the leafy streets and relaxed atmosphere to be found here. Camels, there are camels everywhere!

Niger is like nowhere else you will ever see! The landscape is awesome, black volcanic mountains overlook green oases, desert cities are in contrast to flowing waterfalls and above it all is the desert. The people are desert nomads, their aristocratic air is matched by their astonishing beauty.

- Niamey

Don't be fooled by the modern feel of Niamey , the real Africa is not far below the surface. A good night in Niamey involves staring at the stars, chatting with the locals after a good meal. This is what being in the desert is all about!

- Agadez

Agadez has a lot of history, once a flourishing city, Agadez is now a slow city full of Tuareg rebels and a fair amount of history. Slave traders and gold have passed through the city leaving an interesting place to visit. A lot has happened here.

- Zinder

Split into two parts, Zinder is a fascinating city. As the second largest city in Niger , Zinder is a city of contrasts. The North is commercial, mud buildings and industry are the key points. The South is a picturesque maze of streets punctuated with fine Hausa architecture.

Nigeria was set for big things in the 70's but didn't quite make it. A lot of money was spent on the countries infrastructure resulting in good roads, hospitals and local amenities. Unfortunately the Nigeria of today has a few problems but the confusion and mixture of over 250 peoples, languages and cultures thrown together brings us a country like no other. This is certainly the place to go to experience music with a wide range of traditional African music, Afrobeat and Reggae. Nigeria is not the most relaxing place to travel through but the music alone is worth the effort.

Overpopulation, bureaucracy, corruption, poverty and crime, mixed with a billion vehicles makes Lagos the type of place you want to avoid! "The best thing about lagos is leaving" has a certain truth to it!

- Kano

As the oldest city in West Africa , Kano has almost 1000 years of history within the cities mud walls. As the centre of the Hausa trading empire it's markets are amongst the largest in Africa , the indigo dye pits have been in use for almost 1000 years and smell like it!

- Yankari National Park

One of West Africa 's best National parks, it is well off the beaten track but worth the trip. Spotting animals can be difficult but large herds of Elephant along with many other types of wildlife live in the park and on a good day there is lots to see. The other big draw to the park is the Wikki Warm Springs, thermal springs bubbling into hot pools, very popular and great for lazing away an afternoon.

Cameroon is a diverse country, miles of black sand beaches give way to huge areas of tropical rainforests. Travelling in Cameroon can be tough, poorly maintained mud roads, pot holes and rain can make for slow going, the rewards are huge, Cameroon 's rain forests are stunning and contain some of Africa 's best game parks. Culturally, Cameroon also has a lot to offer, with over 130 ethnic groups speaking dozens of languages, all of this makes Cameroon the sort of place you want to stay for as long as possible.

- Yaounde

Nestled within Equatorial Africa's stunning rain forest, Yaounde has some of the best back-drops of any capital city. The cool climate and colonial architecture added to the lively African markets, amazing arts and crafts and open air religious ceremonies makes Yaounde a city with a lot to offer.

Douala is a lot different to Yaounde , it is hot and humid, very busy and a little dull on the architectural front. The lively cosmopolitan atmosphere will soon have you forgetting the negative parts and sitting back with a coffee on one of the hotel terraces overlooking the town is a great start to the day.

Buea is a sleepy town offering a beautiful cool climate and the opportunity to head up the awesome 3000m Mount Cameroon . The whole trip is about 27km and is not a difficult climb, most people taking two days to complete it, camping overnight in cabins. The climb is beautiful, taking you up through dense tropical forests and sub-alpine meadows. The return to Buea is completed with a beer at the Mountain Hotel and the opportunity to sit back and take it all in.

- Kribi

Although there isn't a lot to do here, that is the whole point of going. Beautiful white sand beaches and palm trees. This is relaxation time, sit on the beach drinking palm wine, enjoy fresh fish grilled to perfection and chat with the locals. Fantastic.

- Parc National du Waza

Probably Africa 's best national park, the terrain is not spectacular as it is mainly flat scrub land but the shear number of animals is overwhelming. At certain times of the year, the main watering hole is crowded with hundreds of elephants along with a large number of other animal and bird species.

Benin

Bad Roads, poor water and health conditions, corruption all mean nothing when you discover the magic that is Benin 's coast line. Stunning stilted fishing villages, incredible food and the many artefacts associated with the still practised voodooism and fetishism make this the perfect country to explore and uncover some of the magic below the surface. Benin was at one time the centre of the West African slave trade and there are lots of museums showing the disturbing history of the region.

- Cotonou

The unofficial capital of Benin is a vibrant, lively place full of upbeat bars, clubs and restaurants. There are opportunities to experience superb African food, traditional crafts and buy great souvenirs, these can range from drums to monkey testicles and voodoo love fetishes! Fantastic!

- Ouidah

Ouidah is the voodoo centre of Benin and as such can be both informative and shocking. There are some great museums detailing Benin 's voodoo history. Travel down the Route of the Slaves past statues and small villages to stunning beaches, the main route to the ships for slaves being sent overseas, a stark reminder of the towns history as a major slave trading town.

- Grand Popo

The beaches here are better than perfect, there is nothing more to say!

Togo is one of the most popular West African countries for travellers and tourists. The capital and surrounding beaches are the biggest draw, but venture off the beaten track in this stick thin strip of country and you will discover magical villages and vibrant markets.

- Lome

In the past, Lome was known as the pearl of Africa , the 5 star hotels where packed with wealthy tourists enjoying fine cuisine, unfortunately, political troubles in the 90's has all but bought the flow of tourists to a standstill. The good thing is that everything that was there before is still there now, just with a semi-deserted feel to it. The beaches are amazing, there are fascinating museums, western style shopping along with reliable internet connections and of course the voodoo markets seen all over the region.

- Aneho

Just outside Lome lies the old colonial capital of Togo . Aneho looks a little worse for wear nowadays, but the whole place takes on a very special air at night. The air is filled with local music and food vendors fill the streets, sit back with a beer and watch the world go by, superb!

Ghanaians are definitely amongst the friendliest people you are ever likely to meet. The colonial history litters the country with forts and castles contrasting dramatically with the tradition and rich culture. The craftsmen draw on their history to produce beautiful cloths and jewellery found in colourful markets around the country.

- Accra

As the capital of Ghana , Accra has a strange air of contradiction. It is hectic, yet holds the traditional laid back African feel. You will be amazed at how friendly people are, and the best thing is that despite its popularity with tourists, the city is not overrun with them. The city is famous throughout West Africa for its nightlife, especially its dance clubs, definitely worth a night out. The beaches around Accra are also excellent, travelling a few kilometres will take you to paradise!

- Coastal Forts and Villages

The Ghanaian coast is littered with old slave-trading forts and fishing villages. Many of the forts have been extensively restored and you can now sleep in a number of them. The first major town on the coastal route is Cape Coast, dominated by the landmark Cape Coast Castle, where you can visit the dungeons and see first hand the horrific conditions the slaves where kept in before being shipped out. The coast is a strange mixture of beautiful sand beaches and huge forts, a place that brings out mixed emotions in people.

The dense forests of the Kakum Nature Park offer excellent opportunities to see a wide variety of monkeys and birds, especially from the walkway suspended 40 meters above the forest floor.

Senegal

Senegal is in stark contrast to the surrounding deserts in that it is a vibrant lush country, rich in culture, music and the arts. Senegal brings in more tourists than any other country in the region which means that many of the costal areas are often busy but a walk through the streets and plains opens you up to far more of the culture of Senegal. World renowned for its football, Senegal has also produced internationally known musicians in the shape of Youssou N'dour and Toure Kunda.

- Dakar

Although it is very expensive, Dakar is amongst the favourite of all of West Africa 's big cities for travellers. It is relatively small and so easy to get around with wide tree-lined streets and a modern air. Night is transformed as many of the small café's and bars spring into action. There are many internet café's offering reliable connections and the markets are superb.

- Thies

Senegal 's second largest city is not very big but is a great place to relax and soak up Senegalese life. There is a world famous tapestry factory where the tapestry's are all copies of Senegalese artists and can cost thousands of dollars, a great place to walk around to see how it's done.