Dates of trip:
Esu + Mount Cameroon/Limbe 30 March - 11 April 2010 €2250 pp (+ €300 single supplement)
Esu + Pandillus primate conservation, Nigeria 30 March -14 April 2010 €2650 pp (+ €350 single supplement)
(see options at end of itinerary)
The emphasis on this trip is the remote community of Esu, the kingdom at the end of the road, in the Bamanda highlands of Cameroon, for a fascinating insight into the grass roots of African culture. This region is the cradle of the Bantu African who spread east and south to colonise most of the continent. Esu has its own language, a very strong sense of its identity and is the inspiration behind my company - a Garden of Eden in the cradle lands of sub-Saharan Africa.
Additional elements on the trip:
Pandrillus primate conservation - Limbe and the Cross River State, Nigeria
3 days trekking up and around Mount Cameroon, West Africa’s highest mountain.
The fabulous beaches, primate conservation and excursions from Limbe, the most pleasant town in West Africa
Miromar Hotel
Day 1 Arrive Douala, transfer 1 hour to Limbe, staying in the Miromar hotel.
Day 2 Limbe. Am - intro to primate conservation issues of the region with the project manager of the Limbe Wildlife Centre. Visit the 14 gorillas, 47 chimpanzees, drill monkeys, mangabee, mandrill... they’re all there!
Pm - Beach, sea and surf at the foot of Mount Cameroon.
Evening - BBQ fish on Down Beach.
Day 3 Travel to Bamenda.
Day 4 Spectacular journey around the ring road and through the mountains of the province, returning to Bamenda for the evening.
Day 5 Am - drive to Esu - the kingdom at the end of the road.
Pm - settle in, relax and take in the surroundings.
Day 6 Esu. Am - visit and pay respects to the Fon, the cheif of Esu, and his palace
Pm - relax and wander at will.
Day 7 Esu. Visit the schools and tour of Esu lands
Day 8 Esu - walk out to the Fulani camps and optional horse trek.
Day 9 Am - Farewell to the Fon and the people of Esu.
From Day 10 please choose one of the options below.
ABOUT
PHOTOS
SLIDESHOWS
• Primate Conservation
• Mount Cameroon,
• Fabulous beaches
• and Esu, The Kingdom at The End of the Road
On To Nigeria
Day 10 Travel to Calabar, Nigeria for the Jewel in Pandrillus’ crown - Drill Ranch at Afi Mountain. From Limbe by speed boat along the coast and through mangrove forests to witness Cameroon’s wonderful birdlife, to Calabar in Nigeria. Here we will be hosted by Peter Jenkins and Liza Gadsby, founders of the Pandrillus project. Their garden is a mini-LWC - the rescued chimps and drill monkeys arrive here and are socialized into groups before they travel to Afi mountain and Drill Ranch.
Day 11 Drive to Drill Ranch and Afi mountain.
Day 12 am. Walk the canopy walkway and visit the ranch.
pm. climb to base camp on Afi mountain. Camp in the forest
Day 13 am walk around Afi, lunch back at camp.
pm descend Afi.
Day 14 Return to Calabar
Day 15 Return to Limbe
Day 16 End of trip
Price: €2650 per person sharing a room
+ €350 single supplement.
Staying in Limbe.
Day 10 Begin 3 day trek up and around Mount Cameroon, West Africa’s highest mountain with its unique ecosystem, mountain elephants and active volcanic crater. This climb requires good general fitness. If you want to just stay in Limbe and relax or do a day’s climb up Etinde or mini Mount Cameroon or other day excursions there is plenty to do to fill these 3 days.
Day11 Continue trek on Mt Cameroon
Day 12 Return to Limbe
Day 13 End of trip.
Price: €2250 per person sharing a room.
+ €300 single supplement.
