Ghana Cultural Tour and Volunteering

Arrive in Accra, Ghana. Upon arrival, your group will be met and transferred from the airport to their hotel for check-in for the next two nights. Later a welcome drink and orientation will be provided. The group will enjoy a welcome dinner and an overnight at the Hotel in Accra. D

After breakfast depart the hotel for a sightseeing city tour of Accra. You will drive through the administrative and economic districts of Accra, the capital of Ghana. This city is a 135-year-old city that has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarize her history. The tour includes a visit to the W. E. B. Dubois Center for Pan African Culture, Independence/ Black Star Square and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. After lunch in a local Ghanaian restaurant, you will end your tour at the Arts Centre where you will have an opportunity to use your bargaining skills to shop from an open-air market for artifacts from Ghana and West Africa. Tonight's dinner is included overnight at the hotel in Accra. BD

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for the Village of Hope in Gomoa-Fetteh. (Approx. 1½ hour drive) Village of Hope is a small community established by a non-profit organization that caters for children in need. There are now over 150 children living in the Village of Hope, some of the children are orphans, and some have been rescued from child traffickers. These children have classes, do chores and have play time. Your group will have the opportunity to assist in teaching the children and also interact with members of this unique community. After your time at the Village of Hope, you will continue by private coach on a scenic drive along the coastline to Cape Coast, an important historical city in Ghana. Here the group will have KASA (talk time), an opportunity to learn more about Ghanaian culture or simply talk to each other and share information about the experiences you are having on the tour. Your tour leader or tour guide leads Kasa discussions. (This activity is optional) Check into hotel for the next four nights. B

After breakfast, spend the day volunteering at Cape Coast School for the deaf, a special school that has been set up to meet the large need in the community for schooling for the deaf children. You will have the opportunity to interact with the children in the school, as well as the teachers who manage and care for the children. B

After breakfast, embark on a tour of the infamous Forts, Castles and Slave Dungeons of Ghana. History will unfold the story of the slave trade which the impact is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. Visit the Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedes in 1653 and was later taken over by the British. This castle also houses the West African Historical Museum established by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Ghanaian Government in 1994. After lunch, visit the Elmina Castle built by the Portuguese in 1482 and is also known as St. George's Castle. This castle was the first European structure built in Sub Saharan Africa. The colorful harbor nestled below the Elmina Castle, full of pirogues preparing to go to sea; offers one of West Africa’s greatest photo opportunities. BL

Overnight at the hotel in Elmina.

Early morning departure for a drive through the historic Denkyira Kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests. Extending over 360sq km, Kakum is the home to over 40 large mammals and 400 bird species as well as many species of butterflies, flora and fauna. The most popular attraction is the Canopy walkway which is made up of seven bridges extending 330m, hanging 30m (100 feet) above the forest floor.

Choose between a 2 km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral species and the medicinal values they offer or take a walk on the canopy walkway.

After lunch, spend the remainder of the afternoon at the beach after a visit to the Posuban Military Shrine where the Asafo companies, (Fanti traditional soldiers), prepare spiritually for war. These shrines are wonderful examples of how art is used in the daily lives of Ghanaians. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Elmina. BLD

Breakfast at hotel and then an early morning departure for Assin Fosu. This will be a day of service learning with Habitat for Humanity. Group will contribute to the international movement for decent housing for all. Your build will take place in the village of Assin Fosu in the Central Region. After a hard days work, group will continue on to Kumasi for dinner and overnight. BLD

NOTE: Building Sites may vary due to changes in the Habitat for Humanity annual build schedules.

Breakfast at hotel and then today group will visit the seat of the Ashanti Empire to explore the legends of the famous Ashantis, whose legacies are still evident today. Also, visit Manhyia Palace Museum to obtain firsthand information on the legacies of the Ashanti kingdom. A regal history that dates back to 1700 is told with relics and artifacts. Enjoy a drive through the city with monuments dedicated to the memory of the great Ashanti people. End the day’s tour at the National Cultural Center which features the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum and various studios of the brass makers, potters and batik makers. Upon arrival in Kumasi, check into the hotel for the next two nights. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kumasi. BD

After breakfast, check out of hotel and depart for the drive back to Accra. Upon arrival, embark on a scenic drive to Shai Hills Reserve. This reserve combines nature conservation, rich cultural interest and archaeological sites with splendid scenic beauty. Embark on a trek through the savannah plains to view West Africa’s big game: antelopes, bushbucks, kobs, baboons, monkeys and many bird species including the crested eagle ground hornbill blank bellied bustard and more. Visit the Obonu Tem and Se Yo caves that serve as home to the many animals notably insectivorous bats that you will see. You will have the opportunity to learn about the various artifacts that have been found on this very site, the homeland of the Krobo people. B

Spend the most part of this day at leisure and maybe some last-minute shopping. Check out of the hotel and in time transfer back to the airport for check-in for final departure back home. B