Cocoa Trail and Chocolate Experience

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for a full day city tour of Accra. Visit the National Museum of History and Ethnography. This Museum houses a varied collection of Ghanaian artifacts. Objects in the archeology section range from the Stone Age period to the recent historical past. Those on permanent exhibition at the ethnography gallery include chief’s regalia, indigenous Ghanaian musical instruments, gold weights, beads, traditional textiles, stools and pottery.  Continue to Ga Mashie-Old Accra, this is a contrast of Victorian Dutch and post-colonial architecture. You will drive past James Fort built in 1673, Old Accra Square and the Post Office. Drive past Ussher Fort, one of three European forts in Accra which have survived the times. Ussher Fort was built by the Dutch in 1649 as Fort Crèvecœur. Fort Crèvecœur was part of the Dutch Gold Coast. The Anglo-Dutch Gold Coast Treaty (1867), which defined areas of influence on the Gold Coast and was transferred to the British in 1868.  Interact with the local people at the Accra Harbour, view the light House built by the British to guide commercial ships into the Accra Harbour.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, visit the newly refurbished Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum. This is a Memorial and Third burial grounds for the First Head of State and President of independent Ghana. The Mausoleum site was the Old Polo grounds for the European during the colonial period until 1957. This Mausoleum has been visited by many world dignitaries. 

Your last stop for the day is the Arts and Crafts market to view a varied collection Ghanaian handicraft souvenir. This offers you opportunity to try out your bargaining skills on the local vendors and to “shop till you drop”. 

Dinner at Hotel (on own account). Overnight: 3*/4* Hotel in Accra.

Day Highlight: National Museum Exhibits Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and check-out.

Depart in the morning to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) founded in 1938 at Tafo in the Eastern Region. Enroute, visit the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Cocoa Farm at Akuapem Mampong, the very first cocoa farm established in Ghana from seeds brought from Fernando Po in 1876. From this small beginning grew Ghana’s cocoa industry and Ghana’s largest export. Cocoa from Ghana is used to blend some of the world’s finest chocolates.

Continue to Tafo where you will be given a tour through a model cocoa plantation and see the varied uses of cocoa— processed into wine, soap, butter etc.

Continue to Kumasi with lunch enroute at a high way restaurant (on own account). Arrive in Kumasi in the evening and check-in to hotel. 

Dinner. Overnight: 3*/4* Hotel in Kumasi.    

Day Highlight: Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Cocoa Farm

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart for city tour of Kumasi visiting the Manhyia Palace and the Palace Museum which provides a good insight into Ashanti culture and traditions, and the history of the Ashanti Kingdom which is over 300 years old. It provides a good glimpse into the powerful ancient Ashanti Empire and its past kings. Visit the National Cultural Centre and Prempeh II Jubilee Museum.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

From here we will visit Adanwomase or Bonwire well known for the traditional Kente cloth weaving. Observe weavers exhibit their skills in producing the clothes adorned some of which are a preserve for the Ashanti Kings and Ntonso - noted for its indigenous artisans whose expertise lie in Adinkra textile printing using traditional symbols that express the spiritual, moral, political and socio-cultural philosophies of the Akan people. In the Ntonso Adinkra village you will be able to try your hand at creating your own designs.  
Return to your hotel late afternoon. 

Rest of evening free. 

Dinner (on own account).

Overnight: 3*/4* Hotel in Kumasi.

Day Highlight: Manhyia Palace Craft Village

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and check-out.

Depart after breakfast to Elmina, drive passing through several Cocoa and Oil Palm plantations in the forest belt to the coast. Stop to visit the offices of a Cocoa Purchasing Company where possible for interaction.

Arrive in Elmina and have lunch at a seaside restaurant. (on own account).

After lunch visit the Elmina Slave Castle for a comprehensive guided tour of the living quarters of the slaves and their “masters.” The first and oldest European structure built of any substance on African soil; the castle was built by the Portuguese in1482 and later used as an auction market. See the slave dungeons and condemn cells where enslaved Africans who attempted to escape were incarcerated. View its utterly distinct architecture.

Check-into hotel.

Dinner.

Overnight: 3* Beach Resort or Hotel in Elmina/Cape Coast

Day Highlight: Elmina Castle

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Kakum National Park. Go on a morning walk of the Kuntan Trail with its countless medicinal trees. For the young at heart experience the Canopy Walkway suspended 100 feet above the forest floor for a panoramic view of the flora and fauna of the remaining vestiges of the rainforest.

Lunch (on own account).
 
After lunch continue to visit the Cape Coast Castle which was originally started by the Swedes in 1652. It served as the headquarters and seat of the British colonial government until 1877. Go on a comprehensive tour of the Castle, the slave dungeons and the West African Heritage Museum, and the negotiation hall where our ancestors were bargained for and sold. Participate in a re-enactment of the Slave Trade at the Cape Coast Castle in solemn homage to our ancestors.

Return to your hotel and rest of day is free to relax at the hotel’s private beach.

Rest of day is free to relax at the beach.

Dinner.
 
Overnight: 3* Beach Resort or Hotel in Elmina/Cape Coast.    

Day Highlight: Kakum National Park Cape Coast Castle

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast and check out

After breakfast we depart for a full day of adventure. Your first challenge lies in the extreme western part of Ghana, beginning with a footpath through a marsh and then by hand-paddled canoe to Nzulezo, the village on stilts. This village is built entirely on the Amansure Lagoon. Here you will have a chance to interact with the villagers who live on this large lake. Explore their small village and see how people share their simple resources, with dependence on their environment. 

We then return to the mainland and have lunch (on own account).

After Lunch transfer to your hotel.

Rest of day for relaxation by the beach or hotel’s poolside.

Dinner.
 
Overnight: 3* Beach Resort in Busua.

Day Highlight: Nzulezo

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast Day at leisure for personal activities. Overnight: 3* Beach Resort in Busua.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Breakfast and check out.

Depart Busua to Accra. Drive along the coast past several fishing villages and coconut lined beaches. 

Arrive in Accra in the afternoon, Check in to your hotel.

Dinner.

Overnight: 4*/3* Hotel in Accra

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit a chocolate factory. You will be taken through an information session on how to make chocolate from the cocoa bean to the bar, an opportunity to taste 5 different flavors of our Adinkra chocolate, and finally a feedback session.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Rest of day free to relax or for last minute shopping.

Dinner (on your own).

Overnight: 3*/4* Hotel in Accra.       

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast Morning at leisure for last minute shopping and packing. Lunch (extra cost) 12.00Noon: Check-out of hotel. Transfer to the airport for departure formalities.

Meal Plan: Breakfast