WEST AFRICA + NORTH AFRICA
A West Africa + North Africa combo tour connects the Sahara’s ancient cities and desert landscapes with the Atlantic coast’s vibrant cultures, history, and wildlife.
Operator Handoff Matrix — West + North Africa
The following matrix shows which operators handle each country in combination itineraries. Africa Milestone coordinates the handoffs — clients receive one point of contact.
| COUNTRY | RECOMMENDED OPERATOR | SPECIALTY |
|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | Desert Morocco Adventure | Sahara, Imperial Cities, Atlas |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | Tunisian Specialist (Carthage Tours) | Medinas, Sahara edge, Djerba |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | Targui Voyages | Tassili rock art, Hoggar, licensed guides |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | Egypt Tailor Made / Memphis Tours | Nile cruise, pyramids, Red Sea |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | Sine Saloum Expeditions / Africa Aventure | Dakar, Delta, Casamance |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | Heritage Tours Ghana / Savannah Tours | Cape Coast, Kumasi, Mole NP |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | Benin Voyage + Pendjari Safaris | Ouidah, Abomey, wildlife |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | Local Togo Guide Network | Lomé, Koutammakou, highlands |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Travel Naija / Calabar Tour Guide | Lagos, Benin City, Cross River |
| 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | Ivoire Tourisme / Foret Sacree Tours | Abidjan, Grand-Bassam, Taï Forest |
| 🇬🇲 Gambia | Gambia Bird Guides / River Gambia Tours | Birds, Roots history, river |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | Cape Verde Specialist (local archipelago) | Multi-island, hiking, music |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | Sahara Expedition Mauritanie | Chinguetti, Banc d’Arguin |
Quick-Reference Combination Matrix
All 6 West + North Africa combinations at a glance. Use for client enquiries and website product pages.
| COMBINATION | DAYS | STATUS | SEASON | TIER | KEY HIGHLIGHTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco + Senegal | 12 | 🟢 | Oct–Apr | Mid | Sahara, Medinas, Goree, Delta, Casamance |
| Egypt + Ghana | 12 | 🟢 | Oct–Mar | Mid | Pyramids, Nile, Slave Forts, Ashanti Kingdom |
| Morocco + Mauritania + Senegal | 14 | 🟠 | Nov–Mar | Mid–Lux | Chinguetti manuscripts, Banc d’Arguin, Atlantic |
| Tunisia + Benin + Togo | 12 | 🟢 | Nov–Mar | Budget–Mid | Roman ruins, Voodoo, Slave Route, Tower Villages |
| Morocco + Ghana + Senegal | 10 | 🟢 | Oct–Apr | Mid | Imperial Cities, Slave Forts, Ashanti, Teranga |
| Grand Expedition (5 countries) | 21 | 🟢 | Nov–Mar | Mid | Pyramids, Medinas, Goree, Roots, Dahomey Kingdom |
Cross-Regional Combination Itineraries WEST AFRICA + NORTH AFRICA
Logistics, Flights & Visa Matrix
Flight Connections: West Africa ↔ North Africa
The following flight routes are the backbone of all West + North Africa combination itineraries. All are served by commercial airlines as of 2026.
| ROUTE | AIRLINE(S) | FREQ. | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casablanca → Dakar | Royal Air Maroc | Daily | 2.5hrs. Primary Morocco–Senegal link. |
| Casablanca → Accra | Royal Air Maroc | Daily | 4hrs. Key Morocco–Ghana route. |
| Casablanca → Lagos | Royal Air Maroc | Daily | 5hrs. Morocco–Nigeria connection. |
| Cairo → Accra | EgyptAir (connect) | 3x/week | Via Addis or Casablanca. 8–12hrs. |
| Tunis → Dakar | Tunisair Express | Weekly | Direct or via Casablanca. |
| Tunis → Abidjan | Tunisair | 3x/week | Via Casablanca or direct. 5hrs. |
| Agadir → Dakar | Royal Air Maroc | 3x/week | More direct southern routing. |
| Dakar → Accra | Air Senegal | Daily | 3hrs. Key West Africa link. |
| Accra → Lagos | Multiple airlines | Several/day | 1hr. Core West Africa route. |
| Accra → Cotonou | ASKY / Air Cote d’Ivoire | Daily | 1.5hrs via Lomé or direct. |
| Dakar → Banjul | Road/ferry | N/A | 3hrs by road. No direct flight needed. |
| Nouakchott → Dakar | Air Senegal / Mauritania AL | Daily | 1hr. Key Mauritania–Senegal link. |
Combined Visa Requirements by Nationality
| REGION / NATIONALITY | VISA RULES |
|---|---|
| EU / UK / US / Canada / Australia | Morocco: Visa-free. Egypt: VOA. Tunisia: Visa-free. Senegal: Visa-free. Ghana: VOA. Benin: E-visa ($50). Togo: E-visa / VOA. Gambia: Visa-free. Mauritania: E-visa ($55). Nigeria: E-visa ($160). Cape Verde: E-visa ($25). |
| ECOWAS Citizens | Visa-free across all 15 ECOWAS member states. Egypt and Morocco require advance visa. Algeria requires embassy visa. |
| Gulf / GCC Nationals | Morocco: visa-free. Most West Africa countries: check individually (most require e-visa). Egypt: VOA. |
| China / India / Southeast Asia | Check per country. Most West Africa requires advance e-visa or embassy visa. Morocco: many nationalities now visa-free. |
| General Rule | Always apply for e-visas 2–4 weeks in advance even when VOA is available — avoids airport delays. |
Health Requirements by Region
| REQUIREMENT | DETAILS |
|---|---|
| Yellow Fever Certificate | MANDATORY for all 16 West African countries. Required for entry — carry physical yellow card (not just digital). Not required for Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt. |
| Malaria Prophylaxis | Required for all West African countries. Not required for Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco. Consult travel health clinic 4–6 weeks before departure. |
| Meningitis Vaccine | Recommended for Sahel belt countries (Mali, Mauritania, Niger — if visiting). Not required for coastal West Africa. |
| Hepatitis A + Typhoid | Recommended for all 23 countries in this guide. |
| Travel Insurance | Comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation cover REQUIRED for all West Africa bookings. Minimum $100,000 medical cover recommended. |
| COVID / Other Requirements | Check WHO and destination government websites for current entry health requirements at time of booking. |