North, West & Central Africa
The Congo Basin. The Great Sahara. The Souks of Marrakech. Timbuktu. Snorkeling off Principe Island.
This is the Africa few travelers are privileged to know. With Bushtracks private air, you’ll be free to discover the wildlife and colorful traditions of some of the most fascinating countries in Africa. Dense equatorial rainforests abound, woven with unexplored rivers where BaAka (Pygmy) trackers lead us into an ancient world of forest life, and traditional music once played for Pharaohs.
You’ll also come face-to-face with rare and exotic wildlife such as western lowland gorillas, African grey parrots, forest elephants and buffalos, shy sitatunga antelopes, red river hogs, and the endangered bongo antelopes.
You’ll walk the sophisticated imperial cities and discover treasures in the labyrinthine souks of Marrakech and so much more.
Highlights of North, West & Central Africa include:
- Algeria—Well preserved Roman ruins, beautiful unspoiled stretches of coastline, Atlas mountains replete with streams, lakes and forests, and an immense Sahara desert.
- Angola, Luanda—Visit the landmark National Bank of Angola, the Island of the Priests and the Slavery Museum that sits atop the spot where slaves were kept while awaiting transport to Brazil.
- Burkina Faso—Includes Bobo-Dioulasso with its Grand Mosque and the Musee Provincial du Houet. The capital, Ouagadougou, and Moro-Naba Palace. Meet Gournounsi people of the village of Tiebele, where their round homes are decorated in splendid geometric designs.
- Cameroon, Waza National Park—The plains of Waza offer the best savanna game viewing in Central Africa.
- CAR, Dzanga-Sangha—Dense Forest Special Reserve in one of Africa’s most pristine, biologically rich areas, trackers and guides from the forest dwelling BaAka (Pygmy) people walk you through rain forest that is home to forest elephants and rare lowland gorillas.
- Egypt—Pyramids and wonderful temples, tours to Christian and other religious monuments. Nature and desert treks, great scuba diving and even golf, fishing and birding expeditions.
- Gabon, Loango National Park—One of the few places in the world where you can see elephants and hippos swimming in the ocean and gorillas and turtles nesting on the beach.
- Ghana and Benin—On the coast of Ghana lies the town of Elmina and the haunting castle of St. George. In Benin lies the largest lake village in Africa – Ganvie where you can witness an extraordinary voodoo ceremony.
- Libya—Visit the Roman city Leptis Magna and the outpost Sabratha. The Berber village of Nalut and the Ghadames is one of the oldest pre-Saharan cities. Drive the Akakus mountains and see Neolithic cave paintings. Explore the Greek ruins of Cyrene and Apollonia and the ancient city Gaser, home to famous Byzantine mosaics.
- Mali—From the medieval town of Mopti on the banks of the Niger River, explore the remote Dogon country and cliff dwellings, the massive mud mosque of Djenne, and the streets of legendary Timbuktu.
- Morocco—Offers the rocky Sahara Desert, lush oases, distinctive earthen architecture, the magnificent snow-capped Atlas Mountains, the sophisticated city of Marrakech and Fez, one of the world’s best examples of a living medieval city.
- Niger—In Agadez, visit the Grande Mosquée with pyramid-like minarets and wooden scaffolding. In Timia, see a 20 ft. long fossilized dinosaur – the largest in the world. See one of the Sahara’s masterpieces of rock art. Meet the Taureg and Akle people, who have created an irrigation system using the traditional balancing pole.
- Principe Island—Snorkel in sparkling azure waters, climb ancient volcanoes, and look for amazing birds found nowhere else in the world, including African Gray parrots.
- Sudan—In Khartoum, explore the National Museum and its treasures. See frescoes and murals from ruined churches dating from the 8th to the 15th century of ancient Nubia’s Christian period. Two reconstructed Egyptian temples of Buhen and Semna can be viewed.
- Tunisia—Explore Tozeur, with its spectacular museum, an enormous palmeraie (palm forest) and a delightful old quarter, Ouled el-Hadef. In Dar Charait, view displays of pottery and antiques, as well as an art gallery. See the waterfalls of Tamerza and the oasis of Chebika.
From Gabon, a forty-minute flight can have you snorkeling through the pristine volcanic marine system of Principe Island, climbing ancient volcanoes, and enjoying pure white sand beaches in total privacy.
