West African Trilogy: Ghana, Togo & Benin

Akwaaba (Welcome)! Upon arrival at Accra International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and explore on your own.

Accommodation: Lancaster Accra

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will pick you up for your sightseeing tour of Accra. The capital of Ghana since 1877, has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarizes the history of this capital city. Visit the W. E. B. Dubois Centre for Pan African Culture, before heading to Independence/ Black Star Square with its many monuments dedicated to Ghana's independence struggles including the Independence Arch and Black Star Gate. Next, head to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, dedicated to prominent Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah. 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 before returning to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive 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. Enjoy a 2 km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral species and the medicinal values they offer.
Afterward, embark on a tour of the infamous Forts, Castles, and Slave Dungeons of Ghana. History will unfold the story of the slave trade, of which the impact is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. Visit the Cape Coast Castle, which was 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 an early morning breakfast, depart the hotel for your visit to the Elmina Castle built by the Portuguese in 1482. Also known as St. George's Castle, Elmina Castle was the first European structure built in Sub - Saharan Africa. The colourful harbour nestled below, full of pirogues preparing to go to sea offers one of West Africa's greatest photo opportunities.

After a break for lunch (on own account), this afternoon you embark on a guided walking tour of Elmina, which was the first point of European contact in Sub-Saharan Africa and was once the most cosmopolitan city in Tropical Africa.

What better way to appreciate it than to immerse oneself in its main industry - fishing! Meet with local fishermen to learn the intricacies of their trade and the challenges they face in their day-to-day work. Next, meet the fish mongers in the village who will demonstrate the various stages of smoking the fish in earthenware ovens. This is a unique way to experience one of Ghana's oldest and important trades.

After breakfast, depart your hotel and visit the Global Mamas Cultural Workshop. Explore the fragrant and exotic flavors of West African cuisine in Auntie Esi's kitchen. Esi will introduce you to an array of new tastes and flavors as you learn how to create authentic Ghanaian dishes. Using African cooking techniques, during this workshop you will create traditional dishes like fufu, groundnut soup, fried plantain, palava sauce, and red. After learning the recipes, enjoy eating the feast you've helped to prepare. Afterward, discover the art and beauty of African batik and get a glimpse into the life of a local artisan as you work side-by-side during this four-hour class. Join a Global Mamas' batiker in her workshop to learn the traditional techniques of batik production using wax and dye to create colorful patterns - to make your own one-of-a-kind fabric. Afterward, take your two yards of handiwork home to sew into a finished product that will always have a special place in your home or wardrobe.

After breakfast, this morning, check out of your hotel and depart on your drive through the forest zone as you head towards Kumasi, the seat of the Ashanti Empire to explore the legends of the famous Ashanti people, whose legacies are still evident today. En route, stop in the town of Assin Manso, where you will visit the site of "Donkor Nsuo", the former Slave River and market, as well as the final transit point for a large number of enslaved Africans. This is the final resting place for two ancestors whose mortal remains were returned from the USA and Jamaica and re-interred there.
Afterward, continue to Kumasi where you will visit the Manhyia Palace Museum to obtain firsthand information on the legacies of the Ashanti kingdom, with a regal history that dates back to 1700 and is told with relics and artifacts. Enjoy a drive through the city with monuments dedicated to the memory of the great Ashanti people. Your city tour on this day will also include a visit to the famous Kejetia market, the National Cultural Centre which features the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, and various studios of brass makers, potters, and batik makers.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for your day's sightseeing. Enjoy visits to three craft villages where you will have the opportunity to see how African crafts are made and to buy directly from the artisans who make them if you are so inclined. First up is Ahwiaa, a village noted for their woodcarvings along with other handicrafts. Next is a visit to Ntonso, the home of Adinkra cloth. Here you can see the Adinkra cloth made from scratch. The Adinkra was originally only worn Ashanti Region for funerals and made primarily in black or brown, however, nowadays it is made in various colors and used throughout Ghana. Our last stop of the day is Bonwire, the Kente weaving village. Here you will be able to see how these colorful fabrics are made. Afterward, return to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and depart for Accra. En route, stop at the Besease shrine, a fetish shrine (a traditional religious shrine commonly found in Ghana, Togo, and Benin) and a world heritage site located near the town of Ejisu. Each of these 10 shrines is a home for a particular spirit, called obosom that mediates between mortals and the supreme god Nyame. Observe the unique architecture and experience the mode of ancestral worship to the ancient gods before continuing back to Accra. Upon arrival, visit the local dressmaker for a fitting session followed by check-in at your hotel and the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Accommodation: Lancaster Accra

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin your drive to Togo. At the border, it is time to bid farewell to your Ghanaian guide and meet your new guide for the rest of the trip through Togo and Benin. Once the border crossing formalities are complete, continue your journey to Lome. Upon arrival, enjoy a tour of the city. Drive by the Musée National (National Museum), as well as the Place de I' Independence (Place of Independence, where the Independence Monument is situated). Visit Grand Marche (Grand Market) and Marche des Feticheurs (Fetish Market) before heading to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up by your driver and guide for your day's sightseeing to Togoville, a beach resort on Lake Togo. Enjoy a cruise on the lake to the 17th Century Catholic Cathedral, which hosted Pope Paul during his visit to Togo, as well as the 5 main voodoo shrines on the island.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out this morning and departing for Benin. After border crossing formalities, continue your journey with your driver and guide for a visit to Ouidah, the cradle of African Traditional Religion, en route to Cotonou. Tour the temple dedicated to the sacred Python, which is believed to give vitality and protection. You will also pay a visit to the sacred forest which houses many shrines dedicated to various deities.
Afterward, visit the Port of No Return; a monument built by the Benin Government to commemorate the Africans that were taken from the Dahomey Empire during the Slave Trade before continuing your journey northwards to Cotonou.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel this morning, embark on a sensational visit to Ganvie (the village on water), commonly referred to as the Venice of West Africa. Witness first hand, the people of Ganvie carrying out their daily routine as vendors in dugout canoes piled high with wares, transacting with one another and with tourists. You will enjoy shopping on the floating market and taking a relaxing canoe ride on the waterways of this exotic 300-year-old village. After a stop for lunch (on your own account), drive through the multicolored center of the administrative and commercial capital of Benin to view its many statues and monuments.

Today, depart with your driver and guide for The Royal Palaces of Abomey. A UNESCO cultural world heritage site, The Royal Palaces are ranked as one of the most famous tourist attraction sites in Abomey and the greater Benin. The palaces are vital representations of Benin's cultural heritage and attract thousands of tourists from across the world yearly and are still being used for traditional ceremonies in modern-day Benin. During these ceremonies, rhythmic music, Benin's rich culture, rituals, religions, and customs are carried out in the complex. These ceremonies have significantly helped with the conservation of the complex, due to the palaces' continued functionality. Nearby sites include the Fetish Temple (traditional place of worship in Benin) and a local arts center that sells traditional handicrafts.

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, check out and transfer to the airport in time for your onward flight.