Visit Guinea and Experience the Culture of Africa

Have you always dreamed of embarking on a truly groundbreaking expedition in an exotic, undiscovered land? Then come with MTS as we plunge into the vibrant, hidden world of Guinea. Guinea was the last African country to be colonized and the first to declare independence, and has been completely closed to tourists for decades. In this land of swirling colors and vibrant music, we'll explore tiny villages and teeming markets untouched by tourism. We'll find landscape as varied as the culture as we journey from highland forests and wide-open savannas to the sun-drenched Bijagós Archipelago off the coast. For the intrepid traveler with a flexible attitude and a taste for the unknown, this pioneering foray into hidden Guinea will be the trip of a lifetime.

"During my recent scout in Guinea I stopped in a small village in the savannas; the elders ran to me saying "Aw nitchè! Aw nitchè!" or "Thank you! Thank you!" in the local Dioula language. I asked them why they where thanking me. The reply was that they were thanking me for coming to their village-no Westerner had been there in the last four decades! I believe that "culture" is alive and is an adventure: to experience direct contact with "different" cultures and to interact with them is an adventure of the mind, as challenging as driving out of any track, crossing high dunes or liana bridges." - Alberto Nicheli

Activities

13 days rugged 4-wheel-drive travel

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Join a pioneering expedition into a country that has been closed to tourism for decades-MTS is the first to offer a trip here!
• Experience authentic cultural encounters with villagers in the Guinean highlands, an area untouched by Western tourists
• Explore the tropical, white-sand Bijagós Archipelago
• Cruise down the Niger River in a pinasse, visiting local villages along the way

2010 Trip Prices
$4,495 (10-14 members)
$4,995 (6-9 members)
$800 single supplement

Duration: 15 days Start Location: Bissau, Guinea- Bissau End Location: Bamako, Mali Best time to go: December

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

  Arrive in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

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  Days 2 - 3 : Bijagós Archipelago

  A river and ocean journey, beginning in mangrove forest and arriving at last at the Bijagós Islands, some forty miles off the coast. We'll camp on wild, white sand beaches and explore villages that have experienced little in the way of Western contact.

• Day 4 : Bissau

  Return to the mainland. Walking tour of the old colonial city of Bissau.

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  Days 5 - 6 : Bassari Villages

  Head south to cross out of the former Portuguese colony of Guinea-Bissau and into Guinea. We'll follow red clay paths deep into the heart of Fouta Djalon, then navigate river crossings by ferryboat. This is the land of the animist, mask-wearing Bassari, where we will be received by the elders and possibly take part in a festival.

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  Days 7 - 9 : Fouta Djalon

  Cross the Niger River and enter the spectacular mountainous region of Fouta Djalon. Visit isolated villages of the Fulani people, the greatest cattlemen of West Africa.

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  Days 10 - 11 : Ziama Forest Reserve

  Rugged 4x4 journey into the nearly impenetrable forests of Ziama.

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  Days 12 - 13 : Bissandougou – Kankan

  Follow the path of the warrior-King Samory as we traverse the plateaus and valleys of mountains rich with diamonds and gold. Under the shade of a kapok tree, we'll have an audience with the chief of the Bissandougou people. Afterwards, explore the colonial architecture of Kankan, along the banks of the Milo River.

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  Day 14 : Niger River

  We began our journey on the ocean to the Bijagós and we end with a cruise down the Niger River by thatch-roofpinasse.

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  Day 15 : End of Niger River Journey – Depart from Bamako

  Depart Bamako.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Alberto Nicheli

  Alberto is Italian by birth but has the heart of a nomad. He's traveled extensively throughout West Africa since 1975 and been a resident of Togo since 1984. Alberto has fast friendships with chiefs and elders in many remote villages and works energetically to preserve and understand their ways of life. His expertise is well known: he did field research with Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith for their book African Ceremonies and past National Geographic articles on West Africa.

photo credits: