cultural experience

country:	Ghana
departures:	2006: 8 Apr
price:	From £600 (14 days) excluding flights, plus local payment of £325

Ghana holidays

People to people holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Ghana is probably the friendliest of countries anyone could ever visit. No matter where you come from, the Ghanaian attitude is one of open hospitality. From the pristine white beaches to the jungle and savannah land, there is so much to take in and explore.

Mole National Park, situated in northern Ghana is the largest and in terms of game viewing, the best in Ghana. It offers a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the African bush wildlife. The highlight must be experiencing a foot-safari to view the elephants. Further south is Kakum National Park, which protects an area of true rainforest. The famous rope walkway is a fantastic way to see the jungle canopy.

The south of Ghana is what one might expect of West Africa, rich green jungle interspersed with banana plantations that border the tropical palm beaches. Ghanaian history is rich and plentiful. Remnants of both the trans-Atlantic and trans-Saharan slave trades are in evidence. The coastline is littered with European slave castles and forts, some which are now museums.

In addition, we will visit one of our development projects and assist with the work that is being done to better this community's school.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	The trip starts in the morning, you will be met either at the airport or picked up from a hotel if you arrived before the start date. Transfer to Brenu Akyinim, the beach community where you will spend the next five days. At Brenu you will be welcomed by the community and given some background on the school construction project, before visiting the project site. Accommodation: tented at Brenu Beach Resort.
Day 2:	Your first day of project work, you will spend four hours working alongside community members on the construction project. You can either take a cultural tour of Cape Coast and its 17th century fort, or spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach. Accommodation: tented at Brenu Beach Resort.
Day 3:	Your second day on the project, learning new skills from local craftsmen. Afternoon: see the sights of historic Elmina, with a cultural tour of this important town. Transfer to Hans Cottage Hotel close to the Kakum National Park, enjoy a drink and some crocodile spotting from the hotel bar. Accommodation: Hans Cottage Hotel.
Day 4:	An early start means that we can explore the rainforest canopy walkway as the jungle comes to life. This is the only canopy walkway in Africa and one of only four in the whole world. It is a truly amazing and unforgettable experience. Return to Brenu. This is your last night at the beach community and after a rewarding afternoon’s work relax with a cold beer and enjoy some freshly caught seafood! Accommodation: tented at Brenu Beach Resort.
Day 5:	Day spent at project site.
Day 6:	After a final morning’s work at the new school site, you will enjoy a specially prepared farewell lunch before setting off to explore the Ghanaian interior. Transfer to Busua Beach Resort, a stunning location 90 km east of Brenu.Accommodation: chalet at Busua Beach Resort.
Day 7:	Enjoy an early morning pirogue trip to the Nzulezu Stilt Village, a fascinating community built entirely on a stilted platform over the lake waters. Transfer to Kumasi, Ghana’s second city and the royal capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. Explore the sites of this fascinating city, which is also home to the largest open market in West Africa. Accommodation: Guestline Lodge, Kumasi.
Day 8:	Visit some of the Ashanti villages around Kumasi to learn more about the cultural heritage and skilled artistry of this ancient kingdom. Transfer to Bobiri Forest Reserve, a perfectly preserved area of virgin rainforest, home to an array of bird, butterflies and monkeys. Accommodation: tented at Bobiri Forest Reserve.
Day 9:	Spend the morning exploring the Bobiri Forest Reserve, before transferring to the Baobeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctury for an unforgettable monkey experience. Take a late afternoon trip to the Tano Sacred Grove, spiritual home of the Bono people. Accommodation: guest house at Baobeng-Fiema.
Day 10:	Drive northwards to Mole National Park, crossing the northwest corner of Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world. Arrive at Mole National Park in time for a late afternoon game drive, before sundowners overlooking the watering hole below the Mole Motel. Accommodation: Mole Motel.
Day 11:	Spend the day exploring Mole National Park by vehicle and on foot. For a wildlife experience to remember, take a foot safari with one of the park’s armed guides, and get right up close to elephants, warthogs, baboons and crocodiles! Accommodation: tented at Mole National Park
Day 12:	Take a morning tour of Larabanga to learn the history of the village’s mystery stone and how it came to have the oldest mud mosque in Ghana.Transfer to Kyabobo National Park, a fascinating but rarely visited park in the highlands to the east of Lake Volta and home to an abundance of wildlife. Accommodation: tented at Kyabobo
Day 13:	Continue your journey southwards to arrive at the impressive Wli Falls in time for a picnic lunch. Climb Mount Afadjato, Ghana’s highest peak and enjoy a refreshing natural shower at Tagbo Falls.Accommodation: guest house in Hohoe.
Day 14:	Transfer to Xavi Bird Sanctuary and marvel at the exotic bird life that inhabits this beautiful lagoon. The best way to explore these waters is in a hand made pirogue with the knowledgeable local guides. Return to Accra and spend the afternoon exploring the capital or relaxing at one of the city’s luxury hotels, before transferring to the airport for an evening flight home.

how this holiday makes a difference

This will be an insight into one of the friendliest countries in the world. The trips have different phases that will challenge you in many ways; the project phase of each trip is unique. You will visit an existing community development project on the southern coast. A percentage of the trip cost is set-aside for this.

We are committed to ensuring a positive impact rather than a negative one. The trip routes take in remote rural communities as well as sites of historical and cultural interest. All trip supplies are purchased en route, in this way directly supporting local economies. In order to ensure that the good work continues long after they return home, additional funding and project monitoring is supplied through the our Trust.

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