Morocco &
West Africa

Jemaa el-Fnaa square at night is one of the world's great spectacles — storytellers, snake charmers, musicians, and food stalls serving harira soup (DH 10–15) and grilled meats. Explore the souks (start at 40% of asking price), visit Ben Youssef Madrasa (DH 70), and the Bahia Palace (DH 70). Jardin Majorelle (DH 70) is a serene escape. Stay in a riad (traditional courtyard guesthouse) — budget riads from DH 200–400/night including breakfast. Eat at stall #1 or #14 in the square for the freshest food. Day trip to the Atlas Mountains — Imlil village and Berber lunch (DH 350–500 organised trip).

Train from Marrakech to Fes (DH 195–325, 7 hrs). Fes el-Bali is the world's largest car-free urban area — 9,500 lanes and alleys. The tanneries (free from shop terraces, hold mint to your nose), Bou Inania Madrasa (DH 30), and the Merenid Tombs (free, sunset views) are highlights. Hire a guide for the first day (DH 300–400 half-day) or you will genuinely get lost. Bus to Chefchaouen (DH 75, 4 hrs) — the blue city. Every building, wall, and staircase is painted shades of blue. Hike the Rif Mountains, visit the Spanish Mosque at sunset (free, 30-min walk), and relax — Chefchaouen is made for slow days. Riads from DH 150–300/night.

The Sahara excursion typically departs from Marrakech or Fes — 2-night/3-day shared tour (DH 800–1,500 including transport, meals, and desert camp). You'll cross the Atlas Mountains via Aït Benhaddou (Game of Thrones filming location), reach the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, ride camels into the desert at sunset, and sleep in a Berber camp under more stars than you've ever seen. Then return via the Todra Gorge and Dades Valley. From Marrakech, bus to Essaouira (DH 80, 3 hrs) — a windswept Atlantic port town with a Portuguese fort, incredible fresh fish at the harbour (DH 40–70 for a massive grilled plate), and world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Fly from Casablanca or Marrakech to Dakar ($100–200). Dakar is raw, energetic, and fascinating — nothing like anywhere else you've been. The African Renaissance Monument (CFA 5,000 to climb) offers panoramic views. Sandaga Market is the city's commercial heart — chaotic and colourful. Eat thiéboudienne (Senegal's national dish — fish and rice, CFA 1,500–2,500) at a local gargoté (simple restaurant). Take the ferry to Île de Gorée (CFA 5,200 return, 20 mins) — the Maison des Esclaves (CFA 500) is a powerful and sobering visit. Live music: check venues in Plateau and Almadies for mbalax (Senegalese music).

Sept-place taxi from Dakar to Saint-Louis (CFA 5,000–7,000, 4–5 hrs). Saint-Louis was the colonial capital of French West Africa — the island city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with crumbling colonial architecture, horse-drawn carriages, and incredible birdwatching. Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (CFA 5,000 + pirogue trip CFA 8,000–10,000) is the third-largest bird sanctuary in the world — pelicans, flamingos, and hundreds of species. The Langue de Barbarie sand spit has fishing villages and deserted beaches. Stay in a colonial guesthouse on the island (CFA 10,000–20,000/night).

The Casamance region in southern Senegal feels like a different country — lush, tropical, and culturally distinct. Fly from Dakar to Ziguinchor (CFA 30,000–50,000, 1 hr) or take the river ferry from Dakar (CFA 5,000–15,000, 14 hrs overnight — an adventure in itself). From Ziguinchor, pirogue (wooden canoe) through the mangrove bolongs (waterways) to traditional Diola villages. Cap Skirring has beautiful beaches and a West African surf scene (board rental CFA 5,000/day). Explore the sacred forests and traditional initiation sites of the Diola people. Campements villageois (village guesthouses, CFA 8,000–15,000/night including meals) offer genuine cultural immersion.

Fly from Dakar to Accra ($150–300 via Abidjan or direct). Accra is booming — the food scene is incredible. Try waakye (rice and beans with shito chili sauce, ₵10–15) from street vendors, jollof rice at a chop bar (₵15–25), and the seafood at Osu Night Market. Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (₵5), explore the Jamestown lighthouse area and fishing harbour, and catch live highlife or afrobeats at +233 Jazz Bar & Grill or Republic Bar. The Makola Market is overwhelming in the best way. Stay in Osu or Labone (₵60–120/night for guesthouses).

STC bus from Accra to Cape Coast (₵40–60, 3–4 hrs). Cape Coast Castle (₵40) is one of the most important sites in the Atlantic slave trade — the dungeons where enslaved people were held before being shipped through the "Door of No Return" are profoundly moving. Elmina Castle nearby (₵40) is the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kakum National Park (₵60 + ₵80 canopy walkway) has a 350m canopy walkway 40m above the rainforest floor — swaying rope bridges through the treetops. Stay in Cape Coast town (₵50–100/night).

STC bus from Cape Coast to Kumasi (₵50–70, 4–5 hrs). Kumasi is the cultural heartbeat of the Ashanti people — visit the Manhyia Palace Museum (₵15), the Kejetia Market (the largest open-air market in West Africa — 12,000 stalls), and the Centre for National Culture for kente cloth weaving demonstrations. Overnight bus to Tamale (₵60–80, 8–10 hrs), then shared taxi to Mole National Park (₵20, 2 hrs). Mole is Ghana's largest wildlife reserve — walking safaris with armed rangers (₵20 + ₵15 entry) bring you within metres of elephants. You'll also see baboons, antelope, and warthogs. The park lodge has a pool overlooking the watering hole (₵100–180/night).