Niger & Burkina Faso

In the middle of West Africa, sandwiched between the rolling expanse of the Sahara Desert and the lush shores of the Niger River, Burkina Faso and Niger await. Largely untouched by the modernising forces of time, these centres of ancient history boast a visually rich architecture and cultural heritage as well as opportunities to see glimpses of the region’s stunning wildlife.

Our five day adventure in Niger begins in the capital Niamey, where there is the opportunity to observe Western Africa’s last wild giraffes as well as some of the country’s best kept examples of traditional Hausa architecture. The tour also takes in traditional river villages, the ancient mosque and palaces of the country’s second city, Zinder, as well as the markets and Coranic school of Maradi, offering a unique window into Hausa culture and one of Western Africa’s lesser visited countries.

Once in Burkina Faso, our tour takes in the must-visit monuments of the country’s capital, Ouagadougou, including the national museum, markets, monument of heroes and cathedral. Driving west, the tour will move on to Bobo Dioulasso’s remarkable mud architecture and the old Kibidwe artisan’s district, as well as various visits to experience traditional village life. The village of Tiebele, located in the country’s southwest region, provides visitors with a unique look into the lives of Burkina Faso’s oldest ethnic group, touring captivating wall paintings and colourful, windowless traditional houses called ‘sukhalas’.