E-mail a friendShip: Callisto
Itinerary: The Road to Timbuktu & the Rivers of West Africa
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African Landscape
cabins & deck plans | additional itineraries | cancellation policy
| Day 1 : | Bamako, Mali |
|---|---|
| Day 2 : | Bamako |
| Day 3 : | Bamako / Mopti |
| Day 4 : | Mopti / Djenne / Mopti |
| Day 5 : | Mopti / Dogon Region / Mopti |
| Day 6 : | Mopti / Timbuktu / Bamako |
| Day 7 : | Bamako / Dakar, Senegal / Embark |
| Day 8 : | Saloum River / Djiffere / Jaol-Fadiout, Senegal |
| Day 9 : | Tendaba / Kiang West National Park / Baobolong Wetland Reserve, River Gambia, The Gambia |
| Day 10 : | Kuntaur / Wassu Stone Circles, River Gambia |
| Day 11 : | River Gambia National Park / Janjanbureh |
| Day 12 : | The River Gambia |
| Day 13 : | Banjul / Abuko Nature Reserve / Makasutu Culture Forest / Banjul |
| Day 14 : | Dakar / Disembark / Goree Island / Dakar / Return Home |
| Click for full itinerary |
| Days | Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | |||
| Cat D | Cat C | Cat B | Cat A | ||
| 14 | Jan 3, 2009 Jan 10, 2009 Feb 14, 2009 |
$11,995 | $12,695 | $13,395 | $13,995 |
| A limited number of cabins have been designated for single travelers in Categories B and C at a supplement of $3,895. | |||||
| Destinations : Africa, Gambia, Mali, Senegal Activities : Ancient Ruins, Cultural Activities, Modern History, Nature Viewing, Photography, Scuba Diving |
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Timbuktu: most know it only as a figment of the imagination. But in the Middle Ages, it was a dazzling center of scholarship and trade at the edge of the Sahara. We explore not only the faded glories of this fabled city, but also such exotic sites as the Grand Mosque of Djenné, the bustling city of Mopti, and the Dogon region, where a complex animistic cosmology reigns, inspiring mask ceremonies, vibrant rock paintings, and mystical cliff dwellings. Unlike most pilgrimages to Timbuktu, chartered plane flights transport us from Bamako to the Sahel and into Timbuktu itself, bypassing lengthy and arduous drives.
Day 1 : Bamako, Mali
Arrive in Bamako, the capital of Mali, this evening and transfer to the Hotel Sofitel l’Amitié Bamako.
Day 2 : Bamako
Visit the National Museum, housing one of the best ethnographic collections in West Africa. Enjoy lunch at the San Toro Restaurant, which features a gallery of traditional Malian art. Later, explore Bamako’s artisan market.
Day 3 : Bamako / Mopti
On a private flight, fly to Mopti, located at the confluence of the Niger and Bani rivers, and see the impressive mud-brick mosque and local markets. Enjoy a sunset boat ride on the Niger River. Overnight at the Hotel Kanaga.
Day 4 : Mopti / Djenne / Mopti
Little has changed since the 14th and 15th centuries when Djenné profited from the trans-Sahara trade. The main feature of Djenné is the Grand Mosque, the world’s largest mud-brick structure, which dates back to the 13th century but is repaired and rebuilt each year after the rainy season. Also visit the colorful market and the Bogolon mudcloth workshop.
Day 5 : Mopti / Dogon Region / Mopti
Tour the villages of the Dogon Region, built along the cliffs of an escarpment, and renowned for their unique architecture and elaborate art forms. Enjoy a spectacular Dogon mask dance performance..
Day 6 : Mopti / Timbuktu / Bamako
On a private flight, fly from Mopti to Timbuktu, once one of the wealthiest cities of Africa and a center of scholarship. During a walking tour, see the 15th-century Djingareyber and Sankore mosques; the explorers’ houses; and the Ahmed Baba Library of ancient Arabic writings and books. Fly to Bamako and overnight at the Hotel Sofitel l’Amitié Bamako.
Day 7 : Bamako / Dakar, Senegal / Embark
Fly from Bamako to Dakar and embark Callisto. Sail in the evening.
Day 8 : Saloum River / Djiffere / Jaol-Fadiout, Senegal
In the morning, Callisto will enter Senegal’s Saloum River and sail through scenic waterways and small islands to the village of Djiffere. Drive to the fishing village of Fadiout, one of Senegal’s most fascinating sites: the island is composed entirely of shells that have accumulated over the centuries. Everything here is made of shells—they are on the walls of the houses, and they cover the narrow pathways. In the evening, Callisto will enter the River Gambia and sail to the village of Tendaba, located 55 miles upriver.
Day 9 : Tendaba / Kiang West National Park / Baobolong Wetland Reserve, River Gambia, The Gambia
From the village of Tendaba, situated on the south of the riverbank, explore two of The Gambia’s most important wildlife reserves. In the morning, drive to the Kiang West National Park, where mangroves, creeks, and mudflats alternate with dry woodland and grassland. Kiang West is notable for its more that 250 species of birds. In the afternoon, board local boats to navigate the waterways and maze of islands that comprise Baobolong Wetland Reserve, a notable bird sanctuary and a wonderland of mangroves, some of which are over 60 feet tall.
Day 10 : Kuntaur / Wassu Stone Circles, River Gambia
Early in the morning, Callisto will leave Tendaba to navigate deeper into the River Gambia. The river beyond Tendaba narrows, and its banks are covered with tropical forest. Passing by remote villages with grass-thatched huts, we arrive in the village of Kuntaur. As the ship navigates the twisting river, look for hippos that frequent this part of the river. In Kuntaur, set on a beautiful bend of the river, visit the colorful weekly market, where many tribes gather to sell their wares, and explore the nearby Wassu Stone Circles, the remnants of an ancient Senegambian culture, dating to about A.D. 750. Afterwards, we are greeted in the village by a traditional ceremony of local music and dance.
Day 11 : River Gambia National Park / Janjanbureh
Board local motorized pirogues in the morning to discover the five mid-river Baboon Islands that constitute the River Gambia National Park. The islands also house the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust, the longest running such project in Africa, set up in 1969. Look for monkeys and other wildlife as our boat cruises by the lushly forested islands, and continue to the town of Janjanbureh, also known by its colonial name of Georgetown, once an important trading post for the British. Explore the quaint old town, where most of the buildings date from the 19th century, and shop for local crafts. Janjanbureh’s woodlands and leafy riverfront house a large number of bird species, and you will have the opportunity to take a nature and bird watching walk. Return to Callisto late in the afternoon and spend the night aboard anchored in Kuntaur.
Day 12 : The River Gambia
Sail from Kuntaur in the morning on our downriver journey en route to Banjul, enjoying river views and life along the way. Time and river conditions permitting, we may stop at one of the villages along our route. Arrive in Banjul late in the evening.
Day 13 : Banjul / Abuko Nature Reserve / Makasutu Culture Forest / Banjul
Founded by the British early in the 19th century, Banjul is the capital and commercial center of The Gambia. Disembark in the morning and drive to the Abuko Nature Reserve, one of the last surviving examples of tropical riverine forests in the country. Within its confines are about 300 species of birds, as well as red colobus and callithrix monkeys. Continue to the Makasutu Culture Forest, a private nature habitat with beautiful woodland and waterways. Enjoy lunch at the reserve. Return to Banjul to visit the National Museum, whose exhibits illustrate the history and culture of the country.
Day 14 : Dakar / Disembark / Goree Island / Dakar / Return Home
Disembark in Dakar. Visit Gorée Island, first settled by Europeans in the 15th century, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Dakar to visit the IFAN Museum, one of West Africa’s best, then explore the Marche Soumbedioune, a craft market with the best variety of artisan workmanship. Transfer to the Hotel Sofitel Teranga for dinner and accommodations until your evening flight. Transfer to the airport for return flights home.
Program Includes:
* Three nights in Bamako at the Hotel Sofitel l'Amitie Bamako; three nights in Mopti at the Hotel Kanaga; day rooms in Dakar at the Le Meridien President Hotel
* 7-night cruise aboard the 34-guest yacht Callisto, including welcome and farewell cocktail receptions
* All meals throughout the trip, both on land and aboard Callisto, and house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner aboard ship
* Flights in West Africa: from Bamako to Mopti, from Mopti to Timbuktu, from Timbuktu to Bamako, and from Bamako to Dakar
* Complete program of tours and excursions
* Educational program of lectures by accompanying guest lecturer
* Complete pre-departure materials
* Baggage handling and transfers aboard on the designated program dates
* Port dues and embarkation taxes
* Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers
NOT INCLUDED: Airfare (other than the flights in West Africa listed above); visas; passports; luggage, cancellation, and accident insurance; meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount.
Ship Description: Callisto
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Callisto
The finest, most memorable voyages take place aboard a luxurious private yacht. On a private yacht one is part of a small, select, sociable community. Cabins are more like guest rooms in a fine home -- beautifully furnished, comfortably arranged, and complete with the little extras one would expect from a thoughtful host. The yacht's public areas, whether indoors or out on deck, are warm, inviting places where friends meet for conversation, a drink, or to pass a pleasant hour with a good book. The cuisine is superb. And the service is considerate and congenial.
This is the kind of exceptional experience you'll enjoy aboard the Callisto, a beautiful oceangoing yacht that is the fulfillment of a traveler's dream.
Like a fine country house, Callisto is furnished with rich fabrics, handsome woodwork, gleaming brass, rare antiques, and fine works of art. The guest list is limited to no more than 34 individuals -- a group large enough to bring together an interesting mix of travelers, but small enough to foster a genuine spirit of camaraderie.
In addition to all of the other pleasures of the Callisto, the ship's guests enjoy an advantage that eludes travelers aboard big ships: because Callisto is a yacht, it can visit those unspoiled islets, pristine beaches, and intimate coves and harbors that have been familiar to fishermen and other sailors of small craft for thousands of years, but which are inaccessible to large commercial cruise liners.
Callisto was designed with the comfort of her guests in mind. All staterooms are exterior with large windows (portholes on Daphne Deck) that look out on the sea and the yacht's various ports of call; they are air conditioned and feature generous storage space, a telephone, two-channel radio, and a marble bath with shower. The yacht's public areas include a spacious lounge; a dining room in which all guests are accommodated at a single unassigned seating; two broad decks for sunbathing and dining alfresco; and a swimming platform at the yacht's stern. The Callisto flies the Greek flag and is served by a crew of 18.
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Cat D Stern outside cabins on Daphne Deck with portholes |
Cat C Outside cabins on Daphne Deck with portholes |
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Cat B Outside cabins on Leto Deck with picture window |
Cat AOutside cabins on Leto Deck with two picture windows |
