Overland Travel in West Africa

Overland travel in West Africa is not as popular as in other parts of the world, such as South America or Southeast Asia.

This is due in part to the political instability that has made certain countries dangerous to travel to, as well as poor transport links. It can be expensive to sort out your own route using unreliable public transport, and scheduling is almost impossible.

There are plenty of barriers to an independent overland trip from, say, Senegal to Ghana. Of course it can be done, but you will need plenty of money and flexibility. Visitors who only have a limited amount of time should consider signing to an overlanding tour.

There are a number of companies offering these kinds of trips, which usually involve group travel in a custom-built truck. One such company is Dragoman, which has various itineraries including Dakar to Freetown, Accra and even Cape Town.

The Dakar to Freetown route takes 23 days, and costs around $2,500. It’s certainly not cheap, but as organized trips go it’s also not outrageously expensive. You’ll pack a lot into your time and get to know the areas you pass through with the help of an experienced guide, so it could be a good option if you want to see a few countries in a limited time.