Tribal Ghana, Togo and Benin

Thriving traditional cultures, renowned art forms, flamboyantly colorful festivals, mask dances, and a dazzling ethnic mosaic are the golden gems of tribal West Africa. Our fantastic cultural odyssey brings us across remote reaches of Ghana, Togo, and Benin to discover lost tribal worlds guided by ancient spirits. All of our journeys witness special festivals—from the Akwasidae, a spectacular homage to the Ashanti king in Kumasi (March 2011 departure), to the Egun mask dances of the Yoruba villages of southern Benin (December 2011 departure). Along the way, we meet unforgettable people including the Taberma, whose fairytale clay castles are spectacular examples of uniquely African architecture. We finish on the coast, the heart of voodoo country, visiting practitioners, watching trance-dances, and learning about the awesome power the voodoo spirits still hold over people.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Accra, Ghana / El Mina Castle

We visit Ghana’s National Museum, with its striking ethnographic collection, then head along the palm-fringed coast to the 15th century Portuguese fortress of St. George de la Mina, entering its evocative slave dungeons and peaking through the “Door of No Return,” where captives were taken to awaiting ships. We also visit Kakum National Park, which protects a fragment of Ghana’s former rainforest.

Days 4-5
Kumasi / Akwasidae Festival

The Ashanti Kingdom was once one of the most powerful nations in Africa. In Kumasi, the Ashanti “capital,” our explorations include the market as well as the fascinating Ashanti Cultural Center. Our March departure witnesses the festive Akwasidae, an homage to the Ashanti king held outside the Royal Palace, with songs, dances, and royal procession of Ashanti chiefs adorned in golden ornaments.

Days 6-9
Traditional Tribes of the Savanna / Castles of Clay

Traversing a baobab-dotted landscape that was once a caravan route between Ghana’s Gold Coast and the vast Sahara, we visit the tiny villages of the Gondja tribe. Entering northern Benin, we meet the Dagomba people, with their round clay huts with thatched roofs, and the isolated Tamberma and Somba, famous for their spectacular defensive architecture of fortified adobe castles complete with turrets. We also visit an ancient Taneka village inhabited by fetish priests and the encampments of Fulani herders.

Days 10-14
Mask Dances / The Voodoo World of the Coast

As we head south through Benin toward the coast, we visit Abomey, with its eerie Royal Palace of the Dahomey king. Our December departure witnesses an Egun mask dance among the Yoruba and Tom tribes. Near Lome, Togo’s capital, we meet traditional healers at a “voodoo hospital,” visit a fetish market, and watch a real voodoo ceremony accompanied by hypnotic rhythm of chanting and drums.

Days 15
Accra, Ghana / Depart

The Krobo region near Accra is world famous for its glass beads, long used as trade goods. This morning we visit a bead company to see how these complex multi-colored glass beads are made. Evening departure on homeward-bound flights.

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What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 3, moderate. Tourist facilities are very limited in the remote savanna regions and small villages we visit. There are few first-class hotels anywhere outside the cities, but rest assured we always try to obtain the best possible. For the most part, the hotels are comfortable, but they are very basic. Hotel air conditioning in West Africa does not cool a room to American standards of comfort, and there may be occasions where the hotel electricity goes off for periods of time. We travel by one minivan or by two 4WD vehicles, depending on weather and road conditions. Our support staff travels in another vehicle with cooking supplies. On our road journeys, we make frequent stops and you have ample opportunity to stroll around villages and markets to see and experience the differences in architecture, dress, and culture among the many tribes in West Africa. On travel days, our staff prepares a cold lunch for us ahead of time in the morning and we enjoy it in a roadside restaurant en route.                                   
Although we are accompanied by a support crew staffed by experienced veterans of West Africa, participants should understand that this trip involves long drives, hot and humid weather, and somewhat basic hotels outside of Accra. The physical shape you are in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of your trip. We recommend you bring Gatorade-type powdered mixes or packets of OHS (oral hydration salts) to add to your water bottle from time to time on really hot days.

There are dangers inherent in any expedition traveling to remote regions. These dangers include everything from the possibility of a vehicle accident or sickness without access to the means of rapid evacuation. The availability of medical supplies, or the adequacy of medical attention once provided, cannot be guaranteed and cannot be expected to measure up to Western standards. If you have any chronic health problems (respiratory or cardiac problems, a bad back, or diabetes), we recommend you consider a different trip.

Explanation of Trip Levels