Ghana Cultural And Heritage Tour with Betty Barnes Travel

Finally, you have arrived. Time to relax and take it all in as your senses go into overload. Africa is special and over the coming days we hope your experiences will help cement your connection to your culture and heritage. Your guide and driver are excited to meet you on your arrival at the Kotoka International Airport Accra, which is situated on the beautiful gold coast of Western Africa. Look out for the Ashanti African Tours sign when you leave the main terminal building after passing through customs. Make yourself known to your guide who will be accompanying you for the duration of your trip and they will take care of you from here. Most flights arrive in the evening and our aim is to transfer you to the hotel, check you in for you to be able to relax Akwaaba!and start to enjoy your vacation. You must have so many questions as your guide officially offers you Akwaaba (welcome) and briefs you on all aspects of your trip. You can choose to relax at your hotel after the flight and rest up in preparation for the following days activities. Maybe you are too excited to rest and would like to experience Accra nightlife, no problem, your guide, and driver will be happy to head into town with you.
Overnight in Accra

In the morning after breakfast at the hotel, set off on the tour of Accra, passing through the economic and administrative districts on your way to the National Museum. It is a great place to start as almost all the displays are ethnographic in nature and the museum gives us an excellent overview of West African culture. There is an adjoining garden that is home to various sculptures that talks about West African tradition and customs giving you an insight of West African history.

Later 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 you will find the enclosed flame of African liberation, lit by Kwame Nkrumah himself in 1961.

Explore Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of the founding father who led the Gold Coast to independence. 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. Enjoy your Lunch at a local restaurant serving a wide selection of West African and continental dishes. The day would not be complete before seeing the Brazilian stone houses, built by free enslaved African’s who reside in Brazil. Later, it’s time to experience Jamestown by night as you head to a local bar and restaurant in the heart of the community. This is the real Accra!

After the dinner you can choose to return to your hotel or head into the town to experience more of Accra’s nightlife.

Overnight in Accra

After breakfast, set off Northwards towards the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Your first visit this morning will be the DuBois Center. 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 and also was a vocal Anti Segregationist and prolific speaker and writer. Your journey will take you into the beautiful Akuapem Hills.  Before you head out of this bustling City, visit TK beads, experts in making beautiful African beads using traditional methods.

Your journey continues, through the beautiful Akuapem range with outstanding views across Accra and Tema in the distance. At the top of the range, you will find the Aburi botanical gardens, set in a beautiful location. The gardens are home to a wide variety of indigenous and exotic flora, offering outstanding views of Accra on a clear day. You will have your lunch in Koforidua, capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana before you continue your journey to Kumasi arriving in the early evening.

Overnight in Kumasi

This morning after breakfast, explore the culture and history that awaits you as you set off for the city tour of Kumasi, heading to the Manhyia Palace, home of the Asantehene, King of the Ashanti’s and ruler of the Asanteman Kingdom. There is a wonderful craft market there and during your leisurely tour you can visit the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum which offers an excellent overview of Ashanti history and houses some wonderful ancient artifacts. 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. Enjoy your evening meal at one of the bars and restaurants that have a live band playing.

Overnight in Kumasi

After breakfast, visit the last physical remains of the great Asante Empire as you visit the traditional Asante buildings now recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. There are 10 active temples within the buildings which are made of bamboo, wood, mud, and thatched roofs. Continue your journey through Ashanti history by visiting the traditional villages of Adanwomase and Ntonso.

Your first stop is Adanwomase, the birthplace of Ghana's richly colored kente cloth. Adanwomase produces some of Ghana's best kente clothing, popular among Ghanaian women made up of a long flowing dress or skirt and a matching blouse. Quality time is dedicated here as you walk through the community, interacting with skilled weavers whose families have been producing Kante for generations, playing a vital role in the history of this beautiful fabric.

You will learn about the history behind many of the designs and see how skilled weavers still use traditional looms outside their homes that have not changed in design over the centuries. Former US President Bill Clinton had a design named "Clinton Kente" because the Ghanaians were impressed by the respect he showed to Ghana when he was in the office. This is an ideal time to buy quality barbed fabric at extremely affordable prices before leaving for Ntonso.

The ancient village of Ntonso is where the Adinkra cloth and symbols originated. These traditional symbols have meanings and are carved out of Cowrie shells. Adinkra symbols are then printed on traditional fabric using natural dyes made from the bark of some local trees.

Adinkra cloth has been embellished by Ashanti for over 4 centuries and pre-dates Kante cloth. Even today most Ashanti wear Adinkra cloth for funerals, festivals, and other important occasions. During our time here, you may have made your own strip of Adinkra cloth using symbols of personal significance.

After lunch you’ll visit the village of Sokoban Kro, where traditional brass casting has been the main source of income for the community for generations. There is a wide selection of items ranging from beads and jewelry to traditional sculptures. The methods used to create these wonderful brass works have not changed and during our time here you see a demonstration of the skillful process.

There are many stores selling a variety of brass products, and this might be a good time to buy some reasonably priced souvenirs. This evening you have the option of enjoying an evening meal at your hotel or attending an Ashni funeral.  They are very important in Akan culture and can be attended by thousands of people. 

Alternatively, you may want to try out a city restaurant or experience the Kumasi nightlife at one of the cuisine and bars.

Overnight in Kumasi

This morning after breakfast, you’ll move southwards to Elmina in the central region of Ghana. The town of Elmina was given its name by the Portuguese due to the abundance of Gold found in Ghana, translated Elmina means The Mine.

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.

They would have walked hundreds of kilometers from Northern Ghana through thick forests in shackles and chains, in poor health before reaching Assin Manso. Once bathed and rested they would continue the final 32-mile march to the dungeons of Cape Coast or Elmina Castles where they would remain for up to 6 weeks before being shipped to the Americas.

In 1998, a symbolic gesture was made when the bodies of two free (previously enslaved) Africans, Samuel Carson from New York U.S.A and Crystal from Kingston Jamaica were returned to Cape Coast Castle and symbolically passed through the “Door of no Return” before being transported to Assin Manso for re-internment.

After learning the history, having time to reflect, and visiting the river you continue to Cape Coast. Your afternoon is dedicated to honoring the 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, you will see the dungeons where up to 600 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.

There be an opportunity to pay your respects at a local shrine at the end of the dungeon where a tunnel led to the door of no return. 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. Many African Americans have relocated back to their ancestral home here in Ghana, setting up businesses and purchasing homes in Cape Coast and Elmina.

This evening visit one of the restaurants owned by those that have relocated here, hear their experiences and how it feels living in Africa. Alternatively, you can relax at your hotel, enjoying the facilities.

Overnight in Elmina

After breakfast in the morning, an action-packed day lies ahead on arguably Ghana’s finest beach front location. Africa’s world-famous rainforest canopy walkway awaits you as you 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.

This park protects the original habitat that was found in this location and was the major source of food for locals prior to it becoming a National Park.  Get close to nature during an exciting time on the world-famous canopy walkway which 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. Lowes Mona Monkeys Can be seen from the canopy walkway if you are lucky.  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. You return to the park headquarters where you’ll 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. An incredibly special time arrives after lunch as you prepare for your official Naming Ceremony. You set off to visit a local village to pay a courtesy call on the chiefs, queen mothers and community 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 honor. Chiefs and elders of the community officially welcome you as they lead you through the ceremony which has been performed by your ancestors through history. You will finally have the chance to adopt your own African name based on the day of the week you were born or numeric order of your siblings. This would have been your actual name if you were born in Ghana and has an emotional attachment to many when they receive them. A major highlight of your time here, after an afternoon of celebrations return to your hotel to relax. In the evening head into Cape Coast town and visit one of the most popular night spots to enjoy a local live band, dancing and reflecting on such an incredible day. If you would prefer to relax and reflect at your hotel this would not be a problem.

Overnight in Elmina

In the morning after breakfast, your guide and driver will collect your bags from your room and bring them to our vehicle to load as you set off back to Accra. On route to Accra, you pass through the fishing town of Elmina. During our time in Elmina town, 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 and this now silent monument to the pain and suffering our ancestors endured has been formally designated a World Heritage Travelling with us has a positive impact locally site by UNESCO. After an informative tour you can 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.
Whilst you take in the sights of the many colourful fishing boats bringing their daily catch into the harbour, it is important to understand Elmina has hardly changed since the days our ancestors were forcibly taken through this community to the Americas.

Your tour will end with a drive to Accra International airport to check-in and board your flight back home.