Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Accra

   • Take a shuttle from the airport to a 3-star hotel.
   • Check-in at your hotel.

2. Day 2: Wildlife Wonders of Shai Hills and Akosombo

   • Depart the hotel to visit the Shai Hills Resource Reserve.

   Located 55 km from Accra, the Shai Hills Resource Reserve spans approximately 5,140 hectares and offers visitors fascinating views of its flora and fauna. The reserve is home to various species of mammals, birds, and reptiles, including baboons, duikers, bushbucks, monkeys, monitor lizards, and snakes. The Ghana Wildlife Department conducts guided tours in the reserve.

   • Visit the Akosombo Dam Site.

   The mighty Volta River has a large catchment area that spans six West African countries and flows into the Atlantic Ocean along Ghana’s east coast. Dammed at Akosombo, 80 km from Accra, the Volta Lake—created by a 370-meter wide, 124-meter tall dam constructed in 1965—is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, spanning 850,000 hectares from Akosombo in the south to Buipe in the north. The dam site has facilities for visitors, and guided tours are available by prior arrangement.

   • Have lunch at the Volta Hotel.
   • Depart Akosombo for Accra.
   • Arrive at the hotel in Accra.

   Overnight in Accra.

3. Day 3: Journey to Tamale

   • Depart Accra for Tamale.
   • Check into your hotel.

4. Day 4: Exploring Mole National Park and Larabanga Mosque

   • Depart the hotel to visit Mole National Park.

   Mole is the largest national park in Ghana, situated about 170 km west of Tamale in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region. The park is home to 93 mammal species, 33 reptiles, nine amphibians, and approximately 300 bird species. The most exciting attraction is a thrilling guided walk into the dry savannah woodland, where elephants, baboons, and antelopes are often spotted alongside a dazzling variety of colourful woodland birds. Trained officials of the Ghana Wildlife Department provide a guided safari tour. The park also features a 33-bedroom hotel with a swimming pool and a restaurant and the more expensive Ziana Lodge, an eco-lodge located within the park.

   • Visit Larabanga Mosque and Mystic Stone.

   This mosque is the oldest and largest example of Sudanic architecture, dating back to the 13th century. Located near the entrance to Mole National Park, it houses a Koran that is as old as the mosque itself. It is believed to have been built by Moorish traders from North Africa in a location they deemed the holiest in West Africa. Guided tours are available for the mosque and the nearby mystic stone.

5. Day 5: Cultural Treasures of Kumasi

   • Depart Tamale for Kumasi.
   • Visit Kumasi Cultural Centre.

   Located five minutes from Kejetia, the Central Vehicle Terminal in Kumasi, the Centre for National Culture (CNC), commonly referred to as the Kumasi Cultural Centre, serves as a venue for the reinforcement of Ashanti culture, featuring folklore and cultural performances for both domestic and international visitors. The Centre includes an excellent craft market and a museum for visitors to learn about Ashanti culture and traditional practices. Guided tours are organized by knowledgeable staff.

   • Visit Manhyia Palace Museum.

   This museum is located in the official residence of the Ashanti king (Asantehene), just a kilometre from the Cultural Centre. The historic museum features various Ashanti kings and queens and cultural artifacts and relics of the Ashanti kingdom spanning several centuries. Guided tours are available for visitors.

   • Lunch at a traditional/local restaurant.
   • Visit the traditional textile (Kente) weaving settlement of Adawomase.

   Kente has been woven in Adawomase since the 17th century, serving as the royal Kente cloth-weaving village for the Asantehene (the Ashanti king). Adawomase welcomes visitors and provides guided tours, offering Kente cloth and strips for sale. Over half of the settlement's 5,000-person population is engaged in Kente production.

   Overnight in Kumasi.

6. Day 6: Adventure in Kakum National Park and Elmina Castle

   • Depart Kumasi for the Central Region.
   • Visit Kakum National Park.

   Located 170 km from Accra and 35 km north of Cape Coast, this national park is part of the Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve. Covering 360 sq km, it is home to primate species, including Diana monkeys and numerous butterflies, birds, other mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The park's key attraction is the 350-meter suspended bridges with six tree platforms, offering views of the tropical rainforest canopy. The Kakum Canopy Walkway is Africa’s first rainforest canopy walkway. An international-class visitor center, complete with exhibitions and a restaurant, provides refreshments for visitors. Trained guides are available for guided tours into the forest.

   • Visit Elmina Castle.

   The imposing St. George’s Castle at Elmina, dating back to 1482, is the oldest European building in Sub-Saharan Africa. Originally constructed by the Portuguese as a fortress and chapel, it was later expanded by the Dutch and used as a prison for captured slaves during the slave trade era. Visitors can take guided tours to explore the slave dungeons, the Portuguese chapel, the governor's apartment, and the courtyard.

7. Day 7: Historical Insights at Cape Coast Castles

   • Visit Cape Coast Castle & Elmina Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage sites.
   • Depart Cape Coast for Accra.
   • Arrive at the hotel, dinner, and cultural night (Traditional Kpanlogo dance group).
   • Overnight in Accra.

8. DAY 8: Discovering Accra's Heritage and Departure

   • Enjoy an Accra city tour.
   • Visit the National Museum, Accra.

   This museum is located on Barnes Road and features a fascinating collection of Ghana’s historical treasures. The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board's trained staff offers guided tours.

   • Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park.

   This site consists of a magnificent marble monument and a park. It is the final resting place of Ghana's first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Visitors can take a guided tour.

   • Visit the Centre for National Culture (Arts Centre).

   The Arts Centre features an arts and craft bazaar, a traditional textiles display, and an artifacts market. It is the best place in Accra to find traditional handicrafts from across Ghana and the West African sub-region.

   • Take a shuttle to the airport and check-in.
   • Depart Accra.