West Africa Travel Guide

This blog is a free resource filled with information that we have gathered from living and traveling in West Africa. We’d love to have you on one of our trips but from one traveler to another, we are just happy to see people visiting the region.

The blog is also a reflection of our travel philosophy. It’s possible to have quite the adventure in West Africa, but we are a bit tired of reading travelogues that make it seem like walking down the street in your average West African city is a death defying experience. We’d like to think that the advice provided in these pages will help you discover West Africa on its own terms, with an eye to the simple things that make this such a great place to visit. 

If you would like to contribute, please get in touch with us on the contact page. For more stories from the road, follow us on Instagram, Youtube and Patreon.

Join our Patreon and Get Unlimited Travel Assistance

If you join our Scoot West Africa Patreon and sign up for the Chauffeur or Grand Chef membership options, you will get unlimited West Africa travel planning assistance from us for as long as you are a member. The Patreon is also where we share a number of stories and adventures that can’t be found on our other channels.

The Best Wildlife Parks in West Africa

The Best Wildlife Parks in West Africa

West Africa can not compete with East and Southern Africa when it comes to National Geographic level fauna. Expansive human settlement and overhunting are the main reasons for that. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for pied plovers and green monkeys (no...

read more
Hitching a Ride on the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania

Hitching a Ride on the Iron Ore Train in Mauritania

UPDATE: In May 2024, the Mauritanian authorities prohibited travelers from hitching a ride on the wagons of the iron ore train. This followed an incident involving a tourist a few weeks prior. We don’t have all the details, but we do know that the police are enforcing...

read more
Where to See Live Music in Bamako

Where to See Live Music in Bamako

Bamako has a storied and deserved reputation as a regional capital for live music. It’s usually possible to catch a show, even on the quieter nights of the week. But if you’re new in town, or just passing through, you might have no idea where to begin.  Bamako sits...

read more
Visiting Joal-Fadiouth on the Petite-Côte of Senegal

Visiting Joal-Fadiouth on the Petite-Côte of Senegal

On the southern edge of Senegal’s Petite-Cote is a man made island built on seashells. The origins are disputed and no one knows exactly how old Fadiouth is – some say it has been inhabited since the 12th century. These days, it is a community of over 40,000 people...

read more
A Guide to Tea in the Sahel

A Guide to Tea in the Sahel

Popular throughout the Sahel, this tea is a concentrated, sweetened brew that is served in tiny glasses (think shot glass sized). The tea kettle itself is tiny, and it seems everything has been miniaturized due to the tea's strength. Here we will explain a few...

read more