GHANA – TOGO – BENIN TOUR

KINGDOMS, ADOBE CASTLES AND VOODOO IN WEST AFRICA

11 DAYS – 10 NIGHTS  all inclusive

Day 1: Arrive in Accra

Arrive at Accra Airport via Turkish Airways at 9.35pm; meet, assist and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Sunlodge Hotel.

Day 2: Accra-Cape Coast-Elmina

Breakfast and hotel check out Depart after breakfast for Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana. Drive along the coast through several fishing villages and coconut lined beaches Arrive in Cape Coast; continue to visit Cape Coast Castle which was originally started by the Swedes in 1652. It served as the headquarters and seat of the British colonial government until 1877. Go on a comprehensive tour of the Castle, the Slave Dungeons and the West African Heritage Museum. The guide will lead you to slave quarters and Negotiation Hall where our ancestors were bargained and sold. Lunch. Continue to visit the Elmina Castle, the first and oldest European structure built of any substance on African soil. This was built by the Portuguese in1482 and later used as an auction market for a comprehensive guided tour. See the slave dungeons and condemn cells where slave who attempted to escape were incarcerated. View its utterly distinct architecture. Check in at Coconut Grove Hotel. Overnight.

Day 3: Elmina-Kakum-Kumasi

Breakfast and hotel check out
Depart after breakfast to visit the Kakum National Park. Go on a morning walk of the “Kuntan Trail” with its countless trees with medicinal properties. For the young at heart, experience the “Canopy Walkway” suspended 100 feet from the forest ground for a panoramic view of the flora and fauna of the remaining vestiges of the rainforest. Lunch at Hans Cottage Botel. View the resident crocodile as you enjoy your meals. Depart after lunch for Kumasi in Ashanti Region; the Kingdom of Gold, History and Culture. Notice the change from coastal shrub to forest zone as you drive north across river Prah. Arrive in Kumasi late afternoon. Check in to at Noda Hotel or Miklin Hotel. Overnight.

Day 4: Kumasi and surroundings

Depart after breakfast for a city tour of Kumasi visiting the Manhyia Palace Museum which provides a good insight into Ashanti culture and traditions, and the history of the Ashanti Kingdom which is over 300 years old. It provides a good glimpse into the powerful ancient Ashanti Empire and its past Kings, National Cultural Centre, Prempeh II Jubilee Museum, the Okomfo Anokye Sword and the Kumasi Central Market – the largest open-air market in West Africa. Lunch at a local restaurant and visit a few Ashanti craft villages to see the skill and imagination of local craftsmen using simple tools and traditional technology to produce breath taking artifacts and designs from which you may pick souvenirs for friends and family back home. Visit Ahwiaa – the woodcarver’s village specializing in woodcarving such as the Ashanti stools, fertility dolls and walking sticks. Proceed to visit Ntonso – Adinkra cloth and tie-and-dye process where you will have an opportunity to create your own designs and Bonwire for the famous Kente cloth. Return to your hotel late afternoon. Rest of evening is free. Overnight Noda Hotel or Miklin Hotel.

Day 5: Kumasi-Akosombo

Depart Kumasi after breakfast for Akosombo in the Eastern Region. Drive past several scenic villages and charming towns through the Akwapim Ridge and arrive in Akosombo. After lunch go on a boat ride on Volta Lake. The river has been dammed at the eastwards direction to generate electricity for Ghana and its eastern neighbors. This is also a good sport for bird watchers and the journey on the river reveals the scenic beauty of this area. Rest of day is free to relax at the hotel’s poolside or for personal activities. Overnight at Akosombo Continental Hotel.

Day 6: Akosombo-Kpalime

After breakfast, depart Akosombo for Nyive, Togo-Ghana border driving over the Adomi Bridge a steel suspension bridge located at Atimpoku that links Ghana Eastern Region to the Volta Region. Arrive at the border; assist through Customs and Immigration and proceed to Kpalime in the Plateau Region of Togo. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive through Missahoe forest for Kouma Konda on Mount Kloto, a real butterfly heaven. A brief trek in the surrounding woods will reveal the virtues of some of the plants in the area. Visit Kloto craft center famous for batik, macramé, pottery and mostly woodcarving. Check-in at Hotel Cristal or similar. In the evening, enjoy Akpesse folk dance in a village in the real Ewe traditions. Overnight.

Day 7: Kpalime-Atakpame-Kara

After breakfast, drive to Kara in the North of Togo. En route, stop at the foot of Mount Agou, the highest point in Togo and visit Notse, the historical city for the Ewe people, today an important pineapple producing center. After lunch in Atakpame, head north and visit artisans decorating calabashes in Anie .Continue driving through the most Islamized city of Sokode to Aledjo fault in the Aleheride mountains. Photo stop at the fault and proceed to Kara. Check-in at Hotel Kara or similar. Overnight.

Day 8: Kara-Kabye-Losso-Koutammakou-Somba-Natitingou

After breakfast, drive to the amazing Kabye blacksmiths molding iron with rocks. In the valley further north is the land of Losso with its typical round huts, the soukala. Proceed through the Defale ranges for Koutammakou, the land of the Tamberma, the adobe castle builders. On arrival, interact with the natives and have permission to visit their habitat, the takienta spread in the fields. Picnic lunch and drive through this tribal land to Boukoumbe. Assist through Customs and Immigration and drive to Natitingou through the land of the Somba. Check-in at Hotel Tata Somba, overnight.

Day 9: Natitingou-Abomey

After breakfast, transfer to Abomey in southerh Benin. En route, visit the shrine of Dankoli voodoo deity in Savalou. After lunch in Savalou, proceed to Agogointo near Abomey. Visit the underground shelters of Dahomey kings and check-in at Suncity Hotel or similar. Overnight.

Day 10: Abomey-Ganvie-Ouidah

After breakfast, visit historical museum, former palaces of kings of Dahomey featuring the throne room, the weapon room, the administrative blocks of king Glele and king Toffa, the common grave of the wives of king Glele and his sepulcher, shrines and palace artisans. After a quick lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Abomey-Calavi, harbor for Ganvie, the biggest stilt village in Africa, home for over 33,000 Tofinu people. Visit Ganvie and return to harbor and continue to Ouidah, the voodoo capital city of Benin. Go the Slave Route till the Door of No Return; check-in at Hotel Le Jardin Brésilien. Overnight.

Day 11: Ouidah-Lome-Accra

After breakfast, drive to Kpasse sacred forest and the temple of pythons and proceed to Lome crossing the border at Hilla Condji. In Lome, visit the fetish market and drive to Afla or Segbe border. Proceed to Accra. Transfer to airport for your depart flight on Turkish Airways. End of tour. Have a nice trip back home!