We only choose restaurants which we know have good hygiene - on the trip that I did, no one was ill and it's not an issue that comes up (unlike in other places like Egypt on occasions). Vegetarians can be catered for, but the variety will be very limited at times. Food option will be more limited in West Africa. Lunch and dinners are typically a combination of chicken or fish with vegetables in season and rice or potatoes.
Lunch and dinners are typically a combination of chicken or fish with vegetables in season and rice or potatoes. Vegetarians can be catered for, but the variety will be very limited at times. Nuts are used extensively in dishes throughout West Africa, so if you have a nut allergy, please let us know prior to booking.
I took a mosquito net (self-supporting) to be honest I didn't use it - the boat will have a mattress with a mosquito net all set up. The night before (Laminkoto Camp) also has mosquito nets. For the other hotels they are all mosquito proof so no need for nets (although most hotels still have them).
The Ivory Coast has a tropical climate with a rainy season between April and October. Temperatures are in the mid to high 20s centigrade from November to March and can rise to 31. Senegal’s tropical climate is split into two periods: The dry season features temperatures in the mid-20s centigrade which can rise to 35 degrees between November to April. The Harmattan is a dry wind which blows from the north, usually from December-February, and evening can feel much cooler during this time. The green (rainy) season of the African monsoon is between June to October, with more rainfall in the south as it heads northwards. Days can alternate between hot and dry and wet and damp, with average temperatures between high-20s to low-30s. The climates in Togo and Benin are mostly tropical with two main rainy seasons in the central and southern regions - May to June and September to November. This should not adversely affect the trip as the tour operates outside the main seasons.
Although rarely checked, a Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate is a compulsory requirement for entry into Togo and Benin. We recommend protection against malaria, hepatitis A, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and polio.
In Ivory Coast - very little. Senegal had more but nowhere near as intrusive as India from my experience. A word of caution about handing out gifts or money in the rural communities we visit, we do ask people to refrain from doing this. We pay a fee to the local community for our visit, which is distributed appropriately by the village elders. Giving additional gifts can cause conflict, as village traditions are strongly based on fairness. Should you wish to give a gift please speak to your tour leader about the best way of doing this.
Our December departure goes from Lome through Kpalime, Dassa etc with the voodoo festival on day 12, whereas the January departure does this route in reverse - so attending the Voodoo Festival on day 3.
Both Togo and Benin have good 4G in cities; rural areas may drop to 2G/3G, but 5G is rare. You can get Wi-Fi in hotels and some cafes, but it can be slow! Mobile internet tends to be faster and more reliable than public Wi-Fi. It might be worth buying a local SIM for affordable data.
As for the specified Voodoo Festival departure dates, it is the focus on one or two of the days we visit. Otherwise, there's plenty of cultural sights and experiences to see!