Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania

Weather: Sunny, 59/77F.

Route: From Saint Louis 665 km north on N2.

Significance: Banc d'Arguin is where the desert meets the sea. The winds bring sand from the Sahara here and have made the sea very shallow. It is a place for birds to migrate to in the winter, where they can feed on fish attracted by the dense plant life in the shallows.  Over 100 different bird species come here. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Shallows with sand dunes in the background (from whc.unesco.org)

Birds feeding at low tide (from whc.unesco.org)

Island of Saint-Louis, Senegal - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Island of Saint-Louis, Senegal

Weather: Plentiful sunshine, 63/89F.

Route: From Dakar 266 km NNE on N2.

Population: 258,592

Settled by France: 1659

Significance: The island is at the mouth of the Senegal River. Saint-Louis was the capital of French colony of West Africa from 1673 until 1902 and the capital of Senegal up until 1957 when it moved to Dakar. Since the capital has moved south, there hasn't been much development here and most of the French colonial architecture remains.  

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The island from the southern bank of the Senegal River (from whc.unesco.org)

One of the old colonial buildings on the island (from spiritedpursuit.com)

Island of Goree, Senegal - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Island of Goree, Senegal

Weather: Sunny, 65/77F.

Significance: Island of Goree is just off the coast near Dakar. There are many bright colored beautiful old buildings on the island, but unfortunately they have a dark history. These houses were owned by slave traders - alongside them on the island are the quarters where enslaved people were kept before be sent to the new world.  

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Beach and main buildings on the island (from whc.unesco.org)

One of the first buildings enslaved people were brought on the island (from whc.unesco.org)

Dakar, Senegal

 Place: Dakar, Senegal

Weather: Sunny skies, 62/73F.

Route: From Kuntah Kinteh Island 321 km on N5 and N1.

Population: 1,438,725

Places to visit: Mosque of the Divinity, Cathedrale du Souvenir Africain de Dakar, African Arts Museum, Presidential Palace, Musee des Civilisations Noires, Village des Arts.

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Massalikul Jinaan Mosque in Dakar (from voanews.com)

Aerial view of Dakar (from observatoirevivreensemble.org)

Kunta Kinteh Island, Gambia - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Kunta Kinteh Island, Gambia

Weather: Mainly sunny, 66/96F.

Route: From Lohene 128 km west on North Bank Road.

Significance: This island in the Gambian River was used by various European countries as an entry point to the African continent. It was first used by the Portuguese in 1456. When Alex Haley was researching his family tree for what would become the book "Roots", he found that his ancestor Kunta Kinteh came from the village across the river from this island.  This has become a popular place for those with African ancestry to learn about their ancestry.

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Ruins of European fort on the island (from whc.unesco.org)

The island from the shore (from theculturetrip.com)

Stone Circles of Senegambia, Senegal/Gambia - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Stone Circles of Senegambia, Senegal/Gambia

Weather: A few clouds from time to time, 67/104F.

Route: From Bamako 1,163 km west on RN24 and N1.

Significance: There are four main groups of stone circles in this area near the Gambia River. They were built between 3rd century B.C. and 1600 A.D.. All of the stone circles appear to mark burial places for important leaders of a highly organized society.

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Small stones are placed on the larger standing stones (from whc.unesco.org)

Most of the sites have multiple circles (from whc.unesco.org)

Bamako, Mali

 Place: Bamako, Mali

Weather: Mostly sunny skies, 68/99F.

Route: From Timbuktu 1,010 km SW on RN16 and RN6.

Population: 2,713,000

Places to visit: Zoo National du Mali, Musee National de Bamako, Cathedral of Bamako, Bamako Grand Mosque.

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Downtown Bamako with Niger River in the background (from britannica.com)

Bamako Grand Mosque (from maliactu.net)

Timbuktu, Mali - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Timbuktu, Mali

Weather: Sunshine and clouds mixed, 65/94F.

Route: From Gao 415 km west on RN18 and RN33.

Significance: A city name familiar to most Europeans and Americans - yet most people probably have no idea where it is - and according to some polling, many think that it doesn't even exist. Like Gao it was an important city in the Saharan trade route of salt and gold. It has been an important place for Islam and education since the 13th century. There are three important mosques in the city.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Sankore University (from whc.unesco.org)

Djinguereber Mosque, built in 1327 (from brandsouthafrica.com)

Gao, Mali - Tomb of Askia UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Gao, Mali

Weather: Partly cloudy skies, 65/93F.

Route: From Bandiagara 525 km ENE on RN16.

Significance: UNESCO specifically recognized the Tomb of Askia for World Heritage status, however there are other interesting sites in the town as well. In the 15th and 16th centuries Gao was the capital of the Songhai Empire. The Empire was built on Saharan trade of gold and salt. It's leader at the time, Askia Mohamed, converted to Islam and visited Mecca. On his way to Mecca he saw the pyramids of Egypt. He was impressed by the pyramids and wanted a pyramid tomb built for himself.  Near the tomb is the mosque that he ordered built as well after his conversion.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Locals applying mud to the exterior of the tomb, which must be done every 2 years to fight erosion (from whc.unesco.org)

Aerial view of Gao with Niger River in the background (from whc.unesco.org)

Bandiagara, Mali - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Bandiagara, Mali

Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine, 70/96F.

Route: From Djenne 189 km NE on RN6 and RN15.

Significance: The Dogon people live primarily in small towns built on an escarpment. This protected position has meant less incursion by outsiders and a traditional culture that has been more resilient than many places in the region.  However there has been a decades long drought in the region that has forced many to seek work in cities.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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A town built along the escarpment (from whc.unesco.org)

A man making repairs to a traditional house (from whc.unesco.org)

Djenne, Mali - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Djenne, Mali

Weather: Partly cloudy, 71/98F.

Route: From Kumasi 1,110 km north on N12.

Significance: There has been a settlement here since at least the 3rd century B.C., Djenne is on the edge of the Sahara desert. It became increasingly important as part of the gold trade and was a center of Islam as it became more popular in sub-Saharan Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries.  Many of the buildings, including the main mosque, are made with mud, which require at least yearly maintenance.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The Mosque of Djenne (from whc.unesco.org)

The narrow streets of Djenne with the Niger River behind (from whc.unesco.org)

Kumasi, Ghana - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Kumasi, Ghana

Weather: Partly cloudy with afternoon showers or thunderstorms, 72/96F.

Route: From Accra 248 km NW on N6.

Population: 3,348,000

Places to visit: Manhyia Palace Museum, Okomfo Anokye Sword Site, Kumasi Fort - Ghana Armed Forces Museum, Prepeh II Museum.

Significance: UNESCO's recognition of Kumasi is specific to Asante traditional buildings. The Asante civilization was powerful in the 17th and 18th centuries and its culture is still very strong in the area. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Asante traditional symbols (from whc.unesco.org)

Elders dressed in kente cloth, traditional to the Asante culture (from moma.org)

Accra, Ghana

 Place: Accra, Ghana

Weather: Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, 77/90F.

Route: From Keta 178 km west on N1.

Population: 4.2 million

Places to visit: Aburi Botanical Gardens, W.E.B. DuBois Center, Osu Castle, Black Star Gate, Centre for National Culture, Accra Central Mosque, National Museum of Ghana.

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Black Star Gate (from chris-toone.com)

Aerial view of Accra (from theculturetrip.com)

Forts and Castles of Volta and Greater Accra, Ghana - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Forts and Castles of Volta and Greater Accra, Ghana

Weather: A few clouds from time to time, 80/90F.

Route: From Guene 835 km SSE on RNIE2.

Significance: Starting in 1482 the European powers - Portugal, Britain etc - started building castles in this region to protect gold that they were extracting from the area. Soon these castles became known for holding enslaved peoples prior to being put on ships for the Americas. In 2006 I went on a trip to Ghana through Habitat for Humanity and went to one of the castles. It was a very moving - thinking of all the people taken from their homes and forced onto ships - this being the last place they would see their homeland.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Castle on the coast (from whc.unesco.org)

Courtyard of Fort William (from whc.unesco.org)

W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, Benin/Burkina Faso/Niger

 Place: W-Arly-Pendjari Complex, Benin/Burkina Faso/Niger

Weather: Sunny, 70/104F.

Route: From Abomey 508 km north on RNIE2.

Significance: It is one of the largest tracts of savannah in West Africa. It includes the largest herd of elephants and the largest group of viable lions. There are also large populations of cheetah and leopards.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The savannah (from whc.unesco.org)

Elephants crossing the Tapoa River (from whc.unesco.org)

Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Place: Royal Palaces of Abomey, Benin

Weather: Sunny skies, 75/103F.

Route: From Lagos 280 km NW on RN4.

Significance: The Kingdom of Abomey was a powerful force in West Africa from the 17th to early 20th centuries. Sadly, much of their wealth came from selling of slaves to the Americas. The palaces here were a symbol of their power.  There were a secession of 12 kings who home here.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Two of the main buildings and large courtyard (from whc.unesco.org)

Examples of the reliefs and doors found on the palaces (from whc.unesco.org)

 

Lagos, Nigeria

 Place: Lagos, Nigeria

Weather: Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals, 80/93F.

Route: From Osogbo 232 km SW on Expressway 1.

Population: 14,862,000 (2021) - largest city in Africa

Places to visit: Lekki Conservation Centre, The Cathedral Church of Christ, Kalakuta Republic Museum, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at Pan-Atlantic University, The National Museum, Black Heritage Museum, Central Mosque of Lagos.

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Skyline (from startupgrind.com)

Central Lagos Mosque (from bbc.com)