NEW TRIP
A Voyage from Ghana to Senegal aboard the Diana
Exploring the Coast of West Africa
BOOKING DISCOUNT
Back to back booking discount when combined with West Africa OdysseyPlease call for details
Overview
Immerse yourself in vibrant cultures, fascinating history, and breathtaking wildlife as you cruise along the west coast of Africa. Aboard the expedition ship Diana, you'll set off from Tema, Ghana, and visit colorful cities, such as Takoradi, famous for its bustling Market Circle, and Freetown, home to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Then explore the Bijagós Islands, an 88-island archipelago with lush mangroves and wooded savannas, before ending your journey in Senegal's capital, Dakar.
Arrive: Tema, Ghana
Depart: Dakar, Senegal
Highlights
- Visit Elmina Castle, a former slave trade hub, with its infamous Door of No Return
- Walk the Canopy Walkway at Kakum National Park
- Explore the remote Bijagos archipelago off Guinea-Bissau, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
- Discover Dakar, the large and vibrant African metropolis that was the cultural and intellectual capital of French West Africa
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Tema is a short drive from Ghana's fast-paced capital, Accra, a city that's culturally rich, modern, and historic all at once. European-built forts and Black Star Independence Square's public monuments offer a glimpse at the past. The neighborhood of Jamestown, a 17th century fishing community with old colonial buildings, is its pulse with an art scene and local bites like waakye—rice and beans with sides—at a low-key "chop bar."
In the 17th century, the British erected Fort William from local materials, and included a prison for slaves awaiting overseas transport. One of about forty slave castles, now a UNESCO site, it's been restored to house a museum detailing the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on Ghana. Cape Coast, nestled in a tropical rainforest, features diverse flora like palm trees and mahogany, along with fauna including monkeys, snakes, and birds.
Excursions today include a visit to Cape Coast Castle, with its legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. You'll learn how it played a significant role in the gold and slave trades but also contributed to the arrival of Christianity; discover the West African Historical Museum inside the castle; and take part in a traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance performance and lessons. Optional excursions include an in-depth experience of Kakum National Park with its canopy walkway, hike, and bird watching, and a cooking class.
Excursions today include a visit to Cape Coast Castle, with its legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. You'll learn how it played a significant role in the gold and slave trades but also contributed to the arrival of Christianity; discover the West African Historical Museum inside the castle; and take part in a traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance performance and lessons. Optional excursions include an in-depth experience of Kakum National Park with its canopy walkway, hike, and bird watching, and a cooking class.
A solemn reminder of the past, 15th century Elmina Castle in Ghana was a key slave trade hub, originally protecting gold trade before Dutch and British slave trade involvement. This UNESCO site exemplified the era's contradictions, with Europeans in luxurious quarters above filthy, cramped slave dungeons. The infamous Door of No Return opened to ships on the grueling Middle Passage. Shore excursions include a stroll through Elmina's atmospheric alleyways, and a tour of
Elmina Castle, the oldest and largest European building in Africa, a former warehouse used to trade gold, ivory, and eventually slaves, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also upgrade your tour to include a workshop to learn how to make traditional batik cloth.
The twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi, known as Tadi, are a key commercial hub on Ghana's deepwater port, featuring a 17th century Dutch fort, a relaxed beachfront, and Africa's largest market offering coconuts, dried fish, and tangy jollof rice. Nearby Kakum National Park hosts an endangered Ghanaian rainforest with native wildlife, lush plant life, exotic birds, vibrant butterflies, and a Canopy Walkway suspended 100 feet above the ground.
The twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi, known as Tadi, are a key commercial hub on Ghana's deepwater port, featuring a 17th century Dutch fort, a relaxed beachfront, and Africa's largest market offering coconuts, dried fish, and tangy jollof rice. Nearby Kakum National Park hosts an endangered Ghanaian rainforest with native wildlife, lush plant life, exotic birds, vibrant butterflies, and a Canopy Walkway suspended 100 feet above the ground.
A city pulsating with energy, Abidjan, the former capital of Côte D'Ivoire, stands as a hub of creativity and innovation. The thriving arts and music scene interweaves with the cultures, cuisines, and traditions that define Abidjan. Serving as a window into West Africa, the infectious tropical mood permeates the city. Abidjan's unique atmosphere, galleries, and markets, along with the fascinating National Museum, make it a captivating destination. Visit the highlights of Abidjan and Banco National Park; optional excursions include visiting a chocolate factory, the National Costume Museum, botanical garden, and learning how to cook attieke, a cassava couscous.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship's observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip, or head to the library that is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert's view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from the onboard professional photographers.
The bustling capital of Liberia, Monrovia, was founded in the 1800s as a settlement for formerly enslaved people from North America. The National Museum is custodian to the region's history and art. Today's city is a mix of architectural styles, lively beaches, and street markets, such as the jumbled Waterside Market, filled with colorful fabric and crafts. Liberia's Creole cuisine fuses flavors brought from West Africa to America. Enjoy a tour of historical Monrovia; an all-day option is to visit Libassa Ecolodge and its wildlife sanctuary where they care for and rehabilitate wild confiscated or injured animals, followed by lunch and an afternoon of activities at the resort. The following day is at sea.
Sierra Leone's portside capital city occupies a major position in history as the home of formerly enslaved people from North America and Britain. Sites like Cotton Tree and the King's Yard Gate symbolize the town's somber past. Freetown today is a diverse city with a rich heritage—colorful Krio architecture, hearty, rice-based cuisine, and lively beaches. Options include visiting the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which rescues endangered primates in a rainforest, and
watching for local waterbirds on the Sierra Leone River Estuary near Bunce Island. The following day is at sea.
The remote Bijagos archipelago off Guinea-Bissau has 88 islands of mangroves, mudflats, savannas, and palm forests, protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. On Canhabaque island, local culture retains coming-of-age ceremonies like difuntu and fanado. The former capital Bolama, now sits abandoned, while Orango National Park's biodiverse ecosystems include wooded savannas and isolated villages led by matriarchal queen-priestesses. Excursions include touring Bolama Island, the former capital of Portuguese Guinea, and visiting a Bijagos village and seeing how the residents process cashew nuts and palm oil.
At the meeting point of the Gambia River and the Atlantic, Gambia's relaxed capital city, Banjul, sits on a little island filled with colonial buildings and vibrant markets. The 19th century Albert Market sells souvenirs and the vibrant traditional clothing of The Gambia's diverse ethnic groups. Locals invite visitors to their typical Gambian home or "compound" and tell stories of their heritage while offering herbal tea and traditional snacks. Visit the highlights of Banjul including the National Museum and
Katchikally Crocodile Pool in Bakau; optional excursions include
exploring the Makasutu palm forest and its many ecosystems and four-wheeling off the beaten track with stops at local villages and a school.
Fabulous museums, a thriving art scene, and elegant seaside dining showcase Dakar's rich culture and forward outlook. The bustling traditional Medina quarter with its mosques, tea shops, and street markets contrasts with the Senegalese capital's French-influenced architecture and cuisine. Mbalax music dominates the vibrant nightlife. Traditional crafts like woodcarvings and paintings sell at Soumbédioune market, making it the perfect souvenir stop. Optional excursions feature safaris at Bandia Natural Reserve and Somone Lagoon.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 1+, Easy, and is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active. Launch boats are used to explore the coastline and transport passengers ashore for walks to view wildlife.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.