Expereince Authentic Culture - Nature Tour Of Ghana

Breakfast. 8.30am: Brief Orientation by Tours Staff. 9.00am: Depart for a full day city tour of Accra. Your first stop is the Casket making shop where various designs of caskets are produced based on the African belief of life after death. Therefore, caskets are designed to reflect the earthly profession of the deceased with the belief that they can continue to practice this profession in the other world. Hence a bus driver maybe buried in a bus, a teacher in a book, a doctor in a syringe etc. Continue to visit the Presidential Museum of Ghana located inside the Christiansborg Castle and former office and residence of the Head of States and Presidents of Ghana. The Museums houses varied collection of the achievements of various Ghanaians who have excelled in many aspects of disciplines locally and internationally. Drive past the Independence Arch and the Black Star Square which is Ghana’s National ceremonial grounds. Lunch . (extra cost) After lunch drive through Ga Mashie-Old Accra, this is a contrast of Victorian Dutch and post-colonial architecture. You will drive past James Fort built in 1673, Old Accra Square and the Post Office. Drive past Ussher Fort, one of three European forts in Accra which have survived the times. Ussher Fort was built by the Dutch in 1649 as Fort Crèvecœur. Fort Crèvecœur was part of the Dutch Gold Coast. The Anglo-Dutch Gold Coast Treaty (1867), which defined areas of influence on the Gold Coast and was transferred to the British in 1868. Interact with the local people at the Accra Harbour, view the light House built by the British to guide commercial ships into the Accra Harbour. Visit Deo Gratia Photo Studio established by JK BRUCE-VANDERPUIJE, a Ghanaian with Dutch ancestry. After lunch visit Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum. This is a Memorial and Third burial grounds for the First Head of State and President of independent Ghana. The Mausoleum site was an Old Polo grounds for the European during the colonial period until 1957. This Mausoleum has been visited by many world dignitaries. Your last stop for the day is the Arts and Crafts market to view a varied collection of Ghanaian handicraft souvenirs. This offers you opportunity to try out your bargaining skills on the local vendors and to “shop till you drop”. 5pm: Return to your hotel Overnight: in choice of hotel in Accra

Breakfast and hotel check out 8.00am: Depart early morning for Kumasi in Ashanti Region; the Kingdom of Gold, History and Culture. Drive past several scenic villages and cocoa growing communities. (approx. 5hrs drive & 2 hrs of visits/touring). Stop enroute to interact with people in a Ghanaian village and visit a Cocoa farm. Observe the harvesting, fermentation and Sun-drying process which makes Ghana’s the premier choice for the worlds confectioners. Lunch (extra cost) Continue to Kumasi driving past many beautiful villages with fine examples of traditional housing. Note the change in vegetation from coastal shrub to forest as you drive northwards past several charming farming communities to Kumasi, the historic and cultural capital of the Ashanti people. Stop enroute at the outskirts of Kumasi to visit Ejisu Besease Shrine and Asante Traditional buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Cultural Division). This shrine was consulted by Yaa Asantewaa, the female Asante War General who led the Asantes to fight the British in 1900. Visit Ashanti Traditional Building and the Shrine at Ejisu Besease. Arrive and check into your hotel. Overnight: in selected hotels

Depart Kumasi for Mole National Park in the northern part of Ghana. The ride takes you past rural Ashanti villages and food crop producing areas. Note the change in vegetation from forest to open grassland savannah. Stop enroute to visit the twin communities of Boabeng-Fiema. These two villages live together in harmony with a large monkey colony of Mona and Black and White Colobus monkeys. These apes are supposed to be representatives of the god of the river. Both the monkeys and their natural habitat (the tropical forest surrounding the villages) are therefore protected. You take a walk through the village. The small, green-brown Mona monkeys show themselves frequently. They literally live together with the population. The black and white Colobus monkeys are shy and keep themselves in the trees around the village. It is a beautiful sight how these elegant animals jump from tree to tree. Visit the Monkey cemetery where dead monkeys are buried like the graves marked as we do for humans. Lunch at a high restaurant (extra cost) Continue Mole driving past Kintampo townships. You see the architecture gradually changing from rectangular houses to circular hoses with thatched roofing as you Dagomba and Gonja ethnic villages. This offer you opportunity to stop and interact with the local people. After arrival at the Mole National Park, the largest nature reserve in Ghana, you make an afternoon game drive off-road vehicle. It is a sloping area, with a somewhat steeper slope here and there. Just too wet to be a real savannah, but much drier than the tropical south coast of Ghana. Chances are that your wildlife such as elephants, baboons, lizards, warthogs and various types of antelope spot. Dinner (extra cost) Overnight: 4* Eco Lodge in Mole National Park

Depart for an early morning drive safari of Mole National Park and it surroundings. Take your time watch the elephants, baboons, monkeys, monitor lizards, bush- bucks, antelopes and several wild animals. Watch different kinds of animals in their natural habitat. Breakfast After breakfast visit the Mognori Eco Village, located 15 km from the main entrance of Mole National Park it is the closest community to the park. Take a tour of the village to gain insight into the culture of people living in such close proximity to nature while maintaining their rich cultural heritage. The tour will offer you the opportunity to see how the villagers organize their households, process shea butter, and prepare their staple foods. For adventure take a canoe ride on the Mole River and enjoy bird watching in the quietness of the environment. Return to Mole National Park for an afternoon trek to view the rest of West Africa’s big game that were not viewed earlier. Dinner (extra cost) Overnight: 4* Eco Lodge in Mole National Park

Breakfast Depart for Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, a community protected area is located at the extreme north-western corner of the Upper West Region of Ghana. it consists of a 40-kilometres stretch down the length of the Black Volta River which forms the region’s western boundary with Burkina Faso. It is home to hippos, hedgehogs and many different types of lizards and reptiles. The sanctuary is an excellent place to see birds with over 200 species identified and new sights seen regularly. The sanctuary contains much more than just hippos. We are an excellent spot for bird watching, including woodland savannah, riverine and forest shore bird species. Trek through the many hiking trails, searching for monitor lizards, bats, hedgehogs, pythons, and even chameleons. This relatively undisturbed Lobi area has distinct architectural designs, interesting marriage systems and funeral rites. Spend the night in our Hippo Hide Tree House and experience one of the best dawn choruses (bird song) in all of Africa. Enjoy packed lunch from the hotel (extra cost) For the most culturally oriented immerse yourselves in a cultural tour Lobi household tour. This offers you opportunity to visit Lobi compounds and learn about traditional practices and ways of life. Drink some Pito, the locally brewed alcoholic beverage with the headmen and hear stories or listen to xylophone music. Learn Lobi traditional belief system and Marriage processes The best time to see hippos is in the dry seasons, usually November through June. June hrough August is a good time to see birds in all their colourful breeding plumage. To get most out of your visit and experience all that the sanctuary has to offer, we recommend that your plans involve spending the night at one of our lodges. Morning and Evening River Cruises tend to give the best view of the hippos, birds and other wildlife. Afternoon can be spent trekking the trails, visiting local homes, and even relaxing in our Hippo Hide. It is high in the trees and an excellent spot for bird watching. Come, see and experience the wealth of wonders and activities Wechiau has to offer. 1500Hrs: Board your bus/vehicle and continue on a scenic drive through rustic villages dotted sparsely in the Sahelian landscape back to Mole Overnight: 4* Eco Lodge in Mole National Park

Breakfast and hotel checkout After breakfast you leave Mole and drive on a scenic rural route to Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. Enroute stop to visit the Larabanga Mosque. Built in the Sudanese architectural style in the village of Larabanga, Ghana. It is the oldest mosque in the country and one of the oldest in West Africa, and has been referred to as the "Mecca of West Africa". It has undergone restoration several times since it was founded in 1421. The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has contributed substantially to its restoration, and lists it as one of the 100 Most Endangered Sites. The restoration works have revived the knowledge of mud-plaster maintenance. The mosque has an old Quran, believed by the locals to have been given as a gift from heaven in 1650 to Yidan Barimah Bramah, the Imam at the time, as a result of his prayers. The mosque, built with mud and reeds, has two tall towers in pyramidal shape, one for the mihrab which faces towards Mecca forming the facade on the east and the other as a minaret in the northeast corner. These are buttressed by twelve bulbous shaped structures, which are fitted with timber elements. Continue to drive through several Dagomba and Gonja rustic villages to cross the Black and White Volta Rivers into Tamale, the commercial capital of the Dagomba people. Lunch at a local restaurant (extra cost) Break the boredom of travel by making a detour to visit the local market. Walk through the alleys and interact with market women selling farm produce and manufactured items. Continue to Bolgatanga and check into your hotel Overnight: 4* Hotel in Bolgatanga

Breakfast Depart after breakfast to visit the Navrongo Mud Cathedral of the Catholic Church which is a UNESCO World Heritage Centre and stands as the last remaining mud cathedral in Ghana. This is an architecturally unique Catholic Cathedral built in 1906; it has mud walls and a traditionally decorated interior. Continue to the village of Sirigu, a fascinating example of local women taking action to preserve their Art and Culture. This village is home to beautiful pottery and basketry, interesting architecture and decorative wall paintings. Faced with the loss of these traditional skills, a group of seven women from Sirigu formed the Sirigu Women’s Organization for Pottery and Art (SWOPA), which began training local women in making traditional crafts and marketing their products. SWOPA has now grown to include over 350 women. Arrive and interact with the women groups engaged in pottery molding and basket weaving. This offers you opportunity to visit the Village market, some Decorated Houses and pay a courtesy Call on the chief and his elders to experience village life traditional court etiquettes. Lunch at SWOPA restaurant (extra cost) Return to Bolgatanga and visit the Bolgatanga Market. Engage local artisans in bargaining process for handcrafted souvenirs such as straw hats, baskets, leather goods, metal goods, and traditional clothing. Dinner (extra cost)) Overnight: 4* Hotel in Bolgatanga

Early Breakfast and hotel checkout 7.30am: Depart after breakfast for Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Make a detour enroute to visit the village of Tenzug and its Tongo Hills, a rocky granite outcrop rising from the savannas, and one of the most important cultural sites in West Africa. The hills are the sacral epicentre of the Talensi (Tale people) and an area of outstanding natural beauty and cultural richness. Visit the Tongo-Tenzug shrines and the Chief’s Palace for the history of the town and its renowned shrines. Explore the rich culture of the Talensi people by visit the various compounds and learning their belief system. Continue to drive through Tamale and other farming communities. Break the long drive after approx. 6 hours with an hour’s stop enroute to visit Kintampo waterfalls, one of the most impressive in Ghana. Known as Sanders Falls during the colonial days. Of interest is the newly constructed canopy walkway across the Kintampo Waterfalls gorge. Lunch at the falls restaurant (extra cost) Continue on a further 4 hour drive to the capital of the Ashanti region. Arrive in Kumasi and check into your hotel Dinner (extra cost) Overnight: in selected hotels

Breakfast Depart after breakfast for a city tour of Kumasi visiting the Manhyia Palace Museum. The Manhyia Palace Museum was created within the old residence of Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I and Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, the thirteenth and fourteenth Kings of Asante respectively. This historic building was rehabilitated in 1995 to serve as a Museum. Visit the National Cultural Centre and Prempeh II Museum. This museum displays artefacts relating to the Ashanti King Prempeh II, including the king's war attire, ceremonial clothing, jewellery, protective amulets, personal equipment for bathing and dining, furniture, royal insignia and some fine brass weights for weighing gold. Constructed to resemble an Ashanti chief's house, it has a courtyard in front and walls adorned with traditional carved symbols. For the adventure lovers venture into the Kumasi Central Market – the largest open-air market in West Africa for shopping and interact with the Market Mummies and learn some bargaining process involved. Lunch at a local Restaurant (extra cost) Continue to visit a few Asante craft villages to participate in using simple tools and traditional technology to produce breath taking artifacts and designs from which you can buy and send as 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 – the traditional textile printing village, see Adinkra cloth and tie-and-dye processing and get a demonstration of how intricate designs are applied to this sacred mourning cloth. Adinkra cloth are designed by indigenous artist whose expertise lies in the textual printing using traditional symbols that express the spiritual, moral, political and socio- cultural philosophies of the Akan people and offers you an opportunity to create your own designs. Bonwire where the famous Kente cloth is handmade on looms, in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations eturn to your hotel Rest of day is free to relax or explore Kumasi on your own. Dinner (extra cost) Overnight: in selected hotels

Breakfast and hotel checkout Depart after breakfast for Cape Coast in the Central Region. Drive along several farming villages. (Approx. 5hrs drive) Note the change in vegetation from forest to coastal savannah as you south westwards. Stop enroute to visit a local village expert Palm Wine Tapper’s Hut observe how they use age long practices carefully makes a rectangular incision on the top trunk and bores a pencil hole at the bottom, this is fitted with a bamboo stick, the liquid drips through the bamboo and is collected in a container. When Palm Wine is not consumed within 2 days it become fermented. The fermented Wine is further distilled to obtain a very high alcohol beverage locally called “AKPETESHIE” with more than 70% alcohol content. The Akpeteshie is similar in content to the Russian Vodka. Lunch a local restaurant in Cape Coast(extra cost) Continue after lunch to visit Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedes in 1652 and later taken over by the British, for a conducted tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Monument served as the seat of the former colonial administration of the then Gold Coast (Ghana’s former name) till 1877 when it was relocated to Accra. It also housed the First Formal School in the Gold Coast. Presently the Castle houses the West African Historical Museum. The guide will conduct you to the slave quarters and Palaver Hall where enslaved Africans were bargained for and sold. Drive through the Cape Coast Township with its narrow streets modelled on the Yorkshire. (60-90min guided tour) Transfer to hotel Check into your hotel Overnight: 3* Beach Resort or Hotel in Elmina or Cape Coast

Breakfast Depart hotel 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 (extra cost) Proceed to explore Elmina Township and its several Posuban Shrines. Posuban are sacred meeting stations for the Akan Traditional Military groups who were called upon to defend their community during Wars. Visit notable Dutch Heritage Sites in Elmina such as the Dutch Cemetery, Trafalgar Square and Fort St. Jago. Your last stop is to visit Elmina Castle, another UNESCO World Heritage Monument and 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 quarters. View its distinct architecture. Return to your hotel Dinner (extra cost) Overnight: 3* Beach Resort or Hotel in Elmina or Cape Coast

Breakfast Day free for rest and relaxation on Sandy Beach of Ghana’s Golden Coastal line Overnight: 3* Beach Resort or Hotel in Elmina or Cape Coast

Breakfast and hotel checkout Lunch and hotel checkout (extra cost). Depart for Accra driving past several fishing communities and coconut lined beaches. Of interest enroute are the several fruits stands and “Bush Meat” smoking joints. Transfer to airport for check min and departure. (Approx. 3-4hrs drive)