Benin-Togo-Ghana

Vero Tours

Benin/Togo/Ghana Coast: Voodoo, Slavery, Paradise Beaches

Fine sandy beaches, fascinating cultures and scenic landscapes. Spectacular voodoo ceremonies, authentic fetish markets and Posuban shrines. The tropical forest of Kakum National Park with it famous canopy walk Impressive slave castles and historic courts of slave-trading local kings. Busy fishermen chanting while drawing their nets ashore. The cultural diversity of French-speaking Togo/Benin in contrast with Anglophone Ghana. Boat trips to remote villages built entirely on stilts, passing mangrove forest and shallow lagoons on the way. This trip will surely leave you with a wealth of impressions from an unspoilt und undiscovered coastal region of Africa.

Country Facts:

Day 1: Welcome to Benin

Our tour guide will meet you at Cadjehoun

Airport in Cotonou. Transfer to the hotel

for our first night. You will receive detailed

information about your trip after arrival at

the hotel.

(-/-), Hotel Myosotis Residence or similar

Day 2: Cotonou - Ouidah This morning we will drive to Porto Novo, Benin’s official capital city. We visit the colourful Grand Mosque, the nearby market and the interesting Musée Ethnographique. From Porto-Novo we continue to Abomey-Calavi where we take a motorboat ride out to the stilt village of Ganvié, built right into the Lake Nokoué. This remarkable aquatic village of thatched roof houses has been called “the Venice of Africa”. Towards evening we make for the town of Ouidah, considered to be the birthplace of Voodoo. (150 km). (B/D), Hotel Jardin Brésilien or similar

Day 3: Ouidah - Grand Popo At Ouidah, we will hear about the history of slavery and mysterious Voodoo rituals. We will take a walk along the Slave Route, connecting the former slave market to the beach, were slave ships used to be loaded with their human freight. Landmarks remind us of the suffering the victims had to endure, hard to imagine in the scenery of peaceful palm groves stretching along the golden beach today. We also visit the Python Temple dedicated to the ancient snake cult and, in the Sacred Forest, hear about the ideas Voodoo is based on. To experience Voodoo in practice, we continue to Grand Popo where we will witness a spectacular Zangbeto ceremony. (50 km). (B/D), Hotel Awale Plage or similar

Day 4: Grand Popo - Lomé After breakfast, we will cross the Togolese border. At the small town of Glidji we meet King Gê-Fioga Sèdegbe Foli Bebe XV, chief of Togo’s Gan population. Passing the former colonial capital of Aneho, we will reach Lac Togo where we board a pirogue to take us to the sleepy town of Togoville. We visit a cathedral built under German colonial rule and explore the animistic quarter to meet a famous voodoo priestess. Later in the afternoon we continue to Lomé, Togo’s vibrant capital city. (60 km). (B/D), Hotel Novela Star or similar Day 5: Lomé Today we will take our time to visit Togo’s charming capital. We will pass the National Museum and the famous Grand Marché, the central market, ranking among the largest of its kind in West Africa. There will be enough time to explore the fetish market where crocodile bones, monkey skulls, leopard skins, antelope horns, dried chameleons, birds and other unusual ingredients used as medicine and charms are on display. The afternoon is left free at your leisure. Explore more of Lomé or take advantage of the hotel’s beach location. (60 km). (B/D), Hotel Novela Star or similar

B/D), Hotel Nectar Auredia or similar Day 7: Kloto - Afadjato - Wli A few kilometres from Kloto we cross the border into Ghana. This morning sees us climbing Mount Afadjato, with 885m Ghana’s highest peak. Afadjato can be ascended on a good hiking trail offering great views. We then continue to the small town of Wli boasting Ghana‘s largest waterfalls. We spend the afternoon with an easy walk to the lower waterfall (60 km). (B/D), Big Foot Safari Lodge or similar

Day 8: Wli - Tafi Atome - Keta This morning we leave the Eastern Highlands of the Volta Region heading back to the coast. En route we stop at Tafi Atome where we may have a close encounter with the rare Mona monkeys. The Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary was established in 1992 to protect the animals from poachers and other enemies. We then continue via Ho and Sogakope to the town of Keta. The unique location of Keta between the rough Atlantic Ocean and the quiet lagoon, a well-known birding site, has attracted European merchants for hundreds of years. (300 km). (B/D), Lorneh Lodge or similar Day 9: Keta - Anomabo We start the day with a boat ride on the Volta River. The town of Ada Foah lies on the river mouth which creates a vast delta dotted with beautiful islands and sand bars. This unique landscape is a paradise not only for humans but also for numerous migratory birds frequenting the estuary during the winter months. Later today we continue our journey along the coastal road to Anomabo Beach which we reach in the afternoon. (320 km). (B/D), Anomabo Beach Resort or similar

• Ouidah: Birthplace of Voodoo • Grand Popo: Zangbeto ceremony • Togoville: Togo´s Voodoo capital • Lomé: Fetish market and beaches • Klouto: Fire dance, tropical forest hike • Afadjato: Ghana’s highest mountains • Wli: Largest waterfalls in West Africa • Tafi Atome: Sanctuary for Mona monkeys • Ada Foah: Boat ride on the Volta River • Cape Coast & Elmina: Slave castles • Kakum: Suspended canopy walkway • Pirogue ride to stilt village of Nzulezo • Ankasa: Pristine rainforest • Ankobra, Busua, Butre: Ghana’s top beaches • Cape Three Points: Wild coastal landscape

Day 12: A. - Ankasa - Ankobra A day trip takes us to the stilt village of Nzulezo, built in the freshwater Lake Amansuri. Nzulezo can only be reached by canoe from Beyin. This settlement, supporting a population of 500 people, is entirely constructed of wood and raffia palms. We explore Nzulezo along the central walkway, meeting the local people and learning more about the history of the village. From Beyin, we head northwest to Ankasa National Park located close to the Ivorian border. This exciting ecotourist destination offers a number of natural attractions such as the Bamboo Cathedral, the Big Tree and wild creeks and waterfalls. (160 km). (B/D), Ankobra Beach Resort or similar Day 13: Ankobra - Butre - Busua Today sees us journeying back east to the laid-back villages of Busua, Butre and Dixcove, close to some of Ghana’s most beautiful beaches. Our overnight stop is Busua from where we visit the small fishing village of Butre. The main point of historical interest is Fort Battensteyn, the ruin of an old Dutch fortress. Climbing the steep hill to the castle is rewarding: the views from the fortifications are stunning. Later today we take a boat ride through mangrove forests on the Butre River. Returning to Busua, there is the opportunity to walk to the nearby fishing community of Dixcove. (80 km.) (B/D), African Rainbow Resort or similar Day 14: Busua - Elmina Cape Three Points is situated close to Busua. A bumpy dirt road passing through vast rubber plantations brings us to Ghana’s most southerly point. The 19th-century lighthouse offers a fantastic panoramic view of the cliffs and the rough ocean. Between November and January, this is a good location to spot whales. Later today we continue to Elmina. (120 km). (B/D), Hotel African Village or simillar Day 15: Elmina - Accra We spend the morning exploring Elmina. On a guided tour, we visit Elmina Castle, the oldest fortress on the Gold Coast. Afterwards, you will have time to discover the town on your own. Take a look around the fish market, the ship wharf and a Posuban shrine. From the town’s second fortress, São Jago da Mina, you have stunning views over the harbour, Elmina Castle and the blue ocean. In the afternoon, we continue our journey to Accra, Ghana’s vibrant capital city. (170 km). (B/D), Afia Beach Hotel or similar Tag 16: Accra - Return flight Our final day sees us visiting Accra. During a three-hour city-tour we will visit the most important sites of Ghana's capital, such as Independence Square, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial, Ussher Fort and James Town. Later you'll have time to visit the National Museum. In the afternoon we return to our hotel. You will have two day use rooms at your disposal until the transfer to the airport for the flight home. (50 km). (B/-), day use room until departure

Day 10: Anomabo - Cape Coast - Kakum (optional) - Anomabo This morning we continue to the attractive historical town of Cape Coast where we visit the famous slave castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The afternoon is left free to relax at the charming Anomabo Beach Resort. There is an optional tour to Kakum National Park where those with a good head for heights can experience the unique canopy walkway suspended between huge tropical trees. (20/100 km). (B/D), Anomabo Beach Resort or similar Day 11: Anomabo - Ankobra Today we head west along the coast to the dream beach of Ankobra. En route we visit the well-preserved ruins of Fort Gross-Friedrichsburg, a Brandenburg-Prussian fortress on the Gold Coast that offers wonderful views on the fishing village of Prince’s Town and several miles of untouched, palm-fringed beaches. In the afternoon we reach Ankobra Beach and make ourselves comfortable in our charming hotel. (200 km). (B/D), Ankobra Beach Resort or similar Day 12: A. - Ankasa - Ankobra A day trip takes us to the stilt village of Nzulezo, built in the freshwater Lake Amansuri. Nzulezo can only be reached by canoe from Beyin. This settlement, supporting a population of 500 people, is entirely constructed of wood and raffia palms. We explore Nzulezo along the central walkway, meeting the local people and learning more about the history of the village. From Beyin, we head northwest to Ankasa National Park located close to the Ivorian border. This exciting ecotourist destination offers a number of natural attractions such as the Bamboo Cathedral, the Big Tree and wild creeks and waterfalls. (160 km). (B/D), Ankobra Beach Resort or similar

Day 6: Lomé - Kloto After taking breakfast at the hotel, we’ll leave Lomé and its beaches heading northwest to the town of Kpalime. From here the road winds up through the mountains. At Kloto we take a walk through the tropical forests and the village of Kouma Konda with our local guide. We meet the village’s artists and learn more about the native plants used in traditional medicine, cosmetics and cooking. In the evening, we witness traditional dances performed by the villagers and a fire dance. (150 km).

Highlights:

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