Tracing the West Coast of Africa
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TRACING THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA GABON • SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE • GHANA • CÔTE D’IVOIRE LIBERIA • SIERRA LEONE • GUINEA BISSAU • THE GAMBIA • SENEGAL © Sergey Frolov February 8 – 24, 2021 | 17 Days | Aboard the Caledonian Sky Expedition Highlights • Discover island endemics on São SENEGAL Tomé & Príncipe, such as the Príncipe Dakar THE GAMBIA kingfisher and the São Tomé green Banjul GUINEA-BISSAU pigeon. • Walk among the treetops on the BISSAGOS world’s highest, and longest, ISLANDS SIERRA suspended rope walkways in Ghana’s Orango Island Kakum National Park. Aberdeen LEONE CÔTE D'IVOIRE LIBERIA GHANA • Visit the Bissagos Archipelago, home to rare, saltwater-adapted hippos, Monrovia Takoradi African manatees, crocodiles, and five species of marine turtles and Abidjan Santo learn about the unique matriarchal Antonio traditions of the Bijagos people. SAO TOME • Search for more than 290 species of & PRINCIPE São Tomé ATLANTIC Libreville birds in the Abuko Nature Reserve— OCEAN GABON including African paradise flycatchers, palm nut vultures, hammerkops, pygmy kingfishers, violet turacos, little greenbuls, and Abyssinian rollers. • Tour Cape Coast Castle, Ghana; PRIÍNCIPE James Island, The Gambia; and KINGFISHER Gorée Island, Senegal—all three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. • Itinerary .................................... page 2 > • Flight Information ...................... page 3 > • Ship, Deck Plan & Rates ............ page 4 > • Featured Leaders ....................... page 5 > • Know Before You Go ................. page 5 > • Optional Pre-voyage Extension ... page 6 > GREAT WHITE PELICANS THE GAMBIA Monte Café Coffee Plantation for a guided tour and tasting Itinerary of what some consider the world’s best coffee. You may then choose to enjoy lunch at the Bombaim plantation, view and Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing photograph another beautiful waterfall, and continue to tiny, enhancements to this itinerary. picturesque Trinidade Village. Or, opt for lunch in São Tomé and a tour of the Cathedral, the National Museum, the local artisan’s gallery, and enjoy a folkloric dance performance. Monday & Tuesday, February 8 & 9, 2021 DEPART USA / LIBREVILLE GABON Board your independent flight to Gabon. Arrive in Libreville Saturday & Sunday, February 13 & 14 in the late evening and transfer to the Radisson Blu Okoumé AT SEA Palace Hotel for overnight. Enjoy two educational days at sea as lecturers recap your experiences in Gabon and São Tomé & Príncipe. Wednesday, February 10 LIBREVILLE / EMBARK CALEDONIAN SKY After breakfast, depart on a city tour, visiting the local market, Monday, February 15 TAKORADI, GHANA the lovely seafront boulevard, and stylish Louis Quarter This morning choose a tour of the Cape Coast Castle, a World known for its fashionable clubs, restaurants, and bars. Enjoy Heritage Site, built by the Swedes in 1653 and subsequently lunch at a lovely beachside restaurant, before embarking the conquered by the Danes, the Dutch, the local Fanti tribe, Caledonian Sky in the early afternoon. and finally the British, who established the seat of the British administration of the Gold Coast here until 1877. Or, elect to travel into the Kakum National Park for a rainforest canopy Thursday, February 11 walk that includes one of the longest and highest suspended SAN ANTONIO, PRÍNCIPE, SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPE rope bridges in the world. Both groups enjoy lunch at a The ship will spend the day anchored off idyllic Bom Bom nearby beach resort before setting off to visit the 15th-century Resort on Príncipe’s northern tip. Birders and hikers set off Portuguese Elmina Fort—Africa’s oldest permanent building. for the lush interior to search for several species of endemic birds, including the Príncipe kingfisher, Príncipe sunbird, and endangered Príncipe speirops. The rest of the group will enjoy a tour of photogenic Santo Antonio, home to 1,500 welcoming residents, lovely Portuguese architecture, and colorful produce markets. This afternoon Zodiacs take you to Banana Beach for a swim in the warm waters with the option to snorkel among the ancient volcanic rocks. Friday, February 12 SÃO TOMÉ Set out by Zodiac for the town pier at São Tomé. Drive into the interior for a short walk through picturesque forest to the stunning Sao Nicolau Waterfall. From here continue to the KAKUM NATIONAL PARK ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | TRACING THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA < 2 > CÔTE D’IVOIRE GOREE ISLAND Tuesday, February 16 Monday, February 22 ABIDJAN, CÔTE D’IVOIRE BANJUL, THE GAMBIA Cosmopolitan Abidjan is the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire Birders set out this morning for the Abuko Nature Reserve and a city tour takes you through the business district of Le where more than 290 bird species can be seen—including Plateau, filled with gleaming sky-scrapers, chic boutiques, and African paradise flycatchers, violet turacos, little greenbuls, outdoor cafes. Observe interesting colonial architecture and and Abyssinian rollers. A second group departs for a tour of colorful markets as you continue on to Abodo, Africa’s largest the Makasutu Culture Forest showcasing the five ecosystems outdoor laundry where hundreds of Fanicos (washers) crowd protected here. Traditional Joal tribal dancing, a pirogue together in a stream to wash their clients’ clothes. ride, and palm wine tasting are high-lights. During lunch, sail upriver to Albreda Village and Kunta Kinteh Island, a World Heritage Site, where The Gambia’s slave history began. Wednesday, February 17 AT SEA Spend your day at sea attending lectures on western Africa’s Tuesday & Wednesday, February 23 & 24 momentous history, diverse cultures, and natural wonders. DAKAR, SENEGAL / DISEMBARK / USA Today, visit the infamous slave-trading center, Gorée Island, including the moving 18th-century House of Slaves, the Thursday, February 18 Women’s Museum, and the fortified Le Castel. An afternoon MONROVIA, LIBERIA Liberia’s capital and most populous city boasts beautiful tour of Dakar includes the Great Mosque, French colonial beaches, a thriving culinary scene, and a fascinating history. buildings, the President’s Palace, and the impressive new Visit the National Museum which traces Liberia’s tumultuous African Renaissance Monument. Check in to the Radisson history, and browse the bustling Waterside Market, where you Blu Dakar Hotel for dinner and a chance to relax before your can find colorful textiles, leather goods, and pottery. independent late evening flight. Arrive in the USA the next day. Friday, February 19 ABERDEEN, SIERRA LEONE Flight Information Today arrive in Aberdeen, a suburb of Freetown, with beautiful You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/Libreville, white-sand beaches lined with lively shops and restaurants. and Dakar/home city. Please contact our in-house Air Department Permission pending, visit the Tacugama Chimpanzee for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related questions. Sanctuary, set in a spectacular rainforest habitat. Saturday & Sunday, February 20 & 21 ORANGO ISLAND, BISSAGOS ISLANDS, GUINEA-BISSAU Just off the coast of Guinea Bissau, the Bissagos Archipelago is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Today, join naturalists to explore Joao Viera and Poilao Marine National Park, an important nesting site for green, hawksbill, and olive ridley turtles, as well as several species of terns. The next day, visit Parque Nacional do Grupo de Ilhas de Orango. Spend the day exploring this unique habitat that is home to rare, saltwater-adapted hippos, crocodiles, five species of marine turtles, and the African manatee. In the afternoon, meet with the lovely Bijagos people to learn about their traditional matriarchal system. SIERRA LEONE ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | TRACING THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA < 3 > The Caledonian Sky Deck Plan PANORAMA DECK The all-suite 100-guest Caledonian Sky is a spacious, yet intimate, expedition vessel. Refurbished in 2012, Library her beautifully designed public spaces include a Panorama Lounge Sun Deck Bar single-seating dining room, a large lounge, elegant Elevator bar, enclosed panoramic viewing deck, sun deck, library, and gym. All suites have an ocean view and BRIDGE DECK feature a sitting room, en suite bathroom, flat-screen 511 505507509 television, spacious wardrobes, and dressing table. Outdoor Cafe Bridge Elevator The Caledonian Sky carries a fleet of Zodiacs, avail- 506508510512 able for accessing remote shorelines and islands. PROMENADE DECK Visit www.zegrahm.com/caledonian-sky for Salon 433 431 427 425 423 421 419 417 415 more information about this ship. WC Elevator Gym 434 432 428 426 424 422 420 418 416 414 CALEDONIAN DECK Bar 347 345 343 341 339 335 333 331 329 Castle Deck Caledonian Deck Lounge Reception Elevator 348 346 344 342 340 338 336 334 332 330 CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 CASTLE DECK 261 259 257 255 Doctor Restaurant Elevator 260262 258 254256 252 250 Rates From $14,990 per person, double occupancy; From $22,990 per person, solo occupancy. For complete pricing visit www.zegrahm.com/west-africa INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED: • Daily activity options including Zodiac cruises, nature walks, • Airfare from your home city/Libreville and Dakar/home city and cultural tours • Excess baggage charges • All gratuities • Airport arrival and departure taxes • All accommodations • Transfers for independent arrivals and departures • World-class lecture and expedition team • Passport and/or visa fees • All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner • Travel insurance • All