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Your trip to the Gateway of Africa will be nothing like anything you have experienced before. Ghana home to European castles and the friendliest people in Africa will welcome (Akwaaba!) you with open arms and show you their rich culture, history, colorful festivals, beautiful empty beaches and some of the newest eco-tourism destinations in Africa. Weather you are spending the day on the beach, riding the surf, touring the markets, walking on a foot bridge through the canopy of a rain forest, coming around the bend of a river in a canoe to a village full of children trying to say hi, you will feel the beat of the African drums and spirit in you.

Some people will tell you, that you go to East Africa for the Wildlife and you go to West Africa for the culture, Ghana will give you the best of both worlds. Ghanaians are often described as the friendliest people in Africa. Combine this with amazing hospitality and the majority of the population speaking English it is hard to believe that the places you will experience on this vacation are not crowed with tourists. But lucky for you Ghana is an undiscovered paradise for travelers and often you wont even see another tourist on a beach other than right in front of some hotels. With the exception of a few places in the cities (just like any major city in the US) it is safe to explore and walk around, and check out the surroundings.

Our guides are extremely knowledgeable about the locales in which they serve; they are fluent in English, potentially French, and at least a handful of local languages. You will have a driver who will also serve as your guide and cultural ambassador. He will travel with you to take care of any issues or needs that you may have and answer all of your questions about Ghanaian culture. In addition to your primary driver/guide, other local guides will be used in various areas of the country to provide more specific knowledge about their communities.

If you are looking for that unique vacation that none of your friends have taken before, this is perfect for you.

Concentrations of this 14 day tour:

Ghanaian Culture, and food
History of colonialism and slave trade
Eco-tourism
Effects of Neo-Colonialism on the environment and the country’s autonomy
Natural Resource management
Wildlife
Leisure and beautiful beaches

The Itinerary:

Day 1:

Upon arrival at the Accra airport you will be met by your guide (driver/Guide/cultural ambassador) who will introduce you to the amazing Ghanaian hospitality that you will come to love. You will be driven to one of the following hotels for the night.

After settling in and relaxing a bit you will have dinner with your guide so you can begin to get to know each other. Soon it will be time to turn in for the night to get some good rest before the next day’s adventures.

Day 2:

James Town Light House

Accra does not have the nice clean beaches or any real strong tourist draws, but there are some great places to visit which really help you to get a feel for Ghana and the history. Day 2 will be spend exploring these places.

Day 3:

Aburi Botanical Gardens Cinnamon Trees

It is now time to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and drive into the cool hills to the north of Accra. First stop is the Aburi Botanical Gardens, where you will get to see first hand so many of the beautiful plants and flowers that inhabit Ghana and Tropical Africa. You will get to see where your cinnamon comes from, along with Cocoa, and other everyday items that you use back home.

After the botanic gardens you will visit one of the first Cocoa farms in the County which is now the second largest exporter of Cocoa in the world, that goes to make your favorite chocolate treats. In the afternoon and a little further of a drive you will visit Borti Falls to admire the beauty and take a refreshing dip in the pool at the base of the waterfalls if you so wish. In the evening you will return to your accommodations in Accra for one last night.

Day 4:

Today you will leave Accra heading west down the coast, visiting the beautiful beach at Gomoa Fete, and Fort Good Hope in Senya. Then drive onto Cape Coast for the night with some wonderful choices for your nights rest.

Day 5:

Festival Goers in Cape coast.

Your first morning outside Accra will be spent exploring Cape Coast Castle, with its dark and fascinating history. In the afternoon you will be free to explore the narrow avenues of Cape Coast enjoying interactions with Ghanaians, shopping, and admiring colonial architecture.

If you are lucky enough to be in Cape Coast during the right time in September you can experience the Festival Oguaa Fetu Afahye: This is a harvest festival that gives thanks for the bounty of the year to the many different Fante spirits, there will be a large procession through the city with Chiefs, drummers, dancers, and men dressed as women. Everything then congregates at the parade ground with a grand celebration.

The canopy walk way at Kakum National Park

Day 6:

Getting an early start you will head out to Kakum National Park:

You can walk on an elevated canopy walk through the tops of the trees in this Rain Forest National Park. You can also take a guided walk through the forest with a forest ranger who will explain all of the traditional and medicinal uses of the plants. The interpretive center also provides some great information about the park, conservation and the surrounding area. It is unlikely that you will see any of the Mammal wildlife that lives in the park like the forest Elephants, and primates, but you will get to see the beauty of all the plants and butterflies. An early start could increase your chances of a lucky encounter with the wildlife in the park before other visitors have scared them out of the area for the day.

In the afternoon you will drive up the side of the park to the Mosomagor Village (Community Eco-Tourism Project):

The people of Mosomagor will share their wonderful village with you and the sounds of their bamboo Orchestra. It is also possible to get a music lesson and dancing instructions. For the really adventurous you can to hike into Kakum Park, from Mosomagor where you can spend the night on a tree platform about 60 feet in the air built around a tree. This is an amazing experience that you will not be able to find just anywhere. Have you ever wondered what the rain forest sounds like at night from the safety of a tree top, come find out.

Day 7:

Depending on where you slept the night before, either on the tree platform or at one of the hotels, you will either wake up in the forest or in one of the accommodations around Cape Coast. From there you will drive to Domana Rock shrine (Community Eco-Tourism Project):

The Domana Rock Shrine holds spiritual importance to the villages around it. It is a massive natural monument with a giant rock balanced on some other huge rocks creating a natural spectacle that seems impossible. You will learn about the shrines importance to the people in the area. It is a nice hike through the forest with gracious local guides. During certain seasons it is also possible to take a canoe trip down a near by river.

The Beautiful Beach in Front of Fanta's Folly

Day 8:

Drive to Dixcove, explore the castle, take an afternoon surf lesson or enjoy the beach. In the evening check into your accommodations:

Day 9:

The rewards of hiking Cape Three Points

Either hike or drive to Akwidaa, canoe through the mangroves, take a cooking lesson, or bike or hike around Cape Three Points visiting the reserve, lighthouse, and villages. Stay the night in the Cape Three Points area again.

Day 10:

Drive to Lake Bosomtwe which is a lake in the top of a mountain formed by a meteor. It is like a round mirror surrounded by a beautiful green belt of mountains. You will spend the night on the lake shore at Lakepoint Guest House. You can take a swim in the lake to cool off, just relax on the beach, hike in the mountains, hike around the like, have a mud massage, the options are endless.

Day 11:

The day will be spent exploring the center of the Ashanti empire, the Garden city,Kumasi.

Kejetia Market, Cultural center, Kente weaving, wood carving, Ashanti Palace. In the evening you can stay in town and check out the evening life or return early to the Lakepoint Guest House.

Play with the monkeys at the community monkey sanctuary.

Day 12:

Drive to Beibeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, and Tano Sacred Grove. Stay the night at Hand in Hand in Nkranza.

Day 13:

Communities around Kumasi starting with Bobiri butterfly sanctuary, then visit Yaa Asantewaa Museum, Ejisu Shrine, and other shrines if time is permitted.

Day 14:

You will spend this day driving back to Accra making stops to do some shopping and a little sight seeing on the way back. You will then spend the night at the same place you did at the beginning of the trip.