Discover West Papua Tour

Wednesday 6th February- Accra

• Arrive at your convenience in Accra, the capital city of Ghana which is well connected from many countries within Africa and most of Europe.
• Group members from our Benin and Togo Tour will arrive from Lomé after a 4-hour drive.
• Meet your fellow travellers and Pioneer Adventure Travel guide in the lobby at 2:00pm
• We’ll start our exploration of Accra with the Jamestown district, one of the oldest districts of Accra, that served as the headquarters of the colonial administration. We’ll stop by the Jamestown lighthouse and visit the two major colonial-era forts in old Accra, James Fort and Ussher Fort.
• For sunset, we’ll head to Labadi Beach, one of the most beautiful and the busiest beach on Ghana’s coast. It’s a perfect place to relax at the end of the day, meet the locals and have dinners and drinks!
• Overnight in Hotel Paloma or similar

Thursday 7th February – Accra – Akosombo

• Breakfast at hotel
• We’ll start with a visit to the Makola Market, the largest open-air market in the country, for a taste of local life and local food!
• We’ll then visit the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, dedicated to Ghana’s first president, and go to the Independence Arch and Black Star Square, significant landmarks in Accra’s history.

Afternoon

• After lunch, we’ll drive two hours to Akosombo, traversing unique landscapes of abundant forests and mountains.
• On arrival, we’ll see the Akosombo Dam. Built in the 1960s, it flooded part of the Volta River Basin and led to the subsequent creation of Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world by surface area. 
• You may see the Dodi Princess, the only cruise ship in the entire country, traversing Lake Volta. It was built in 1977 and its name is totally unrelated to the famously doomed relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed!
• We’ll learn more about the dam and its impact during our excursion in dugout canoes on the lake and our visits of local villages. We’ll be able to exchange with the local population about their life and their relationship with the lake.
• Dinner in Akosombo, before we enjoy the local nightlife.
• Overnight in Akosombo

Friday 8th February – Lake Volta – Accra

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Today we’ll continue our exploration of the Akosombo region, trekking into the forest to admire the great variety of the ecosystem.

Afternoon

• Drive back to Accra
• Overnight in Hotel Paloma or similar

Saturday 9th February – Elmina Castle and Beach Relaxation

• Breakfast at hotel
• This morning, we visit another historical site connected to the slave trade, Elmina Castle. Built in the 15th century by the Portuguese colonizers, it is one the oldest European building in existence south of the Sahara. Like Cape Coast castle, it  was one of the most important stops on the transatlantic slave trade. 
• We will also visit the Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River site, which was one of the largest slave markets. This was the location where slaves, after marching hundreds of kilometres, were forcibly bathed and oiled before being marked by a red-hot branding iron and sold to slave owners.

Lunch

• After the emotional and haunting visits of Cape Coast and Elmina castle, we’ll give ourselves a special treatment, relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Elmina, known for their golden sands and clear waters. Optional activities include beachside seafood eating and water sports.
• You can also decide to walk around the centre, for more visits, buy souvenirs or simply mingle with the locals.
• Dinner and overnight in Hotel Coconut Bridge, in Elmina

Sunday 10th February – Kakum National Park – Cape Coast

• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart for Kakum National Park, known for its canopy walkway and diverse wildlife.
• This park is unique because it was created in 1931 at the initiative of the local people and not by the State department of wildlife. It is now so important that Ghana has proposed that UNESCO recognized it as a natural World heritage site.
• During our visit, you can experience the thrill of walking above the jungle on the canopy walk. If you’re not scared of heights, it’s a very cool activity!
• The park is home to several endangered species, including Diana monkeys, African elephants and giant bongo antelopes. It is also renowned for its bird and butterfly population.

Lunch

• After lunch, we’ll visit Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a dark history linked to the transatlantic slave trade. It was originally built in the 17th century and later served as a hub for the trade of gold, ivory and slaves.
• We’ll also see the the “Door of No Return”. It is estimated that up the three million slaves weere shipped to the Americas from here and never saw home again.
• Cape Coast is one of the country’s most historic cities. We’ll have a quick tour of the centre before driving back of Elmina.
• We’ll have a farewell dinner in a local restaurant and drinks to celebrate the end of a beautiful trip.
• Overnight in Elmina

Monday 11th February – Accra

• Breakfast at hotel
• Our drive back to Accra will take around 3 hours.
• Tour concludes. Pioneer Adventure Travel is able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for ongoing flights.