The Tribal Kingdoms
of Ghana, Togo and Benin
back to Ghana, Togo, and Benin overview page
MAP
Lost Frontiers' Tribal Kingdoms of Ghana, Togo and Benin offers a rare opportunity to visit some of Africa's most colorful and authentic, but rapidly vanishing tribal societies. Throughout these three countries is a heady mixture of often isolated tribes who can trace their lineage directly back to ancient kingdoms that existed long before the Portuguese ever landed on their shores in 1482. They represent today the heart of some of Africa's most interesting and ancient tribal cultures. The animistic religion of voodoo is the common thread that binds them together and it has existed from before the time of the Empires of the Dohomey and Ashanti and those of Yoruba kings who live in what is now Nigeria. Its impact is also felt further north in the Sahel with the almost forgotten tribes of the Gourounsi and Lobi of Ghana and the Somba and Taneka of Benin for whom animistic beliefs and voodoo are simply necessary part of their everyday existence.
Day 01.
Arrive in Accra, Ghana, and transfer to your hotel. Overnight Georgia or Shangri-La Hotel.
Day 02.
Morning visit to the old town of Accra that was founded in 1500 and to the Portuguese fortress that was built later that century. Accra began as a trade center where ivory, musk, gold and later humans were traded for goods, horses and guns from Europe. You will visit a very good ethnographic museum; the craft markets antique dealers the carpenters who build coffins in fantastic shapes that describe the unfulfilled aspirations or occupations of the deceased. Overnight Hotel
Day 03.
Short drive to the village of Kokrobite and the Academy of African Music and Arts. In the evening, we will be treated to African music, drumming and dance from many different countries in the region. Overnight Academy.
Day 04.
Drive to Cape Coast Castle, a fortress that was built by the Swedes in 1653. We continue to El Mina, site of the El Mina Castle that was built 1482 by the Portuguese. The Castle and its museum are of considerable interest and the town is now a colorful thriving fishing port where hundreds of huge wooden fishing canoes are anchored. Overnight Hotel.
Day 05.
To the north a short distance is the Ashanti capital of Kumasi that was also once a British colonial administrative center. With a population of over 1 million, Kumasi spawns a huge market and is the spiritual center of the Ashanti people. The town also boasts an excellent museum and there are still Ashanti chiefs who may grace us with their company, Overnight Hotel.
Day 06.
Mourning at the Ghana National Cultural Center and the Manyhia Palace that was once the Palace of the Ashanti Kings. We later drive to Bonwire, a village where the famed and sought after Kente cloth originated and is still woven today. In the afternoon, we will attend a traditional Ashanti funeral that takes place every Sunday. Overnight Hotel
Day 07. 08.
Travel northward to the Kingdom of Wa. This is also Lobi country and we will visit their fortified compounds later in the trip. This is the home of the Lobi, Gourounsi and Dagari tribes, all of them very poor materially, but rich in culture. Our journey ends in the town of Wa. Overnight Hotel
Day 09.
Wa is also the seat of the kingdom of Wa where up until recently the Wa Na, or king, held court in his soudanese styled 'palace'. There are also a number of Lobi fortified compounds very near Wa, one of which is the home of a famous Lobi musician who will perform for us some on "balaphones". Down the road are theTalensi people who reside in large fortified family compounds. In the afternoon, we will hike to the Tongo plateau and the animistic shrine of Tenguzu. Overnight Hotel.
Day 10,11,
Travel to Tamale, the jumping off point for the visits to the Gourounsi (Kasena) tribe known for their fabulous houses that are decorated with symbolic friezes and murals. We later cross the border into Togo where we meet the Dagomba people in one of the most beautiful villages of the area. Overnight Hotel/ Campement.
Day 12.
Crossing into Benin, we come to the lands of the Taberma and Somba and their fortress like houses that are built within an arrow's flight from one another for mutual protection. We later travel to the town of Natitingou and to our hotel that is designed like a Somba compound. Overnight Somba.
Day 13.
Drive to the villages of the Taneka tribe where we will spend the morning visiting this little known people by hiking through several of their villages. We will return in the afternoon to Natitingou for a half-day of leisure and walking around the town. Overnight Hotel.
Day 14.
Travel day to the more tropical south. Once we get to Abomey, we will visit the vast complex that was once the palace. Our day ends with a canoe ride across Lake Nokou to stilt village of Ganvie known as the "Venice of Africa". Overnight Hotel.
Day 15.
Ganvie is inhabited by some 15,000 people, all of whom live in stilted bamboo huts above the water. It is the remoteness and isolation of the lake that originally protected the people from slavers and which now preserves their traditional lifestyle. We will spend the night in a bamboo guesthouse.
Day 16.
With over 300 years of domination, the Da Homey Empire rivaled the Ashanti and once held territory in what is now Togo and parts of western Nigeria. We spend the morning at the Royal Da Homey Palace and continue on to the coastal town of Ouidah where we will see and feel the power of voodoo. We conclude our day with the Zangbeto dance in one of the villages near by. Overnight Hotel.
Day 17.
Grand Popo was once a slave port, but is now a small upscale vacation resort. We will take a canoe once again to explore the Mono River visiting the village of twins and a salt village. Later, we drive along the Atlantic Sea coast and cross into Togo ending up at a lakeside hotel.
Day 18.
Visit a local voodoo priest famed for curing mentally ill patients. We then continue along the seacoast to Lome and check into our hotel.
Day 19.
After a relaxing morning, we transfer to the border of Ghana and take a couple hours' ride back to Accra for our evening return flight to the United States. End of services.
Prices:
Please call us at 1.888.508.2454 for the latest prices
Level Of Difficulty Moderate