Email address: [email protected]
© SAIGA Tours
Start
Jan 29, 2027
Bamako
Bamako
2027-01-29
End
Feb 25, 2027
Lagos
Lagos
2027-02-25
Duration
28 days
Price
EUR8695.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
This is Saiga Tours’ most comprehensive and ambitious West Africa and Sahel expedition — a rare 28-day overland and flight journey linking six countries and three distinct cultural worlds. Starting in Bamako, Mali, travellers dive into the metal-recycling markets, the famous Bamako fetish market for traditional medicines and ritual objects, the National Museum, and a day trip to the dramatic rock formations and Arch of Kamandjan near Sibi. Live music that has made Mali world-famous fills the evenings.
From Bamako the route flies to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso for the painted royal compounds of Tiébélé (Kassena traditional architecture), Bobo-Dioulasso’s historic mud mosque and artisan quarter, the striking Sindou Peaks, Fabedougou rock formations, and the sacred crocodiles of Bazoulé. Continuing to Niamey in Niger, the itinerary includes the Grand Marché, artisanal village, Grand Mosque, and a memorable sunset cruise on the Niger River watching hippos and local fishermen.
The second half of the tour swings south onto the Voodoo Coast of Togo and Benin. Highlights include Lomé’s Akodesawa Fetish Market (one of the largest and most authentic in West Africa), canoe crossings to historic Togoville, highland waterfalls near Kpalimé, fire-dancing in Sokodé, the powerful Dankoli Voodoo Temple, Abomey’s UNESCO Royal Palaces and Chameleon Temple, the stilt village of Ganvié (often called the Venice of Africa), Ouidah’s Python Temple and Door of No Return on the historic Slave Route, and Cotonou’s vast Dantokpa Market.
The final stretch crosses into Nigeria for Lagos’s floating community of Makoko, Yoruba cultural centres, the Sacred Grove of Osun-Osogbo (UNESCO), Ile-Ife’s sacred sites, and the full sensory intensity of Africa’s largest city.
This West Africa Sahel combo tour is ideal for travellers searching for multi-country West Africa itineraries, Sahel tours including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Voodoo Coast experiences, fetish market visits, Ganvie lake village, and authentic cultural journeys through least-visited African destinations. Expect living traditions, excellent street food, dramatic landscapes, and the kind of depth that only a long continuous route can deliver.
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
This tour is made up of smaller tours which can also be done separately: West Africa Sahel Tour: Mali, Burkina Faso & Niger and The Best of West Africa Tour: Benin, Togo & Nigeria .
INCLUSIONS:
|
✓ |
Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels, breakfast included, except when other accommodation is mentioned in itinerary |
|
✓ |
Transport as per itinerary |
|
✓ |
Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary) |
|
✓ |
Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: EUR 1400
What is the single supplement? This is paid to guarantee a single room. If you are travelling alone and would like to be roomed with another single traveller, you do not need to pay this.
EXCLUSIONS:
|
⨯ |
Visa fee (everyone is eligible for an evisa) |
|
⨯ |
Meals other than breakfast |
|
⨯ |
Transport to Bamako at the start and from Niamey at the end of tour |
|
⨯ |
Flights during the tour (Bamako-Ouagadougou & Ouagadougou-Niamey) |
|
⨯ |
Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Explore the fetish market in Bamako
See the sacred crocodiles in Bazoulé
Cruise with hippos in the Niger River
Explore the fetish market in Lomé
Take a boat to the stilt village of Ganvié
Explore the UNESCO Sacred Grove of Osun in Osogbo
Itinerary
Day 1Fri Jan 29
Arrive in Bamako (Mali)
- Arrive in Bamako and check into the hotel.
- We'll arrange for everyone to meet up will have a group dinner for anyone who wants to join.
- Overnight in Bamako.
Day 2Sat Jan 30
Bamako
-
We will begin with a visit to some of the markets. This will include the metal recycling market to see how people melt down everything with home-made smelters - now that's something you don't see every day.
-
We'll also visit the local fetish market to see items used in black magic and also to buy some great Malian souvenirs.
-
Next we'll stop by the National Museum.
-
Afternoon visit to the Niger river to see people mining sand and to get a taste of local life.
-
At night we can head out to see some late-night live music entertainment that Mali is famous for!
-
Dinner and overnight in Bamako.
Day 3Sun Jan 31
Bamako, Sibi, Bamako
- Today we will drive two hours out of Bamako to visit the amazing little village of Sibi. This is a great place to experience friendly people and view local life outside of Bamako.
- Here we will also visit the amazing rock formations and get some great views including the spectacular Arch of Kamandjan and the consultation cave where people used to talk with ancestors and use local medicines for healing.
- Lunch in Sibi.
- We will then drive back to Bamako where we will visit a puppet display from local artists showcasing some of the different cultures from across Mali.
- Dinner and overnight in Bamako.
Day 4Mon Feb 1
Bamako (Mali), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
- Today we will fly to Ouagadougou.
- We will start to explore Ouagadougou, but it will depend on the exact flight schedule.
- Overnight in Ouagadougou.
Day 5Tue Feb 2
Ouagadougou, Tiébélé, Ougadougou
- Visit Tiébélé, the center of the Kassena civilization.
- Explore the royal compound, famous for its traditional wall painting techniques.
- Return to Ouagadougou.
- Overnight in Ouagadougou.
Day 6Wed Feb 3
Ougadougou, Bobo Dioulasso
- Drive to Bobo Dioulasso, a really picturesque drive where we'll cross some beautiful landscapes, but most notably from an incredible new road that is the result of an inspirational African story. Turning down the multi-billion dollar quote from an international company to build the road, the Burkinabe government funded and built the entire project themselves, including clearing the roadway itself, in just a few months. We think this is pretty impressive, and has started a small wave of chatter about African countries being able to build their own infrastructure.
- Visit the mud mosque, the Kibidwe artisan district, and the train station.
- Enjoy dinner and live traditional music at a local bar.
- Overnight in Bobo Dioulasso.
Day 7Thu Feb 4
Bobo Dioulasso, Banfora, Sindou Peaks, Bobo Dioulasso
- We will begin with a visit to the uniquely-shaped Sindou Peaks just outside Banfora.
- We will then drive to Banfora where we will visit a sugar cane plantation, waterfalls, and the amazing Fabedougou Dome rock formations.
- Return to Bobo Dioulasso.
- Overnight in Bobo Dioulasso.
Day 8Fri Feb 5
Bobo Dioulasso, Bazoulé, Ouagadougou
- Today we will drive back to Ouagadougou with a stop in Bazoulé to see the sacred crocodiles. Yes, you read that right - sacred crocodiles!
- Visit the Monument of Thomas Sankara, the FESPACO Monument, and the craft market.
- Overnight in Ouagadougou.
Day 9Sat Feb 6
Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Niamey (Niger)
- Today we will fly to our third and final country of this tour.
- Arriving in Niamey, we will be collected from the airport and transferred to our hotel.
- Overnight in Niamey.
Day 10Sun Feb 7
Niamey
- We will begin with a visit to Combo old are of Niamey, Boulevard des Ambassades, and explore the artisanal village.
- Visit historical monuments, Katako Market, and the national museum.
- We will also visit the Grand Marché of Niger, which naturally is the largest in the country.
- In the evening, we will take a cruise on the Niger River where we'll have the chance to see hippos and fishermen.
- Overnight in Niamey.
Day 11Mon Feb 8
Niamey, Koure, Niamey
- Today we will head out to explore the cattle market where we can see people buying and selling the unique looking long-horned cattle of the Sahel region.
- We will then head to the Great Mosque which was financed by the Libyan Government.
- We will then have our last dinner together at a local restaurant in Niamey.
- Overnight in Niamey.
Day 14Thu Feb 11
Lomé, Togoville, Lomé
-
Today we begin exploring the city of Lomé the beating heart of Togo.
- First up, we will head to the famous Akodesawa Fetish Market where we will be experiencing the vodoun religion which is where we get voodoo from. This market is filled with all kinds of dried animals, all of which need to have died from natural causes to be able to be used in natural medicine.
- After we finish buying all our voodoo items, we will head to Lake Abodrogo to cross on canoe to Togoville. Togoville is where Togo gets its name from, after the signing of the treaty between the local rulers and the Germans.
- After a trip to Togoville we will head back to Lomé, to see some of the amazing architecture of Lomé including the ECOWAS Development Bank building and the cool Independence Monument.
- In the afternoon we will take a trip to the National Museum before hitting up the Grand Marché, the largest in the city. Nearby the market we will also check out the Lomé Cathedral with its cool and interesting spires and great stain glass windows. The Grand Marché is a great place to pick up any Togo-themed souvenirs.
- After sightseeing, we will check out one of the many beachside BBQ places and settle in for a relaxing drink on the beach.
- Overnight in Lomé.
Day 15Fri Feb 12
Lomé, Kpalimé
- In the morning, we will head north to the town of Kpalimé. Here we will be up in the highlands of Togo. This area is the premier eco tourism part of the country, with lush rainforest covering the hills.
- After arriving we will go for lunch before heading to the surrounding areas to take in the scenery.
- We will make our way to Cascade de Womé where we will have a chance to have a dip, a reprieve from the hot humid weather.
- We will then head to check out the local Grand Marché of Kpalimé to take in some local life.
- We will head out to a local restaurant for dinner and then overnight in Kpalimé.
Day 16Sat Feb 13
Kpalimé, Sokodé
- Once again we are heading further north through Togo to the city of Sokodé, a city famous for its fire dancing.
- Fire dancing comes from voudon traditions and involves dancers playing with fire and entering a hypnotic state with drums and embers. It’s absolutely incredible to witness.
- If we have time we will head to the Sokodé Regional Museum to learn about the local Tem ethnic group.
- Dinner and overnight in Sokodé.
Day 17Sun Feb 14
Sokodé, Savalou (Benin)
- Today we are leaving Togo and heading to our second country of the trip, Benin!
- In the morning, we will leave Sokodé to begin the border formalities into Benin at the Prakete border stop. We will then continue on to Savalou, where we'll spend our first night in Benin.
- Arriving in Savalou we will be visiting some of the secret villages of Dankoli. The Dankoli Voodoo Temple is one of the most famous voodoo temples in all of West Africa and has a giant wooden fetish omen that is believed to represent powerful spirits.
- We will also check out the Royal Museum of Savalou which is all about the local monarchy.
- Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight in Savalou.
Day 18Mon Feb 15
Savalou, Abomey
- Heading further south back towards the coast we will be stopping in Abomey, the centre of the once great Dahomey Empire that used to control this area and was one of the most powerful empires in African history.
- In Abomey, we will begin our visit to the UNESCO site of the Royal Palace which showcases royal artifacts such as sculptures and thrones of one of Africa’s most powerful kingdoms.
- Later on, we will go to see the amazing Chameleon Temple if it is open. Even if it's not open, we'll check it out from the outside, which is probably the most interesting part of it anyway. This impressive 10-metre-high Chameleon-shaped building is truly impressive and should not be missed. The Chameleon is the symbol of the Dahomey King and is an important symbol in voudon that acts as a messenger between he human and spirit worlds.
- Dinner and overnight in Abomey.
Day 19Tue Feb 16
Abomey, Ganvie, Cotonou
- We begin the day by heading further south again back, to the Atlantic. On the way (about 2 hours) we will stop on the shores of Lake Nokoué where we will see many people engaging in local fishing practices. We will board a boat and then head to the largest lake village in all of Africa.
- Originally this village started when African people fled to the lake to flee slavers in the 1700s. Here we will explore the colourful village and even stop for some amazing fresh fish. People in Ganvie are super friendly and the town itself is a really interesting mix of cultures and religions with voodoo, Islam and Christianity all mixing together.
- After our visit to Ganvie, we will head to Cotonou.
- Arriving in Cotonou we will have a chance to go for a nice dinner and check out some of the amazing local nightlife or even just go for a walk along the beach.
- Overnight in Cotonou.
Day 20Wed Feb 17
Cotonou, Ouidah, Cotonou
- In the morning, we will drive 45 minutes to the heartland of Vodoun, to the town of Ouidah.
- Once we arrive, we will check out some of the architecture of the town as well as see the 4km path from Chacha Square to the Door of No Return, which is an important memorial for the slaves who went from Ouidah to the Americas. During the slave trade this area of the coast is where approximately 2 million slaves left the shores for the Americas, making it one of the biggest slave trading places in the world.
- We will then head to the famous Python Temple which was newly renovated in 2025. Here we will learn about some of the rituals that take place and be able to interact and hold the scared royal pythons.
- We will then enjoy lunch in Ouidah before visiting the old fort which is now the Ouidah History Museum.
- In the afternoon we will drive back to Cotonou for a relaxing afternoon.
- Dinner and overnight in Cotonou.
Day 21Thu Feb 18
Cotonou, Porto Novo, Cotonou
- In the morning we will explore some of Cotonou, beginning with the Dantokpa Market, the largest open-air market in all of West Africa, which covers more than 20 hectares. After the market we will make our way to the impressive 30m high Amazon statue dedicated to the once feared Amazon female warriors of the Dahomey Kingdom. Along the way we will also get to see some amazing street art at Africa’s largest outdoor mural.
- After exploring the chaotic streets of the market we will head to the capital of Benin, Porto Novo. Located only 30km away from Cotonou this smaller city is the seat of government in the country and also houses the Royal Palace.
- We will take a visit to the Royal Palace, often called the Palace King Toffa to learn about the past royal history of Benin.
- In the centre of Porto Novo, we will visit the Temple Zangbeto Kpakliyao which is the headquarters of the secret society of the voodoo night guardians.
- Later on, we will take a visit to the interesting architecture of the Porto Novo grand Mosque, which is one of the only mosques in the world done in an Afro-Brasilian style.
- In the afternoon we will return back to Cotonou for our last dinner together in Benin, before we head to Nigeria tomorrow.
- Overnight in Cotonou.
Day 22Fri Feb 19
Cotonou, Lagos (Nigeria)
- In the morning, we will begin the journey into Nigeria. Hopefully after not too many checkpoints with the police we will make it into Lagos for early afternoon.
- After we arrive we have some time to adjust to the chaotic energy of the city and we will head out for our first Nigerian group dinner.
- Overnight in Lagos.
Day 23Sat Feb 20
Lagos
- Today we will start by exploring the amazing chaos that is Lagos! We will start with a visit to Makoko, the huge floating village in the centre of the Lagos. In 2026, the government decided to try and get rid of Makoko by burning part of it down. Despite this people continue to live here. This stop is intense but helps you understand the city.
- We will then head over to the Yoruba Centre to learn about the Yoruba people who make up one of the main ethnic groups in Nigeria, alongside Igbo and Hausa peoples.
- We will of course stop along the way for some typical Nigerian fare. Nigeria has some amazing food and is especially great for spice lovers!
- We will then make our way to Ikeji to visit the Kalakita Museum which houses rare instruments and showcases the work of Fela, a famous political activitist and musician. Fela Shrine in this area still does weekly performances and should definitely be on anyone’s go to list if there is a show!
- In the afternoon we will make a stop by the Nikke Art Gallery which has several floors of amazing modern art all done by locals.
- We then return back to the hotel before heading out for dinner.
- Overnight in Lagos.
Day 24Sun Feb 21
Lagos, Abeokuta
- Today we will be heading out of the big city to the north to a city called Abeokuta in the heart of Egbaland.
- One of the highlights of Abeokuta is the great Olomu Rock. This amazing geological feature is said to be where the Egba people hid during the Yoruba civil wars in the 19th century.
- It is an easy 15-20 minute walk up to the top of the rock which will give us amazing panoramic views over Abeokuta.
- Afterwards we will head to visit the Alake Palace which is the Royal seat of the Alake of Egbaland, the head of the Egba people.
- Then we will head to see some of the markets in Abeokuta famous for voodoo items and fabrics.
- Dinner and overnight in Abeokuta.
Day 25Mon Feb 22
Abeokuta, Ife-Ife
- Today we continue our journey north to Ife-Ife, the cultural cradle of the Yoruba people.
- Arriving in Ife-Ife we will begin with a visit to the Royal Oodua Palace which houses the Sacred Grove of Odudwa, the city’s creator. This is an extremely special site to the Yoruba people and it is filled with many sacred sites and shrines.
- We will then head to marvel at the Oranmiyan Staff, a 6 metre high monolith which is said the belong to a legendary Yoruba King Oranmiyan, who is the founder of the Benin Kingdom and the Oyo Empire.
- We will then head out for dinner and overnight in Ife-Ife.
Day 26Tue Feb 23
Ife-Ife, Osogbo
- Today we will see one of Nigeria’s UNESCO world heritage sites, the Sacred Grove of Osun. The Scared grove is one of the last surviving tracts of primary high forest in southern Nigeria and the largest of the sacred groves that once bordered every major Yoruba city before urbanisation swallowed them. This particular site is over 400 years old and hosts more than 40 shrines and is still an active place of worship.
- After our visit to this truly special site, we will check out the local Osogbo Central Market which is another great chance to see chaotic local life of the Osogbo people.
- Dinner and overnight in Osogbo.
Day 27Wed Feb 24
Osogbo, Lagos
- Today we will hit the road back to Lagos (4-5 hours depending on traffic).
- Along the way we will stop to try some more local Nigerian delicacies.
- Arriving into Lagos in the early afternoon we will make a stop by the Lekki Conservation Centre which has the highest and longest treetop walk in all of Africa. Here we may see monkeys, snakes and even crocodiles hiding in the water.
- We will then check into our hotel for our last night in Nigeria.
- We will go for one more group dinner and maybe a drink at one the local microbreweries on Victoria Island.
- Overnight in Lagos.
Other Tours
West Africa Sahel Tour: Mali, Burkina Faso & Niger
Come and experience the heart of the Sahel across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. If you've wanted to visit the Sahel and get a quick snapshot, then this tour is for you!
The Real Yemen Tour
Yes, that's right, this tour isn't Socotra - this is the real Yemen. Starting and ending in Sharora, Saudi Arabia, we'll cross the land border and embark on this pretty epic roadtrip through one of the trickiest countries to travel in.
Voodoo Coast Tour: Togo & Benin
Fetish markets, voodoo temples and stilt villages along the Togo and Benin coast, from Lomé to Cotonou in nine days.
The Best of West Africa Tour: Benin, Togo & Nigeria
Lome to Lagos in this west African adventure, with voodoo fetish markets, frenetic cities, funky beach vibes and a day in the "Venice of Africa".