16 Days West African Treasures

About the destination: Accra is the capital of Ghana and is situated at the very south of the country, at the Atlantic Coast. The city was originally built around the port. Its architecture ranges from large and elegant 19th Century colonial buildings to skyscrapers and apartment blocks made of concrete, glass and steel. The center of Accra contains the main banks, embassies, the large department stores, museums, the government administration, restaurants and hotels. The residential areas are to the north and west of Accra. The highlights of Accra are the National Museum, the Centre for National Culture, Independence Square, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the fishing port at James Town and Makola Market, the university of Ghana at Legon is just 14km north of Accra, and its distinctive buildings are set amongst elegant tree-lined gardens that are popular with students and visitors.. Accra is vibrant and accessible and everything Ghana has to offer.

About the destination: Abidjan is the economic capital of Ivory Coast and is the most populated West African French-speaking city. Only Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, surpasses it within West Africa in the number of its inhabitants. Considered the cultural crossroads of West Africa, Abidjan is characterized by a high level of industrialization and urbanization. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • National Library of Côte d'Ivoire (Bibliothèque Nationale de Côte d'Ivoire) • National Museum • St Paul's Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Paul d'Abidjan) • The Cocody Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art • The Parc du Banco rainforest reserve.

About the destination: Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, andpalm kernels. It also has an oil refinery. Lomé's main tourist attractions are its markets, both the Grand Market with a large 3-storey hall. On the first floor is the Nana Benz, which is noted for its clothing; and the smaller and more specializedFetish Market (voodoo)There are fetishes, gongons, and gris-gris. The Palais du Congrès complex houses the Togo National Museum that contains collections as well as jewellery, musical instruments, dolls, pottery, weapons and many other objects showing the arts and traditions.

About the destination: Ouagadougou is the largest city in Burkina Faso. Located in the center of the country, the city is not just the capital, but also the hub of just about anything in Burkina Faso. The city has wide tree-lined boulevards and several interesting sights. The National Museum is located in a fenced area with buildings in African style. The museum has an interesting display of ancestral statues and traditional costumes of Burkina Faso’s major ethnic groups. Other interesting sites to visit are the Nouveau Grand Marche , the National Museum of Music, the Musée de Manega, the Jardin de l'amitié Ouaga-Loudun and the Moro Naba Palace. Ouagadougou is a fairly modern city with hotels, restaurants, bars, small markets, mosques and churches. The atmosphere is relaxed and its inhabitants are known to be very hospitable and friendly. The city a lively nightclub and live music scene.

About the destination: Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, is the largest city in Africa. The city is divided between the mainland, Greater Lagos and the Islands. Three major bridges join the island to the mainland. Lagos Mainland districts include Ebute-Meta, Surulere, site of two stadiums and National theater, Yaba, location of the University of Lagos, and Ikeja, site of Murtala Muhammed International Airport and capital of Lagos State. Lagos Island contains a Central Business District. This district is characterized by high-rise buildings and businesses. The island also contains many of the city's largest wholesale marketplaces such as the popular Idumota and Balogun markets. It also has the National Museum of Nigeria, a Central mosque, Glover Memorial Hall, Christ's Cathedral (CMS), and the Oba Palace. And lastly, there is the Tinubu Square, a site of historical importance that represent the unification of Nigeria. Ikoyi is situated on the eastern half of Lagos Island has a great number of hotels, night clubs, a recreational park and one of Africa's largest golf courses. There are over a dozen beaches in Lagos, perfect for picnics and barbecues. Beaches such as Alpha in Lekki and Wispering Palms in Badagry, are ideal places for fun seekers. For music and art lovers, Lagos is the place to be. Popular recording artists play frequently at the Africa Shrine and all over the city. Lagos offers visitors a glimpse of Nigeria's rich culture, a lively entertainment scene and African vitality.