Ghana - Event
"PANAFEST"
Accra, Cape Coast, Elmina &, Kumasi
13 days

ITINERARY

DAY 1 FRI  USA/ EUROPE

Depart from USA to Africa with stop in Europe.

Enjoy complimentary cocktails, dinner, and movies during your overnight flight.

DAY 2 SAT  EUROPE /ACCRA (B in-flight) (D)

Upon arrival in Frankfurt we connect with our Lufthansa flight (tba) to Accra, Ghana.

Welcome to Accra!After clearing customs and immigration in Accra, we meet our guide and transfer to your Beach Resort Hotel.

We are welcomed with drinks and a traditional drumming, dancing and a libation pouring ceremony at the forecourt of the hotel. After the Welcome Drumming Ceremony we have our welcome dinner at one of the 3 restaurants of the hotel and have the balance of the evening at leisure to explore the hotel and its surroundings.

DAY 3 SUN  ACCRA / ELMINA (B, D)

Cape Coast

Depart for a scenic drive to the historic Coastal Region to tour the infamous forts, castles and slave dungeons of Ghana.

We visit the Cape Coast Castle, built in 1653 by the Swedes and which was later taken over by the British. This castle also houses the West African Historical Museum that tells the history of the slave trade whose impact is still felt beyond the shores of Africa today. We next watch a documentary titled Crossroads of Trade, Crossroad of People at the Cape Coast Castle. We then continue on to Elmina where our guide assists us with check in to the Coconut Grove Hotel. Here our three-night stay includes hotel taxes and daily breakfast. In the evening our first Panafest event beings as we participate in the reverential night, candlelight procession and vigil to commemorate Africans who died in the slave trade. There is a ceremony and a re-enactment of the slave passage through the Door of No Return (the Midnight Declaration of Emancipation Day). This is a highlight of Panafest Celebrations.

DAY 4 MON  EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATION (B, D)

PANAFEST - The Emancipation Day Celebration (full day)

Following breakfast we depart in mid-morning to participate in and witness The Emancipation Day Celebration, opened with a Grand Durbar of Traditional Chiefs, a colorful and spectacular event showcasing the pomp and pageantry of Ghana’s traditional rulers.

The Emancipation Day festivities are held at Assin Manso, the site of the “Last Bath” where slaves were taken to bathe before being shipped to the new world. It is also the burial place of two former slaves who were returned to Ghana from the U. S. and Jamaica. This evening dinner is at our hotel.

KASA (TALK TIME) - After dinner, at 8PM, we have an opportunity to learn more about Ghanaian culture or simply talk to each other and share information about the experiences you are having on the tour. Our tour guide leads Kasa discussions. (This activity is optional).

DAY 5 TUE  KAKUM NATIONAL PARK (B, L)

Kakum National Park (half day- 4 hours)

Depart for a drive through the historic Denkyira Kingdom to Kakum National Park, one of West Africa’s surviving tropical rain forests. We have the opportunity to choose between a 2 km nature walk through this forest to discover the wide variety of exotic floral species and the medicinal values they offer or take a walk on the canopy walkway hanging 60 meters above the forest ground. Later we witness a cultural performance by the Kukyekukyeku Bamboo Orchestra. We return to your hotel and the evening is free.

DAY 6 WED  KUMASI/DRUMMING AND DANCE WORKSHOP (B, L)

Manhyia Palace Museum & Center for National Culture (half day)

Depart for a scenic drive through the Central Region of Ghana to the city of Kumasi, the seat of the Ashanti Empire. After lunch we tour the city and explore the legends of the famous Ashanti’s, whose legacy is still evident today. We visit the Manhyia Palace Museum, home and office of former Ashanti Kings. Their regal history dates back to 1700 is told with relics and artifacts. Our guide assists us as we check in at the Miklin Hotel where our two-night stay includes hotel taxes and daily breakfast. We then visit the Center for National Culture that includes the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum and studios of various brass makers, potters, drum carvers and batik makers. There is traditional drumming and dancing by the resident group of the Center after which we have an opportunity to participate in a drumming and dancing workshop lead by Center’s resident institutions. The evening is free.

DAY 7 THU  ASHANTI CRAFT VILLAGES (B, L)

Ashanti Craft villages (half day- 4 hours)

Depart for a full day of exploration and demonstrations at the three famous Ashanti Craft villages. First we visit Ahwiaa, the wood carvers village, where we witness skilled craftsmen making woodcarvings of many different shapes and types. We then continue with a visit to Ntonso, home of Adinkra cloths. The Adinkra cloth is hand printed from a dye made from the bark of a tree locally called Badie. After lunch in a local Ghanaian restaurant in Kumasi we depart for Bonwire, home of the famous Kente cloth. Again, we witness a weaving demonstration of intricate designs and colors of Kente cloth. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon and are free for dinner.

DAY 8 FRI  ACCRA (B, L)

Accra City Tour (half day- 4 hours)

After our early morning breakfast, we depart on a scenic drive through the rainforest to Accra. Our guide assists us with check in to the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. Here our three-night stay includes hotel taxes and daily breakfast. After lunch, we depart on a sightseeing city tour of Accra, the capital of Ghana, driving through the administrative and economic districts. This 124-year-old city has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarizes her history.

We visit the W. E. B. Dubois Center for Pan African Culture, Independence/ Black Star Square and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. We end our tour by visiting one of Accra’s TV studios and the National Theater for a behind the scene look at how these organizations produce their programs. Later in the evening we hop into taxi cabs and embark on our night tour of Accra to experience what local Ghanaians do on a Friday night: Party in Jazz Clubs/Live band music.

DAY 9 SAT  TORGOME VILLAGE/ SHAI HILLS GAME RESERVE (B, L)

Village of Togome (full day - 8 hours)

Depart to a scenic drive along the Accra plains to the beautiful village of Torgorme located on the lower course of the splendid Volta River. We pay a courtesy call on the paramount chief and elders, and also participate in a naming ceremony, where we are each given a traditional African name. Participants need to provide the tour operator with their date of birth to participate in the ceremony.

Other activities include a demonstration of pottery making which is the main occupation of the women in Torgorme, traditional drumming and dancing by the villagers. If appropriate, the villagers would welcome a performance by members of the tdf Travel group. Afterwards, we visit the community schools, library and clinic. In the early afternoon we depart for the Shai Hills Game Reserve and a picnic lunch. The Shai Hills Game Reserve is covered with low stature dry evergreen forest and is home to antelopes and baboons. The adventurous may track baboons, antelopes and explore the vertical caves, which were home to the Shai people 400 years ago. This evening dinner is at leisure, with options provided by our guide.

KASA (TALK TIME) - After dinner, at 8PM, we have an opportunity to learn more about Ghanaian culture or simply talk to each other and share information about the experiences you are having on the tour. Our tour guide leads Kasa discussions. (This activity is optional).

DAY 10 SUN  VOLTA RIVER BOAT CRUISE (B, D)

Akosombo Port (full day- 8 hours)

Depart for the Akosombo Port to cruise on Volta Lake, the largest man-made lake in the world. On board the “Dodi Princess” we dance to the sweet sounds of live highlife music played by the cruise ship band, enjoy the calm of the lake and bask in the beauty of the mountain scenery and surrounding. Lunch is on board. In the late afternoon drive we back to Accra. Dinner is at La Palm Royal Beach hotel in Accra.

DAY 11 MON  ACCRA /EUROPE (B, D)

Today we are at leisure for last minute shopping and packing in preparation for our trip back home. In the early evening we transfer to the airport for departure formalities, after which we return to Accra for our Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 12 TUE  EUROPE/USA

Upon arrival in Europe we connect with your flight to USA

DAY 13 WED  USA

Clear customs.

Included Features

• Roundtrip airfare USA/Accra/USA
• All accommodations, meals as per itinerary
• Daily buffet breakfast at the hotels
• All tours and transfer as specified including entry fees, on a private basis
• All airport transfers and local transportation for tours
• All hotel taxes and service charges
• Local English speaking guides/services throughout

Not Included

• Cost of passport
• Items of a personal nature
• Drinks at meals
• Optional city tours or evening excursions
• Tips to guides/drivers
• Airpot Taxes