SENEGAL, GAMBIA, GUINEA BISSAU-January 21 – February 4, 2020

This is going to be a fabulous trip, my first group tour of 2020.  We visit three fascinating West African countries.  We have an excellent tour operator, a great price, superb hotels, wonderful cuisine, history, arts and culture, plenty of shopping opportunities and Runoko Rashidi! 

Rate Per person = $3,856.00 sharing a twin room
Single Room Supplement = $680.00

9-17-2019:  Special itinerary update message from Dr.Rashidi:   “We have made an important addition to the program itinerary. We have just received permission in Senegal to visit the radio carbon laboratory established by the great historian and scholar Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop!!!”   Exciting!

 

DAY 1 – Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Depart New York Kennedy airport via Delta Airlines flight 216 at 7:30p.m. CHECK-IN AT 3:00P.M. TERMINAL 4

 

DAY 2 – Wednesday,   January 22 ,2020

At 8:00am Arrival at Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD). Meet and greet by our hospitality staff, assistance for luggage porterage and transfer in private coach to IBIS hotel. Immediate check–in. Balance of the morning free

Afternoon lectures—the Cheikh Anta Diop Lectures–on “Africa: Mother of World Civilizations.” The lectures will be delivered by Runoko Rashidi and a professor from Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar.

19:30: Transfer to “La Calebasse restaurant.  Your welcome dinner will be accompanied by live entertainment performed by famous Senegalese singers or a famous Senegalese band

Overnight IBIS  HOTEL   (Dinner)

 

DAY 3 – Thursday January 23, 2020     Dakar city sightseeing

Breakfast in hotel and departure for Dakar city sightseeing. Start with a visit of the Independence Square, the heart of Dakar, which is surrounded by historical colonial buildings. Pass by the President’s Palace with its impressive red spahi guards and the House of Parliament. See the Cathedral, the Great Mosque of Dakar, and the Millennium Door.

Passing through the picturesque popular district of Medina, you will reach the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar.Lecture on Cheikh Anta Diop, the Professor, his Works , his Struggles for Pan Africanism. Lecture will be delivered at the WARC (West African Research Center) Then after proceed through the residential district of Fann featuring a new Senegalese architectural style that is more deeply rooted in African culture. Visit the sand painting gallery.  You will see the Monument of the African Renaissance. This impressive monument ranks among the tallest monuments in the world.

2:30 Leave the Monument for the local restaurant for lunch at restaurant Casino du port.

Afternoon departure  for the new Museum of the Black Civilizations which is said to be the second most important and richest museum of Africa after the Museum of Cairo. This Museum retraces the prehistory, the history and the present of Africa and its Diaspora. It features as well an Africa deeply rooted in its cultural values and open to the enriching other cultures of the world.

The visit will be conducted by Alioune Badiane Professor and member of the Academy of Art.

Overnight: IBIS HOTEL         (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day 4 – Friday January 24, 2020: Goree

After breakfast in hotel, departure for Goree island. Leave with the ferry departing at 10:00 am. You will  join Goree Island after 20 minutes of crossing.

The visit of Goree starts with the Slave House with its “Door of No Return”, libation in memory of our Ancestors, visit the cells, attend a lecture delivered by the curator on the topic “300 years  of slave trading in Goree Island”. Have a moment of meditation at the Auction Block before visiting the Fort with its Memorial to the Martyrs and the historic Museum.

Meet with the Goree city hall council for recognition and interaction.

Lunch will be served at restaurant Saint Germain to appreciate the Senegalese gastronomy.

Afternoon take time to visit local homes, the tiny craft market and art galleries in Goree. Meet the artist and interact with them.

16:30 Return to Dakar

Overnight: IBIS HOTEL       (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day 5 – Saturday January 25, 2020:  Dakar / Pink lake  and village feast.

After breakfast in hotel, departure for the Pink Lake one of the rarest natural phenomenon of the world:  the lake takes its pink colour from some micro-organisms and shows a high concentration of salt, as a huge mirror it sparkles in the middle of sand dunes.

You will meet the “salt harvesters” with their colourful tackle. A very exciting drive in 4×4 vehicles will take you on the paths of the famous Paris –Dakar rally since the Pink Lake is the final stage of this car race. Lunch at Chez Salim.

In the afternoon, in one of the neighboring Wolof communities will be organized for your honor a naming ceremony in the deeply African tradition:   Each guest will receive his/her African name and the related naming certificate will be delivered by the leader of the village. Return to your hotel.

Overnight   IBIS HOTEL             (Breakfast / lunch)

 

Day 6 -Sunday,  January 26, 2020    Dakar.

Morning  free for relax in hotel

Lunch at the Almadies residential area.

Afternoon visit the Art village gathering various type of Senegalese artist (painters, sculptors, weavers, patch-workers). Interact and socialize with the artists.

Overnight IBIS HOTEL         (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day 7 – Monday, January 27, 2020 Dakar/Banjul

08h00: Leave Dakar after breakfast in hotel and drive to the border Senegal/Gambia.

Going on the highway you will see the new outskirts of Dakar which is becoming a big metropolis being extended day after day.

You will view traditional villages on the “Small Coast” and in the Saloum Delta as well. Lunch at Toubacouta Lodge in an area classified MAB (Man and Biosphere) by UNESCO.

In the early afternoon continuation to the Gambia to visit Fort James slave dungeon where we will have a libation ceremony for our Ancestors, and then the community of Juffureh made famous by Alex Haley’s best seller “Roots”. Meet the Kinteh family in Juffureh.

Arrive in Banjul at the end of the afternoon after the picturesque crossing of the Gambia river. Check-in at Ocean Bay hotel or Atlantic. Welcome drink,

Overnight: OCEAN BAY HOTEL         (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day 8, – Tuesday, ,January 28,2020: Banjul

Breakfast in hotel.

09h00: Leave for a full day tour of Banjul.

In the morning, visit the National Museum with historical tracks of the colonial period. Visit the central market rich of African fabrics, handicraft, medicinal herbs and various spices.  Lunch in a typical restaurant of Banjul.

 

 

In the afternoon, visit to the sacred crocodiles pool of Katchically, and visit to Musu Keba known as the main batik maker in the Gambia. Here you will admire men and women working on designing beautiful patterns on the rough fabrics before dying them with particular technics in beautiful shining colors. The result will be a wonderful batik fabric that you can use for outfits making or for decorating your home. Meet the designers, meet the women batik makers.

Evening lecture, discussion and tour summary led by Dr. Rashidi: “What does it all mean?”

Return to your hotel

Overnight: OCEAN BAY HOTEL . (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day 9 –Wednesday, January  29, 2020: Banjul/Saly

Breakfast in hotel and leave for your return trip to Senegal.

After crossing the Gambia River, drive to Kaolack and Fatick. Stop for refreshments and lunch in Fatick. This will be also a good opportunity to pay a visit to the Saltigheys, famous all around Senegal.

The Saltigheys are soothsayers and traditional healers. They gather every year in a prediction session called “Xooy” and predict all the major events that will occur in the country for the upcoming year. They recommend sacrifices and offerings to be made to avoid evil events.

Proceed to Saly after your meeting and

Overnight HOTEL ROYAL SALY         (Breakfast/Lunch).

 

Day 10 – Thursday,, January 30, 2020: Saly

Breakfast in hotel

11:00 Leave for a lunch in a Senegalese home near Saly. You will enjoy a lunch taken in the traditional way in a Senegalese family home.The national dish of Senegal, Thay bou Djenn will be at your menu with local fruit juices.

After lunch a traditional Senegalese dance party called “Sabar” will gather you  with the neighbouring homes . You will be initiated to Senegalese dances and you will party with your “new friends” until the end of the afternoon.

Overnight HOTEL ROYAL SALY   (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day11 – Friday, January 31, 2020:  Dakar/Ziguinchor(Casamance) / Overnight

At 17:00 transfer to the port of Dakar. At the ferry terminal, board the boat Alin Sitoé for an overnight trip to Ziguinchor capital of the Southern region of Senegal. Overnight on board the boat in double bed cabins. (Breakfast/Lunch)

NB: Guests can purchase a dinner box in Dakar before boarding the board

 

Day 12 – Saturday, February 01, 2020: Ziguinchor/Bissau

7:00 wake-up service

Admire the wonderful panorama of the Casamance   river, arrive at the island of Karabane, the slave transit island of the southern Senegal. Here were also gathered enslaved from Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and from Casamance before being shipped to the Americas. Libation ceremony for our Ancestors.

Arrive in Ziguinchor at 10:00. Transfer to hotel Auber for a shower and a rich breakfast.

Visit Ziguinchor capital of the Mandigoregion of Casamance: its markets rich of local handicraft. Visit the various districts and have lunch at the hotel

13:30 : Leave for Bissau. From this moment you will enter the former Empire of Gabou, one of the most important and prosperous West African former empires.

The Empire of Gabou existed from 1600 to year 1750. It is nowadays studied for its perfectly centralized social organization and the key role played by the women.You will visit the traditional villages of Bula, Bafata and the historical slave site of Cacheu so important in the fight for freedom and later the Independence of the country.

In Santo Domingo, you will meet chiefs of villages and traditional historians who will tell you about the history of the Gabou Empire

Arrive in Bissau at the end of the day

Overnight: HOTEL AZALAI or similar           (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day13 – Sunday, February 02, 2020   – Bissau

Breakfast in hotel. Full day visit of Bissau and Bafata and surrounding Mandjack villages. Meet with local populations, traditional historians. Visit Bissao, its various districts, it market, its museum and meet veterans of the long war against the Portuguese for the Independence of the country. Lunch in a typical restaurant

Overnight: HOTEL AZALAI                (Breakfast/Lunch)

 

Day 14 – Monday, February 3, 2020 : Bissau/Casamance/ Saly

Early breakfast and leave Bissau for your return trip

Today will be dedicated to the discovery of animism and ethnicity in the Gabu Empire ( including Guinea Bissau and the Southern Senegal) Discovery of traditional uses and customs, learn about rites of passages, meet the “Masters of the initiated”

Go through Ziguinchor and by the Trans-Gambian way join Kaolack for lunch. Lunch at Relais de Kaolack hotel.

Afternoon proceed to Saly Room in evening use in Saly in order to refresh before your transfer to Dakar airport use Diagne International airport for departure on Air France flight 841 11:15p.m.

 

Day 15 – Tuesday February 4, 2020

Arrive Charles du Galle airport at 5:50a.m. Connect on Delta Airlines flight 1022at 8:10a.m. Arrive New York Kennedy at 10:330a.m.

Please note: A visa will be required for entering Guinea Bissau. We can purchase the visa prior to the arrival of the guests. We will need for that a scanned copy of their passport and the visa fee is 38 USD per visa

 

TOUR INCLUDES:

• Roundtrip air transportation via Delta/Airlines/Air France from New York Kennedy airport
• Transport in deluxe tourism coach
• A fluent English speaking tour guide officially licensed
• All tours and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
• Mineral water in ice boxes always available in the coach during the transfers and tours
• Meals as outlined B – Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner
• Roundtrip transfer and baggage handling
• Hotel accommodation:
• Dakar – Isis Hotel (5 nights)
• Saly – Ocean Bay Hotel -,2 nights
• Saly – Royal Saly Hotel – 3 nights
• Cruise Boat – 1 night
• Guinea Bissau – Azalai Hotel – 2 nights
• U.S. and Senegal departure taxes

 

Price does not include

Visa in Gambia

• The drinks during the meals
• Personal expenses such as a tips or souvenirs, etc
• Tips to driver/guides/porters

 

TOUR RATE (subject to change)

Based on a minimum of 10 full paying passengers. Rates are net per person and subject to change without notice. Rates are net per person

$3,856.00 per person in double occupancy

$680.00 single room supplement

 

 

 

 

RESERVATION FORM

Dr. Runoko Rashidi Tour to

SENEGAL/GAMBIA/GUINEA BISSAU

JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 4, 2020

 

Rate per person, includes airfare from New York, departure taxes, all hotel accommodation, roundtrip transfers, all tours and entrance fees as per itinerary, 2 meals daily

 

Rate Per person = $3,856.00 sharing a twin room

Single Room Supplement = $680.00

 

[   ] I WISH TO SHARE A ROOM WITH                                     [ ] I REQUIRE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

*SINGLE RATE APPLICABLE IF NO ROOMMATE AVAILABLE

______________________________________

 

ENCLOSED IS MY (NONREFUNDABLE) DEPOSIT OF $300.00 PER PERSON. FINAL PAYMENT DUE NOV. 29, 2019

 

NAME________________________________________________________________________________

 

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DATE OF BIRTH___________________     ( ) MALE   ( ) FEMALE

PASSPORT #     ___________________ Date of ISSUE _______________ EXPIRE

 

SPECIAL MEAL

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TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE (OPTIONAL)[ ]YES         [ ] NO

 

PLEASE CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD $_____________   [ ]VISA [ ] MASTERCARD /AMEX‘

 

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(4% SERVICE FEE ON ALL CREDIT CARD PAYMENT)

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Make Check payable and mail to: AFRICA DREAMER TOURS

9 Frank Street

Valley Stream, New York 11580

Tel: 516-285-4607 Fax: 516-596-7691

E-MAIL: adreamt@optimum.net