West Africa: A Cultural Journey to Ghana, Togo, and Benin

Fly overnight to the Ghanaian capital of Accra and check into your hotel upon arrival. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Get acquainted with the vibrant spirit and important sites of this coastal capital on a full day tour. In Jamestown, a colorful neighborhood that grew up around a 17th-century British fort, meet Ghana’s famous “fantasy coffin” builders. Step into a workshop to see unique handcrafted coffins that reflect the lives and dreams of their intended inhabitants—from animals to airplanes and sports cars to pieces of fruit. Visit the W.E.B. DuBois Centre, built around the home where the American sociologist, author, and activist spent his last years. Explore African literature at the inspiring Library of Africa and the African Diaspora, and learn about Ghana’s independence movement on a stroll through Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Gather for a festive welcome dinner this evening. (B,L,D)

Head south to Ghana’s coast, where more than 50 European-built forts and castles still stand as vestiges of the once-flourishing trade of gold, ivory, and humans—haunting, centuries-old structures that now share designation as a World Heritage site. Reach the fishing village of Elmina in time for lunch at a local restaurant. Then embark on a thought-provoking tour of Elmina Castle, the first European slave-trading post in sub-Saharan Africa, built in 1482. Later, see the town’s posuban shrines, whose unusual statues have historic roots in Ghana’s Fante culture. Your home for the next two nights is a seaside resort in Elmina. (B,L,D)

Venture to Cape Coast Castle, built by the Swedes in the mid 1700s and subsequently conquered by the Danes, the Dutch, the local Fanti people, and finally the British. On a tour of the site, step into the comfortable governor’s quarters overlooking the sea, and then descend to the dungeons where hundreds of thousands were held captive. This afternoon, take a break in nature with a canopy walk in the rainforests of Kakum National Park, where you might spot a colobus monkey and some of the hundreds of species of butterfly and bird. (B,L,D)

En route to Kumasi today, visit the Assin Manso Slave River Site, once a slave market and now a memorial. Arrive in Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city and once the center of the powerful Ashanti Empire. Kumasi is also a capital of culture, and all kinds of handicrafts are on display at its renowned central market—from leather goods and pottery to kente cloth and beads. Step into the National Cultural Centre, set within a reproduction of a traditional Ashanti house, and view an impressive collection of crafts and artifacts from the region, including woodcarvings and batik cloth. (B,L,D)

This morning meet with members of the Akan ethnic group to learn about the symbolism and significance of an Akan naming ceremony. Continue your exploration of Ashanti culture with a visit to the Manhyia Palace Museum, home to a collection of art and artifacts including gold jewelry worn by the Ashanti court. (B,L,D)

Journey this morning to Akosombo, a tranquil town on Ghana’s Volta River. Stop for a light lunch en route and dine tonight at your resort hotel. (B,L,D)

Pay a visit to a community of Krobo artisans, known for crafting handmade glass beads. These beads were once known as “trade beads” for their use as currency. You’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at forging your own beads using time-tested techniques. (B,L,D)

Cruise the Volta River through tropical forests and rolling hills, stopping in timeless fishing villages to visit with the residents and get acquainted everyday life in rural Ghana. Enjoy a late lunch back at the hotel and an afternoon at leisure to relax by the pool or explore the town. (B,L,D)

Travel east toward Togo, crossing the border directly into the capital city of Lomé.After lunch at a local restaurant, embark on an afternoon tour of this French-speaking city. Visit the Palais de Lomé, once the home of Togo’s colonial governors and recently rescued from ruin and transformed into a center of art and culture. (B,L,D)

Togo was the only African country to be colonized by the Germans, the French, and the British, and the diverse influences can be seen its architecture and lifestyle. Venture into the labyrinthine Grand Marché, where powerful businesswomen known as Nana Benz have traded in high-end textiles since the mid 20th century. Stroll past stands where merchants preside over staples from seasonal fruit to sought-after wax-printed fabric used to make West African clothing. See the colonial and modern buildings of the administrative quarter, and later, try your hand at making traditional Togolese dishes during a cooking class at a local restaurant. Savor the dishes you’ve made over dinner together. (B,L,D)

Take a boat ride this morning across Lake Togo to Togoville, a center of Vodun, often called voodoo, a complex and vibrant religion deeply tied to the ancestors that is practiced by several ethnic groups in southern Togo and Benin. Explore the village and meet a priestess to gain insight into Vodun ceremonies. After lunch, travel on towards Benin, making a stop in the fishing port of Aného. Founded by Ane people fleeing the Asante in the 17th century, the town later became a German and French colonial capital. Cross the border into Benin and enjoy a free evening upon arrival in Cotonou. (B,L)

Take a day trip to Ouidah, the main port of the Kingdom of Dahomey during the 18th and 19th centuries and a major center of the slave trade. This ignoble past is memorialized with monuments along the Slave Route, culminating with the Door of No Return arch, which commemorates the more than one million Africans who were brought in bondage across the Atlantic. Travel the route on a poignant morning tour. Later, see the region’s unique Afro-Brazilian architecture and visit the Temple of Pythons, where you’ll discover why snakes are revered in Vodun culture. Later, attend a Zangbeto mask dance, an acrobatic ritual performed by members of a secret society within the Ogu tribe. (B,L,D)

Ride a boat across Lake Nokoué to the picturesque village of Ganvié, built entirely on teak stilts over the water. Learn about the Tofinou people, whose ancestors fled to the middle of a lake to escape slave traders, and witness the age-old traditions the community has preserved. Return to your hotel to celebrate your West African adventure over a farewell lunch. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax in day rooms at your hotel before your overnight flight home. (B,L).