Best time to go to West Africa


Our West Africa Holidays
Equatorial Guinea small group holiday
The highlights of one of Africa's least known countries
West Africa Explorer, Guinea-Bissau & Senegal
Historic towns, vibrant tribal culture & the Bijagos Islands
Ghana, Togo and Benin holiday, gold and magic
Traditional villages and voodoo in Ghana, Togo and Benin
Ghana, Togo and Benin cultural holiday
Explore the unique African culture in three countries
Senegal and Guinea Bissau cultural holiday
Discover Senegal and Guinea Bissau on this 14 day group tour
Ghana, Togo and Benin holiday
Tribal culture, colourful customs and Ouidah Voodoo Festival
Cultural holiday in Ghana, Togo and Benin
Join an amazing group trip through Ghana, Togo and Benin.
Benin small group tour
Explore Benin's voodoo culture and ethnic diversity.
Western Sahara overland tour, Marrakech to Bissau
Travel from North Africa through the Sahara to the tropics
Guinea Bissau to the heart of the Sahara overland tour
Travel from Guinea Bissau to the heart of the Sahara
Guinea and Sierra Leone tour
Breathtaking mountains, idyllic islands and wild chimpanzees
Guinea-Bissau tour, beyond the Bijagos
Explore tribal traditions and the Bijagos islands
West Africa tour, Bissau to Cotonou
Voodoo heartlands, traditional storytellers and lush islands
Dakar to Accra, West Africa overland tour
Off the beaten track West Africa overland tour
Burkina Faso & Mali holidays
Experience the magic Mali and Burkina landscapes and people
West Africa tours, Ghana Togo & Benin
Explore West Africa's highlights overland
West Africa explorer tour, Marrakech to Cotonou
An epic journey from Morocco to the voodoo coast of Benin
Ghana Weather Chart
Things to do in West Africa
Things to do in West Africa
Things not to do in West Africa
West Africa travel advice
Being prepared
Jim O’Brien, from our Benin supplier Native Eye, shares his Benin travel advice:“Everyone tends to start off with East Africa or Southern Africa. West and Central Africa are much harder, and the attractions are less well defined, so you have to look for them and you have to be prepared for a bit of adventure, and to be honest a fair few problems along the way. We do our best to mitigate any problems that there might be but we always tell people to travel with a sense of humour and expect things to go wrong from time to time – and be patient while we sort it out!”
Senegal advice
Guy Lankester, from our leading Senegal supplier From Here 2 Timbuktu, shares his top travel tips for holidays in Senegal: “Senegal is a very good for first timers in Africa, especially the cruise, because there’s not that much travelling involved in terms of road travelling – most African countries are huge. There’s a four-hour drive from Dakar to Saint Louis, and then you spend a week on the river. You stop off every day at historic sites or to spend time in villages and you get a fantastic guide on the boat who takes you through the history of the region, the history of Senegal, the history of colonialism and how the cultures relate to each other. In a week’s holiday you’re doing a journey but you’re in good, old-style, colonial luxury. It is a very important river historically, as it was the route into West Africa when the French took the region in colonial times.”Ghana advice
Benin advice
Marian Thompson, from our West Africa-based supplier, M and J Travel, shares her travel tips for visiting Benin: “Benin has a lot of wildlife – several of the Big Five live here, and you can see them in Pendjari National Park. Ghana just has elephants, so if you combine it with a trip to Benin you can see elephants, lions, cheetah, hippos… it’s a good way to combine the culture with wildlife. We usually spend two nights in Pendjari to have time to go on safaris. And at Ganvié you have the “Venice of Benin” – a village on stilts in the middle of a lake. It’s very authentic; the people you see there are just living their lives. You can stay in a hotel that is actually out in the middle of the lake, it’s totally unique, and one of the best experiences in Benin.”Jim O’Brien, from our Benin supplier Native Eye:
“There’s a really interesting fetish at in Savalou called the Dankoli fetish. It is the most powerful fetish in the whole country, so you get a lot of pilgrims coming there to make sacrifices. I don’t know what it was originally but so many people have made sacrifices here that it’s just this mound of blood and feathers and wax and just congealed, rotting matter that they pay homage to. Voodoo is the state religion; it doesn’t have the same connotations in Benin as Hollywood has given it. It’s almost like a fairytale world. I’m slightly in love with Benin!”
Burkino Faso advice
“Burkina’s a really lively country. There are lots of open air bars called maquis, and they’re a great place to just sit, have a beer, meet local people and watch the world go by. It’s quite an institution in Burkina Faso. Also go and check out some live music in Bobo-Dialassou. They have quite a few places that have live music, and predominantly a local crowd but you get tourists there."
Our top West Africa Holiday
West Africa Explorer, Guinea-Bissau & Senegal
Historic towns, vibrant tribal culture & the Bijagos Islands
2021: 2 Feb, 26 Mar, 30 Apr, 5 Nov, 17 Dec
West Africa travel tips
We have selected some of the most useful West Africa travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.


“Ghana is the safest place in Africa I've ever been to and I recommend to people especially who thinks Africa is dangerous to travel and involves lots of hassle to go around. There is not much sightseeing type of tourist attractions… and not as many animals... And yet, instead of being introduced to only tourist-y places, anyone who likes to stay off the beaten path and experience the 'real' Africa in a stress-free environment, it's the perfect destination. I was impressed that many local children in rural villages never begged from tourists… and I was able to feel that people were genuinely welcoming us.” – Amy Sakai
“We experienced many memorable events but the Voodoo Festival in Ouidah, Benin was the most exciting. It was very colorful and spontaneous. Numerous people went into trances and engaged in wild dances... Don't hesitate to go. It will surpass your expectations. Don't worry about security. It felt very safe. But be ready for heat and humidity.” – Frank Keen


“I had one of my most eye-opening trips – and I have been on many. The tour delivered everything I had hoped for in a holiday that explores the more cultural aspects of West Africa. I now feel privileged to have done it... Travelling through the Somba country and seeing their fortified Tata houses - simply amazing!... Just go ahead and book it as the itinerary covers so much of West African culture, with particular insights into voodoo practices and life inside remote tribal villages.” – Mark Langer in Togo