West Africa's Hidden Gems Nigeria

18-day escorted tour departing 27 December 2011

40-day escorted tour departing 27 December 2011

About Far Horizons

Established in South Australia in 1976 by Martin and Auriel Wright, Far Horizons has escorted more than 150 tours to over 140 countries on all seven continents. During that time we have established a clientele of devoted followers who appreciate our uncompromising policy of providing the very best available accommodation and services, with meticulous attention to detail in some of the world's most exotic and stimulating regions. All our tours are fully inclusive of all transportation, accommodation, meals, sightseeing, cultural events and gratuities. Capacity is limited to sixteen, which we feel is the ideal maximum number necessary to achieve the degree of personal attention and 'camaraderie' which is the hallmark of Far Horizons.

Tour Highlights
West Africa's Hidden Gems is a tour which should appeal to many of our welltravelled clients who are looking for new and "different" travel experiences. As is our standard practice of meeting the people and enjoying the scenery we travel overland for most of the journey, resorting to air travel only where necessary

About Nigeria
The first two weeks of this tour are spent travelling by coach through the Federal Republc of Nigeria, a country not renowned as a tourist destination. Nigeria is well known as the worlds largest black nation, Africa's most populous country, and as having in Lagos the second-largest city on the African continent (after Cairo).
Benin City bronze sculpture

NIGERIA
Lagos (2 nights) - Lekki Conservation Centre - Abeokuta - Olumu Rock - Ibadan (2 nights) - Oshogbo Sacred Forest - Benin City (1 night) - Calabar (2 nights) Primate Research Centre - Cross River National Park - Obudu Mountain Resort (2 nights) - Abuja (2 nights) - Kaduna - Karia - Kano (2 nights) - Katsina

NIGER
Maradi (2 nights) - Niamey (2 nights) - Boat ride by pirogues on the River Niger

BURKINA FASO
Ouagadougou (2 nights) - Sabou sacred crocodile lake - Bobo Dioulasso (2 nights) Kibidwe - Banfora - Karfiguela Waterfall - Boat ride on Lake Tengrla

MALI
Koutiala - Segou (1 night) - Segou Koro - Bamako (2 nights) - The Kingdom of Kangaba (optional excursion by air to Timbuctoo)

MAURITANIA
Nouakchott (2 nights) - Ksar moorish settlement - Port du Peche

SENEGAL
The former capital of French West Africa, Saint-Louis (2 nights) - The bird sanctuary of Djoudj

Because it has huge reserves of oil, on which its economy largely depends, it has never needed to develop a tourist industry or gone out of its way to attract visitors. Many will consider this a blessing. Over the years Far Horizons has pioneered travel to many lands at a time when our clients have been treated as welcome visitors rather than just another bus load of tourists ,l;a factor which adds enormously to the pleasure of seeing places of interest before they become spoiled. And Nigeria certainly has a rich cultural history with a vast number of fascinating sites and experiences, which are featured in this tour.

CAPE VERDE ISLANDS

So Vicente (the "cultural capital") - Mindelo (1 night) - Monte Verde - Baia de Gatas Santiago - The capital, Praia (2 nights) - Cidade Velha, the first European city to be built in the tropics - Tarrafal fishing village

2-14 George Street (PO Box 96) Truro, South Australia 5356 Telephone: [08] 8564 0255 Reservations: 1800 083 141 Facsimile: [08] 8564 0065 E-mail: info@farhorizons.com.au Website: farhorizons.com.au
Travel agents licence no. TTA 164 and 165 Bobo Dioulasso - Grand Mosque

GUINEA
The capital, Conakry (2 nights) - Roume Island (the original Treasure Island)

GUINEA-BISSAU
The quaint capital, Bissau (2 nights) - The former capital on the Ilha de Bolama

SENEGAL (again)
Dakar (2 nights) - Soumbdioune artists village - the Slave island of Gore page 2

Route Map
Legend
Flight route Road journey Ferries Optional charter flight

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

Our journey starts with overnight Emirates flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Dubai. The next morning we connect with another Emirates flight to Lagos, the major port of NIGERIA where we stay for two nights at the Southern Sun Hotel at Ikoyi, close to the Lekki Peninsula, where the next day's sightseeing tour begins. In the afternoon we drive to Ibadan which, before independence, was reputedly the largest sub-Saharan city in Africa. We stay for two nights at the official guesthouse of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), a research facility which attracts scientists from all over the world. Much of the institute's 1000-hectare campus is used for scientific research on improving food production in Africa.
Lagos - Nike Okundaye

Afro-Brazilian house on Lagos Island

On the following day we take a short drive to Abeokuta, the historical homeland of the Yoruba people who settled there under the Olumu Rock, which they now hold sacred and still use for celebrations and rituals. From the summit we can enjoy a panoramic view of the town and the surrounding countryside. We also visit Obas palace and Itoku market selling Adire (batik) fabric, etc.

A third of the campus consists of unspoiled tropical forest, a natural preserve for birds and other fauna. A 3km lake which provides irrigation water, attracts hundreds of species of resident and rare migratory birds.

A full day excursion from Ibadan takes us to the remarkable 75-hectare Sacred Forest of Oshogbo, a UNESCO World Heritage site which houses a rich variety of wildlife, including monkeys, birds and forest antelopes. Scattered throughout the rainforest are numerous sculptures and shrines revering the traditional Yaruba gods (see front cover photograph). We also visit the Osun shrine and groove and the Nike Cultural centre. On our way back to Ibadan we call at Ile Ife, considered by the Yoruba people to be a holy city and the legendary birthplace of mankind, to visit the Oba's Palace.

Next morning we visit the Lekki Conservation Centre, 78 hectares of wetland with raised walkways from which we can view wildlife (monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards, giant rats and forest squirrels - plus some 118 species of birds), the colourful market, the National Museum, with its numerous exhibits of Nigerias ancient civilisations, Isale Eko - the old section of the city, the Brazilian quarters on Lagos Island and the house of the famous Nigerian batik designer, Nike Okundaye, with fine examples of Nigerian art including paintings, batiks, sculptures and indigo dresses. An afternoon boat ride on Lagos lagoon affords us a panoramic view of the city.
Abeokuta - Olumu Rock Oshogbo Sacred Forest

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

At the nearby museum we see many fine bronze and terracotta sculptures dating back to the 13th century before visiting the Opa Oranmiyan - an engraved monolith, more than five metres high, which is popularly believed to be the walking stick of the giant tribal warrior Ornmiyan.

Abuja National Mosque

Calabar Museum

The ancient city of Idanre and the Idanre Hills

We also visit Duke Town Church, which was established by Presbyterian missionaries in 1904, the Botanic Garden, inaugurated by the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, in 1893 and the Calabar Primate Research Centre, a re-habilation centre for the endangered drill monkeys and orphaned chimpanzees. During our stay in Benin City we visit the museum, Obas Palace, Chief Ogiames residence, the remnants of the city wall and moat and the famous Igun Street headquarters of the ancient guild of bronze casters, a series of some 20 workshops where craftsmen use the "lost wax" technique to create their impressive sculptures. Our journey continues via Uyo to the town of Calabar, set high on a hill above a curve in the Calabar River, for a stay of two nights at the Metropolitan Hotel. Here we visit the museum, considered to be the best in Nigeria, housed in a beautifully-restored old colonial building which was pre-fabricated and shipped from England in 1884.
Drill monkeys at Calabar Primate Research Centre

We visit the museum and Obas palace at Owo before continuing to Benin City, renowned for its unique bronze, brass and ivory artefacts, for a stay of two nights at the Motel Benin Plaza.

Ile-Ife: Opa Oranmiyan engraved monolith

We arrive back in Ibadan in good time to prepare for the New year's Eve celebration at the IITA Guesthouse. The next day we drive to the ancient city of Idanre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, set in a hilly landscape which has been home for the Idanre community for almost a millennium.

On the following morning we drive to the Cross River National Park, a tropical rain forest covering an area of approximately 4,000 km.

A Benin City bronze

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

The road leading to Obudu Mountain Resort

From Obudu we drive to Makurdi, homeland of the Tiv ethnic group, visiting traditional villages en route. to the capital, Abuja where we stay overnight at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

Africa's longest cable car leads to Obudu Mountain Resort in Nigeria's Cross River National Park One of the Alok Ikom monoliths

En route we visit Alok Ikom - the site of a series of volcanic-stone monoliths which were constructed between 2500 BC and 1 AD. The common features of the monoliths are that they are hewn into the form of a phallus ranging from between 1 and 1.8 metres high, and are laid out in some 30 circles. They are decorated with carvings of geometric and stylized human features, notably two eyes, an open mouth, a head crowned with rings, a stylized pointed beard, an elaborately marked navel, two decorative hands with five fingers, a nose, and variously-shaped facial marks.

We drive into the Obudu Hills for a 4km cable car ride (the longest in Africa) which takes us from the base of the mountain to Obudu Mountain Resort, located on a 1,576- metre-high plateau, where we stay for the next two nights.

Facilities of the resort include a fullyequipped gymnasium, 9-hole golf course, two floodlit tennis courts and a squash court. A short walk leads to a spectacular grotto with a natural swimming pool. A canopy walkway through the trees allows visitors close-up views of the birds in their natural habitat high above the ground.

Abuja mosque

Chalets at Obudu Mountain Resort

Canopy walkway at Obudu Mountain Resort

The site of the new capital (inaugurated in 1991) was chosen for its strategic position in the centre of the country, its agreeable climate and because the local inhabitants had no particular religious or ethnic allegiance. On the afternoon of our arrival (Friday) we attend the colourful weekly afternoon street market held outside the National Mosque and next morning we visit the National Arboretum, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the National Mosque.

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

Kaduna Hausa Village

From Abuja we drive to Kaduna, northern Nigeria's political centre, for a visit to a mudwalled Hausa Village, with huts devoted to various tradesmen - weavers, silversmiths, painters, brassmakers and blacksmiths.

Dye pits at Kano's cloth market Entrance to the Palace of the Emir of Zaria Traditional Hausa 10-legged stool

In the hairdresser's hut young girls can be seen sitting on traditional Hausa 10-legged stools.

Arriving at the ancient walled city of Zaria we visit the Emir's Palace with its colourful entrance gate of brilliantly-coloured mosaics. the museum, Arewa house with historical records of northern Nigeria, and Ahamadu Bello University campus. Our destination is Kano, the largest of the ancient Hausa city states and the oldest surviving city in West Africa, where we stay for two nights at the Prince Hotel. Founded in the 7th century as a major crossroads on the trans-Sahara trade route, from the Middle Ages it became an important centre for Islamic scholarship. Today it is the economic centre of Northern Repair work on Kano City Walls Nigeria and the country's third-largest city. page 7

Our sightseeing tour of Kano includes a visit to the city walls and gates, which date back to the 12th century, the Emirs palace, central mosque, Gidan Makama museum, and the dye pits in the cloth market. Here cloth is soaked in indigo dye in large vats as the first stage of a process which takes several weeks before the finished indigo cloth is ready to be made into ceremonial robes and other garments.

Zaria: Entrance to Arewa House

Kano City Walls

West Africa's Hidden Gems

The last stage of our journey through Nigeria takes us to Katsina, formerly one of the seven Hausa kingdoms, for a visit to the impressive Gobarau Minaret, built of mud and palm timbers in the 14th century during the heyday of the dynasty of the seven Hausa States.

Mud Granary at a Hausa Village near Birni N'Konni

Our journey through Niger takes us via Birni N'Konni to the capital, Niamey, where we stay for two nights at the Grand Hotel du Niger, located high on the riverbank. Our morning sightseeing tour visits the Grand Mosque, the National Museum and the artisan village. In the afternoon we take a ride by pirogue (small dug-out canoes made from curved planks) along the River Niger, to see local fishermen, laundrymen and women beating their clothes on the riverbank and people watering their riverside gardens from calabashes.

Katsina: Gobarau Minaret

Shortly after leaving Katsina we cross the border into the REPUBLIC OF NIGER, arriving at Maradi for a stay of two nights at the modern Maradi Guest House. During our stay we visit the Artisan Centre with its Touareg blacksmiths, jewellers, and leatherworkers, the impressive Chief's Palace and we take a drive to nearby Tibiri to visit the weekly (Wednesday) market.
Niamey: the Grand Mosque Maradi: A Touareg tribesman with his camel

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

A Far Horizons passenger with our local guide at the Sacred Crocodile lake at Sabou

Bobo Dioulasso market

Niamey: Pirogues on the River Niger

On the next day we cross the border into BURKINA FASO, calling first at the town of Fada N'Gourma, famous for its locally produced dark and tangy honey.

From Ouagadougou we drive to Sabou to visit the lake of the sacred crocodiles, which are quite tame and answer to their names. The locals believe that within each crocodile there rests the spirit of one of their ancestors. From Sabou we drive to Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso's second-largest city and one of West Africa's most attractive cities with its tree-lined streets, for a stay of two nights at L'Auberge Bobo Dioulasso.

In the afternoon we visit the impressive Great Mosque, built in 1893 and one of the finest examples of mud mosques in the entire Sahel region, and the Grand Market - with its fascinating range of tribal arts. We wander through the fascinating Kibidwe district - a maze of narrow alleys, traditional dwellings and sites where animal sacrifices take place. At the local brewery beer is boiled in a big vat inside a fiery stone oven.

Burkina Faso A local family at Fada N'Gourma

We reach the evocatively named capital, Ouagadougou (pronounced Wag-a-doo-goo) for a stay of two nights at the excellent Hotel Mercure Silmande. Our sightseeing includes the Grand Market, the National Museum with its interesting collection of regional clothing, masks, household utensils and ancestral statues, the Music Museum and the crafts markets at the Artisans Centre, where you

Ouagadougou market scene

will find basketry, batik fabrics, wooden statues and masks, jewellery, leatherwork and bronze castings. A feature of today is the lunch we take at the Restaurant L'Eau Vive - a sanctuary from the noise and bustle of the city - which is run by an order of nuns.
On the road to Banfora - the Sindou Peaks

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

A Far Horizons group on Lake Tengrla

Segou: Gardens on the banks of the River Niger

From Bobo Dioulasso we cross the border to enter the REPUBLIC OF MALI, arriving at Koutiala known as the White Gold capital because of its status as the centre of Mali's cotton production. We continue to Segou, where we re-join the River Niger and stay overnight at the small but hospitable LAuberge.
Bobo Dioulasso: the Great Mosque

In the afternoon we drive to the historic village of Segou Koro, the former 18thcentury capital of the Bambara Empire with crumbling buildings and three ancient mosques.

On the following day we take an excursion through the lush, green countryside passing by the unusual rock formations of the Sindou peaks to the attractive little town of Banfora, set amidst well-watered sugar cane fields and tree-lined hills. En route we visit the impressive Karfiguela Waterfall which is approached through an avenue of mango trees. One of the major attraction of the Banfora region is nearby Lake Tengrla, famous for its sacred hippopotami, where we take a boat ride.
Soudanese architecture at Segou

Bambara compound at Segou Coro

Segou is an attractive town with tree-lined streets with former colonial buildings in varying degrees of decay and several fine examples of typical Soudanese architecture. Our sightseeing includes a walk along the banks of the River Niger passing tended gardens, a small pottery workshop and an artisans' market.

We continue to the capital, Bamako, for a stay of two nights at the modern riverside El Farouk Hotel. Our sightseeing includes the National Museum, the Maison des Artisans, where leather goods and woodcarvings are made and sold, the nearby fetish market, Les Paysanne Women's Co-operative and the Indigo boutique with its selection of textiles, masks,statues and musical instruments.

Karfiguela waterfall

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West Africa's Hidden Gems

On the following day we take an excursion to the Mandingo country, the small kingdom of Kangaba, close to the Mali/Guinea border which flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries. We visit Badougou Dioliba (a beautiful Malinke village and home of the famous Malian afro-pop singer Salif Keita) before driving to Kela to meet with the griot, (story-tellers) to discover their role in the traditional and modern society.

Optional Excursion to

Timbuctoo

Our Touareg tour guide Mohammed Ali outside the house of the British explorer, Alexander Gordon Laing - one of the first European explorers to reach Timbuctoo

West Africa's Hidden Gems has been planned mainly for the benefit of regular Far Horizons clients who have already travelled with us in the past to Timbuctoo.
Mangos at Siby market

A Far Horizons group enjoying a specially-prepared lunch in a Benuoin tent on the outskirts of Nouckchott

We continue to Siby, famous for its mangos, to visit the weekly Saturday market, meeting place of Malians and Guineans. We see the Arch of Kamadjan and the prehistoric cave of Kurukorokale before returning to Bamako via the beautiful village of Faraban.

We are therefore offering first-timers the opportunity to visit this remote outpost on the fringe of the Sahara Desert as an optional excursion on Day 26 - in place of the advertised excursion to the Mandingo Country. Departure will be by early-morning twohour charter flight from Bamako to Timbuctoo for visits to the museums, the market, the homes of the early explorers and the three major mud mosques.

A Far Horizons group taking lunch in a tribal tent on the outskirts of Nouakchott

Bamako marks the end of our two-week overland journey. After a late check out from our hotel we take the late night flight to Nouakchott, capital of MAURITANIA, where we stay for two nights at the Novotel Tfeila.

The arch of Kamadjan

Our sightseeing tour of the city visits the Central Market, the old moorish settlement of Ksar and the National Museum. In the late afternoon we drive to the Port de Peche (fishing harbour) where teams of fishermen from the the Woluf and Fula Tribes drag in Lunch will be provided at a local hotel. heavy, hand-knotted fishing nets . . . with Return in the evening by charter flight to the enthusiastic encouragement of their Bamako to rejoin the tour. womenfolk and the hordes of small boys who scurry back and forth with trays of fish Further details on request. which they sort, gut, fillet and lay out on large trestles to dry. page 11

Nouakchott: Bringing in the fish

From Nouakchott we drive along the coastal road south to the border with SENEGAL which we cross by ferry across the Senegal River. We reach the fascinating port of Saint-Louis, situated on an island connected to the mainland by a 19th-century bridge, originally built to cross the Danube but transferred here in 1897.

West Africa's Hidden Gems

Pelicans at Djoudj National park

So Vicente: Mindelo street scene

A street in Saint-Louis

This UNESCO World Heritage city was formerly the capital of French West Africa. Its grand old quayside houses, in varying states of disrepair, were once inhabited by European merchants trading in gold, ivory and slaves We visit the old Governors Palace, Place Faldherbe and some of the islands fine 19th-century houses with wrought-iron and wooden balconies. We stay for two nights at the historic Hotel de la Poste, The building, which dates from 1850, was originally a private residence. By the 1930s it had become a hotel, which became the haunt of the Aropostale airmail pioneers which explains its name. SaintLouis was a crucial stop on the postal network radiating from Paris.

From Saint-Louis we take an excursion to another World Heritage site, the nearby Djoudj National Park, considered to be one of the three most important bird sanctuaries in the world, with almost 300 species recorded. January is the best month for bird-watching, when there are an estimated 100,000 pink flamingoes, as well as numerous pelicans, spur-winged geese, purple herons, egrets, spoonbills, black-tailed godwits, cormorants, great bustards and tree-ducks. Next morning we cross back to the mainland and drive to Dakar Airport for our flight to the CAPE VERDE ISLANDS - an arrowshaped archipelago of ten islands in the Atlantic ocean, half way between Europe and Brazil. Settled in the 15th century, the islands were populated by a mixture of free Europeans and African slaves, which has produced a unique creole population.

In the evening we fly to the main island, Santiago, on which is situated Cape Verde's capital and largest town, Praia, built on a plateau overlooking the sea. We stay for two nights at the Hotel Pestana Tropico with splendid views of the ocean. Our tour of the island includes the old town of Cidade Velha, the former capital and the first European city to be built in the tropics, the ruins of the first cathedral, the Convent of Sao Francisco and the old Royal Fort of Sao Felipe, with spectacular views. We continue through the mountainous interior via the Botanical Gardens of Sao Jorge to the fishing village of Tarrafal.

So Vicente island: Mindelo harbour

Our morning sightseeing includes a walk along the picturesque waterfront, then through the cobbled streets, lined with old Portuguese-style houses with balconies and shuttered windows, the pink Presidential Palace and the National Centre of Folk Art. In the afternoon we drive to Monte Verde and the Baia de Gatas natural swimming pool.

Santiago Island: the cliff-top town of Praia

The first night is spent on the island of So Vicente, the most cosmopoltan of the islands, its capital Mindelo considered to be the "cultural capital" of Cape Verde. The Hotel Porto Grande is situated on the lively Praa Amilcar Cabral on the main square in the centre of the town. page 12

West Africa's Hidden Gems

From Bissau we take a short flight to Dakar, capital of SENEGAL for a stay for two nights at Le Meridien President Hotel facing the Atlantic Ocean. Features of the hotel include four tennis courts and a 9-hole golf course.

Dakar: Teeing off at Le Meridien Hotel golf course Bissau: Street market

Conakry: The Hrand Mosque

From Praia we take a morning flight back to the African mainland to Conakry, capital of the REPUBLIC OF GUINEA, for a stay of two nights at the modern Hotel Riviera Royal. Originally built on an island, Conakry is now connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus which forms the Kaloum Peninsula. In its glory days under French colonial rule it was known as "The Paris of Africa" - a soubriquet it would be hard-pressed to justify today. Nevertheless its streets - shaded by mangrove and coconut palm trees - does contain some interesting buildings including the Grand Mosque and an interesting National Museum with a collection of masks, statues and African musical instruments, which we visit during our morning tour.

In the afternoon we take a boat ride to the offshore Roume Island, one of a group known as the Iles des Los, and recognised as the inspiration for Robert Louis Stephenson's classic novel Treasure Island.

From Conakry we fly to the sleepy city of Bissau, capital of the tiny Republic of GUINEA-BISSAU - with its old largelycrumbling colonial buildings, wide mangoshaded streets and attractive pastelcoloured buildings. We stay for two nights at the Hotel Azalai 24 Septembre. On the afternoon of our arrival we take a tour of the city including the former Presidential Palace, the National Museum and the narrow streets of the old Portuguese quarter with its Mediterranean-style houses. On the following day we take a boat ride to Bolama island, the former capital of the region. Since 1941, when the capital was transferred to Bissau, it has been left to decay and nowadays there remains only colonnades and papaya trees sprouting from stately living rooms - which adds to the eerie charm of this fascinating little place.

Next morning's sightseeing tour includes Sandaga Market, Independence Square, with the Presidential Palace and Cathedral and the artists village at Soumbedioune. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the facilities of our hotel.

Slave House on the Island of Goree

Street scene on Roume Island

On the next morning we take a ferry to the island of Goree, infamous as the centre for the shipment of slaves to the New World, to visit the Maritime Museum and the Slave House built in 1776. We leave Dakar in the evening by Emirates flights via Dubai to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth

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Itinerary and Tariffs

Day 1 Tuesday 27 Dec: By air to Dubai Evening Emirates flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth to Dubai. Overnight in flight Day 2 Wednesday: By air to Lagos Morning arrival in Dubai with connecting Emirates flight to Lagos. Afternoon at leisure. Stay two nights at the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel Day 3 Thursday: In Lagos Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 4 Friday: By road to Ibadan Morning drive to Abeokuta. Afternoon drive to Ibadan. Stay two nights at IITA Guesthouse Day 5 Saturday: In Ibadan Excursion to Oshogbo Sacred Forest Day 6 Sunday: By road to Benin City Drive via Idanra and Owo to Benin City. Stay two nights at Motel Benin Plaza Day 7 Monday: In Benin City Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 8 Tuesday: By road to Calabar Morning drive to Uyo. Afternoon drive to Calabar. Stay two nights at Metropolitan Hotel Day 9 Wednesday: In Calabar Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 10 Thursday: By road to Obudu Hills Drive via Ikom monolith to Obudu Hills. We stay two nights at Obudu Mountain Resort Day 11 Friday: At Obudu Hills Full day for leisure activities and sightseeing Day 12 Saturday: By road to Abuja Morning drive to Markudi. Afternoon drive to Abuja. Overnight at the Abuja Hilton Hotel Day 13 Sunday: By road to Kano Morning sightseeing in Abuja, then drive via Kaduna to Zaria. Afternoon drive to Kano. Stay two nights at Prince Hotel Day 14 Monday: At Kano Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 15 Tuesday: By road to Maradi Morning drive to Katsina. Afternoon drive to Maradi. Stay two nights at Maradi Guest House Day 16 Wednesday: At Maradi Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 17 Thursday: By road to Niamey Morning drive to Birni N'Konni. Afternoon drive to Niamey. Stay two nights at Grand Hotel du Niger Day 18 Friday: In Niamey Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 19 Saturday: By road to Ouagadougou Full day drive to Ouagadougou. Stay two nights at Mercure Silmand Hotel Day 20 Sunday: In Ouagadougou Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 21 Monday: By road to Bobo Dioulasso Morning drive via Sabou to Bobo Dioulasso. Afternoon sightseeing. Stay two nights at LAuberge Bobo Dioulasso Day 22 Tuesday: At Bobo Dioulasso Excursion to Banfora and Tengrela Lake Day 23 Wednesday: By road to Segou Morning drive to Kiutiala. Afternoon drive to Segou. Overnight at LAuberge Segou Day 24 Thursday: By road to Bamako Morning sightseeing in Segou. Afternoon drive to Bamako. Stay two nights at El Farouk Hotel Day 25 Friday: In Bamako Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 26 Saturday: By air to Nouakchott Excursion to Mandingo. Late night flight to Nouakchott. Stay two nights at Novotel Tfeila Day 27 Sunday: In Nouakchott Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 28 Monday: By road to Saint-Louis Morning drive to Saint-Louis. Afternoon sightseeing. Stay two nights at Hotel de la Poste Day 29 Tuesday: At Saint-Louis Excursion to National Park du Djoudj Day 30 Wednesday: By road/air to Mindelo Morning drive to Dakar. Afternoon flight to So Vicente Island. Overnight at Hotel Porto Grande, Mindelo Day 31 Thursday: By air to Praia Full day sightseeing on So Vicente island. Evening flight to Santiago Island. Stay two nights at Hotel Pestana Tropico Day 32 Friday: On Santiago Morning and afternoon sightseeing Day 33 Saturday: By air to Conakry Morning flight to Conakry. Stay two nights at Hotel Riviera Royal Day 34 Sunday: In Conakry Morning and afternoon sightseeing. Day 35 Monday: By air to Bissau Morning flight to Bissau. Afternoon sightseeing. Stay two nights at the Hotel Azalai 24 Septembre Day 36 Tuesday: In Bissau Excursion by boat to Ilha di Bolama Day 37 Wednesday: By air to Dakar Afternoon flight to Dakar. Stay two nights at Le Meridien President Hotel Day 38 Thursday: In Dakar Morning city tour. Afternoon at leisure Day 39 Friday: By air to Dubai Morning excursion to Goree Island. Evening Emirates flight to Dubai. Overnight in flight Day 40 Saturday: By air to Australia Morning arrival at Dubai with connecting Emirates flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Overnight in flight, Day 41 Sunday 05 Feb: Arrive home Morning arrival in Australia Climatic Conditions Average temperatures at the time of our visit Maximum Minimum Lagos 31 24 Abuja 35 20 Kano 30 13 Niamey 34 14 Ouagadougou 33 16 Bamako 33 16 Nouakchott 29 14 Praia 25 20 Conakry 31 23 Bissau 31 15 Dakar 26 18

from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane Tariffs per person [share twin] $ 31,800 Single room supplement $ 3,400 Business Class on Emirates flights $ 4,800

from Perth $31,750 $ 3,400 $ 4.450

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Hotels
It is our policy to use the best available accommodation throughout each stage of every tour. In large cities we select hotels which offer a special ambiance and a favourable location. In small towns, where there is often very little choice, the best available is sometimes the "only available" and passengers should be aware that we are not always able to provide fully international standards of accommodation. IBADAN, Nigeria CROSS RIVER Nigeria NIAMEY, Niger BAMAKO, Mali PRAIA, Cape Verde

Grand Hotel du Niger Obudu Mountain Resort ABUJA, Nigeria OUAGADOUGOU Burkina Faso El Farouk Hotel NOUAKCHOTT Mauritania

Hotel Pestana Tropico CONAKRY, Guinea

IITA Guesthouse

BENIN CITY, Nigeria Hotel Mercure Silmand Transcorp Hilton Hotel KANO, Nigeria BOBO DIOULASSO Burkina Faso Novotel Tfeila

Hotel Riviera Royal BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau SAINT-LOUIS, Senegal

LAGOS, Nigeria Motel Benin Plaza CALABAR, Nigeria

Hotel Azalai 24 Septembre Prince Hotel L'Auberge Hotel de la Poste DAKAR, Senegal MARADI, Niger SEGOU, Mali MINDELO, Cape Verde

Metropolitan Hotel

Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel Maradi Guest House page 15

L'Auberge

Le Meridien President Hotel Porto Grande

General Information and Booking Conditions

To make a booking Complete the Booking Form on page 17 and return it to Far Horizons together with a deposit of $2,000 per person. Items included in the tour cost 1. Scheduled air travel as indicated 2. Transfers, assistance and porterage between airports and hotels 3. Accommodation in specified hotels in twinbedded and single rooms 4. All meals throughout the tour including breakfast, lunch and dinner daily 5. Gratuities to guides, drivers, hotel staff and tour escort 6. All service charges and local taxes 7. All ground transportation and sightseeing excursions as indicated 8. All entrance fees, admission charges, entertainments and cultural events 9. Services of Far Horizons tour escort throughout 10. Services of experienced local guide/lecturers through all regions 11. Free baggage allowance of 20 kgs (30kgs on Business Class flights) 13. Airport taxes Items not included in the tour cost 1. Laundry, drinks, room service and other items of a personal nature; 2. Visa and passport charges; Balance of Payment Fifty percent of the tour cost must be received by Far Horizons no later than ninety days before departure, and the balance of payment must be received by Far Horizons no later than forty-five days prior to departure. About four weeks before departure we will send you historical notes and travellers requirements which contain information about climate, clothing, health requirements, visa procedures and other matters. Approximately two weeks prior to departure we will send your joining instructions, detailed day by day itinerary, luggage labels and all other documentation pertinent to your journey. Please note we are not bound to issue any tickets or other travel documents until full payment is made. Failure to make payment when due may at our option be deemed a cancellation by you and we reserve the right to retain the deposit you have paid. Late payment may cause the late delivery of travel documents and we accept no responsibility for such delivery or any consequence thereof. Late Bookings Bookings made within sixty days of departure will only be accepted if full payment is received when booking. Late booking fees may be charged in addition to any charges levied by operating suppliers. Cancellations All cancellations must be made to Far Horizons in writing signed by the person who made the original booking. In the event of cancellation the following charges will be levied, depending upon the number of days prior to departure date when Far Horizons receives written notice of cancellation: Up to 121 days nil* 120 to 90 days loss of deposit 90-31 days 50% of tour price Within 30 days 100% of tour price *plus any non-recoverable deposits paid on your behalf. If you fail to avail yourself of the services comprised in the holiday, no refund will be available for services not provided. Quality standards and flexibility We aim to avoid surprise or disappointment by informing you of the following matters at this stage, and if you have doubts or concerns please raise these with us. Most customers acknowledge that these matters are part of the travelling experience. Please be aware that some of the facilities you encounter on our tours may not be to the standard which you may find on a conventional holiday or at home. The majority of our tours travel through areas which, relatively speaking, have seen few tourists and the infrastructure is not fully developed. Whilst services are improving, you should expect to encounter problems with plumbing, bureaucratic service, unpaved and uneven surfaces, the nonavailability of public toilets and similar. Please be aware that in operating our tours we rely upon other people and businesses. Tours do not always run as planned and whilst we will always try our best to stick to the planned itinerary, please treat it as a guide rather than a strict timetable. Although we cannot always please all parties when changing an itinerary, our clients should anticipate changes being required. Changes to the advertised itinerary or designated airline Passengers wishing to make changes to the advertised itinerary may do so at an administrative charge of $200 per booking, plus the cost of any additional flights, accommodation and/or services. The air fares on which our tours are based often require all passengers to travel out together, so any amendments to the itinerary should take place after the completion of the tour rather than before, otherwise additional charges may be incurred. Passengers wishing to travel on a 'land only' basis, or to travel by airlines other than those designated, will be required to pay a supplementary charge of $500 per person. Changes in prices and itineraries Prices are based on tariffs, air fares and exchange rates current at 10 August 2010 To reflect fluctuations in exchange rates or increases to the cost elements of the tour we reserve the right to adjust prices as may be necessary at any time. The tours are based on an economic minimum number of passengers. Should this minimum not be reached, we reserve the right to cancel the tour up to eight weeks prior to departure. The right is reserved to refuse to accept any person, or to terminate any person's participation in the tour at our own discretion at any time during the course of the tour. We furthermore reserve the right to withdraw a tour or any part of it, or to make such alterations to the itinerary as we deem necessary or desirable in the event of delays or events beyond our control. In the event of any changes made we will give you or be caused to give you notice thereof including any consequent change in price. In the event any one change or series of changes to your itinerary demonstrates that your tour has thereby become materially different from that contemplated, you have the right to ask to rearrange or withdraw from the tour and monies already paid will be refunded less any charges levied by operating suppliers. Insurance We strongly advise passengers to take out a travel insurance policy, covering medical, cancellation and emergency costs, cash in hospital, loss of baggage and documents, hijack compensation, death, disability and loss of income. Far Horizons is happy to assist with this. Accommodation The basis of accommodation provided is in a twinbedded, double or single room with private bath or shower and w.c. in luxury, first class or the 'best available' hotels. Single rooms and share-twin accommodation At all hotels rooms are available for single occupancy at the appropriate supplement. These rooms are usually normal twin-bedded rooms, but occasionally they may be smaller. We will endeavour to match single persons wishing to book on a "share-twin" basis. However, such bookings are accepted on the understanding that the single supplement will be payable in the event of our being unable to find a suitable partner. Passengers wishing to book on this basis will be asked to complete a form to assist us in providing a compatible partner. Immigration and Health Each passenger must be in possession of a valid passport. Visae are required for entry Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. These will be obtained by Far Horizons. Each passenger will also need to carry a valid International Health Certificate with a current endorsement for Yellow Fever vaccination [validity 10 years] Acts of God We are unable to accept liability in contract or in tort for any injury, damage, loss, delay, additional expenses or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or other events over which we have no control including without limitation or rights, civil strife, terrorist activity, weather conditions, fire, flood, drought, industrial disputes, unusually severe weather, acts of God, acts of government, cancellation. Independent Suppliers Far Horizons purchases transportation, accommodation and other services from independent suppliers not affiliated with Far Horizons in any way. Far Horizons act solely as agents for the persons supplying these services. Although we try to choose the best suppliers available we have no right to control their operations and accordingly cannot be responsible in any way for day to day problems resulting from the booking, or any loss, damage, delay, inconvenience or injury to persons or property or any loss howsoever arising, unless it is a direct result of negligence on our part or on the part of our employees, but any liability on our part shall be limited (except for death or personal injury) to a maximum of the tour cost subject to these conditions. Jurisdiction The passenger's contract is governed by the law of the State of South Australia and any legal action arising pursuant to the contract shall be litigated in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in that State.

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West Africa's Hidden gems

departing 27 December 2011

Room type (please tick)

Booking Form
Please complete this form and mail to Far Horizons PO Box 96 Truro South Australia 5356 Telephone [08] 8564 0255 Reservations 1800 083 141 Facsimile [08] 8564 0065 E-mail Web info@farhorizons.com.au www.farhorizons.com.au

Full names of all passengers 1. 2. 3. 4.

Twin 2 beds

Double large bed

Single

Airport of departure

Class of Travel on Emirates flights Address for correspondence

Travel agents licence no. TTA 164 and 165 Remittance I enclose herewith a remittance of Further Information or special requests. (Please mention any special dietary requirements) Postcode Telephone (home) Telephone (work) Fax number Email

$2,000 per person for each of the passengers named. I confirm that the relevant Conditions of Booking contained in the General Information section on page 16 have been read and accepted by me and all members of my party. Signed Date

Passport Details - in block capitals please Title Surname Initials Nationality Date of Birth Place of Birth Passport Number Place of Issue Date of Issue

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