A unique itinerary crossing three countries from “north to south” to experience a continuous change of climatic ecosystems and human environments.
NATURE
Following the “uncertain border” between land and water, we traverse an incredible variety of natural environments, including savannahs, estuaries, forests, and mangrove swamps, culminating in an exciting ocean navigation experience to discover and enjoy the Bijagos Archipelago. Birds will be a constant presence throughout the whole journey. The Djoudj National Sanctuary in Senegal is one of the world's most prominent migratory bird sanctuaries, and The Gambia is a well-known birding destination.
HISTORY, PREHISTORY & TIMELESS VILLAGES
We will discover historical sites, such as:
Dakar, a contemporary metropolis, significant capital, and intellectual centre in Africa, has been so since before independence.
Gorée, an ancient slave-trade island;
Saint Louis, the first colonial capital of “French West Africa”;
Bolama Island, the Portuguese Guinea capital, is forgotten on a remote island.
We will encounter “timeless” people, such as herders and those living in remote villages. We will discover the largest monolith site on Earth.
ART, CULTURE & MUSIC
In the northern savannah, we will be invited to the camp of nomadic herders, and we will meet the largest religious and peaceful brotherhood that practices an African form of Islam that rejects fundamentalism and violence.
In the animistic Casamance region, we will witness the celebrations of Diola masks, the incarnation of mythical spirits… Masquerade is a unique experience that involves the entire village in an intense blend of magic, music, and dance.
TRANSPORTS
We will travel in different kinds of vehicles; each one chosen to optimise the various geographical and cultural environments, and have fun. On the land, we will travel mainly in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus. For short rides, we will also experience 4WD vehicles, traditional calchés, optional donkey chariots, and local taxis.
On the ocean, to the Bijagos archipelago, we will sail on modern speedboats.
UNIQUE EVENTS
Carnival is the main festivity in Guinea-Bissau. Carnival is an incredible mix of African and Portuguese traditions. Carnival goes wild in the afternoon, as colourful masks from different areas and neighbourhoods start their parade: sacred traditional masks, warriors dressed in crocodile skin and armed with arrows, modern masks made of papier-mâché, all surrounded by girls wearing only strings of glass beads around their waists. Hours of lively parades turn this carnival into an unforgettable experience, a genuine “fiesta popular” that combines a cheerful African spirit with Portuguese and Brazilian influences.
Vaca Bruto mask ceremony. In the Bijagos Islands, life is still ruled by the cycle of seasons and during the long dry season, when the harvest is over, the main ceremonies take place. The most spectacular Bijago mask is called Vaca Bruto (wild bull) and is a wooden helmet mask with eyes of frosted glass, real horns, leather ears, and a rope through the nostrils. During the Vaca Bruto ceremonies, dancers embody the spirit of the mask with remarkable realism: they bow and face the ground, just as a real untamed animal would.
Turtles’ nesting. Poilao Island in the Bijagos Archipelago is an uninhabited site of great beauty. It is also considered the leading nesting site for the great Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia Midas) in West Africa. After dark, in silence on the beach, we wait for the magic moment when a female emerges from the ocean and digs a deep hole where she then lays her eggs. With a bit of luck, there are good chances we will be able to witness this natural wonder and/or the hatching! … with the tiny ones coming out of the sand to jump in the ocean and begin a long journey that will take them back to this same island when they reach sexual maturity, 30 years afterwards
