The trip to the West Coat of Africa was incredible! The operator spared nothing, providing expedition members with the opportunity to learn about the places visited from a wide variety of cultural points of view including history, economics, music, linguistics, and art from an exceptional group of staff and lecturers. 
It also arranged for visits by U.S. ambassadors to four of the countries which we visited, as well as onboard and shore music performances, meals in the desert, and other experiences…all of which were over the top.
Further, in view of the absence of a developed tourist infrastructure in many of these countries – including Liberia and Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Cameroon - high praise for having been able to arrange the visits which we had.
The trip was staffed with a wide array of cultural and naturalist specialists: historians, economists, cultural experts, a linguist, a musicologist, an ornithologist, three photographic instructors, and a world class National Geographic photographer. The list goes on and on.
The lecture staff was truly exceptional; we would love to travel again with them, and with Lisa Kelley, the expedition leader.
Jacob Edgar (musicologist) appeared to know everyone worth knowing in popular music in the countries which we visited and arranged for several live performances by local musicians. Likewise, the NG Photographer, Massimo Bassano, gave two excellent presentations about his work for National Geographic and was always approachable to provide help to photographers at any level of experience.
Rating the quality of service received from ExpeditionTrips on a scale of 1-10–how ‘bout 11?! 