18-Days Cross Country Tour of Ghana
The starting line for this tour is drawn at Accra after which you'll visit many interesting places in the country. You'll visit the monkey sanctuary, visit national parks, Tafi Atome, the waterfalls at Wli, the Ashanti Kingdom, beaches and traditional villages, slave castles and markets, lake dwellers and some more places. You'll have fun at cultural centers, visit the hippo sanctuary, the Sirigu people and many more interesting activities will be done for your entertainment. Just prepare yourself for an assault of fun.
Day 1 – Akwaaba – Welcome to Accra-Ghana
Your tour guide will pick you up at the airport and take you to your lodge for the night. Depending on how early you get there, you may be treated to a nice and welcoming orientation program to water your mouth for the endless fun that is coming your way.
Day 2 – Accra City Tour
On this day, you'll have a tour of the country's capital, Accra. The 128 years old city has everything you could ever ask for in a modern city. It has bits and pieces from the past, grand architectural skills are put on display and there is no shortage of fun places to visit. You will visit the Independence Square where the Independence of the country was first publicly announced. You will also visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the final resting place of the first president of Ghana. You will also visit the W.E.B Du Bois Center for Pan African culture. After lunch, you'll visit the Arts Center where you can get yourself some souvenirs. You will return to your hotel afterward to retire for the night and prepare for the next day.
Day 3 – Volta River Boat Cruise (Sundays Only)
This morning, you'll visit Akosombo Port. You will not only see the largest man-made lake in the whole world, but you will also get to cruise on it. You will dance to nice Ghanaian songs aboard the "Dodi Princess". You will have your lunch aboard the ship before leaving for Wli in preparation of the fun that is to come the next day.
Day 4 – Wli Waterfalls & Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary
You will have an early start at the waterfalls this morning. You will have time to marver at West Africa's tallest waterfall. You'll have to descend the about 120 steps for you to see the falls up-close. You will also have your bath in the freshwater before heading back to your lodge for breakfast. After breakfast comes a visit to Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. Here, monkeys are treated with respect because they are believed to have some cultural relevance to the people. That is why the monkeys in this place are buried like human deads after funeral rites. You will then visit the pottery village at Kpando, a village known for its prowess in molding. You will also visit Amedzope village, the highest village settlement in Ghana. You will also have yourself a 15minutes hike up the Gemi mountain to watch the beautiful sunset.
Day 5 – Tamale
It is a whole fun day at Tamale today. Tamale is the 4th largest city in the country and by far the fastest growing city in the country too. It has a population of about 400 thousand people with Muslims being the majority dwellers. The city has a Central Market you can get almost anything and everything you want. You will also be visiting the Central Mosque at Tamale, the biggest mosque in the city. You will then visit the leather factory and learn how leather products like bags and pillows are being made before proceeding to the Shea butter processing shop. A final visit to the art market in Tamale where you can get yourself some more souvenirs and then you're back at your lodge, done for the day.
Day 6- Mole National Park
On your way to Mole National Park this morning, you will make a short stop at Laribanga to see the oldest Mosque in all of West Africa, a mosque that was built in 1421 and still stands. When you arrive at Mole National Park, you will do a quick Jeep drive safari before settling for the night. You will also get to see the beautiful sunset from the stunning viewpoints at Mole Motel.
Day 7- Mole National Park
An early walk in the park is what awaits you this morning. You will get to see the many animals that the Mole National Park is popular for. These animals include buffaloes, baboons, antelopes, elephants and many hundreds if different bird species. When you return to your lodge, you will have enough time to soak yourself in the pool while watching the sun go down in a magnificent fashion.
Day 8 -Mognori Eco-village
The dawn if this new day usher in new activities and adventures. You will get yourself a nice guided village walk where you'll get to see how Shea butter is made. You will also see the most popular traditional medicine man in that village. After this is loads of celebrating and ceremonies and dance and drumming and merrymaking. You will return to your lodge in the afternoon for lunch and a nice time at the pool before going for another night safari in the park where you will get to see the park's many nocturnal animals.
Day 9 – Mole National Park – Sirigu Pottery Village Paga Crocodile Pond
You will leave for Paga this morning on a 4-hour drive while stopping briefly about o see the Zaaya mud house in Wulugu. When you get to Paga, you'll get to see how crocodiles are being treated with the respect that can only be given to people higher than one. These crocodiles are believed to host the spirit of the ancestors of the Paga people, so the crocodiles are fed and well taken care of. After lunch, you will be going to Sirigu, a place popular for its prowess in craftsmanship. You will meet the members of Sirigu Women Organization for Pottery and Arts (SWOPA) and you'll be shown some simple tricks and told some fun facts about their crafts.
Day 10- Gwallo Slave Wall, Gbele Resource Reserve, Ancient Mosque
This new day will guide you on a visit to the bone setting clinics at Tumu before continuing to Gbele Resource Reserve for wildlife sighting. The animals that you'll find here are the roan antelope, hartebeest, Savannah duikers and many more. When you arrive at Wa in the afternoon, you will visit the 15th-century mosque that was built with nothing but mud and stick if you get there on time.
Day 11- Hippo Sanctuary, Lobi Tribe, Kumasi
On this day, you will visit the hippo sanctuary that was built by the Wechiau chiefs in 1999. You can go on a canoe safari to get a very close look at the hippos if you're feeling brave and confident. If not, you can stay behind on the land and spot animals like chameleons and monitor lizards among the plants.
From Wechiau, you will take a short walk to the Lobi homesteads. The Lobi people are known for their prolific architectural skills and their unique ceremonies. You will get to hear the history of these fascinating people during the walk. Afterward, you head to Kumasi for the night.
Day 12 – Kumasi City Tour, Manhyia Palace
In Kumasi, you will have a tour of the Ketejia market which happens to be the biggest open market in the whole of West Africa. This market often hosts people from all the neighboring countries who have come to trade. Afterward, you will visit the King's palace in the Ashanti Kingdom. You will be told about the fascinating culture and history of the people during the tour before finally going to the Arts center to get yourself some beautiful artifacts from all of West Africa for souvenirs.
Day 13- Cape Coast Castle & Elmina Castle
On this day, you'll hear the bitter stories of the African slave trades and how it affected the country while visiting many slave markets, slave dungeons and slave castles on your way to tell Central Region. You will also hear of the castles built by the colonial masters, one of which is the Cape Coast Castle. This castle was originally built by the Swedes in 1653 before it was taken by the British. In this castle is the West African Historical Museum that was established in 1994. You will then head to the first European castle to be built in West Africa, the Elmina Castle. It was built by the Portuguese in 1482.
Day 14 – Kakum National Park
Up next is a visit to Kakum National Park, a 360 sq. km wide park that houses about 40 big different mammals, 400 different species of birds and hundreds of different butterfly, flora and fauna species too. You will also find a 360-meter long canopy walkway to thrill your adrenaline. A walk in the forest will come next where the tour guide will give you lessons on the different medicinal uses of the plants you'll find in the forest.
Day 15 – Nzulezo – Lake Dwellers
On this day, you will visit the lake-dwelling people of Nzulezo where you'll have to take a canoe ride before you get to their over-water settlement. You will then visit Nkruful, the homeland of the first president of the country, Kwame Nkrumah. You will end the day with a relaxing time at the Busua beach.
Day 16 –Busua Beach Day
After all the walking and touring you've done over the past days, you have earned yourself a long time alone at the most beautiful beach in all of Ghana, the Busua Beach.
Day 17 -Relaxation and Individual Movement / Fishing community
You get another time alone on this day. You can decide to spend the day at the beach or ask the tour guide about other interesting tourist attractions in the area. When evening comes, you will visit the neighboring fishing village where you will watch the fishermen throwing their nets to catch fish.
Day 18- Accra, Departure
It is the last day of the tour. You will leave your beachside accommodation for Accra for your departure. On your way to Accra, you'll get to do a little bit of shopping where you can get yourself some more souvenirs. You will also have a look at the beautiful Oxford street in Osu before finally heading for the airport.
