TOUR CODE: WA – GHA01

12 Days Authentic Ghana Culture

The highlights of this adventure includes Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Jamestown, Independence Square, Shai Hills Game Reserve, Wli Waterfalls, Mole National Park, Manhyia Palace and Elmina Castle.

Day One: Arrival in Accra

Upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport, the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris will welcome you and then transfer you to your hotel. any activity of the today will depend on your arrival time and preference. Dinner and overnight at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

Day Two: Accra City Tour

After breakfast, you will go for the a full day sightseeing of old and new town. Ga Mashie, Jamestown area. We shall visit the popular Aunty Muni’s Kitchen where “Waakye”, a familiar sight to most Ghanaians is deliciously prepared and sold for some food tasting experience. “Waakye” is a simple but nutritious Ghanaian dish of cooked rice and beans served with tomato sauce and hot pepper sauce (optional). The drive and pass the independence Square where Ghana host most of her national ceremonies on our way to visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of Ghana’s first president driving pass the Independence Square where you will see the enclosed flame of African liberation, which was lit by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1961. The Memorial Park is set in attractive gardens and has a museum which contains photos, artifacts and an insight into Dr. Nkrumah’s life. Continue to Jamestown- one of Accra’s most historic neighborhoods, where history resides on every corner. Best known for its lighthouses and the Usher Fort, first of which was constructed in 1871 by the British as a navigational aid for trading vessels sailing through the Gulf of Guinea. The original structure was ruined but a larger and more improved lighthouse completed in 1930 is still functioning today. Our day’s exploration ends at the La Community to visit the Casket/Coffin Shop where uniquely designed caskets are made and this reflects the people’s belief in life after death. The shop was started by Seth Kane Kwei in the 1950s, almost by accident. He made palanquins, also known as Litters or Sedan Chairs that are used to carry tribal chiefs at traditional festivals. One chief, who had ordered a palanquin shaped as a cocoa pod, died unexpectedly before the festival, so he was buried in the palanquin. Soon after that his grandmother who had planned her first overseas trip by flight died before the trip and she too was buried in a coffin shaped like an airplane. “The third fancy coffin was for a chief fisherman who was buried in a canoe. Thus, the fancy coffin industry was started. Dinner and overnight at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

Day Three: Shai Hills- Akosombo

This morning after breakfast, we will head east to explore Ghana’s culture and nature. We will make a stop at TK beads, experts in making beautiful traditional beads using ancient methods. Your guide will take you through the skilled process of making the beads. Beads are culturally a symbol of wealth and beauty here in Ghana and are still used during traditional durbars and festivals. After the demonstration we purchase if interested a wide selection of beads that have been made here.

We also enjoy a picturesque drive to the famous Akosombo Dam for a scenic boat cruise to explore  Volta Lake for about 30-40 minutes tour of Ghana’s Hydroelectric power. This Hydro-electric Dam is located within the Akosombo gorge, on the Volta River. The construction of the dam resulted in the flooding of the Volta River Basin which resulted in the creation of Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world which covers about 3.6% of Ghana’s total land area. Dinner and overnight at Volta Hotel

Day Four: Ho (Hogbetsotso Festival)

On this day, we will enjoy a scenic boat cruise to explore Volta Lake for about 30-40 minutes. Then depart for the Volta Region with a drive through Adomi Bridge which is Ghana’s longest bridge which spans over the Volta Lake suspended by arch steel cables. Volta Ghana is an area of extraordinary scenic beauty with rolling hills and valleys, green vegetation, rocky outcrops overlooking Lake Volta and lagoons, and waterfall.

Go for the historical Hogbetsotso Festival of the “Anlos Ewes”, an ethnic group in the Volta Region. There will be a durbar of chiefs and the people which is an essential aspect of this festival. Chiefs dress in very colorful regalia and sit in state to receive homage from their subjects. Take coverage of dancing, singing and general merry-making during this festival.

Later return to the hotel for another night. Dinner and overnight at Volta Hotel

Day Five: Ho-Wli – Nkwanta

After a healthy breakfast, we will depart early for the Northern Volta. We will make a stop at Wli Waterfalls, the largest and highest waterfall in Ghana. Wli Waterfalls is divided into two sections with ice cold water flowing from a height of about 80 ft. On route to the waterfall, you will hike through the lush greenery of the Agumatsa Forest where you will cross the same river eleven times before reaching the breathtaking falls. Then continue to Nkwanta and if time permits, visit Sharee village. Dinner and overnight at Gateway Hotel

Day Six: Nkwanta –Tamale –Mole National Park

For this day, you will depart Nkwanta for Tamale in the Northern Region. You will explore more of Tamale before heading to Mole National Park. Get acquainted with the local traditional industry of Northern Ghana- Shea Butter on your visit to the Shea Butter Processing Centre. Shea Butter is very important to the local community and its people and you will see as well as learn how it is obtained from the Shea nut and processed into butter for so many healthy uses.

Also visit the showroom of TAMA Products where you will find products such as the TAMA brand and raw materials like Shea nuts, Shea oil, handcrafted Shea butter, Shea butter soap, among other products. Then proceed to Mole National Park

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You may visit local textile center where you will see and learn the stages in weaving a smock (Fugu). This traditional textile is mostly used during occasions such as festivals, weddings and naming ceremonies in the northern parts of the country. You can buy any of the textiles for yourself if you like. Dinner and overnight at Zaina Lodge

Day Seven: Mole – Mognori- Mole

In the early morning, you will go for the game drive in Mole National park. The park is well known for being a great site for birding with over 200 identified bird species, colorful butterflies, and magnificent reptiles. You will encounter the untamed but friendly African Elephant, African Buffalo, Olive Baboon, Hyena, Red-flanked Duiker, Roan Antelope, common Warthog, Vervet Monkeys, Hartebeest and the Bushbuck.

In the afternoon, visit Mognori Eco-village which is located about 15km away from the park. Explore the village on a community walk, drumming and dance performance or take a canoe safari on the Mole River. Dinner and overnight at Zaina Lodge

Day Eight: Kintampo to Boabeng Fiema then Kumasi

For this day, you will depart for Kumasi going through the Gonja lands to Kintampo for a visit to Kintampo Waterfalls. You can also visit Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary part of the forest which is home to Mona and Colobus Monkeys considered sacred by the villagers.

Then proceed to Kumasi and  if time permits, visit the central market which serves a major marketing center for a number of traders from all over the country.  Dinner and overnight at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi

Day Nine: Kumasi and Ashanti Craft Villages

This morning after breakfast, we will visit the Manhyia Palace, official residence of Ashanti Kings (Asantehene). The Ashanti forms the biggest population group in Ghana. For centuries they were the rulers in this region because of their well-organized society. At Manhyia Palace, disputes are still settled in accordance with centuries-old customs where the King has the final word.  Continue to the three craft villages of the surrounding countryside of Kumasi namely, The woodcarving Village of Ahwiaa, known for the talented craftsmen who fashion Royal stools, walking sticks and Fertility Dolls from wood; with the opportunity to purchase hand carved items of all kinds.

The village of Ntonso where Artisans hand-stamp patterns on Cotton cloth to make Adinkra Textiles. Black-on-Black and Black-on-Red Adinkra Cloth is worn for funerals and other solemn occasions. Learn how the Black Dye is made in the village from the bark of trees and creates your own Adinkra sash to take home. You may also purchase large pieces of the Adinkra Cloth handmade in the village.

Finally to Adanwomase, where we will see how the famous Kente Cloth is handmade on looms in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. See the Kente styles and the opportunity to make purchases. Later transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi

Day Ten: Kumasi to Elmina

On this day after breakfast, we depart to Elmina.  On the way, we visit Assin Manso where the “Donkor Nsuo (Slave river) is located. See the burial site of two former slaves from the U.S. and Jamaica whose remains were re-interred in August 1998 during Ghana’s first Emancipation Day celebration. You will see the ‘Slave River’ where captured Africans were washed before being confined in the Slave castles to await shipment to the Americas and the Caribbean.

This was the final transit point for enslaved Africans before being washed and stored in the slave castles to await shipment to unknown lands.

When you arrive in Elmina,  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. Then transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Day Eleven: Elmina to  Kakum National Park and back to Elmina

You will have an early departure for a drive through the historic Denkyira Kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests. Extending over 360 sq 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 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.

Later return to Elmina with a stop in Cape Coast. We will visit Esi’s Kitchen to explore the fragrant and exotic flavors of West African cuisine. 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 Jollof rice (Rice cooked in tomato sauce), Red Red (Beans stew with fried ripe plantain), Ampesi (Cooked yam/plantain with palava sauce) or Peanut butter soup. Dinner and overnight at Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Day Twelve: Elmina to Accra and fly out

Depart to Accra early afternoon with a brief stop at Cape Coast where we 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.

Arrive in Accra late afternoon and check on the Arts & Crafts Market.  Then transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.

ENJOY AFRICA