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North & West Africa:
Kingdoms of Gold (Ghana, Togo and Benin) (IMT) – 15 days
A magical exploration of Ghana, Togo and Benin. We discover the coast with its pristine beaches, ancient slave castles, voodoo ceremonies and fetish shrines; inland rainforests that are home to ancient kingdoms, traditional festivals and ceremonies, and the northern savannah with its tribal cultures and adobe architecture. An adventurous journey of tribal encounters, stunning landscapes and bustling cities - a true West African experience.
Itinerary
| Day: |
Description: |
| 1 |
ACCRA (Ghana):
Arrive and transfer to your hotel. No meals. |
| 2 |
CAPE COAST - KAKUM N.P.:
Travel to Cape Coast to visit the European castles left over from the days of the slave trade, and then on to Kakum N.P. We take a canopy walk on the suspended rope bridge – the longest and highest of its kind in the world. Overnight bush camp in the forest. |
| 3 |
ASHANTI KINGDOM:
Head north to Kumasi, the historical and spiritual capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. There is time to visit the lively and bustling market as well as the Ghana National Cultural Centre.
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| 4 |
ASHANTI KINGDOM:
We visit the Royal Palace Museum, home to unique collections of gold jewellery worn by the Ashanti court, as well as visiting traditional Ashanti houses, famous for their unique decorations. Afterwards we take a motorboat tour of Bosumtwi Lake, sacred to the Ashanti people. |
| 5 |
MOLE NP:
Follow the ancient caravan routes past Sudanese-style mosques to Mole National Park, the biggest game reserve in Ghana.
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| 6 |
MOLE NP:
Accompanied by expert rangers, we explore the park on foot, where we may see several of the animals that live here, including elephant, hippo, antelope, monkey and buffalo. |
| 7 |
DAGOMBA REGION:
Head into the region of the Dagomba people, passing interesting villages, until we reach Tamale. En route we visit the oldest mosque in Ghana at Larabanga. Overnight bush camping. |
| 8 |
KARA:
Visit a ‘witches village’, where traditional animist beliefs are still practiced, then cross the border into Togo and on to Kara. We also visit a Bassar village and have the opportunity to meet with traditional chiefs who will be able to tell us about their role within the village.
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| 9 |
TAMBERMA VALLEY:
Enter the land of the Tamberma people, one of the most culturally fascinating regions in West Africa, where traditions have changed little over the centuries. With permission from the villagers we are able to enter their traditional fortified dwellings, which are similar in form to medieval castles, and beautiful examples of African architecture. Overnight bush camping. |
| 10 |
SOKODE:
Journey through the Kabye region, where we will have the chance to visit traditional artisans and craftspeople. If we are lucky we may see blacksmiths, who use stones to forge the iron instead of hammers. Evening fire dance in the village. |
| 11 |
ABOMEY:
We cross the border into Benin, and on to Abomey, centre of a once great empire that controlled a large part of this region, as well as a large part of the West African slave trade. Depending on the season, we may have the chance to experience one of the tribal mask festivals, either ‘Gelede’ or ‘Egun’.
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| 12 |
GANVIE:
This morning we visit the Royal Palace, now a museum which holds ancient artifacts belonging to past kings. The buildings of the complex are evidence of its past greatness. We then cross Lake Nokwe by boat to reach Ganvie, a wonderfully picturesque village belonging to the Tofinou tribe, built entirely on teak stilts. We spend the night by the beach.
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| 13 |
OUIDAH - LOME:
We head back into Togo and onto the capital, Lome. En route we visit a village where voodoo is practiced, and have the chance to meet a traditional healer and visit a voodoo shrine. In Lome we visit the biggest ‘fetish market’ in West Africa, where monkey skulls, snake skins, bat wings and all the necessary ingredients for preparing magical potions and concoctions can be found. |
| 14 |
LOME - ACCRA:
We cross the border back into Ghana, and explore the old quarter of Accra, Jamestown. |
| 15 |
ACCRA:
Tour ends. |
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