There are a few ways to get between Dakar and Ziguinchor, the capital of Senegal's southern territory, the Casamance. You can always go by road via the Gambia, but this involves a border crossing and can be a hassle if you need to get a Gambian visa. There are also daily flights between the two [...]
Missionaries and colonists once referred to the coastal areas of West Africa as White Man's Grave. Mortality rates were exceptionally high, and a unicellular protozoan parasite known as plasmodium falciparum was one of the main reasons why. Several hundred years later, plasmodium falciparum – the most dangerous and most commonly found strain of malaria in [...]
Bissau is a country full of people who seriously know how to have after dark fun. In the capital you can find a bar on every corner but as far as nightclubs go you really only have two options. Balafon is a small club that is situated on the bottom floor of the Kalliste Hotel. [...]
Le Perroquet in Ziguinchor would have to be up there with one of the best budget hotels in West Africa. Contact: Sebastien : +221 33 991 23 29 and hotel.le.perroquet@gmail.com. They are also on the web at http://hotel-le-perroquet.com. It’s centrally located in Ziguinchor and is a close walk to banks, restaurants and the ferry terminal. [...]
Who would have thought that northern Mali could be some kind of culinary heaven? While the desert is typically considered a survive-on-what-you-can type of place, the populations of northern Mali have developed a few mouth watering dishes thanks to centuries of trade with northern Africa. Labadja is one of our favorite northern specialties, and it's [...]
West Africa is filled with exceptional places, but the Fouta Djallon is right near the top of not-to-miss wonders. Here the Guinean highlands collide with the headwaters of four major rivers. Sandstone spires climb skyward from their granite foundations, steering the water through deep canyons framed by jungle. It is as dramatic as it sounds. [...]
On a recent journey to Sierra Leone we utilised the visa facilitation service provided by Visit Sierra Leone (VSL Travel) in Freetown. We assume it would be cheaper to apply for a visa at a Sierra Leone embassy if you have access to one, but this option was not available to us. VSL Travel have [...]
Far and away the easiest route to travel between Senegal and Mali is the one that takes you from Tambacounda to Kédougou in Senegal, and then to Kéniéba, Kita, Kati then Bamako in Mali. The route from Kayes via Diema has really declined over the past several years and the security situation around Diema and [...]
Bamako has a storied and deserved reputation as a regional capital for live music. It's always possible to catch a show, even on the quieter nights of the week. But if you're new in town, or just passing through, you might have no idea where to begin. This is a map that will be constantly [...]
I remember when I first decided to travel to West Africa. Family members spoke to me as if I had lost my mind. "West Africa? Are you insane?" Thankfully, I didn't listen to them. West Africa has an unfortunate reputation. The region seems to only show up on TV screens when something awful is happening. [...]
