A trip to Africa can be one of the most memorbale highlights of a person's life. If you're thinking about taking a trip but don't know exactly how to go about or whom to travel with? The Cultural Beat is always coming across information about trips. While we will not endorse any particular trip, we're happy to provide our readers with the information that has filtered through to us. Remember, before booking any trip make sure you do your research. Learn abut the country or countries you want to travel to. Try to have some idea of what you want to do, e.g. just dance, just drum, go to the beach, go on safari, etc. All of these things factor into the ultimate costs of the trip. When comparing prices of tours make sure you are comparing apples with apples. Travel costs can depend on what time of the year you want to travel, length of stay and what you'll be doing. Also, read carefully, some tours include airfare and some don't. Finally before booking try to meet some people from the group. You want to make sure you are compatible with them so you'll have a great time. WIth that warning, check out these trips.
PLEASE NOTE: All trips have payment schedules established. Late cancellations normally do incur a penalty.
February 17-24, 2008 MSY sponsors a trip to Senegal, West Africa. The trip includes kutiro, djembe and sabar lessons. Cost of the trip is $1900 which includes airfare. For more information contact MSY by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or www.msyinternational.com
March 2-24, 2008 Like water Drumworks sponsors their 7th Annual trip to Cambaliya, Guinea. The trip includes dance, drum and balafon lessons. Cost of the trip is $2000 but does not include airfare from the US to Guinea. With airfare (from Detroit) included the costs is $3700. For more information contact Like Water Drumworks in Ann Arbor, Michigan www.likewaterdrumworks.com
June 19 - July 3, 2008 4th Annual Ndak Dawour Cultural Tour - Fara Lambe House of Drums and Medoune Yacine ("Dame") Gueye sponsor a trip to Senegal, West Africa. The trip includes dance and drum, and some tourist activities. Cost of the trip is $2900, airfare included if booked before May 15th. For more information contact Dame Gueye or Randee (Diamone) Grant-Gueye, 202-486-0357, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.faralambe.com
June 30 - July 28, 2008 SILA DJIGUIBA, Maimouna Keita sponsors a trip to Senegal (with stops in Dakar and Casamance) and Mali in West Africa. Trip includes dance and drum in all three locations, some tourist activities. Cost of the trip is $4,000 and includes all airfare to Africa as well as airfare while on the continent. For more information contact Marie Basse Wiles at 718-455-1406; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
December - We don't have the current dates but we want to remind everyone that Youssouf Koumbassa, Mouminatou Camara and M'Bemba Bangoura normally sponsor trips to Guinea, West Africa in late December to Jan. time period. In 2007, for example Youssouff's trip started on Dec. 31, 2007 and they will return Jan 27, 2008. The price was $1,950 and included all ground transportation in Guinea, dance and drum classes and some tourism. roundtrip airfare to Guinea was not included. We'll update the 2008 information as soon as it becomes available.
Jan. 2009 - Ballet International Africans sponsors a trip to Mali, Guinea and Senegal. Only 10-15 spots so if you're thinking about this one contact Amina ASAP. For more information contact Amina at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it