Brazzaville
Built in 1892, this is the oldest surviving cathedral in Central Africa.
Must-see attractions in West Africa
Côte d'Ivoire
Crosses the Ébrie Lagoon, connecting the beach area with the mainland.
Mali
Djenné's elegant Grande Mosque was constructed in 1907, though it's based on the design of an older Grande Mosquée that once stood on the site. Famous…
Mali
Timbuktu's three great mosques - all inaccessible to non-Muslims - are nothing much to look at, but serve as reminders of its great past. The youngest of…
Mali
Mopti's port is a lively place, where boats from up and down the river unload their cargoes. You'll see slabs of salt from Timbuktu, dried fish, firewood,…
Mali
Timbuktu has three of the oldest mosques in West Africa. While not as visually stunning as some in Mali, they're still extremely impressive and represent…
Mali
Every Monday, the wide open area in front of the mosque is transformed into the clamorous Monday Market, which has barely changed since the days when…
Mali
From the pleasant Fula village of Massina, you can start a trip along the Niger by public pinasse (large canoe). A good first stop is Diafarabé, where…
Centre de Recherches Historiques Ahmed Baba
Mali
An amazing collection of ancient manuscripts and books are kept at the Centre de Recherches Historiques Ahmed Baba. Home to (at last count) 23,000 Islamic…
Niger
The sprawling Musée National du Niger is one of West Africa's standouts. Numerous themed pavilions, each tipping their hat to Hausa architecture, give…
Cameroon
To enter the Palais du Lamido, the palace of the local Muslim ruler, you pass between three pillars stuffed with the remains of individuals who were…
Mali
Gao's premier tourist attraction is a sunset trip to La Dune Rose, known locally as Koïma, a wonderful sand dune on the right bank of the Niger, visible…
Mali
Heinrich Barth's incredible five-year journey began in Tripoli and took him first to Agadez, then through Nigeria and finally, in September 1853, he…
Mali
The Ethnological Museum occupies a hugely significant site near Sidi Yahiya Mosque, containing the well of Bouctou, where Timbuktu was founded. There's…
Mali
During the 18th century, the beautiful village of Ségou Koro was the centre of Biton Mamary Coulibaly's Bambara empire and the great man is buried here…
Mali
The Tomb of the Askia, north of town, was built in 1495 by Askia Muhammad Touré, whose remains lie within. It's an amazing building and a classic of…
Cameroon
Waza National Park is Cameroon's most accessible and rewarding wildlife-viewing experience. Visitors can reasonably expect to see large numbers of…
Mali
At the Marché Souguni, to the southeast of town, traders sell fruit, vegetables, salt, fish and meat downstairs and art and crafts upstairs. A smaller…
Mali
Sidi Yahiya Mosque, north of Place de l'Indépendance, is named after one of the city's saints (it's said that 333 saints have lived in Timbuktu) and was…
Mali
The classic Sahel-style Misire Mosquée, built in 1933, towers over the old part of town. Just before the rains in May or June the lower, mud-covered part…
Mali
The charm of this market is that few tourists reach here, so you're unlikely to be hassled. It's also a good place to buy second-hand clothes and if you…
Mali
The Musée National is small but nevertheless contains some beautiful ethnographic pieces from many of Mali's ethnic groups, including wooden masks,…
Niger
The Petit Marché is smack-dab in the centre of town and merits a visit. Self-caterers can go crazy, squeezing fruit and veg to their hearts content in…
Nigeria
Stands on the site of the original emir's palace (the modern one sits opposite) and is a wonderful example of traditional Hausa architecture. The museum…
Nigeria
With thousands of stalls in a 16-hectare area, Kurmi Market is one of the largest markets in Africa and is the city's main attraction. It's a centre for…
Nigeria
Away from the throng are the Kofar Dye Pits, where indigo cloth has been dyed for hundreds of years. Finished cloth is for sale, starting from around…
Mali
The Fetish Stalls, near the Maison des Artisans, are not for the faint-hearted, offering up a stomach-turning array of bones, skins, dried chameleons and…
Nigeria
Has a superb collection of pottery, including several Nok terracotta sculptures – at over 2500 years old they're Africa's oldest figurative sculptures.
House of the Traditional Chief
Mali
With the help of a guide, you can see the beautiful House of the Traditional Chief, whose role today is mainly as an adjudicator in local disputes.
Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture
Nigeria
Has full-scale reproductions of buildings from each of Nigeria's major regions. On the same site as Jos National Museum.
Nigeria
A museum in a beautifully restored traditional house showcasing regional crafts and ceremonial costumes.
