10 Day Ghana Eco Tour

Our expert local tour guides will meet with you on your arrival at the Kotoka International Airport Accra, which is situated on the beautiful gold coast of Western Africa. Look out for the Ashanti African Tours sign when you leave the main terminal building after passing through customs. Make yourself known to your guides who will be accompanying you for the duration of your time in Ghana and they will take care of you from here. After boarding our vehicle, which will be your mode of transport for the duration of your tour, we transfer you to your accommodation which is situated in Accra. Once we have checked you in, our experienced guide will offer you Akwaaba (welcome) and brief you on all aspects of your trip. You can enjoy your evening meal at the hotel restaurant whilst acclimatising yourself to West Africa.

A relaxed morning as we allow the rush hour traffic to pass before setting off to one of Accra’s best local markets. We can choose to miss or have a light breakfast at our accommodation this morning as it would be great to experience one of the local street foods Ghanaians eat here for breakfast at one of the many stalls selling here in the Makola Market. Traders sell almost anything here from local herbal remedies, local fabric, beads, jewelry and food to mobile phones, televisions, and sound systems to mention but a few. The hustle and bustle of the market is a wonderful insight into daily life for many locals who trade or shop here 7 days a week. A good opportunity to purchase some souvenirs but do not forget to barter as is the norm here. There are some wonderful local artists here in Ghana and it would be a real treat to see some of their work.

The Artist Alliance Gallery on the beach front in Accra is the ideal location to experience traditional and contemporary art and artifacts ranging from paintings, carvings, furniture, jewelry, fabrics and photography from all of Ghana and our neighboring countries. If you appreciate art, you will be like a kid in a candy store before we set off for “Fantasy Coffins” of Teshie Nungua.

Funeral and burial ceremonies in Ghana are very solemn occasions, but after the burial a celebration follows. Ghanaians believe that the departed move on into another world and the coffins made here may represent the occupation of the deceased or depict something that was important to them. There is all manner of coffin designs which one could be buried in from cars, cocoa pods, cigarette packets and airplanes to crocodiles, shoes, bottles of beer and boats to mention a few. During our time here we can also venture to their workshop and meet the coffin makers. What would you choose to be buried in?

In the afternoon we pass by Black Star Square which houses the independence monument and continue to Independence Square which is our main ceremony grounds and where we find the enclosed flame of African liberation, which was lit by Kwame Nkrumah himself in 1961. A short distance away we find the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of Ghana’s founder. Set in attractive gardens, there is an adjoining museum, which contains photos, artifacts, and an insight into this incredible man’s life. The center was designed by a Ghanaian architect and built using Italian marble.

We head downtown to Jamestown one of the oldest suburbs of Accra. Our afternoon will be dedicated with the locals here as we enjoy a walking tour of this old community taking in some of the historical structures that predate the colonial era. The locals are committed to conserving these buildings and have made significant efforts to maintain them, our time here gives us an excellent idea of what it was like during the colonial era. The 30-meter-high lighthouse built by the British in 1871 and the attractive colorful fishing boats on the beach are also wonderful to see. We continue to Fort James that was built by the British as a trading post in 1673, before it joined the Dutch Fort Crêvecœur, and the Danish Fort Christiansborg. Fort James gave its name to the Jamestown neighborhood in Accra. After a wonderful day we will have the option to head back to our hotel to rest, alternatively we can head into town to experience Accra nightlife.

We enjoy breakfast before checking out of our accommodation and head out of this bustling city. Krobo is the first location we will visit this morning on our way to the Volta Region of Ghana. The Krobo people of Ghana are renowned for their traditional bead jewelry that dates back centuries and it would be wonderful to see and learn firsthand the historical importance of beads and learn the ancient process used to make them. Many families in Krobo communities make beautiful beads and we will dedicate a few hours visiting one of the family compounds to have a go at producing our own beads. The family will talk us through the skilled process of making the beads and be on hand to assist us as we try our hand at our own design. Beads are culturally a symbol of wealth and beauty here in Ghana and are still used during traditional durbars and festivals with most Ghanaian women wearing beads daily.

Our journey today will take us into the beautiful Akuapem hills with outstanding views across Accra and Tema in the distance. At the top of the range, we find the Aburi botanical gardens, set in a beautiful location that were founded by the British in 1890. The gardens are home to a wide variety of indigenous and exotic flora, offering outstanding views to Accra on a clear day. As we walk around the gardens your guide will identify the many trees and plants found here, some with medicinal properties and explain how they benefit the locals. There are several rare butterflies found here and birds are also in abundance.

A short distance from the gardens we find the relaxed and friendly Aburi craft village, where traditional African drums, sculptures and other crafts have been carved for generations. As we watch the skilled craftsmen at work it is worth noting that prices here are amongst the lowest in Ghana, making Aburi an ideal place to pick up some souvenirs. Your guide will talk you through the meaning and local beliefs connected to many of the sculptures that have been made the same way throughout history.

Our lunch will be taken in Koforidua the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Koforidua is famous for its traditional bead market and it is a must visit before we set off on the final leg of our journey to Kumasi. All the traders here sell local beads and some of them are antique, others newer designs but all beautiful and very reasonably priced.

After mixing with the locals at the market we continue our journey to Kumasi, home of the Asantehene, King of the powerful Ashanti empire. On reaching Kumasi we check into our hotel with the remainder of the day free leisure time.

A morning visit to the last material remains of the great Asante Empire as we visit the traditional Asante buildings that are now recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. There are 10 active shrines within the buildings which are made from bamboo, timber and mud and thatched roofs. The walls are designed with motifs that have traditional symbolic meanings attached to ancient Adinkra symbols that we will learn more about later today. This is also where Nana Yaa Asantewaa, possibly the most important women in Ashanti history comes from, a great female warrior who led the Ashanti’s in the 1901 war against the British. Nana Yaa Asantewaa was also the Queen Mother of Ejisu Besease and we will visit the local spiritual shrine where she used to fortify herself before going into battle.

We continue our journey through Ashanti history by visiting the traditional villages of Adanwomasie and Ntonso. Our first stop is Adanwomasie, the birthplace of Ghana’s rich colorful Kente cloth. Adanwomasi produces some of Ghana’s finest Kente cloth, many designs of cloth are woven here, and some are exclusive only to this region. Quality time is dedicated here as we walk through the community, interacting with the locals whose families have been weaving kente for generations playing an important role in the history of this beautiful cloth. During our time here, we learn about the history behind the many designs and see skilled weavers outside their homes still using traditional looms that have not changed in design for centuries. An ideal time to purchase quality kente cloth at very low prices before we set off for Ntunso.

The ancient village of Ntunso, is where adinkra cloth and symbols originate. These traditional symbols all have meanings and are carved from calabash shells. The adinkra symbols are then printed onto traditional cloth using natural dyes made from the bark of certain local trees. Adinkra cloth has been adorned by the Ashanti’s for more than 4 centuries and pre-dates kente cloth. Even today most Ashanti’s will wear adinkra cloth for funerals, festivals and other important occasions. During our time here, we can make our own strip of adinkra cloth using symbols with personal significance.

After lunch we visit the village of Sokoban Krofrom where traditional brass casting has been the main source of income for the community for generations. A wide selection of items ranging from beads and jewelry to traditional statues are made here. The methods used to produce these wonderful brass works has not changed and during our time here we see a demonstration of the skilled process. After visiting some of the stores selling a wonderful selection in the village we return to our accommodation for our meal and to relax with the remainder of the evening being free leisure time.

A morning of culture and history awaits us as we set off early heading to the Manhyia Palace, home of the Asantehene King of the Ashanti’s and ruler of the powerful Asanteman Kingdom. The Palace Museum offers a fascinating excursion through the history of this powerful tribe and is extremely informative on the well documented Ashanti history and culture. Our tour gives us a firsthand insight into the legacies of the Ashanti’s and enables us to understand their culture during our time in this region.

A fascinating morning is behind us as we set off and depart Kumasi heading south to the villages of Bonkro and Breku. Our aim is to reach these remote communities in time for our lunch which will be prepared in the village by our local chef. Most Ghanaians live in remote communities and work as subsistence farmers with some having larger farms growing cocoa, palm oil, citrus or rubber trees. Our company have a strong connection with these 2 communities as we are working with them to protect their surrounding upper guinea rainforest and the endangered bird and mammal species that are found in it. After we have relaxed and enjoyed our lunch, we set off to the school we have built here for the children living in these villages. There are almost 300 children attending our school here that previously either did not attend school or had to walk the 6km each way to the nearest alternative.

A visit to one of the local cocoa farms is a must as we set off with one of the families. We see the entire harvesting process and learn how locals use the cocoa pods to make soap amongst other uses. As part of our commitment to offset our tour participants carbon footprint when travelling with us here in West Africa we have started our 3 native tree initiative. For every participant we receive we plant 3 native trees at our project site with the aim of extending the forest cover to protect and increase the wildlife populations in the reserve. If the trees live to maturity, it will offset each participant’s trip to Ghana 3 times over. Time to get our gardening gloves on as we set off to the boundary of the reserve where you will plant your 3 native trees. Our evening is spent with the community as we relax at our accommodation and enjoy our evening meal whilst experiencing village life in this remote part of Ghana.

A relaxed morning as we enjoy breakfast in this remote community taking in village life in this beautiful setting. During breakfast we will decide which local dishes we would like to learn to cook, as we have been in Ghana for almost a week, we are certain you will all have a local favorite which our chefs will be happy to teach you how to prepare. Our focus after breakfast is on heading to the local markets to purchase ingredients for dinner. A great way to experience daily life here, mixing in the markets, bartering for produce and then heading back to our village to prepare a local meal. Lunch will be taken at a local chop bar (local restaurant) in town as we shop for ingredients for our dinner. Our chef will give you the full list of ingredients and enough money for you to buy them at the market. A fun relaxed afternoon is in store before we return to our village to prepare our meal. Our chef will give you advice on other dishes during your time cooking together.

If cooking lessons are of no interest to you then there are still lots, you can get involved in. As part of our conservation of the rainforest in this location we can arrange for you to assist in planting more native trees as part of our reforestation project. The school we have built may need maintenance and we are also developing the gardens. Other options here are assisting the locals to produce Gari which is one of their main sources of income, heading to one of the local farms to harvest the cassava, bringing it to the local mill and then learning how prepare it to be sent to the local market for sale would be extremely helpful. There is a local palm oil refinery within our community, and you can assist in the extraction process. Palm oil is used locally to prepare certain dishes and the palm tree has many uses as you will learn during your time here. Our evening meal is taken around an open bonfire, listening to local stories, music and mixing with the community.

After breakfast in the village, we bid farewell to our new friends in the community and set off Southwards towards Elmina in the central region of Ghana. The town of Elmina was given its name by the Portuguese due to the abundance of Gold found in Ghana, translated Elmina means The Mine. Gold is of such importance to Ghana today and historically that we were even known as the Gold Coast before independence. Ghana’s gold is of the highest quality and we are the 8th largest exporter in the world and second largest exporter in Africa behind South Africa. We stop at Assin Manso, an important town along the enslaved African trade routes. The town surrounds the Ndonkor Nsuo (Enslaved African River). This river is where enslaved Africans were checked for fitness and bathed before being transported to Cape Coast for shipment to the Americas.

After our tour we continue to Cape Coast, we enjoy lunch upon arrival at a local restaurant overlooking the ocean before visiting the nearby Cape Coast castle which has been designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The castle is a thought-provoking monument to a harrowing period in the region’s history. Quality time will be spent in the afternoon on an emotional journey touring this castle which held more enslaved African’s captive than any other in West Africa, viewing the dungeons and the infamous “Door of no return”. There is a historical museum inside, which explains the entire history of the castle and Cape Coast itself, as well as a souvenir shop selling literature on all of Ghana’s forts and castles, as well as the cultural history and traditions of Ghana.

Our lunch today will be taken at a wonderful organization in this community that is giving these children hope of a better future. Baobab Children Foundation are focused on helping children who have not attended school, have left school early and children with disabilities help themselves to a better life. Our cooks, waiters and waitresses for lunch have all been trained in catering at Baobab Children’s Foundation and there is a wide selection of health-conscious dishes to choose from here. Attached to the restaurant is the Baobab shop where you can browse and purchase items from Batik dresses, bead jewelry, organic creams, bags, kente weavings, rings, postcards, paintings, and pottery all made by children trained at the Baobab vocational school. All proceeds go back into supporting the foundation. We set off to our beach front accommodation to relax for the evening.

An action-packed day lies ahead and an early start for us as we enjoy the sunrise and our breakfast on arguably Ghana’s finest beach front location. Africa’s world-famous rainforest canopy walkway awaits us as we set off to Kakum National Park which is a semi-deciduous upper guinea rainforest. This is an incredibly beautiful, tropical guinea rainforest and the canopy walkway is sure to be a highlight of your time in Cape Coast. The walkway consists of 7 bridges, attached to 7 emerging trees, 40 metres above the rainforest floor. Prepare to take a deep breath as you walk the suspended bridges. You will marvel at the outstanding views that stretch for miles across this breathtaking rainforest as you rest on the viewing platforms that are attached to the emerging trees between the bridges. We are sure you would agree that this is an exciting excursion never to be forgotten.

We return to the park headquarters where we find an excellent information center that offers a very informative overview of the parks flora and fauna. Over 40 different mammal species have been recorded within the park, which includes forest elephants, leopards and 6 primate species to mention just a few. As short distance from Kakum and on the border of the forest we find the International Stingless Bee Project. There have been approximately 9 species of stingless bees identified here in Ghana and their importance to our eco system is paramount. Our tour of the center teaches us about the importance of bees locally, their medicinal qualities and we get to see their hives, taste and buy quality stingless bee honey. There is a stingless bee walkway and butterfly garden where many of the forest butterfly species come to feed. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant selling a wide selection of international and local dishes.

After a wonderful day exploring nature and experiencing so much culture, we return to our hotel to freshen up before heading into town to enjoy some local music and our evening meal.

This morning of relaxation enjoying the facilities of our hotel and the beautiful beach. After lunch we visit the fishing town of Elmina. During our time in Elmina, we can visit the local fish market and walk the short distance to visit the boat builders in this community. Almost all the fishing boats used in this bustling fishing community are traditional wooden boats. Their design has not changed in centuries and neither have the tools and methods used to build them. We will also enjoy the sights of the many colourful fishing boats bringing their daily catch into the harbour and take this opportunity to mix with the locals enjoying the atmosphere of a West African fishing community. A visit to Elmina Castle (Castle of St George) a UNESCO world heritage site and the oldest extant colonial building in sub–Saharan Africa is a must to learn the local history and the part it played during the slave trade era.

Our evening meal will be taken at Brenu Akyinim regarded by many as the best beach front location in Ghana. As the sun starts to set, we arrange an area to eat on the beachfront and enjoy our evening meal around a bonfire. A special treat has been arranged this evening as we have a local traditional Ghanaian drumming and dance troupe join us on the beach to perform. Historically traditional music and dance tells a story, and we get an insight into the meaning behind some of the more popular ones. Trying our hand at drumming, learning the basics and getting the opportunity to showcase our moves makes for an enjoyable evening whilst overlooking the beautiful gold coast of West Africa. A perfect way to spend our final evening with you in Ghana.

A relaxing morning enjoying the facilities of our accommodation, maybe go for a swim, relax on the beach, or just enjoy our final morning at this beautiful location. Before setting off back to Accra we enjoy our lunch overlooking the beautiful Gold Coast of West Africa. On route to Accra along the coastal road we find Fort Amsterdam in the town of Abandze. This is the first Fort built by the British between 1631 and 1638 and soon became the headquarters of English Gold Coast activities. In 1665 after a long and bloody battle the Dutch captured the fort and that is where it gets its name Fort Amsterdam. In 1811 locals loyal to the British from a neighboring community, Anomabo destroyed the fort, it was later restored to its former glory in 1951. It is believed that the first slave prison on the Gold Coast was in the hollow south east bastion of the fort. After an informative tour we continue our journey to Accra.

On arrival back in Ghana’s capital city we may have time to head to the Accra Mall to give you an insight into modern day Ghana. An opportunity to also purchase some last-minute souvenirs before heading home. Our early evening meal will be taken at a locally owned restaurant serving an excellent selection of local and international dishes which gives us an ideal opportunity to say our goodbyes and reflect on a wonderful time together. After your meal, our team will transfer you to the airport for your departure.