Majestic West Africa: Ghana, Togo & Benin

Accra

Day 1: Day 1: Welcome to Ghana!

Welcome to Ghana, the first country on your adventure.  You must be tired so we have arranged a driver to pick you up and take you to your luxury hotel in the hustle and bustle of the city of Accra. Make sure to rest today and recover your strength. Go grab some local foods or wander around. The day is yours to rest and do as you please!

Accra - Cape Coast - Elmina

Day 2: Day 2: Amazing Forest Canopy Walk and Slave Castle Tour

Accra is a hectic city, but don't worry because you are going to a new and calmer region where you will see a rapid transformation in mood and energy. Your first stop will be to explore the beautiful Kakum National Park, one of the few West Africa surviving tropical forests. There is a canopy walkway which lies in the forest of Kakum and is the most common activity in the park. You will take a hike into the forest with the guidance of an experienced park guide to enjoy the canopy walkway experience.

We will depart afterwards to Cape Coast Slave Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is regarded as the second-biggest slave castle in Ghana. You will have a tour of this infamous facility and get a true sense of the plight and hardships the ancestors endured. This is truly a fascinating and surreal experience.  Afterwards, you will be taken to your luxury hotel and have a large feast on the beach!

Elmina

Day 3: Day 3: Fish Market Bargaining Tour and Cultural Dance Lessons

Today is another fascinating day of colonial history but also one of beautiful culture and music!  You will be treated to a tour of Elmina visiting most of the notable places within the city. You will have the opportunity to visit the Elmina Slave Castle (St. George Castle) which is regarded as the biggest and oldest slave castle in Ghana. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to an amazing local fishing harbour/market to experience how these locals transact business in an open market. Learn how to bargain like a local fisherman!

Afterwards, we will depart for cultural drumming and dancing lesson. You will be taught how to handle some local drums and some cultural dance moves. We will continue with a local cooking demonstration of a Ghanaian delicacy which we will eat after preparing. Return to your hotel afterwards to relax after a long day.

Elmina - Assin Manso - Kumasi

Day 4: Day 4: Fascinating Tour of the Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Site

Today we continue our adventure to the beautiful Ashanti Region of Ghana. We will make a stop at the fascinating Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Site. This facility houses the river that served as the last bath for the slaves before their shipment overseas. It is well preserved and gives you a unique glimpse into the colonial past and how it affected African communities. You will also witness an Ancestral Graveyard at the facility. Continue afterwards to Kumasi. You have the option of experiencing typical nightlife in Kumasi which we definitely recommend. The Kumasi locals are super friendly and you are sure to have a blast dancing the night away!

Kumasi

Day 5: Day 5: The Intriguing Kumasi History Tour and Kejetia Market

This is for you war buffs and history lovers! Your first stop will be to the Military Museum (Kumasi Fort) where you will learn all about the fascinating British-Ashanti war and also WW2 and its role in the area. Continue to Okomfo Anokye Sword Site which is where a 300-year-old sword was planted into the grounds by a famous fetish priest called Okomfo Anokye. Several attempts to remove this sword from the ground have proved futile, maybe you will be the one to remove the sword!

The next stop is the Kejetia Market which is the biggest open market in Africa. Make sure to explore the markets and buy one of the fascinating items the locals are selling!  Afterwards, we will head to some very beautiful palaces where you can get lost in the glory of past civilizations!

Kumasi

Day 6: Day 6: Local Textile Workshop

Today you will learn the ancient beautiful proverbial wisdom of Adinkra Symbols. You will have a local textile printing workshop with these unique symbols and be treated to the history behind the symbols by making your own prints! Continue to Adanwomase Kente Weaving Village. Kente is a colourful silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips mostly used by the Akan ethnic group of Ghana to grace special occasions. You will have a kente weaving workshop. You can also buy some kente products as well. Continue with a Cocoa farm tour. Afterwards, you will move to the chief palace for your traditional naming ceremony(African descendant in the diaspora). Your ceremony will comprise of cultural display as the chief and elders of the village perform your naming rite. You will be given a local Ghanaian name afterwards. Depart to your hotel to relax after a long day.

Kumasi - Accra

Day 7: Day 7: Free day back in Accra

After breakfast, we will depart for Accra. Upon arrival, you will have the rest of the day to relax as you await to depart Ghana for Togo tomorrow! A new country and adventure is just on the horizon.

Accra - Lome

Day 8: Day 8: Border Jump to Togo and Voodoo Doctor Market

Today you will border hop to Togo!  Upon arrival at the Aflao border, we will cross over to Lome which is a fascinating customs and immigration checkpoint on both sides. Don’t worry, we will take care of everything so you don’t have to stress. Afterwards, we will embark on a city tour of the beautiful Lome, Togo’s cosmopolitan capital city where traditions and modernity so well overlap. Drive along the Togo-Ghana border, created after the colonial powers split the country after WWI until we get to the beautiful Independence Square. You will visit the interesting Independence Square and National Museum and proceed to the Artisans’ Village. 

Have you ever met a shaman or voodoo doctor? Today you will have that amazing opportunity when you visit the fetish market, the traditional drugstore for local shamans and voodoo doctors. Explore and have fun diving into this unique culture!

Lome

Day 9: Day 9 – Exciting Lome Tour

After breakfast, we will continue with our tour of Lome, the capital of Togo. We will continue with attractions we could not visit on our first day in Lome as well as other important spots within the capital. Overnight in Lome, Togo.

Lome - Cotonou

Day 10: Day 10 – Mysterious Tour in the Capital of Voodoo

A West African tour wouldn't be complete without visiting Benin!  But before you cross borders, get ready to take part in the magic of a Voodoo ceremony in Aneho. You will have lunch at a Restaurant afterwards before we cross the border going through immigration and customs procedures to Cotonou. We will continue our exploration of the mysterious city of Ouidah, which is also known as the capital of Voodoo practice.  Our first stop will be to the “Gate of No Return” which is the ancient slave trading post and then continue to the Ouidah museum which is the only remaining slave trading house in Ouidah. Next, we will continue to the Temple of the Sacred Pythons which houses about 50 pythons that are housed and worshipped. Creepy but fascinating! Afterwards, we will depart to our hotel in Cotonou for our overnight stay in luxury!

Cotonou

Day 11: Day 11 – Free Exploration in Cotonou

Today is a day of rest where you can relax at the hotel or go and explore some of the many unique places of Cotonou.  Make sure you try some delicious local cuisine or see some of the sites.  Tomorrow we will continue your guided adventures. Feel free to make today a day that fits your needs!

Cotonou - Abomey - Cotonou

Day 12: Day 12- Explore the Venice of Africa, Ganvie Village

After a very early breakfast, we will continue with our adventure of discovery! We will drive to Calavi Harbour for a serene boat ride on Lake Nokoue to the Ganvie village. You will be amazed when you see that this village is built on stilts and is home to the Tofinu people who live, hunt and fish traditionally. The village is often referred to as the Venice of Africa since the people conduct their daily chores only in boats. One of the most fascinating villages in Africa is Ganvie, another village on stilts, where we will learn how the canoes are entwined with the locals’ lives.  The men fish and farm with the boats while the women deliver goods to and from the market!  The kids of course take boats to get to school. It truly is beautiful!  After visiting the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a UNESCO world heritage site of wonder, we will head back to the hotel where you can relax for the rest of the day.

Cotonou - Port Novo - Cotonou

Day 13: Day 13: Fascinating Culture Tour of Porto Novo, Benin

After breakfast, we will head on over to the place where all the politics go down in the administrative capital of Benin; Porto Novo. We will have a city tour of this strange but wonderful city. We will learn all about the quirky but beautiful culture and traditions of the Benin people at the Ethnographic Museum. We will also visit the Grande Marche’ (The Big Market) near the central mosque which is a fascinating place to see where culture and religion intersect in this country.

Cotonou - Accra

Day 14: Day 14: Back to the Beautiful Accra

Today is a travel day, as we close out the tour of Togo and Benin and head back to where our adventure began in Accra.  The drive is a very scenic drive and we will have many stops to refresh and relax.  Enjoy the beautiful countryside!

Accra

Day 15: Day 15: Farewell to West Africa!

Today is your last day, But before we say Medaase (Thank you) and farewell. You will have the opportunity to explore the hustle and bustle of the metropolis of Ghana’s capital.  You will be fascinated by the African American connection to Pan-African culture by visiting the W.E.B. Center where Gahana’s first president invited Dr. Duboi to come speak to the nation and inspire the populace.  Afterwards, you will visit the beautiful Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park which is dedicated to Ghana’s first president! 

Even though your trip is at an end we hope you enjoyed your time visiting the wonderful countries of West Africa.  Medaase and farewell friends! I am sure we will see you back here again soon.