Benin Benin-Togo-Ghana. The slave coast

International flight to Accra (Ghana)

Accra – Cape Coast – Elmina

Accra, Ghana’s capital since 1877, is a cosmopolitan city and, from the economic point of view, one of the most important on the continent. After waking up in this modern city, we will visit the National Museum, followed by coffin manufacturing workshops, these objects featuring the most varied and diverse forms imaginable. These coffins reflect aspects of the person to be buried, with curious models including a Coca-Cola can, a football cleat, a pack of cigarettes, a vehicle, or an animal, all somehow related to and revealing characteristics of the deceased.Next we proceed to Cape Coast, known as the city of slavery. From Cape Coast it is on to Elmina Castle, a dramatic site, for all that it entails. The fortress, originally built by the Portuguese, was one of the main departure points for the slave trade on the Atlantic coast.In this seaside building the visitor can imagine the dire living conditions the prisoners endured before being embarked.We will also visit nearby fishing communities, watching the boats arrive after a day on water, and catching a glimpse of the locals’ daily lives.Accommodations at the Coconut Grove Bridge House Hotel. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Elmina – Kakum National Park – Elmina

Some 40 km north of Elmina we will visit the Kakum National Park, featuring a tropical rainforest ecosystem whose trademark feature is the hanging bridges spanning its treetops.Lush vegetation marks our stay at a park boasting 105 different plant species, a diversity of fauna, and a variety of primates.Return to Cape Coast; specifically, near the historic Elmina, where we will spend the night.Accommodations at the Coconut Grove Bridge House Hotel. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Elmina – Kumasi

Leaving the Slave Coast, will move on to the north of the country. Kumasi, the ancient capital of the Ashanti Empire, one of the great African civilizations, which left a great oral tradition behind. Along the road tour we will make several stops to stretch our legs and visit the local markets. Our guide, always aware of any cultural particularities, will help us to better understand and appreciate the places through which we travel. Accommodations at Daddi’s Lodge Hotel. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Kumasi

The Ashanti constituted a great empire, based on West African trade, and was one of the few that put up serious resistance to European settlers. Organized based on the right to succession, its society today retains a system of royalty. With a polytheistic religion and a matrilineal social structure, the capital of the Ashanti, or Asante, is in Kumasi.To learn more about the Ashanti culture we will visit the royal palace, today a museum. Here we will be able to learn about the history of the Ashanti kings and their culture. Each royal house had its own symbols (called Andinkra) with which they decorated the walls of their palaces in bas-relief.After this visit, it is on to Ntonso, a small town where we can observe textiles bearing symbols of the different Ashanti royal houses, and also visit its market. Back in Kumasi, we will stop at the market there. In this case, that of Kegetia, the great market of Kumasi, where we will find Kenté fabrics, traditionally decorated with Ashanti symbols. Each royal house had its marks, such that each of the fabrics has its very own language and symbolism.Accommodations at Daddi’s Lodge Hotel. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Kumasi – Akosombo

Today’s journey will take us to Lake Volta, the world’s largest reservoir (in surface area), its waters covering some 8,500 km2, representing 3.3% of the entire country. We will have the opportunity to visit some of the markets in the area and observe the daily lives of the fishermen there, with an optional canoe outing on the lake. We will reach Akosombo and its famous dam, containing the waters of the White Volta and Black Volta headstreams, which once converged to form the Volta River. The Akosombo Dam provides electricity for much of the city. The lake is also important for cargo ship traffic.Accommodations at the Aylos Bay Hotel. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Akosombo – Lomé (Togo)

From Akosombo, we will continue our route on to Togo. When we reach the border we will complete the visa procedures right there. On the last part of this stage we will reach Lomé, the Togolese capital. Of special interest is its market, particularly the fabrics section, featuring the famed “Mama Benz” women. Since its beginnings in the 19th century, women sold these multi-colored fabrics at bustling markets, making up and telling stories to better market them. The sale of these fabrics was so lucrative that they came to be called the “Mama Benz”, as people said that they could buy a Mercedes Benz, a symbol of prestige, wealth and power.We will also visit the colonial market, where we will see houses that one belonged to the Portuguese and Germans here. Accommodations at the Madiba Hotel, B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Lomé – Togoville – Possotomé (Benín)

On the shores of Lake Togo, and some 50 km from Lomé, on the way to Benin, we will visit Togoville, the city that gave the country its name. One can get there by canoe, tour the fascinating colonial neighborhoods, and visit the church of Notre Dame du Lac. We will continue our route on to Aneho, a city where we discover German colonial buildings. Here we find ourselves, once again, in the heart of the Slave Coast.We continue on to Possotomé, now in Benin, where we will stay on the shores of Lake Ahemé.Accommodations at Chez Theo. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Possotomé – Abomey

In the morning, after visiting one of the lakeside villages, like Bopa, where we can make a stop at the temple of the feared Storm God, we will head for Abomey, which was the most important city in West Africa during the 16th and 17th centuries, when its sovereigns became enormously wealthy off of the slave trade. Abomey is also the city for which the country was once named; or almost: “Dahomey” until the Communist era. Later the country adopted the name of the “People’s Republic of Benin” in homage to a nearby kingdom (Nigeria) of the same name. We will visit the royal palaces and the Museum of Art and History (UNESCO World Heritage). This city exudes history and royalty everywhere, as well as its different guilds’ craft traditions.Accommodations in Auberge Abomey. B&B (Bed and Breakfast)

Abomey – Agonli Mountains – Cove