Having enjoyed your first night in Accra, today is dedicated to an Accra city tour, first visit is W.  E. B. DuBois and Pan African Center is a memorial place and a research center, dedicated into a  great Pan Africanist who lived and died as a Ghanaian, he came to Ghana at the Age of 95 with  1,000 books to work on African Encyclopedia on invitation of Ghana’s first president.  We continue to visit the garden adjoining the National Museum, which has sculptures and other  artifacts which tells more about our customs and traditions which gives us excellent overview of  Ghana and West African culture. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant serving a selection of  West African and continental dishes. In the afternoon we pass by Independence Square and view the enclosed flame of African  liberation, which was lit by Kwame Nkrumah himself in 1961. We continue the short distance to  the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of Ghana’s founder. Set in attractive  gardens, there is an adjoining museum, which contains photos, artefacts and an insight into this  incredible man’s life. Adjoining the park is the National Cultural Center, which is actually Ghana’s  largest outdoor arts and crafts market selling traditional crafts from all over West Africa. After  testing your bargaining skills we return to our hotel for our evening meal, the remainder of the  evening is for leisure 

 After breakfast we depart for Kumasi capital of the Ashanti region to learn about the powerful  Ashanti Empire and its people on internal fight. We start the day visiting some traditional villages  but first we take a visit to the traditional home of Nana Yaa Asantewaa a great female warrior who  led the Ashantes in the 1901 war against the British, she was also the Queen Mother of Ejisu  Besease, we shall visit her Spiritual Shrine where she fortified herself during the war. Kumasi is  regarded as cultural center of Ghana, with its many ancient craft villages within touching distance  of the city. Remainder of the day is dedicated to visiting these traditional villages; our next stop  is Adanwomasie famous as the birth place of Kente. Adanwomasie produces some of Ghana’s  finest Kente cloths, many designs of cloth are woven here and some are exclusive only to this  region. We will interact with the community, learning about the history behind the many designs.  As we walk through the village, we see highly skilled locals weaving outside their homes. The  machines that the weavers use have not changed in design for centuries. During our time at  Adanwomasie, we have the opportunity to buy excellent quality cloth at very reasonable prices  before setting off for the village of Ntunso. Lunch will be taking at a local restaurant. The ancient village of Ntunso, is where Adinkra originates. Adinkra are traditional symbols with  meanings, carved from calabash shells, and 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 have the opportunity  to make our own strip of Adinkra cloth using symbols with personal significance.  

 We will embark on city tour of Kumasi, with a visit to Manhyia Palace museum, which houses  regalia, paraphernalia and real good ornaments which tells the history, tradition, continuality and  customs of Ashantes. We continue to visit National Cultural Centre. The cultural center is found  in one of the oldest suburbs of Kumasi. There is a wonderful craft market here and during our  leisurely tour we have the opportunity to visit the Prempeh II Jubilee museum which offers an  excellent overview of Ashanti history.  A short distance from the palace is Kejetia market which is the largest outdoor market in the whole  of Western Africa. Visiting here gives us a wonderful opportunity to experience everyday life for  the people in this great city and pick up a few bargain souvenirs. 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. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant which sells an excellent selection of  local and continental dishes. Okomfo Anokye sword which has defied all human strength to pull it out, the sword was planted  there by famous priest Okomfo Anokye who believed to have conjure the golden stool from the  heaves. The last place to go to today is the campuses of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science  and Technology which was established by our first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1952 to be  the leading University in the sub region to research into science and technology. After visiting  these wonderful places we return to our hotel for our evening meal and relaxations. 

 We checked out of our hotel, our final destination today is Elmina, we will first stop at Assin  Manso, which was one of the major slave market during the slave trade, 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 and Caribbean. At the Slave River,  we will participate in “First Bath Of Return” ceremony.  After our tour we continue to Cape Coast, we enjoy lunch upon arrival at a local restaurant  overlooking the ocean before we continue to visit Cape Coast Castle also designated as a world  heritage site by UNESCO. Built by the British in 1665 at the height of slavery and played a major  role in holding enslaved Africans in awaiting of slave ships to ship them to the New World. We  will walk through the Male and Female dungeons and the infamous “Door of No Return”. There  is a historical museum inside, which explains the whole history of the castle and Cape Coast itself,  as well as a souvenir shop which sells literature on all of Ghana’s forts and castles, as well as the  cultural history and traditions of Ghana.  After a wonderful, yet thought-provoking day, we check into our hotel, the rest of the day is spent  at leisure.  

 One of the highlights of the trip is a visit to Kakum tropical rainforest to experience the much  talked about Canopy walkway, the uniqueness of the park lies in the fact that it was established at  the initiative of the local people, it is one of the only 3 locations in Africa with a canopy walkway,  which is 350 meters (1,150 FT) long and connects seven tree tops, the park is also notable for a lot  of endangered species of fauna in the park.  We stop for lunch at Han’s Cottage Botel near Kakum, Han’s is built over a lake containing Nile  crocodiles and set in a beautiful location surrounded by tropical guinea rainforest. It is an original  and comfortable establishment, which is teeming with bird life and an excellent place to enjoy  lunch.  Before heading to Elmina, we will drive through the campus of the University of Cape Coast to  learn more about educational structures in Ghana from the technocrat point of view. Upon arrival  in Elmina our first stop will be Elmina fishing market to visit the boat builders, building colourful fishing boats using traditional tools and methods spanning centuries. We will also visit the Elmina  castle built by the Portuguese in 1482 which is the oldest European building in Sub Saharan Africa.  This castle is steeped in history and played a prominent part during the tragic transatlantic enslaved  African trade era. There is an informative museum inside which concentrates on local history and  it is designated a world heritage site by UNESCO, we should the reminder of the day for shopping. 

 After leisurely breakfast we will participate in traditional naming ceremony and “The Right to  Return Atonement and Rituals Ceremony” to formally welcome you back home, the program will  be held at Simiw village, you will be welcome by Elders of the community, pour libation to call  on our ancestors and welcome you back. There will be drumming, dance and other rituals  performed.  After a wonderful day at the village, we will also participate in traditional Cooking Lessons,  explore the fragrant and exotic flavours of Ghana and West Africa finest cuisine and take the recipe  back home.  

 We check out of our hotel after leisurely breakfast, we will drive through scenic coastal plantation,  having a glimpse looks at several historical and heritage sites on our way. We will stop at Abandze  to visit Fort Amsterdam, which was the first British fort built between 1631 and 1638. The original  fort was destroyed by the people of Anomabo who are their neighbors in 1811. We check into our  hotel upon arrival, in the evening we will enjoy some nightlife of Accra. 

 We depart for Boti falls in the Eastern Region on Ghana after breakfast, picturesque Boti  waterfall (seasonal), great place to kick off our shoes for a refreshing paddle. Boti falls which is  also known as twins falls, male and female falls, we will observe rushes down from high cliff,  our adventurous clients usually step in to cool off, after a wonderful time at Boti falls, we  continue to enjoy our lunch at a local restaurant. Aburi botanical gardens is the next, set in a  beautiful location and 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 our guide will identify the many trees and plants found here, some with  medicinal properties and explain how they benefit the locals Finally on our way back to Accra,  we will stop at TK beads experts in making beautiful beads the traditional way. Your guides will  talk you through the skilled process of making the beads. After the demonstration we have the  opportunity to admire and buy a wide selection of beads that have been made here. 

 Sadly your final day with us in Ghana, after a leisurely breakfast and morning of relaxation we  check-out of our hotel and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. If time permits we may have the  opportunity to pick up any last minute souvenirs as we visit Ghana’s largest arts and crafts market.  We then enjoy an early evening farewell dinner before your transfer to the airport and departure  after an unforgettable 10 day tour with of Ghana with Escorted travel with Lyn.