Highlights:

• Renaissance Monument
• Museum of African Civilization Markets

After breakfast, embark on a city tour of Dakar and its vicinity. Begin with a visit to the Africa Renaissance Monument, a 164 feet high statue unveiled in 2010, which overlooks Dakar and stands taller than the Statue of Liberty. This once-controversial bronze statue is now a popular attraction, featuring a man, woman, and child pointing, symbolizing renewed African hope. The woman's attire has been adjusted to a more modest length, reflecting cultural sensitivities.

Next, visit Independence Place, the heart of Dakar, where you will pass by the presidential palace and the main cathedral. Then, proceed to the Museum of Black Civilization, a massive four-story complex fulfilling the dream of Senegal’s first president, Leopold Sedar Senghor. The museum traces the oldest civilizations from Africa to the rest of the world, with architectural inspiration drawn from impluvium huts found in Casamance.

In the evening, you will have opportunities for beach activities or leisure, depending on your preferences.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Azalai

Highlights:

• Goree Island
• The Door of No Return
• Pink Lake

Depart on a 20-minute ferry ride to visit the charming yet infamous Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the quiet streets lined with pastel-colored colonial-era buildings. One of the most notable buildings here is the House of Slaves, which documents Goree’s tragic history. Witness the "Door of No Return," through which millions passed on their way to slavery.

The tour includes a visit to the ethnographic museum and a lecture on the history of Goree. You may also visit MariamaBâ, Elite High School for Girls, named after the renowned Senegalese writer. Founded in 1977 by Leopold Sedar Senghor, the first president of Senegal, the school is dedicated to MariamaBâ, a novelist and feminist who fought for women’s rights in Senegal. The school admits 50 top-performing female students from across Senegal each year, selected based on their performance in the national secondary school entrance exam.

After lunch, return to Dakar and proceed to visit Pink Lake, a rare natural phenomenon known for its pink color caused by micro-organisms and high salt concentration. Interact with women harvesting salt and visit a nearby Fulani village. Finally, continue to Saly in time to enjoy an evening swim in the ocean.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Highlights : Bandia National Park

Drive to Bandia Park, where you will encounter numerous species native to Senegal, including buffalos, antelopes, impala gazelles, monkeys, tortoises, and crocodiles, as well as white rhinoceros, kudu, elands, cape moose, giraffes, ostriches, and zebras. Stop by the crocodile pool, where animals come to drink and buffalos wallow in the mud. You will also see numerous bird species, including small hornbills, grey herons, eagles, blackbirds, and kingfishers. Return to the hotel in time for a short excursion on the Somone Lagoon to admire the beautiful landscape and spot some rare river birds. This evening, there will be an opportunity for swimming and other beach activities.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast and Dinner

Hotel: Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Enjoy a leisurely morning before your departure flight to Ghana. Upon arrival in Accra, you will be met, assisted, and transferred to your hotel for the next two nights.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Lancaster Hotel

Highlights:

• W.E.B Dubois Centre
• The Independence/Black Square
• The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

The first visit will be to the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre, honoring the life of the prominent Pan-Africanist who chose to live and work in Ghana. We continue to Independence Square, where you will see the enclosed flame of African Liberation, lit by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1961. Next, visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the final resting place of Ghana’s first president. Set in attractive gardens, there is an adjoining museum that contains photos, artifacts, and insight into Dr. Nkrumah’s life. Adjoining the park is the National Cultural Centre, Ghana’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market selling traditional crafts from all over West Africa.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Lancaster Hotel