West Africa
Fast growing, colorful, rich in diverse cultures
West Africa offers extraordinary landscapes, bustling cities, diverse cultures, with hundreds of ethnic groups and tribes, and some unique highlights. Lively and bustling, colorful, crowded and occasionally dangerous street markets are the highlight of any city or village.
Sometimes I simply sit back and watch people go about their daily routines.
16 countries with 450 million people (in 2024), spanning over 5,000,000 square kilometers is one of the fastest growing regions on the African continent: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Liberia stands out as Africa’s first independent nation, and the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali is famed for its unique mud architecture. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, is the largest church in the world, even larger than St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Powerful kingdoms, colonial influence, remarkable wildlife
The region has been home to some of Africa’s most influential kingdoms and empires: The Songhai Empire in the 13th century and The Mali Empire in the 16th century became one of the largest empires in African history. Mansa Musa, the first king of Timbuktu and the great ruler of Mali Empire, was the richest person of all times.
The coastal regions of West Africa were crucial to the establishment of international trade networks. The arrival of Europeans in the 15th century marked a significant increase in trade, which unfortunately included the horrific Atlantic slave trade.
Throughout a period of more than three and a half centuries, West Africa contributed to the transportation of nearly half of the estimated 12.5 million Africans who crossed the Atlantic.
West Africa experienced significant colonial influence, particularly from the French and British. While English and Portuguese colonies existed in the region, the French emerged as the dominant colonial power, leaving a substantial impact. Consequently, the French language is the most prevalent, whereas English is notably present in Nigeria and Ghana.
I have traveled to West Africa many times. My main trip was in 2008, when I spent 2.5 months crossing the desert, dodging potholes, and exploring side routes from Mauritania to Ghana. In 2013 I visited Benin, Togo and Niger. During my stays, the whole region was notably peaceful and calm, with straightforward visa processes and no terrorist threats reported.
Although East Africa is predominantly celebrated for its wildlife observation, I experienced some remarkable interactions with animals in West Africa as well. The experience of encountering giraffes in Niger and elephants in Ghana was particularly unique, as I was walking instead of driving a car.
Walking on foot and finding myself just a few meters from wildlife was one of the most extraordinary experiences I have encountered in wildlife observation.
Countries visited in West Africa – 14 of 16
