In a part of the world where you truly depend on your guidebook, The Rough Guide to West Africa is designed to work as a life support system and cultural companion, whether you’re here on business, taking a short holiday or on an overland trip. Covering the entire region from Cape Verde to Cameroon, the Rough Guide finds off-the-beaten path attractions and writes up facilities in places that are barely on the map, as well as giving you practical advice on how to survive – and enjoy – cities such as Lagos, Abidjan, Dakar and Yaoundé.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART ONE BASICS
Getting to West Africa - General Information
Getting there from Britain and Ireland
Getting there from North America
Getting there from Australia and New Zealand
Getting there from the Rest of Africa
Overland and Adventure Travel
Red Tape and Visas
Money and Costs
Health
Insurance
Maps and Information
Getting Around
Accommodation
Eating and Drinking
Media
Mail, Telephone and Email
Holidays, Festivals and Time
Greetings, Body Language and Social Norms
Trouble and Personal Safety
Travellers' French
Travellers with Disabilities
Women Travellers
Sexual Attitudes
Working in West Africa
Wildlife and National Parks
Photography
People and Language
Directory


PART TWO THE GUIDE

CHAPTER 1: MAURITANIA
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Nouakchott
Southern Mauritania (Rosso, Boutilimit, Kaédi)
The Tagant (Tidjikja, Tichit)
The Far Southeast (Kiffa, Ayoun el Atrous, Timbedgha, Néma, Oualata)
The Adrar (Akjoujt, Atar, Chinguetti, Ouadane)
The North (Choum, Zouérat, Nouadhibou, Banc d'Arguin National Park)


CHAPTER 2: SENEGAL
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Dakar, Cap Vert and central Senegal (Petite Côte, Saloum Delta, Thiès, Touba)
The north and east (St-Louis, Podor, Bakel, Kidira)
Niokolo-Koba and the southeast (Tambacounda, Kédougou)
Basse Casamance (Ziguinchor, Cap Skiring)


CHAPTER 3: THE GAMBIA
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Banjul and the Kombo Peninsula (Serrekunda, Bakau, Brikama, Juffure)
Upriver Gambia (Tendaba, Janjanbureh, Bansang, Basse)


CHAPTER 4: MALI
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Bamako
Kayes and the west (Kéniéba, Nioro, Boucle du Baoulé)
Ségou and around (San, Sikasso)
Mopti and the Delta Region(Djenné, Timbuktu)
The Dogon country (Bandiagara, Sanga, Bankass, Koro)
Gao and the northeast


CHAPTER 5: THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS
Introduction
Practical Information
History
The Sotaventos (Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Maio)
The Barlaventos (São Vicente, Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista)


CHAPTER 6: GUINEA-BISSAU
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Bissau and the northwest (Cacheu, São Domingos, Varela)
The Bijagós islands (Bolama, Bubaque)
The south and east (Buba, Bafatá, Gabú)


CHAPTER 7: GUINEA
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Conakry
The Fouta Djalon (Kindia, Mamou, Dalaba, Pita, Télimélé, Labé, Mali)
The Malinké plains (Dabola, Kouroussa, Faranah, Kissidougou, Kankan, Kérouané)
The southeast highlands (Guéckédou, Macenta, Nzérékoré)


CHAPTER 8: COTE D'IVOIRE
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Abidjan and around
The west coast (Sassandra, San-Pédro, Taï National Park)
The east coast (Grand-Bassam, Assini)
The Baoulé country (Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, Katiola)
Western Côte d'Ivoire (Man, Danané)
The north and east (Odienné, Korhogo, Ferkessédougou, Bondoukou, Abengourou)


CHAPTER 9: BURKINA FASO
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Central and northern Burkina (Ouagadougou, Koudougou, Ouahigouya)
The Gourounsi country (Pô, Tiébélé, Léo)
Bobo, Banfora and the southwestv The Lobi country (Gaoua, Diébougou, Hamile)


CHAPTER 10: GHANA
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Accra and around
The coast west of Accra (Cape Coast, Elmina, Takoradi, Busua)
Kumasi and central Ghana
The southeast: Akosombo, Ho and Hohoe Northern Ghana (Tamale, Mole National Park, Wa, Bolgatanga)


CHAPTER 11: TOGO
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Lomé and the coast (Togoville, Aného, Glidji)
The Plateau Region (Kpalimé, Atakpamé, Badou)
Sokodé and the Central Region (Bafilo, Bassar)
Kara and the north (Kandé, Dapaong)


CHAPTER 12: BENIN
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Cotonou and the coast (Ganvié, Ouidah, Grand Popo, Porto Novo)
Central Benin (Abomey, Bohicon, Dassa)
The northern uplands and parks (Parakou, Natitingou, Pendjari National Park)


CHAPTER 13: NIGER
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Niamey
Southwest Niger (Tillabéri, Ayorou, Parc National du 'W' du Niger)
Southern Niger (Maradi, Zinder, Lake Chad)
The Nigérien Sahara (Tahoua, Agadez, Arlit, Aïr Mountains, Ténéré Desert)


CHAPTER 14: NIGERIA
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Lagos
The southwest (Ibadan, Oyo, Ife, Oshogbo, Benin City)
The southeast (Enugu, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Cross River National Park)
Central Nigeria (Bida, Abuja, Jos, Bauchi, Yankari National Park)
The north and northeast (Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Maiduguri)


CHAPTER 15: CAMEROON
Introduction
Practical Information
History
Douala and Southwest Province (Limbé, Mount Cameroon, Kumba, Korup National Park)
The central highlands (Bafoussam, Bamenda, The Ring Road, Foumban)
Yaoundé and the south (Ebolowa, Kribi, Bertoua, Garoua-Boulai, Yokadouma)
Northern Cameroon (Ngaoundéré, Garoua, Maroua, Waza National Park, Kousseri)


PART THREE CONTEXTS

Books
Cinema
Music


Index

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