Border information: if you are joining in Accra, then you will most likely enter Ghana at Accra Kotoka International Airport (IATA code: ACC). There will be an important group meeting at 10:00am at the joining hotel - please look out at the hotel reception for a note from your leader with more details about this important meeting. Your leader will collect your kitty and check your passport, visas, and insurance details at this meeting. The afternoon will be free to explore the city of Accra. Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Accra before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Accra. In Accra we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities...

" Day 2 to 3 " Leaving Accra behind us, we journey north through Ghana's interior to the historic town of Kumasi. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!). On the following day, we will have lots of time for free exploration of the fascinating town and its museums. Kumasi is the home of West Af...

Today we will drive south to the rain forests of Kakum National Park. On arrival we will head out on an included evening walk through the forests in search of wildlife, bugs and snakes! We may also have the chance to visit a small animal sanctuary en route. In Kakum National Park we will camp in the grounds of the Park HQ. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours.  INCLUDED ACTIVITIES Head on foot through the stunning jungles of Kakum National Park at night in search of wildlife : Included in Kitty About Kakum National Park: Kakum National Park is a protected area of dense rain forest in southern Ghana, just inland of Cape Coast. The forest contains some very rare wildlife such as pygmy elephants, forest buffalo and an incredible array of bird life, which we may be lucky enough to spot on a night walk through the winding maze o...

" Day 5 to 6 " Today we have an early start with an included morning visit to the Kakum National Park canopy walkways. These are a long series of hanging bridges at the forest canopy level that gives us a unique perspective of the rain forest - and at that time of the morning we will have the place to ourselves!  We will then head back south to the Atlantic coast and into Cape Coast for a fascinating and moving tour of the old slave fort there. We will then move to our stunning beach resort in Brenu Akynin near the town of Elmina. Estimated Drive Time - 2-4 hours. On the following day, we will get involved with the currently community projects being run in the Elmina area by the SABRE Charitable Trust. The Trust does very valuable work in developing educational projects across Ghana, with a focus on providing early-year...

" Day 7 to 8 " Border information: Exit Ghana at Elubo, enter Côte d'Ivoire at Elubo. Today we will follow the Atlantic coast and cross into Côte d'Ivoire, arriving at the old French colonial capital of Grand Bassam situated east of Abidjan. Estimated Drive Time - 7-8 hours. On the following day, we will have a free day to explore the old colonial town and to relax on the beautiful beaches around our hotel. In Grand Bassam we will stay in a local hotel on the beach. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES  Freely explore the stunning beaches and old colonial buildings of Grand Bassam, the original French capital of Côte d'Ivoire : Free  Visit the National Museum of Costume, which showcases the cultural dresses of the different tribes of Côte d’Ivoire : XOF 2000  About Grand Bassam: The tiny town of Grand Bassam was for a short ...

" Day 9 to 10 " Today we will drive to Yamoussoukro, the tiny and bizarre capital of Côte d'Ivoire. Yamoussoukro was the birthplace of Felix Houphouët-Boigny, the first president of independent Côte d'Ivoire, and is also the unusual location of the colossal and breathtaking Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the largest Christian church in the world. Estimated Drive Time - 7-8 hours. On the following day we will have an included visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, and then have free time to further explore the small city. In Yamoussoukro we will stay in a local hotel.  INCLUDED ACTIVITIES  Visit the opulent Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix, the largest Christian place of worship in the world : Included in Kitty  About Yamoussoukro: The tiny town of Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Côte d'Ivoire - a...

" Day 11 to 12 " Today we will drive through the lush countryside to the northern Ivorian town of Korhogo, famed for the multitude of crafts that are made there. Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours.  On the following day, we will head out on an included tour around many of the handicraft workshops in the area, visiting painters, bead makers, wood carvers and cloth weavers. We will also have time to freely explore the town and its surroundings. In Korhogo we will stay in a small local hotel.  INCLUDED ACTIVITIES  Head out on a half day trip exploring the many local handicrafts from the area, including a painter's collective, a woodcarver's shop, a bead-making workshop and a cotton-weaving community : Included in Kitty OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES  See a performance of drumming and acrobatic dancing in the villages near Korhogo...

" Day 13 to 14 " Over the next 2 days, we will drive through central Côte d'Ivoire and then cross its western border into Guinea. This journey will take us through some very remote areas and some very poor-quality dirt roads, so a great deal of flexibility is needed as our progress will largely be determined by the state of the roads. Both nights will be spent wild camping en route. Estimated Drive Times - 7-9 hours each day. 

" Day 15 to 16 " Border information: Exit Côte d'Ivoire at Gbapleu, enter Guinea at Gbakoré. Today we will cross the border into Guinea arriving in the small far-eastern town of Nzerekoré in the heart of Guinea's Forest Region. Estimated Drive Time - 6-9 hours. On the following day, we will have free time to relax after our journey and explore the town, the nearby villages, and the surrounding forests. In Nzerekoré we will stay in a basic local hotel. INCLUDED ACTIVITIES  Trek to the Pont de Liana, one of the phenomenal old vine bridges in the forested region of Guinea : Included in Kitty OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES  Freely explore the forested region of Guinea and the market town of Nzerekoré on foot : Free About Forested Guinea: Forested Guinea (Guinée Forestière) is a forested mountainous region in south easter...

" Day 17 to 18 " Over the next 2 days we will travel through the central region of Guinea, stopping for a night in one of the towns en route (depending on how the drive goes, this may be Macenta or Guéckédou), and then arriving at Faranah near the Sierra Leonean border. En route we will stop to visit one of the region's famous vine bridges (Pont de Liana). In Guéckédou and Faranah we will stay in small locally-run hotels or guest houses. Estimated Drive Times - 7-9 hours each day

" Day 19 to 20 " Border information: Exit Guinea and enter Sierra Leone at Gberia-Fotombu. The next 2 days are spent travelling from Guinea over to Sierra Leone through the remote border near Kabala, driving through scenic areas very rarely visited by tourists. The road conditions in this area can be pretty tough going and unpredictable, and progress can be greatly affected by the weather conditions, so flexibility is very important over these days. Kabala is famous for a being an oasis of cool air in the hills of northern Sierra Leone, and for its traditional Ronko-dyed clothes - shirts or gowns made of strips of cloth, typically dyed a rusty reddish-brown using local pigments. We will have free time to explore the area on arrival. We will wild camp en route for the first night, and stay in a local guest house in Kabal...

Today we start our journey south through Sierra Leone towards the Tiwai Wildlife Sanctuary. We aim to wild camp near the town of Makeni en route, or we may stay in a local guest house depending on the size and wishes of the group. Estimated Drive Time - 6-8 hours. 

" Day 22 to 23 " Today we will arrive at the Tiwai Island Sanctuary, one of Sierra Leone's largest inland islands. Estimated Drive Time - 6-8 hours. On the following day, we will enjoy various nature walks through the web of trails that weave through the Tiwai forest. We'll be in search of the rare and colourful primates that inhabit the sanctuary, and if we're very lucky we may spot a very rare pygmy hippo! In Tiwai we will stay for 2 nights sleeping in tents perched on covered platforms.  INCLUDED ACTIVITIES  Visit the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, home to one of the densest populations of primates and pygmy hippos in Africa, and enjoy several included walks around the web of trails on the island : Included in Kitty OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES  Take an optional canoe or motor boat tour through the Tiwai Island Wildl...

" Day 24 to 26 " Today we have a full day drive across Sierra Leone to the stunning beaches of the Freetown Peninsular, where we will spend 3 nights. Estimated Drive Time - 9-10 hours. There are a few different options for which beaches we could choose to visit, our favourites being Bureh Beach at the south of the peninsular and River Number 2 Beach in the western part. On the beaches there will the be chance to go fishing, take a boat to explore the Banana Islands, get to know the local communities, and of course relax on the beautiful beaches! On Freetown Peninsular we will camp on the beach, with some options to upgrade to basic guest houses. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES  Relax on some of the best beaches in the world dotted along the Freetown Peninsular : Free Take a boat trip to explore the beautiful and overgrown Banana...

Today we will have a short drive up the western side of the Freetown Peninsular to arrive in the Aberdeen district of the city of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. We will have plenty of time to head out and explore the sites in and around Freetown, before heading out for a final group meal together! in Freetown we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities. Estimated Drive Time - 2-3 hours.  OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES  See the Freetown Cotton Tree, the city's most famous landmark and home to hundreds of bats that fly out at dusk : Free See the King's Yard Gate, where the ancestors of all modern Creole people will have passed through on their way to a free life after their rescue from illegal slaving ships : Free  Learn about Sierra Leone's traditional history and cultures at the National Museum : Free V...

Border information: if you are leaving in Freetown, you will most likely exit Sierra Leone at Freetown Lungi International Airport (IATA code: FNA). Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Freetown. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact the Dragoman Sales team if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below. Airport information - the fastest and most reliable way to the airport from Freetown is by water-taxi, as Lungi is across a bay from the city. Our hotel in Freetown is a 200m walk to the jetty where the water-taxis depart from - the departure times for the water-taxis are linked to every flight in and out of Lungi airport (usually around 4 hours before t...