Tour Morocco To Ghana Group Overland Tour

Others

Services of your Madventure tour leader and driver Transportation in our custom built Madventure overland truck Use of all equipment on the truck Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle Local transportation costs (if required) Ferry tickets (when travelling together as a group) 80 breakfasts and 60 evening meals All accommodation costs (75% camping, 25% hotels, guest houses and hostels) National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle

Meals

Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being. When we are camping we usually cook breakfast and the evening meal using our kitchen on the vehicle. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. Occasionally we may prepare lunch on the vehicle when we are in remote areas. When staying in hotels (usually in cities) we always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and evening meals are at your own expense when we stay in hotels. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget then eat what the locals eat. Western restaurants tend to be more expensive. 80 breakfasts and 60 evening meals are provided during this expedition. When it comes to shopping and cooking while camping we will divide ourselves up into groups of 3 or 4 people (depending on group size) who will do their own fresh food shopping, prepare the day’s meals and clean up at the end. This will work out that you roughly get to cook once every 10 days (depending on the group size). Fresh food is generally available daily so when we are camping we try to eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do cater to vegetarians but we do not cater to vegans or fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater to restrictive diets or individual likes and dislikes. Don’t worry if you are not a gourmet cook as your crew are also always there to give advice. Our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use. Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.

Transport

We will be travelling in a custom-built Madventure overland vehicle 100% of the time on this tour. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. Our vehicle can accommodate up to 36 travellers and 2 crew. Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery. Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe. Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to. There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board. We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, tables, etc. Our vehicle is also equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use. Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days. We carry a portable shower and shower tent so you can take a shower every day on this tour if you like, even when we are wild camping in remote areas. Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels and campsites we stay at. We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

Accommodation

You will spend 75% of the time on this expedition in your tent camping. The other 25% of the time you will be staying in local hotels, guest houses and hostels. Quite often we will wild camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated campsites with amenities. The majority of our wild camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, on a remote beach, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot. From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry. At some of the campsites there are upgrade options available so should you prefer not to camp or you just want some time alone you can sometimes rent yourself a private room at your own expense. When we are not camping (usually in cities) we always try to use decent, clean local hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get, good or bad. When staying in hotels, guest houses and hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of all genders. There is usually an opportunity for anyone to upgrade to a single room or a superior room if they so wish. All accommodation upgrades are at your own expense.

Guide

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 driver on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media. Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to. Apart from the excursions that need to be organised by the tour leader in advance, we leave most of that for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay. Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard but he/she is not a tour guide and may not know all the facts about the countries we travel through. Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Madventure and will have experience of overland travel but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK. Tipping the crew at the end of your expedition is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. We recommend you tip your crew a minimum of $100 each at the end of the tour, thank you.

Not included:

Insurance

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour. You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first. There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for people based in the UK seeking a comprehensive and reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734, http://www.campbellirvine.com/Madventure Campbell Irvine are familiar with what we do so if you mention Madventure and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you. For people based in North America a company named Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and if possible make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

Optional

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only. Prices are shown in EUROS. MOROCCO Fez traditional evening €20 Fez guided walk €5 Marrakech guided walk €5 MAURITANIA Chinguetti & Ouadane villages jeep tour €40 SENEGAL Kayaking in National Park €15 Sine-Saloum Delta boat trip €20 THE GAMBIA Camp Tendaba boat tour €20 Kiang West National Park safari €35 GUINEA 2 day Fouta Djallon trek €120 SIERRA LEONE Tacugama Chimpanzee Reserve €20 Tiwai Island wildlife sanctuary €20 LIBERIA Surfing lesson €20 National Museum €7 IVORY COAST Yamoussoukro Cathedral €7 GHANA Kakum NP canopy walk €15 Cape Coast slave fort guided tour €5

Others

International and domestic flights (no domestic flights expected during tour) Airport transfers Personal travel insurance Personal spending money (£120 – £150 per week recommended) Visas (approximately £700 depending on nationality) Lunch and evening meals when in hotels, guest houses and hostels Lunch when camping Accommodation upgrades Entrance fees to optional sites and national parks Any optional activities and excursions Tent, roll mat, sleeping bag and pillow Tips (USD $100 per crew member recommended)

Flights

No Flights are included or expected during this expedition.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Morocco & Western Sahara
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Morocco & Western Sahara

Our tour begins in the beautiful Moroccan city of Fez, the largest living mediaeval Islamic city in the world, and it is here that we will spend our first 2 days exploring the city’s famous covered markets, leather tanneries, winding alleys and beautiful mosques.

Entering central Morocco we are now in the High Atlas mountains where we travel along the Draa valley, an area of earth-red Kasbahs and stunning Berber villages where we visit the spectacular pink canyons of the Todra Gorge.

Our next stop is Marrakech, an ancient caravan town that today offers fantastic souqs and the awesome Djemaa el-Fna, a nightly spectacle in the old medina where you can wander streets full of acrobats, snake-charmers, food stalls and musicians, simply amazing!

On the coast we now visit the laid-back fishing port town of Essaouira where you have the opportunity to relax and just soak up the Moroccan atmosphere.

Our final few days here are spent travelling down the rugged coast of Western Sahara where we will be wild camping on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 2 Mauritania
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mauritania

We now enter the Sahara proper where the desert camping is fantastic and reveals a night-sky that is probably one of the clearest in the world and littered with stars.

In Nouadhibou we restock our supplies before heading into The Adrar, a spectacular Saharan jewel in Mauritania’s crown. From our base in Atar you have the option to explore the ancient caravan towns of Chinguetti and Ouadane, steeped in history in a vast sand ocean of magnificent dunes.

Mauritania’s young and unassuming capital city, Nouakchott, is our last stop where the highlight is the colourful and frantic fish market.
Day 3 Senegal
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Senegal

We will spend our first couple of days in Senegal at Langue de Barbarie National Park which offers great kayaking and bird-watching opportunities. With its crumbling architecture and peaceful ambience the nearby town of St. Louis is also a great day out.

Our next stop is the lively Senegalese capital Dakar where we spend a couple of days exploring the city and applying for visas. The nearby Ngor Island is a fabulous escape from the frenetic city where you can enjoy a day of surf, sand and seafood.

At Toubacouta we visit the Grand Mosque of Touba and have time to explore the Sine-Saloum Delta, a series of brackish channels where you have the option to take boat trips to visit islands with baobab trees, shellfish beaches and most famously, a female chief called ‘The Queen’.
Day 4 The Gambia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

The Gambia

The Gambia is a tranquil place where our first destination here is the eco-tourism Camp Tendaba on the banks of the Gambia River. From here you have the option to explore the wetlands by boat and visit the Kiang West National Park, home to the clawless river otter, caracals, hyenas, pythons and crocodiles.

Banjul is the country’s laid-back capital where you have the chance to explore the city’s highlights including visiting the local markets and wandering the atmospheric back streets.

A real highlight of our visit to The Gambia is visiting the Tumani Tenda Eco Lodge, a self-sustaining local community where the villagers are happy to teach you about their daily lives which include oyster collecting, soap making, bee keeping, fishing and farming.
Day 5 Senegal
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Senegal

Back in Senegal we visit one of West Africa’s finest beaches at Cap Skirring where great seafood and live music is the order of the day. The cows love it here too and can be found enjoying the beach with the tourists.
Day 6 Guinea Bissau
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Guinea Bissau

Entering the friendly country Guinea-Bissau we head straight for the capital city Bissau. Don’t let the crumbling colonial buildings fool you, when the sun goes down the stylish restaurants and bars open and offer great evenings out on the town.

From Bissau we head east through some lush countryside and eerie ghost-towns on our route to Guinea.
Day 7 Guinea
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Guinea

After 2 nights of wild camping we reach the small town of Labe from where you will have the option to go on a 2 day hike to explore the amazing Fouta Djallon region. Trekking through the area’s rolling grasslands you will discover an area of majestic waterfalls, deep canyons and friendly villagers where we will spend 1 night sleeping in a local village getting to meet the local Fulani people.

The beautiful Bride’s Veil waterfalls are our next stop where we get to camp in a beautiful setting with cascading water to put us to sleep.

Our final destination here is Guinea’s capital city, Conakry, where we apply for a couple of visas. While we wait you have the opportunity to visit the Grand Mosque, Botanical Gardens and Loos Islands.
Day 8 Sierra Leone
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Sierra Leone

Our first stop here is at the white sand beaches south of Freetown where you can enjoy the sand and surf, explore the relaxed capital city and visit the nearby Tacugama Chimpanzee Reserve.

We continue to the friendly village of Kampai where we stay at an eco-camp and have the option to visit the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. On an afternoon river cruise or evening nature walk you have the chance of spotting the island’s high concentration of primates, and if you are lucky enough, pygmy hippopotamus and river otter.
Day 9 Liberia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Liberia

Having only recently opened its doors to tourists, Liberia is fresh and exciting and our first port of call is the marvellous beach town of Robertsport, a little slice of heaven for surfers and sun-worshippers.

Monrovia is the capital where we base ourselves just outside of town allowing you the chance to explore sites such as the abandoned Ducor Hotel and the National Museum, both offering great insights into this once war-torn city.

In the interior we wild camp at the beautiful Kpatawee Falls where you can either laze in the rock pools or hike up to the falls, one of Liberia’s most picturesque spots.
Day 10 Ivory Coast
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ivory Coast

We first visit the sleepy town of Man where a succession of green-clad mountains rise out of the dusty earth giving our trekkers the option to hike up Mt. Tonkoui, the second highest peak in the country affording awesome views over 3 countries at the summit.

Inland we arrive at the capital city of Yamoussoukro where the absolute highlight is a visit to the spectacular Basilica Of Our Lady Of Peace with its stained glass windows and towering dome.

Down on the coast we base ourselves at a beach resort between the modern city of Abidjan and the colonial town of Grand Bassam allowing you the chance to enjoy the old and the new side of Cote d’Ivoire.
Day 11 Ghana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Ghana

Arriving in the west we camp on a spectacular beach near the town of Axim where you can enjoy a lazy day in the sun or explore the Portuguese Fort Santo Antonio.

Further along the Gold Coast we visit the historical Cape Coast Castle, once the largest slave-trading centre in Africa.

In Kakum NP you have the opportunity to get a bird’s eye view over the forest from a canopy walkway where if you are lucky you have the chance of spotting elephants, flying squirrels, colobus monkeys and antelopes, as well as over 300 species of birds and 600 species of butterfly.

In Ghana’s 2nd city of Kumasi, Ashanti traditions still abound and in the enormous Kejetia Market you will discover the beating heart of the city where you can easily lose yourself for half a day.

This tour ends in Accra, Ghana’s capital, giving us a taste of big city life where you can enjoy the shopping malls, pubs and cafes that abound in this bustling town. The old district of Jamestown’s dishevelled colonial buildings and lively fishing port are also well worth a visit and an historic end to a true West African overland expedition!

This expedition ends after breakfast on the final day of the tour so you can make your onward travel arrangements accordingly.

81 days tour

Morocco To Ghana Group Overland Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Morocco To Ghana Group Overland Tour

Morocco & Western Sahara

Mauritania

Senegal

The Gambia

Senegal

Guinea Bissau

Guinea

Sierra Leone

Liberia

Ivory Coast

Ghana

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania