Day 1: Accra
Arrive at Kotoka International Airport where you will meet your guide & transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you are free to rest or explore the area around the hotel.
Day 2: Accra – Cape Coast
After breakfast, begin the scenic drive to Cape Coast, a port city that played a significant role in the Transatlantic slave trade. Check in to your hotel & enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 3: Cape Coast
Today, spend the day exploring castles along the coast. First, visit the Cape Coast Castle, a former holding area for slaves before crossing the ocean. You will then visit the Elmina Castle, the first European structure in Sub-Saharan Africa built in 1482 & another important stop during the transatlantic slave trade. As you walk through the castle, you will see the dungeons where slaves were kept & learn how harshly they were treated. The rest of the evening is free to enjoy dinner around town or explore the city.
Day 4: Cape Coast
Spend the day at a school for the deaf & blind, where you can meet students overcoming their disabilities through art. Sit in on a Batik lesson, learn sign language or play sports with the students. Each student uses their craftsmanship as a means of self-expression. After your visit, you can return to the hotel or spend the evening in the city.
Day 5: Cape Coast
Begin your second day with the students. Spend your time learning about African music through drumming & dancing. The vibrations of the drums can be felt by the students who are unable to hear, so everyone can dance along! Throughout the day, you can learn sign language from the staff & students or play sports with them.
Day 6: Cape Coast
Drive to Kakum National Park to explore its dense rainforests & array of flora & fauna. The park is home to over 40 animals & 400 unique species of birds. You can choose to walk along the canopy bridges or trek along the rainforest floor. Afterward, you will begin a walking tour around Elmina, which includes visits to Fort Saint Jago, the Colonial Dutch Cemeteries & the Asafo Posts. At these posts, you will learn about the Fante people who fought to protect the coast from invaders. The evening is free to explore the city & try a traditional Ghanaian dish like Waakye, rice & beans, or Fufu.
Day 7: Cape Coast
Start the day with a drive to Assin Manso, the final transition point for African slaves before being shipped to the New World. Here, you can walk through a former slave market where trades took place. You will also visit the graves of two important slaves whose remains were returned to Ghanaian soil for burial. After lunch, you will return to the coast & the rest of the day is free to walk around the city.
Day 8: Cape Coast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel & depart for a small village outside of the city. Here, you will spend the day painting walls at a local school, assisting teachers in their classrooms & helping the local church with ongoing projects around the village. Return to the hotel for dinner & prepare for the next two days at your volunteer site.
Day 9: Cape Coast
Continue the second day at your volunteer project.
Day 10: Cape Coast
Enjoy your last day serving around the village. That afternoon, you will return to your hotel, pack up & rest.
Day 11: Cape Coast – Accra
Begin the drive back to Accra, where you will check in to your hotel. You can spend the evening enjoying a variety of local dishes, walking along the beach or catching a performance around town.
Day 12: Accra
Today, you will visit a few key sites around Accra. Your guide will lead you through the administrative & economic districts where you can see the progression of colonial to modern architecture. This plays a significant role in the city’s history. You will then visit the W.E.B Du Bois Center to learn about the life & achievement of Dr. Dubois’, including his last two years of life working tirelessly to create the Pan-African encyclopedia. After lunch, stop by the Black Star Square, also known as Independence Square, as well as the renowned Kwame Nkrumah & Asomdwe Memorial Parks. Before dinner, stroll around the city’s art center where you can barter for goods in an open-air market. Return to the hotel & enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure.
Day 13: Accra
Start your last full day in Ghana with a scenic drive to a village nestled along the Volta River. Your guide will instruct you on how to properly greet the village chief & elders upon arrival. That morning, you will experience the rural Ghanaian way of life, which includes an exciting time of music & dance with the villagers. You can even participate in a special ceremony where you will be given a customary African name! Members of the village will walk you through the ins & outs of their day, allowing you to see what their life is like. You can also observe local women as they create intricate pieces of pottery & buy directly from the artists. The evening is free to explore the city & do some last-minute shopping.
Day 14: Accra
Enjoy the morning & afternoon at your leisure before packing up & transferring for the airport where you will begin the journey home.