Following our arrival into Niamey we will transfer to our hotel. Depending on our time of arrival, we may have the opportunity to take a boat along the Niger River to Boubon; a small traditional village, before returning to our hotel in the evening.
Today we will depart early and drive to the southern city of Maradi. During this journey we will stop for lunch in the historical town of Konni. We will hopefully visit a market here or en route depending on the schedule.
Following our time in Konni, we will continue the drive to Maradi and check into our hotel.
After breakfast we will depart for Zinder; the second largest city in the country and the capital of Niger until 1926. In Zinder we will visit the Mosque and the ancient Sultan Palace; which dates from the 15th century and offers a great example of traditional Hausa architecture.
Next we will visit the Regional Museum to learn more about the local Hausa culture and will then spend time at the bustling cattle market and artisan market. We will later check into our hotel in the town and stay overnight in Zinder.
In the morning we depart back to Maradi. On arrival we will take in the various sights including the Grand Mosque and the impressive Sultan Palace. You can enjoy haggling at the lively old city market before stopping at the artisanal centre to watch the expert artisans at work. You will have the opportunity to pick up some unique souvenirs, such as the world-famous Tuareg silver jewellery.
In the morning we will depart early to Niamey and stop en route at Koure Giraffe Reserve; the only giraffe reserve in West Africa. Here you will hopefully have the chance to get close to and observe the majestic giraffes in their natural environment.
After our time in Koure, we will continue on to Niamey.
In the morning we will visit the Grand Mosque with its vast green minaret and tiled dome and visit the artisanal market before heading to the airport for our flight to Ouagadougou (to be booked yourself). After a one hour flight, we will arrive in Ouagadougou; the thriving capital of Burkina Faso and the cultural and economic heart of the country.
After breakfast, we will drive to the unique village of Tiebele in the south west of Burkina Faso. This area was once the centre of the Kassena civilization. They first settled in the region in the 15th century and are the oldest ethnic group of Burkina Faso. Tiebele now boasts stunning wall paintings and its 'sukhala' or colourful windowless traditional houses.
We will also visit the royal compound within its circular winding walls, which was the former official residence of the community chief. Here we will see women decorating their homes in the traditional artistic style and watch a traditional dance in the evening.
In the morning, we will drive back to Ouagadougou where we will see displays of the traditional costumes and ancestral statues of Burkina Faso's ethnic groups at the National Museum.
Then we will stroll around the Grand Market and see the vast array of West African textiles and souvenirs. Afterwards we will head to the 5 metre bronze monument of Thomas Sankara; the assassinated revolutionary leader regarded as the African Che Guevara.
After breakfast, we leave to drive west to Bobo Dioulasso; the second largest city of Burkina Faso filled with rich culture and architecture. We will visit the Old Mud Mosque, which was built from local mud and wood in 1983 and is an outstanding example of Sahel-style mud architecture.
Following this, we will wander through the streets of the old town before visiting the Houet Museum. The museum is housed in a French colonial building and contains collections documenting the heritage of the Bobo, Fulani and Senufo communities.
This morning we will visit the old Kibidwe artisan’s district where we can see the traditional blacksmiths, potters and the process of dyeing cloths and we will get a glimpse into the authentic life of the city. We will also visit the historical railway station. The afternoon you will have some free time before meeting up in the evening to watch some live music.
After breakfast, we will drive back to Ouagadougou, where we will have lunch at the Hotel Liberte and we will have day-use of the hotel.
Back in Ouagadougou, we will visit the Cathedral, which was built in the 1930s with mud brick and is one of the largest in Burkina Faso and West Africa. We will also visit the Village Artisinal for a final chance to pick up some handicrafts and souvenirs, made by local expert artisans.
The tour ends this afternoon and you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
