Accra

Finally, you have arrived. Time to relax and take it all in as your feet touch down on the motherland. The beginning of our journey celebrating your culture and heritage starts now. We are excited to welcome you home, please look out for the Ashanti African Tours sign when leaving the arrival hall. Our team will offer you Akwaaba (welcome) and answer any questions as we transfer you to your beautiful hotel for check in. After freshening up, we meet for dinner to discuss the journey of connection before us. You can choose to relax at your hotel or we can head into town for our first experience of Accra nightlife.

National Museum of Ghana

Always a great place to start our tours as almost all the displays here are ethnographic in nature and the museum gives us an excellent overview of West African culture. The displays in the museum are not only from Ghana but most West African countries. There is an adjoining garden which is home to various sculptures that talk about West African tradition and customs giving you an insight of West African history. The Museum and surrounding markets have beautiful African fabrics for sale and your guide would be happy to arrange one of our tailors to take your measurements, show you a wide selection of designs and get some items of clothing made for you.

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

We pass by Black Star Gate symbolizing our freedom and visit the adjoining Independence Square (Black Star Square) which is Ghana’s main ceremony grounds and where we find the enclosed flame of African liberation, lit by Kwame Nkrumah himself in 1961. A short distance away we find Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of our founding father who led the Gold Coast to independence from the British in 1957. Set in attractive gardens, there is an adjoining museum, containing photos, artifacts, and an insight into this incredible man’s life. If you are looking to purchase African fabrics and crafts then adjoining the park is the National Cultural Center, Ghana’s largest outdoor arts and crafts market selling traditional items from all over West Africa.

James town is next as we enjoy a walking tour of this vibrant community, Accra’s oldest suburbs taking in some of the historical structures that predate the colonial era. Our time here gives us an excellent idea of what it was like pre independence during the colonial occupation. The 30-meter-high lighthouse built by the British in 1871 is of interest 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. These areas give us a perfect picture of old Accra, distinguishing between British Accra and Dutch Accra. The community tour would not be complete before seeing the Brazilian stone houses, built by free enslaved African’s who reside in Brazil. Africans who made their way home after the slave trade was abolished.

Accra

After a great time in Jamestown we return to our hotel for dinner and to get measured for any outfits we would like made by our professional tailor and seamstress. Time to hit the town and have some fun as we check out the best nightspots in Accra.

W.E.B. DuBois Center

Our first visit this morning will be the DuBois Centre. This is the final burial place and former home of the prominent American Pan-Africanist Dr William W Burghardt DuBois, who lead the Pan-African congress between 1919 and 1927 he was a vocal Anti-Segregationist and prolific speaker and writer. The centre now serves as a library and research institute for students of Pan-Africanism.

Our journey continues as we visit TK Beads to learn the process of making traditional African beads, worn by most West African women, especially on important occasions as they are a symbol of wealth, beauty and standing in the community. If you would like to purchase some beads there is a fantastic shop on site.

Aburi Botanical Gardens

At the top of the Akuapem hills, we find the Aburi Botanical Gardens, set in a beautiful location with outstanding views stretching across Accra. The gardens are home to a wide variety of indigenous and exotic flora, as we walk around the gardens your guide will identify the many trees and plants found here, some with medicinal properties and explain how Ghanaians use them.

Aburi Crafts Village

A short distance from the Aburi botanical gardens we find the relaxed Aburi craft village. Traditional African drums, sculptures and other crafts have been skilfully made for generations.. As we watch the skilled craftsmen at work it is worth noting that prices here are amongst the lowest in Ghana.

Manhyia Palace Museum

A day exploring your culture and history awaits as we first visit the Manhyia Palace, home of the Asantehene, King of the Ashanti’s and ruler of the Asanteman Kingdom. The Palace Museum offers a fascinating excursion through the history of the powerful Ashanti empire. Our tour gives you a first-hand insight into the legacies of the Ashanti’s and enables you to understand the importance of Ashanti culture during your time in this region.

Prempeh II Museum

A visit to the Prempeh II Jubilee museum at the National Cultural Centre in Kumasi is a must. Located in one of the oldest suburbs of Kumasi, Bantama, it offers an excellent overview of Ashanti history and houses many wonderful ancient artefacts.

Kejetia Market

Kejetia market is reported to be the largest outdoor market in West Africa. Visiting here gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience everyday life for the people in this great city and also do some shopping. The market is a labyrinth of stalls nestled closely together, and a hive of activity. Some stall holders sleep here in the evenings as trade rarely stops.

Okomfo Anokye Sword Site

Okomfo Anokye sword found in the grounds of the Okomfo Anokye teaching hospital in Kumasi. Okomfo Anokye was a powerful priest born in 1600 in the Eastern Region of Ghana who helped the then Ashanti King Osei Tutu I to defeat the powerful Denkyera kingdom. After defeating the Denkyera, legend has it the Golden Stool of Ashanti descended from the sky and landed on Okomfo Anokye’s lap, which he gave to the Ashanti King. He then planted the sword into the ground as a symbol of unity between the Ashanti’s and Nzema people of Western Ghana. The sword is still in the ground to this day and has defied all human strength to pull it out. This includes the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali during his Pan-African visit to Ghana in 1964.

Kumasi

This evening there is the option to head into Kumasi, to have some fun and experience the best nightlife of this wonderful city. No problem if you would like to relax at your hotel.

Asante Traditional Buildings

A morning visit to the historical, traditional, Asante buildings that are now recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. This is 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.

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. Quality time is dedicated here walking through the community, interacting with the skilled weavers whose families have been producing kente for generations. 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. A great place to purchase quality Kente at good prices.

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.

Kumasi

After lunch we return to our beautiful hotel with the afternoon and evening free time to relax.

Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park

An emotional stop at Assin Manso, a prominent town along the enslaved African trade route where so many of our ancestors from the northern parts of Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger were marched bare foot in shackles heading towards the coast. The town surrounds the Ndonkor Nsuo (Slave River). This river is where enslaved Africans were checked for fitness and bathed before being transported to Cape Coast for shipment to the Americas. Our ancestors would have walked hundreds of miles from Northern Ghana in shackles and chains. On reaching Assin Manso after being bathed and rested they would continue the final 32-mile march to the dungeons of Cape Coast or Elmina Castles where they remained for up to 6 weeks before being shipped like cargo to the Americas. In 1998, two free (previously enslaved) Africans, were returned to Cape Coast Castle, symbolically passed back through the “Door of no Return” before being transported to Assin Manso for re-internment.

Cape Coast Castle

Our afternoon is dedicated to honouring our ancestors at arguably the most significant edifice remaining along the West African coastline. Cape Coast Castle is an emotional, thought provoking monument to a harrowing period in our region’s history. Quality time will be dedicated here on an educational and spiritual journey visiting all corners of this castle that kept more enslaved Africans captive than any other in West Africa. Located below the governor’s place of worship and castle church we find the dungeons where up to 1300 African men, women and children were kept at any one time in atrocious conditions until being taken through the infamous “Door of no return” to waiting ships. An informative and educational museum explains the entire history of the castle and Cape Coast itself, as well as a shop selling literature on all of Ghana’s forts and castles, as well as the cultural history and traditions of Ghana.

Elmina

After checking into our beautiful beach front hotel the remainder of the day is free time. Dinner will be taken on the beach front overlooking the beautiful gold coast of West Africa. A time of reflection on the days experiences.

Kakum National Park

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 one of the highlights 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 return to the park headquarters where we find an excellent information center that offers a highly informative overview of the park’s 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.

Cape Coast

Traditional Naming Ceremony. We visit a local village to pay a courtesy call on the chiefs, queen mothers and elders. As tradition dictates, they start with the pouring of libation to officially welcome you home, to the land your ancestors were forcibly taken from and where your heritage and culture live on. Drumming and dancing are all around us as you get an in-depth feel of traditional village life here in Ghana. The time has finally arrived for you to be given your true African name during your own personal traditional naming ceremony in your honour. Chiefs and elders of the community officially welcome you as they lead you through the ceremony which has been performed by your ancestors throughout history. You will finally have the chance to receive your African name based on the day of the week you were born or numeric order of your siblings. This would have been your name if you were born in Ghana and has an emotional attachment to many when they receive them.

Cape Coast

Naming ceremony nightlife celebration. After your naming ceremony we return to your beach front hotel to freshen up, relax and enjoy dinner before we set off into town for an evening of celebration. If you requested outfits to be made on day 2 by our professional tailor and seamstress, these would have been delivered to you. Tonight is the perfect time to wear them for the first time. A significant day of your journey of connection as you now know your African name. We celebrate at the best nightspots in Cape Coast.

Elmina Castle

On route to Accra, we pass through the fishing town of Elmina. During our time in Elmina town, we visit the Castle of St. George, the oldest extant colonial building in sub-Saharan Africa, dating from 1482. This castle is steeped in history and played a prominent part during the tragic, transatlantic slave trade era. There is an informative museum inside which concentrates on local history. This castle is now a silent monument to the pain and suffering our ancestors endured and has been formally designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. After an informative tour we visit the local fishing 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.

Accra

Our journey continues and on arrival back in Ghana’s capital Accra, we enjoy an early evening meal. This gives us an ideal opportunity to say our goodbyes and reflect on a wonderful time together before we transfer you to the airport for your international departure or to a pre arranged location in Accra. You are now part of the Ashanti African Tours family and we hope to see you again.