►▼Historical & Cultural Tour of Ghana, 12 Days
Historical
& Cultural Tour of Ghana, 12 Days
Ghana
(Accra, Elmina, Cape Coast, Kumasi, Busua Beach, Nzulezo Village)
Day 1: Arrive in Accra, Ghana
Upon
arrival in Accra – you will be met assisted and transferred to your hotel.
This
evening there will be a welcome dinner and orientation including a
lecture/discussion on
Ghanaian
history, culture and customs. Tailors and dressmakers will be in attendance for
those
interested
in custom made African outts
Meal(s)
Included: Dinner
Overnight
at Accra City Hotel
Day 2: Accra
After
breakfast go on a full day tour of Accra highlights will include:
Independence Square,
see the enclosed ame of African liberation, which
was lit by Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah
in 1961.
The Kwame Nkrumah
Memorial Park, nal resting place of Ghana’s rst president. Set in
attractive
gardens, there is an adjoining museum, which contains photos, artifacts and an
insight
into
Dr. Nkrumah’s life. Adjoining the park is the National cultural center, which
is Ghana’s largest
outdoor
arts and crafts market selling traditional crafts from all over West Africa.
James Town—one of
Accra’s most historic neighborhoods, where history resides on every corner.
Best
known for its lighthouses (the rst
of which was constructed in 1875 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 1921 is still
functioning today.
“Brazil House” learn
about the seven Afro-Brazilians families who returned to settle in Ghana in
1836.
Familiar Brazilian/Portuguese last names such as De Souza, Palmares, Azumah,
Amorin,
Da
Costa, Santos, De Medeiros, and Olympio are abundant in this section of Accra.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Accra City Hotel
Day 3: Accra/ Kumasi
After
breakfast drive to Kumasi – the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom with a stop at
Krobo to visit
Cedi’s
Beads Factory to observe the intriguing bead making process. Watch the
centuries old
process
of bead making from start to nish.
Arrive in Kumasi by late afternoon and check into your
hotel.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Noda
Day 4: KUMASI
After
Breakfast, Visit The Ashanti Craft Villages visit
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 Artisan’s 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 Adinkra
Cloth
Handmade
In The Village.
Our Final Village Is
Bonwire, Where The Famous Kente Cloth Is Handmade On Looms In A
Time-Honored
Tradition Passed Down Through Generations. See The Kente Weavers In The
Process
Of Creating Kente Cloth In Various Styles, And Have The Opportunity To Make
Purchases.
This
Evening Visit The Kumasi Central Market, The Largest Open-Air Market In West
Africa, Where
More
Than 10,000 Vendors Selling Their Wares.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Noda
Day 5: KUMASI – AKWISIDAE
FESTIVAL
After
breakfast visit Manhiya Palace, ofcial residence of Ashanti Kings (Asantehene) until 1974,
now
a museum containing treasured items relating to the Ashanti Kingdom.
Join
the celebration of Akwasidae Festival the pomp and pageantry of the Ashanti
kingdom. The
King
riding in a palanquin and adorned with all his gold ornaments comes out to
receive the
homage
of his sub-chiefs and people, it is a spectacular sight to watch the colorful
canopies and
umbrellas,
the skillful drummers, dancers, horn-blowers and praise-singers at these
regular
festivals,
held in honor of their ancestral spirits.
Visit
the Okomfo Anokye sword site, an important symbol of Ashanti unity that marks
the spot
where
the golden stool “descended from the sky” and has been in place for 300 years.
legend says
the
Ashanti kingdom would collapse should the sword ever be removed.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Noda
Day 6: KUMASI to BUSUA BEACH
After
breakfast drive to Busua Beach a stop at Assin Manso, the burial site of two
former slaves
from
the America’s and Jamaica, visit the “Slave River” where captured Africans were
washed
before
being conned in the Slave Castles to await
shipment to the Americas and the Caribbean.
Arrive
Busua Beach in time for lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Planters Lodge
Day 7: Nzulezo Village on Stilts/
Cape Coast
After
breakfast visit Nzulezu, a traditional African village built entirely on stilts
on Lake Amazuri.
Upon
arrival at the sleepy town of Beyin board a canoe travel through channels
encased on both
sides
by marsh and palm thickets that open to Lake Amazuri. Upon arrival at the
village, interact
with
the villagers and hear their story of how their Ancestors came to settle on the
lake. In late
afternoon
drive to Cape Coast for overnight.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Elmina Beach Resort
Day 8: CAPE COAST
Morning
at leisure.
In
the afternoon go on a Tour of the town of Elmina continue on to the village of
Mesomagor.
Enjoy
a musical performance by the Bamboo Orchestra at their musical best. The youth
at the
village
have revived a traditional art, by performing with bamboo percussion
instruments to music
and
dance. This is a contagious dance performance not seen anywhere else.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Elmina Beach Resort
Day 9: ELMINA & CAPE COAST
CASTLE
Tour
of Cape Coast Castle and the Castle Museum, Cape Coast Castle is a UNESCO World
Heritage
Site,
one of the departure points for Africans being sent to slavery in the Americas.
The castle is
home
to the “Door of No Return”. Continue on to Elmina Castle another World Heritage
site. Attend
a
commemorative ceremony in the Cape Coast Castle Dungeons plus a naming
ceremony– ALL
ARE
REQUESTED TO WEAR WHITE.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Elmina Beach Resort
Day 10: CAPE COAST
Spend
the morning at The Human Service Trust Orphanage in Cape Coast; travelers can
bring
books;
crayons or toys for the kids. Afternoon at leisure – enjoy time at the beach
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Elmina Beach Resort
Day 11: KAKUM NATIONAL PARK – ACCRA
After
breakfast visit Kakum National Park, Ghana’s most famous parks. Take a brief
walking tour on
the
forest oor where you will learn how our
ancestors lived in the forest. See birds, butteries,
and
perhaps catch a glimpse of the forests over 40 species of mammals including
monkeys and the
reclusive
forest elephant. Proceed to the canopy walk. Kakum is home to Africa’s only
aerial
walkway
through the tree canopy, a 1000 foot long and seven-bridge walkway with viewing
platforms
that reach heights of over 150 feet above ground. Return to Accra stop at the
village of
Abandze,
the ancestral home of Louis Armstrong, the famous American jazz musician. Those
who
ordered
custom made traditional outts
will go for tting and adjustments
FAREWELL
DINNER
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight
at Accra City Hotel
Day 12: ACCRA/DEPART
With
the assistance of your driver and guide, decide on your excursions and
activities.
You
will be transferred to the airport for your onward ight.
Meal(s)
Included: Breakfast
ARRIVE HOME WITH
PLEASANT MEMORIES