During your Cultural Introduction to Cape Verde, you will explore the Cape Verdean culture, studying the local language and enjoying all that the city of Tarrafal and surrounding areas have to offer. Through the week, you will join in traditional Cape Verdean music and activities and learn all about the people through culture trips, fishing trips, and even get to try your hand at making pottery!

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day to learn about your surroundings and local culture. However, don’t hover over the word ‘orientation’; this day will be as exciting as every other!

Orientation Day Schedule

• Welcome: Introduction to Cape Verdean traditions and culture; House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents,
• Basic Kriolu Lesson
• Visit local supermarkets and ATMs, and explore the surroundings of our centre.
• Lunch
• Visit to Mar De President Beach and spend some time on the beach before returning back to the centre for dinner.

Weekly Schedule

Monday

• Breakfast
• Introduction to Cape Verdean traditions and culture.
• Basic Kriolu class to learn about the local language. This is critical because the majority of people speak Kriolu, Portuguese or French here. So it may come in handy if you know some of these languages.
• Visit to local supermarkets and ATMs, and explore the surroundings of our centre.
• Lunch at the centre.
• Visit to Mar De President Beach
• Dinner

Tuesday

• Breakfast
• Basic Kriolu class to continue your course.
• Museum, Tarrafal concentration camp, local Market.
• Lunch
• Visit to Ribera Das Prat.

Wednesday

• Breakfast
• Basic Kriolu class – spelling and grammar
• Visit to Traz di Munti to learn pottery. Learn pottery skills and explore your creative abilities.
• Lunch
• Lighthouse visit

Thursday

• Breakfast
• Basic Kriolu class – how to make sentences.
• Visit to Project site for the following week.
  Lunch
• Continue at project site till the afternoon.

Friday

• Breakfast, we will have our last
• Basic Kriolu classes – start making phrases
• Fishing trip with the local fishermen.
• Barbeque lunch
• Free time to relax and enjoy your surroundings

Transportation

From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

The city is named after the indigenous plant Tarrafe, and is also called Mangui or Mangue. Situated in the northern part of the island of Santiago, Tarrafal is a fishing port with a vibrant community and a friendly people.

About the Accommodation

Our centre offers safe and comfortable surroundings with dorm-style separate male/female accommodation and western toilets available (shared).

And if you’re travelling to Cape Verde alone, you will quickly make new friends of fellow travellers and on-site staff who will be there too. Wifi is limited, so we recommend you purchase your own SIM card to help stay connected with friends and family.

Food Arrangements

If you haven’t tried African cuisine, you’re in for treat!  Typical Cape Verdean food includes rice dishes, beans, fruits, vegetables, chicken, beef, and fish with its own African spices.  At our centre, you’ll find a mix of local and Western food to enjoy, with all meals, tea, coffee, and filtered water included in your stay. There are 3 meals during the week and 2 meals on weekends.

Facilities
There are ATMs, mini-marts, some shops and restaurants close by in the city centre.

The beautiful islands of the Cape Verde were initially uninhabited until the Portuguese discovered it in the 15th century. The country flourished during the 16th and the 17th centuries due to the Atlantic slave trade. But with the decline of the slave trade in the 19th century, the country experienced an economic crisis. Yet the location of the island made it survive as it became a significant commercial center in the 19th century, as the location was perfect for re-supply of the ships. In the present day context, the economy of the country is mostly relying on the services provided by the country targeting the growing tourism industry.

Cape Verde has a mild climate compared to the mainland of Africa with an average high temperature of about 26 °C during February and 31 °C in September. The country has an irregular rain pattern in the months between August and October and it is in September that the country experiences its maximum rainfall. The country can boast about the rich vegetation and the forest that provides a rainforest habitat although the close proximity to the Sahara is makes most islands with no mountains mostly dry. The islands as initially were isolated; the existence of a number of endemic species mostly the birds and reptiles can be seen although the existence is threatened by the human developments.

Explore Africa’s most westerly point with it’s incredible volcanic landscape and black and white sand beaches.

Culture
As the Portuguese discovered the country; the culture is immensely influenced by them. Rural Portuguese practices are displayed in the social and cultural patterns of the country.