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[whereshegoes]

Has anyone backpacked around Western Africa? I know is Southern Africa there is quite a good backpacker trail set up. How easy is it to get around and find accomodation in Western African countries?

Thanks in advance.

[kevandsian]

Hi Carmella,

I travelled through west Africa a couple of years ago and it really does depend on where you plan to go. I was travelling with a group of friends using our own transport but we picked up many a stranded traveller along the way!

For places like Ghana, it's easy enough to get around on public transport, Burkina Faso is easy enough and so is Senegal to a degree although coastal Senegal and it's main cities are by far the easiest. Mali is do-able but it is harder to find public transport than in other surrounding countries. Mauritania is almost impossible without your own transport as you would need to hitch hike long sections.
The problem arises when you want to go to more remote areas, away from the main cities. Usually the most interesting places are not served by regular public transport.

As for accommodation, this isn't a problem at all. There are always hotels and campsites although many hotels are brothels too but friendly enough! I would recommend taking a tent as you can always find somewhere to pitch it and when you wake up in the morning you'll have many new friends waiting to greet you outside your door!

There definitely isn't a backpacker trail or route in West Africa, not at all like Sth Africa, but there are plenty of travellers around.

Hope this helps,

Sian

[balmain_girl]

Hi Guys,

http://www.africantrails.co.uk - this company does tours of Africa and they are pretty cheap. I am looking at doing the Istanbul to Cape Town adventure next year before I turn the big 3-0

Cheers,
Kristy

[Allen]

Check out this company for overland tours. I did this one in 99-00. I have a travelogue on it that is a work in progress.


New trucks and competitive fares. They have been around for a long time.

http://www.overlandclub.com/default.asp


my site:

http://www.travelpod.com/members/arlash

[balmain_girl]

Thanks for that, they look great those toursl.

Regards,
Kristy

[Barrett]

Anyone been backing through Eastern Africa lately? What's the general experience like? Easiest places to be a backpacker? Which country has the best access to worthwhile activities or sights?

[nicktaylor01]

Personally I loved my trip around west Africa. I went out last summer and visited Ghana, Togo and Benin. I went with two friends and did the trip in three weeks. Public transport was tricky to non existent in parts of Togo and Benin but fear not there is always a car/taxi or motorbike awaiting. One note of warning I would not expect to travel in space I have many memories of cars with 8 people in and in one trip (from south Benin to north Benin) we got through 4 cars as they kept breaking down!! We often had a bottle of whiskey with us and this certainly livened up the mood in the car. All in all I would fully recommend the trip! Check out this new site that I just found, it has some good stories of travel from around that part of the world www.sweetthursdays.net Sweet Thursdays as well as having some wicked trousers and shorts from that part of the world of which I am now a proud owner x