Dance & Culture Study Abroad 2024 in Guinea West Africa
This exciting adventure is great for someone wanting more of a home stay experience with a beautiful African family. Based at our simple, comfortable campus in Coyah, a lovely suburb of Guinea’s capital Conakry, you will enjoy the local markets and community living. This trip includes lots of cultural immersion, an incredible 3-day trip to the rain forest, as well as a 3-day trip to an extraordinary tropical island. A great first-time-to-Africa trip!
Date
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A trip of a lifetime, immerse yourself in the rich culture of Guinea. Learn to dance and drum with some of Guinean’s fitness instructors.
Trip Details and Itinerary:
What’s included?
• Group Accommodations: Comfortable and secure, our accommodations will be a short taxi ride from markets and internet cafes
• Meals: Three delicious meals a day of West African fare: fish, chicken, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables (vegetarian options available). Our home stays stocked with peanut butter, French bread, sardines, coffee and Western condiments.
• Dance Classes: Two each day, taught by principal dancers of Les Ballets Africains and other professional dance instructors.
• Ground transportation: is provided.
Trip to Kindia in the beautiful Village of Kindia
Trip to the Island to the luscious tropical island off the coast of Guinea
Visit Les Ballets Africains de Guinée, Les Ballets Djoliba
Local Markets
L’institut des beaux Arts de Dubréka
ONCE YOU ARE THERE:
TENTATIVE ITINERARY: (Schedule subject to change)
- Days 1: Arrive in Guinea
- Days 1-5: Stay in Conakry
- Days 5-7: Visit Kindia (rainforest village)
- Days 7-13: Stay in Conakry
- Days 13-16: Visit Roume (tropical Island)
- Days 16-21: Stay in Conakry
- Day 21: Depart Conakry
TENTATIVE SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE
- 8:00am: Breakfast
- 9:00-10:30 am: First Dance Class*
- 10:30-noon: Song, History and Culture class
- Noon-1:00pm: Lunch
- 1:00-3:30pm Free-time: learn to cook, go to the market/internet café/drum maker…etc.
- 3:30-5:00 pm:
- 5:00-6:30 pm: Second Dance Class*
- 6:30pm – ???: Dinner and Free-time: have a private class, learn to cook, go for walk
NB:Schedule option to change!
Trip Pricing & Options:
Three week trip – $2,500
Full payment options:
$2,450 – Full payment due at registration (register by June 25th)
$2,500 – Full payment due at registration (after August 15th)
Payment plan options:
$500 – 1st deposit due at registration Jul 1st
$1,000 – 2nd deposit due August 1st
$1,000 – Final payment due September 5th
Two weeks trip – $1,700
Full payment options:
$1,650 full payment due at registration (register by June 25th)
$1,700 full payment due at registration (after August 15th)
Payment plan options:
$500 – 1st deposit due at registration Jul 1st
$600 – 2nd deposit due August 1st
$600 – Final payment due September 5th
One weeks trip – $1,050
Full payment options:
$1,000 full payment due at registration (register by June 25th)
$1,050 full payment due at registration (after August 15th)
Payment plan options:
$500 – 1st deposit due at registration Jul 1st
$300 – 2nd deposit due August 1st
$250 – Final payment due September 5th
Early Bird deadline: Jul 1
Purchase your trip today!
Airfare not included
Cancelation Policy:
While we always intend and hope that each person who registers for our trip is able to complete it, circumstances sometimes do arise where people have to cancel or postpone their trip. As a reminder, our cancellation policy is as follows:
• $200 non-refundable cancellation fee if you cancel your trip before September 1st 2024
• $500 non-refundable cancellation fee if you cancel your trip after September 1st , 2024.
• $1,000 non-refundable cancellation fee if you cancel your trip after October 1st and one week prior to your trip.
• 100% of your tuition is non-refundable if you cancel your trip after one week prior to your trip:
• There is no refund given if you cut your trip short for any reason.
100% after 1 week prior to start of trip
How to Register:
Your registration will be complete once we receive both your registration information (form below) and your payment. By registering you agree that you have reviewed travel requirements and are fully aware of our cancellation fees.
Make a check payable to ACAI and mail to
1164 Lockbourn Rd, Columbus Ohio 43206
Once registered you will receive a complete Guinea Travel Packet with a full list of travel requirements.
Overview of Travel Requirements:
• Current passport
• Travel Visa for Guinea
• Travel insurance
• Proof of COVID test vaccination
• Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination
• Emergency contact information
• Copy of your flight itinerary and two copies of your Passport.
• Optional: register with embassy/consulate
Visa Requirements:
The Guinean embassy requires that you submit your passport, two completed application forms, and your Yellow Fever vaccination certificate when you apply for your visa. The following website gives you more specifics about how to obtain your visa, and again, once you are registered we will send you detailed information about the best and fastest way to get your visa.
www.traveldocs.com
Mail to: Guinea Embassy
2112 Leroy Place NW
Washington DC 20008 Phone: 202-986-4300
Vaccines and Medications:
While the Yellow Fever Vaccine and Malaria medication are the only requirements, we encourage you to follow all of the current recommendations and requirements given by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) with regard to vaccines and medications.
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/guinea
1. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory. This documentation may be checked at the airport so please bring proof of vaccination in the form of your yellow fever vaccination yellow card.
2. Malaria medications (doxy is common)
3. Updates to all routine vaccines and booster doses
4. Typhoid may be recommended by your doctor
5. Polio vaccine may be recommended by your doctor
6. Hip series, meningococcal and rabies if warranted by doctor
7. Proof of negative Covid test is not required for boarding
DOCTORS & HOSPITALS
There are many good doctors and very suitable hospitals and clinics in Guinea . If you have a health emergency while in Guinea, we will help with locating the relevant health care you require.
INSURANCE
Emergencies and other mishaps such as lost luggage can crop up on any trip abroad, thus we encourage travel insurance.
U.S. Department of State:
Optional – register with embassy/consulate
Travel registration is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. Registration allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency. Americans residing abroad can also get routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/
Responsibilities of tour operators
We will guarantee clean, reliable and safe accommodation in the safest environments and ground transportation during your stay in Guinea. We also guarantee your facilitation to the best healthcare facilities in, If need arises. We guarantee all activities advertised in our itinerary, unless otherwise advised by organizers of the trip. Food will be prepared by a cook experienced in home style and Western.
Flights: You can select your own agency. I will prefer that you book with the same agency to facilitate picking up and dropping off at the airport.
LANGUAGES: Guinea is a French-speaking country. Susu, Foulani and Malinke are the main tribal languages spoken where we will be staying. It would be beneficial to learn some functional French before you go (Duolingo).
POLITICAL INFORMATION: Guinea, like many countries in the world, does not have a government as stable as ours. Having said that, Guinea was much more stable when it officially became a democracy. We will be updated everyday on news and events. There are no worries. Your trip will be successful.
Partial list of Community:
- Mamady Mansare – your principle host
- Baba Mansare – Mamady’s father
- Nafina Mansare – Mamady’s mother
- Mohamed Lamine Kourouma – your driver
- Facely Camamra your security guy
- Veronic your housekeeper
- Kids: Mahawa, Baba doman, Moussa, Oumou, Aicha
- Mamady’s sisters
- Bebe (Doussou) – Primary cook
- Tambou – Mamady’s youngest brother
- INSTRUCTORS
- Dance Instructors:
- Abdourahamane Kalissa, Mayeni Camara, Marie Touré
- Drummers: Mohamed Bangoura, Famaya Camara, Abdoul Sylla, Aboubacar Camara
You will know the members of my drum and school when you arrive.
Trip Payment Options
*Notes: Your registration will be complete once we receive both your registration and your payment. A 2% fee will be added to all credit card transactions.
Payment Options
Full payment options:
$2,200 – Full payment due at registration (register by August 31)
$2,250 – Full payment due at registration (after August 31)
Payment plan options:
$500 – 1st deposit due at registration
$950 – 2nd deposit due October 15
$1,000 – Final payment due November 15