Authentic Cultural Experience Of Ghana

Once you arrive in Accra, you’ll be warmly received after going through immigration and customs. You will be picked up by our cultural tour guide and transferred in a private A/C vehicle to your hotel in Accra. Check-in at your hotel, relax and prepare for the next day’s activities. 

Hotel: Accra City Hotel or similar

Explore the vibrant city of Accra, which is a blend of historic and modern buildings, with many colonial-era buildings still evident today. There are many historical landmarks in this 120-year-old city, including areas like New Town, Ga Mashie, and Jamestown. 

 We cannot miss the chance of tasting the delicious waakye (a popular rice nutritious Ghanaian dish made from cooked rice and beans served with fresh tomato sauce and hot pepper sauce) from Aunty Muni’s Kitchen  

We’ll continue to Independence Square, where you will see the flame of African Liberation that was lit by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1961. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, with its attractive gardens and museum, is a great place to learn about the first President of Ghana. It also serves as the final resting place for the late president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah after his previous burial in Guinea and Nkroful, his birth town. 

We continue to Jamestown Community, the oldest city in Accra. It is the most historic neighborhood where history resides on every corner. Best known for its lighthouses (the first 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 was completed in 1921.  

Our day 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. Seth Kane Kwei accidentally started the shop in the 1950s. He made palanquins that were used to carry tribal chiefs at festivals. One of the most important chiefs who died just after ordering his palanquin which was made in the shape of a cocoa pod was buried in the palanquin, he ordered. 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. This is how the Fancy Coffin industry started. 

Overnight at Accra City Hotel or similar

Meal(s) Included : Breakfast

After leisure breakfast, we set off further east to explore Ghana’s culture and nature. En route, we will stop at T.K Beads, experts in making beautiful traditional beads using traditional methods.  The bead-making craft is a long-held tradition in Ghana. The beads are made by hand and then strung together to make bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry. Our guide will demonstrate how to make beads, and you will be able to learn the skills that aid in beads manufacturing. In Ghana, beads are a symbol of wealth and beauty and are still used during traditional durbars and festivals. After the demonstration, we can admire and purchase a wide selection of beads that have been made here at the onsite shop. 

We continue to the Shai Hills Game Reserve. This stunning Game Reserve is home to a beautiful range of rocky hills sitting in the midst of large, wooded grassland, 31 species of mammals, 175 species of birds, and 13 species of reptiles. 

Here, you will also find a fascinating history of the Shai people and how several cave systems in the hills have played an important role in their culture and tradition. 

We end the day’s exploration on a drive to the famous Akosombo Dam with a picturesque boat cruise and tours of the Volta River, which is the home of hydroelectric power in Ghana. This Hydro-electric Dam is located within the Akosombo gorge, on the Volta River. Due to the damming of the Volta River, Ghana’s largest man-made lake was created. This was due to flooding of the Volta River Basin. The lake covers about 3.6% of Ghana’s total land area. 

Overnight at Volta Hotel or similar

Meal(s) Included : Breakfast

Be mesmerized by the beauty of its surrounding mountain scenery as you wake up to the calm of the lake. After breakfast and check out, we proceed to the Volta Region with a drive through the Adomi bridge that spans over the Volta Lake and is suspended by arch steel. 

The Volta Region is an area of extraordinary scenic beauty with rolling hills and valleys, green vegetation, rocky outcrops overlooking Lake Volta. 

Today, you will witness the climax of the historical Hogbetsotso Festival celebrated by the Anlos” or “Ewes”, the major ethnic of the Volta Region of Ghana. Many cultural events will take place before and after the ceremony including traditional drumming and dancing. This festival does not only sows the unique traditional culture of the Anlos but also brings people from different tribes together for social interaction and mingling.  Join in the dancing, singing, and general merry-making at the festival. 

Overnight at Volta Hotel or similar

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Enjoy the freshness of the morning as you drive through the lush greenery of the Volta Region. We will stop at Wli Waterfalls, which is the largest and highest waterfall in Ghana. It’s divided into two sections with ice-cold water flowing from about 80ft.  En route to the waterfall, you will take a hike through the Agumatsa Forest, where you will cross the same river eleven times before reaching the breathtaking falls. There will be a chance for you to take an early morning dip in the waterfalls and natural ponds.  

Overnight at Gateway Hotel or similar

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

After a well-deserved breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head further north to explore Northern Ghana. There will be an opportunity to explore more of Tamale before going to the Mole National Park. 

Get to know the local traditional industry of Northern Ghana, where you can see how Shea Butter is made. Shea butter is an important part of the local people’s lives; it gives them a source of livelihood by processing the shea nut into shea butter, soap, among other products. (SeKaf Shea Butter Village). 

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. 

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You may also want to visit the local textile center where you witness the step-by-step process of weaving traditional and stunning smock locally known as Fugu, handwoven bags, and accessories. There is a wide range of products including colorful shirts, bags decorated beautifully by the local people, and can even buy any of the textiles for yourself if you like. 

Overnight at Zaina Lodge or similar

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime morning drive safari through the spectacular 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. On this unique experience, you will travel deep into the park, accompanied by your experienced driver guide as you search out wildlife and birds in their natural habitat. 

A visit to Mole National Park would not be complete without a visit to Mognori village. This community-based ecotourism project is set on the banks of the Mole River and consists of walking trails, canoes, and a developed campsite.  

At the village of Mognori, you’ll be greeted by the warmth of its people and given the opportunity to explore the village on a community walk or take a canoe safari on the Mole River.  

We then drive 45 minutes to Larabanga Mosque, the oldest Sudanese Mosque in West Africa built over 600 years ago using primitive tools and techniques and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site  

You can enjoy the rest of the day by the pool which overlooks the Park’s waterhole and catches a glimpse of African elephants cooling off in the waterhole. 

Overnight at Zaina Lodge or similar

Meal(s) Included : Breakfast

Set off for Kumasi driving through the Gonja lands to Kintampo for a visit to the magnificent Kintampo Waterfalls, cascading 75 feet into a clear pool. It is one of the largest waterfalls in Ghana. You may also have the chance to Visit Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, an area of the forest that is home to Mona and Colobus Monkeys considered sacred by the villagers. 

Upon arrival in Kumasi, the regional capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, and if time permits, you will visit the Kejetia market. Noted as one of the largest commercial centers across Africa, this vibrant market attracts traders from all corners of Ghana with an abundance of fresh fish, authentic African fabric for making custom-made clothes, beauty products, foodstuff, jewelry, and handmade crafts. 

Overnight at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

You’ll be greeted with a warm welcome and an authentic Ghanaian breakfast before we set off to explore the Ashanti culture. Our full-day tour of Kumasi and its vicinity blends in many aspects of the Ashanti culture and offers you the chance to discover the fascinating and vibrant culture in breathtaking settings. 

Visit the Manhyia Palace now a museum, which contains treasures relating to the Ashanti Kingdom.  The Ashanti form the biggest population group in Ghana. For centuries they were the rulers in this region because of their military supremacy. 

At Manhyia Palace, disputes are still settled in accordance with centuries-old customs where the King has the final word. 

You will further explore some of the significant cultural villages of this ancient Kingdom on visits to some of their craft villages as follows:

• The village of Ahwiaa has long been known for its many talented craftsmen who fashion Royal Stools, walking sticks, and fertility dolls from wood. This thriving community is also known for producing some of the most talented artisans who create hand-carved jewelry boxes and other wood-carving items of all kinds. 
• At the village of Ntonso, you can learn about the cultural significance of Adinkra cloth and watch as textiles are created from Adinkra symbols using Black Dye obtain from the bark of a special tree which only grows in the North. You can either draw your own Adinkra symbols or purchase pre-designed pieces of fabric. 
• Adanwomase village, where you will witness how the local weavers work on their looms in the town center and demonstrate how the famous Kente cloth is made in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. You may decide to purchase some of the stunning Kente fabrics on display at the center. 
•  to purchase some of the stunning Kente fabrics on display at the center. 

Overnight at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kumasi

Meal(s) Included : Breakfast

This morning, we will depart Kumasi for Cape Coast. En route, we will visit 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 can see the ‘slave river’ where enslaved Africans were washed before being confined in the castles to await shipment to the Americas and the Caribbean 

Upon arrival, you will visit Elmina castle where you will explore the grounds and rooms full of haunting history. The 14th-century fortress was built by the Portuguese in 1482. This UNESCO World Heritage site was originally known as St. George’s Castle. 

Overnight at Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will visit Kakum National Park in Ghana. It has one of Africa’s famous rainforest canopy walkways. This canopy walkway will be one of the highlights of your time in Ghana. Prepare to take a deep breath while you walk the suspended bridge and marvel at the breathtaking views that stretch for miles across the rainforest. 

Return to Elmina with a stop on Cape Coast. You will learn how to make authentic Ghanaian dishes as you explore the fragrant and exotic flavors of Ghanaian cuisine at Esi’s Kitchen. During this workshop, you will learn how to cook traditional African dishes like Jollof rice (Rice cooked in tomato sauce), Red Red (Black-eye pea stew with fried ripe plantain) Ampesi (Cooked yam/plantain with palava sauce) Fufu and peanut butter soup. 

Overnight at Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast

Morning at leisure.

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 drive through the Arts & Crafts Market where you may test your bargaining and trading skills against the vendors.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.

Meal(s) Included: Breakfast