Turtle conservation holiday, Ghana
| country: | Ghana |
| departures: | 2009: 5 Feb |
| price: | From £1695 - £1745 (16 days) including flights from the UK. Local payment US $250. This trip can also be booked without flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The project we will be participating in has adopted a long-term approach to protect nesting areas by working with the local community to preserve its natural heritage and see it as an asset.
There are three types of sea turtle nesting on the beaches in Ghana: the Olive Ridley, the Leatherback and the Green turtle; all of which are endangered species.
By working closely with the community, we'll also gain a unique insight into daily life in Ghana.
Highlights
Accra: Tour of capital city. Kakum National Park rainforest sanctuary. Participate in turtle protection and education. Gold coast castles: Guided tour of impressively situated UNESCO World Heritage Site listed 18th century castle at Cape Coast. Kumasi: Largest market in West Africa.
10 day turtle conservation project
Leaving Accra, we pause at Kakum National Park where there's the chance to take a spectacular walk on a rope bridge suspended over the jungle canopy! Continuing past long sandy beaches and 'slave forts', we arrive at Akwidaa which will be our base for the next 10 days. Following our training, we'll be participating in the daily turtle patrol; monitoring and recording turtle nests, recording any hatching baby turtles and helping any stragglers reach the sea! The opportunity to witness a large Leatherback turtle nesting on the beach at night is a once in a lifetime experience. A vital part of the project work is its educational projects with the local community and we will be engaged in a variety of activities during the day; from interactive work in the local schools, erecting effective signage, to workshops with local fishermen.
Capital of the Ashanti
Heading inland, we drive to Kumasi - once the seat of an empire that stretched from the Ivory Coast to Togo. Here we explore West Africa's largest market, jostling with women dressed in the zany colours of the locally-woven kente cloth. We'll also take a trip out to see tranquil Lake Bosumtwi. Created by a meteor impact, the area is considered sacred in local lore.
There are three types of sea turtle nesting on the beaches in Ghana: the Olive Ridley, the Leatherback and the Green turtle; all of which are endangered species.
By working closely with the community, we'll also gain a unique insight into daily life in Ghana.
Highlights
10 day turtle conservation project
Leaving Accra, we pause at Kakum National Park where there's the chance to take a spectacular walk on a rope bridge suspended over the jungle canopy! Continuing past long sandy beaches and 'slave forts', we arrive at Akwidaa which will be our base for the next 10 days. Following our training, we'll be participating in the daily turtle patrol; monitoring and recording turtle nests, recording any hatching baby turtles and helping any stragglers reach the sea! The opportunity to witness a large Leatherback turtle nesting on the beach at night is a once in a lifetime experience. A vital part of the project work is its educational projects with the local community and we will be engaged in a variety of activities during the day; from interactive work in the local schools, erecting effective signage, to workshops with local fishermen.
Capital of the Ashanti
Heading inland, we drive to Kumasi - once the seat of an empire that stretched from the Ivory Coast to Togo. Here we explore West Africa's largest market, jostling with women dressed in the zany colours of the locally-woven kente cloth. We'll also take a trip out to see tranquil Lake Bosumtwi. Created by a meteor impact, the area is considered sacred in local lore.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London - Accra. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Accra and tour Accra. |
| Day 3: | Drive Akwidaa, visit Kakum NP (optional canopy walk), meet project staff and briefing. |
| Day 4-12: | Turtle conservation project. |
| Day 13: | Drive Kumasi and visit Lake Bosumtwi. |
| Day 14: | In Kumasi and sightseeing. |
| Day 15: | Drive Accra and fly to London. |
| Day 16: | Arrive London. |
a taste of volunteering trip - what's it all about?
This type of trip is ideal for people who are unable to take very long periods off work but who are interested in volunteering to work with communities in need, or in wildlife conservation. These shorter trips combine volunteering with an opportunity to see the main sights in destinations. Find out more about 'taste of volunteering'how this holiday makes a difference
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The development of this project is bringing tourism and thus alternative sources of income to the area, reducing the reliance on poaching. Considerable manpower is needed to effect beach patrols during the nesting season and consistent turtle education in the community so we will be very much involved in all aspects of the project. Our accommodation whilst on project is in an eco-lodge which uses only solar power and has a strong policy to source staff and materials locally.
As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |