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Overview

Sénégal & Mali Cultural Arts Voyage
Dakar, Senegal
Dec 30, 2024 - Jan 12, 2025
Djapo Cultural Arts Institute image
Djapo Cultural Arts Institute
$2,100
Deposit: $500

About your trip

Close your eyes… envision your feet touching the soil of where life began.


Now take a deep breath... imagine being fully immersed in the language, food, culture, folklore, music, art and dance of Africa. Awaken your senses to the endless possibilities of an extraordinary place filled with mysticism coupled with a rich and dynamic history.


Exhale… indulge yourself with sensational cultural workshops and experiences unlike any other. Wake up every morning to the sights and sounds of Africa and prepare for a guaranteed adventure of a lifetime.


It’s time to open your eyes.


Join us on a two-week voyage to Sénégal and Mali in West Africa. Explore some of the most powerful and historical sites in both Countries while tasting authentic traditional dishes and taking part in daily folkloric practices of drumming and dance by legendary artists and entertainers. 


Visit the exciting market places in Achellum and shop for one of a kind items. Then, enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at one of the many forest parks, beaches, and/or the buzzing nightlife. 


You will dwell in a comfortable, shared, traditional housing, fully immersed with the locals having all amenities. Inquire within for individual room.


Fekk Ci Ñu! ~ "Join us" in the Wolof Language

Sénégal: Voyage Highlights

Senegal, a country with beautiful scenery and mass cultural preservations. It is situated on the coast of West Africa. Vibrant and welcoming Senegal is where rich traditions and natural beauty combine to great effect.


Grande Mosque

Renaissance Monument ($$)

Musee Civilisations Noires (Museum of Black Civilization $$)

Achellum Marketplace

Sandagar Marketplace

Pink Lake (Excursions Available $$)

Goree Island ($$)

Mali: Voyage Highlights

Mali is West Africa's beating heart. A country as rich in history as it is blessed with jaw dropping landscapes and diverse cultures. A country steeped in legend, music and incredible natural beauty, Mali is one of the most rewarding destinations in West Africa. 


Artisana Marketplace

Niger River Cruise Excursion ($$)

Dembafoli

Sandia

Donso Hunter Performance

Kirina Excursion ($$)

National Museum of Mali

National Ballet 

Workshops

Sabar, Balafon, Kora, Djembe, Djeli Dunun Classes, Song Classes, Cooking Classes

Language Experiences (Wolof, Mandika, Bambara)

What's included

Pre-Departure Meetings

Mandatory attendance of important travel and cultural orientation sessions ensures all participants are well-prepared and respectful of the destinations they visit.

Ground Transportation

Comfortable Ground Bus Transport

Accommodations

Shared Accommodations. Single Accommodations offered for an additional fee. Inquire within

All Workshops

Drum, Dance, Song, Language, Cooking

Gorée Island

Tourist Fee

2 Daily Meals

Fresh and Nourishing Meals. Drinks Not Included. Vegan Options Available

Specific Entry Fees

Specific Mentioned Points of Interest Only: Pink Lake, Museé Civilisations Noires, and National Ballet of Mali

Tips

Tips are included for both countries

What's not included

Airfare

VISA

There is a VISA requirement for Mali. Please make sure you submit all application materials in advance.

Lunch & Drinks

We will have lunch while out. You are responsible for your speciality ordered lunch meals and all drinks.

Vaccinations

Yellow Fever is a required vaccination. You must have proof via yellow immunization card.

Travel Insurance

Additional Tips

Be prepared to tip the voyage hosts, drivers, instructors and artist/performers for any additional services and or events

Optional Excursions

There is an abundance of excursions that you may want to explore in your spare time: horse back riding, camel riding, RTV, Jet Skiing, etc.

Mon. Day 1 in Senegal

Mon. Day 1 in Senegal image

Dec 30: “Aksilen” ~ Welcome to Senegal!




Aksilen

Arrive in Dakar

Check in rooms

Exchange Money

Welcome & Introductions/Safety Talk

Brief Tour Around Surrounding Areas

Welcome Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection

Relax for the evening

Tues. Day 2 in Senegal

Tues. Day 2 in Senegal image

Dec 31: The Renaissance Monument




9:00AM Breakfast

Sabar Drum/Song/Dance Workshop

Lunch

Visit Renaissance Monument

Visit Ngore Plage

Dinner 

New Year's Eve Party

Culture Talk/Reflection

Wed. Day 3 in Senegal

Wed. Day 3 in Senegal image

Jan 1: Sabar Drum & Dance Intensive



9:00AM Breakfast

Sabar Drum/Dance/Song Workshop

Lunch

Toucoulour Drum/Dance/Song Workshop

Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection

Night-Life (optional)

Thurs. Day 4 in Senegal

Thurs. Day 4 in Senegal image

Jan. 2: Exploring Senegal through the Marketplace


9:00AM Breakfast

Sabar Drum/Song/Dance Workshop

Lunch

Achelum Marketplace

Dinner

Culture talk/reflections

Night-life (optional)

Fri. Day 5 in Senegal

Fri. Day 5 in Senegal image

Jan 3: A Voyage to Lac Rose



9:00AM Breakfast

Depart for Pink Lake (Excursions Available $$)

Sabar class at Pink Lake Dance/Drum/Song Workshop

Lunch at Pink Lake

Sénégalese Dinner/Cooking Workshop

Culture Talk/Reflection

Night-Life (optional)

Sat. Day 6 in Senegal

Sat. Day 6 in Senegal image

Jan. 4: Sabar Dance & Drum Intensive




9:00AM Breakfast

Sabar Drum/Dance/Song Workshop

Lunch

Balanta Drum/Dance/Song Workshop
Visit Muse Civilisation Noir

Dinner

Cultural Talk/Reflections

Night-life (optional)

Sun. Day 7 in Senegal

Sun. Day 7 in Senegal image

Jan. 5: Goree Island: The Door of No Return - Last Day in Senegal



9:00AM Breakfast

Visit Goree Island (Wear White)

Final Shopping Day

Currency Exchange

Farewell Ceremony & Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection/Departure meeting for Mali

Mon. Day 8 in Mali

Mon. Day 8 in Mali image

Jan. 6: Departure to Mali, Welcome to Bamako "The Crocodile River"


9:00AM Breakfast (TBA)

Depart for airport for travel 

Arrive in Mali the same day

Check in Hotel/Rest

Exchange Money

Welcome Dinner


Tues. Day 9 in Mali

Tues. Day 9 in Mali image

Jan. 7: Malian Djembe Dance & Drum Intensive



9:00AM Breakfast

Djeli Dunun Drum/ Dance/Song Class

Lunch

Djembe Drum/Dance/Song Class

Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection

Night-Life (optional)

Wed. Day 10 in Mali

Wed. Day 10 in Mali image

Jan. 08: Through the eyes of the Artisana marketplace



9:00 Breakfast

Djembe Drum/Dance/Song class

Lunch

Artisana Marketplace

Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection

Night-Life (optional)

Thurs. Day 11 in Mali

Thurs. Day 11 in Mali image

Jan. 09: Malian Djembe Drum & Dance Intensive


9:00 Breakfast

Djembe Dance/Drum/Song class

Lunch

Djembe Dance/Drum/Song Class

Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection

Night-Life (optional) 

Fri. Day 12 in Mali

Fri. Day 12 in Mali image

Jan. 10: Departure for Kirina: The Land of the Sacred Battle



9:00 Breakfast

Depart for Kirina, Mali Village(3hours)

Lunch

Donso/Djembefola/Calabash Women/Griot Performance

History Talk

Djembe Drum/Dance/Song Workshop

Depart for Bamako

Dinner

Culture Talk/Reflection

Night-Life (optional)

Sat. Day 13 in Mali

Sat. Day 13 in Mali image

Jan. 11: Mali: A visit of history, culture, and folklore



9:00AM Breakfast

Bungalaa Dance/Drum/Song Class

Lunch

National Museum of Mali

Dinner

Final Cultural Arts Performance in collaboration with Kono Gnaga

Culture talk/Reflection

Night-life (optional)

Sun. Day 14 in Mali

Sun. Day 14 in Mali image

Jan. 12: Final Day in Mali Le dernière jour au Mali



9:00AM Breakfast

Djembe Dance/Drum/Song Class

Lunch

Niger River Cruise and Tour

Last Minute Shopping

Dinner

Culture talk/Reflection

Location

Loading Map…

1. Dakar, Senegal

Dakar, Senegal

About your organizer

DI
Djapo Cultural Arts Institute is a non profit organization dedicated to the preservation of art, music, dance, history and folklore of Africa and throughout the African Diaspora. Djapo is proud to have sponsored international excursions to Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Brazil, Cuba, Dubai and The Gambia for over 20 years.

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