Akwasidae & Egungun Festivals
Gelede & Egungun Festivals
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GHANA, TOGO, BENIN: Golden Kingdoms of West Africa You'll feel you've stepped into the pages of National Geographic on this total immersion into the dazzling tribal world of Ghana, Togo, and Benin. This is a greatly under-visited destination, the richest of tribal Africa, and our itinerary is one of a kind. Watch voodoo priestesses whirl in trances at fetish altars, hike up a ridge to commune with a famous oracle, peer into the dungeons of a 15th-century slave castle, attend a flamboyant Ashanti funeral - and who knows what else, since serendipity plays a big role on this journey. Every day will bring something new, from spontaneous mask dances to voodoo rituals to festive village funerals with music and singing. This is a truly eye-opening adventure, an intimate look and interpretation of some of West Africa's most intriguing peoples. Travel in this part of the world can be quite rugged, so bring along a spirit of adventure and a flexible attitude. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
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 Itinerary: Golden Kingdoms of West Africa
Day 1 - Meet in Cotonou, the capital of Benin. Day 2 - By boat through the village of Ganvié, Africa's largest village on stilts, which is spread across Lac Nokoue. Continue to Abomey, which in pre-colonial times was the capital of one of the great West African Kingdoms, the Dan-Homey empire. Day 3 - Visit Abomey's painted voodoo fetish temples and the vestiges of former royal palaces, followed by a voodoo ceremony. Day 4 - Hike to clifftop villages of the Taneka, home to many voodoo priests. Days 5-10 - Cross the savannas of Benin, Togo, and Ghana to visit the Somba, with their ritual scarification, the Gurunsi, known for their elegantly painted adobe houses, and the Moba, Tamberma, Lobi, Talensi, and Dagarti peoples, each with their own particular architecture, customs, and traditions. Days 11-12 - Attend a festive Ashanti funeral in Kumasi and visit museums housing gold ritual objects and Ashanti artifacts. Day 13 - Visit the protected virgin rainforest of Kakum National Park, harboring elusive monkeys, elephants, and other African fauna, and view the canopy via forest walkways perched more than a hundred feet above the ground. Continue to the historic 15th-century slave castle at the fishing town of Elmina. Day 14 - Visit Accra's national museum and the carpenters of a coffin-makers' district. Continue to the Krobo region, famous for its bead production. Day 15 - Meet weavers of the famed kente cloth, witness an authentic Kokou voodoo ceremony, and visit a traditional healer who combines traditional herbal medicine and voodoo in his treatment of clients. Day 16 - Explore Lomé's fascinating artisan and fetish markets. Depart Lomé in the evening.  Detailed Itinerary - GHANA, TOGO, BENIN: Golden Kingdoms of West Africa 1. Download detailed itinerary in a PDF format 2007 Detailed Itinerary (PDF files require that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. This program can be downloaded for free from the Adobe Website.) 2. Or email us your itinerary request at sales@mtsobek.com 3. Or call us at 1-888-831-7526 (USA and Canada) or (510) 594-6000 We’ll email you a copy (Word or Acrobat document), fax, or mail you the itinerary as you prefer. For more information and reservations, please contact: Mountain Travel Sobek 1266 66th Street, Suite 4 Emeryville, CA 94608 USA Toll Free (USA and Canada): 1-888-831-7526 Phone: +1-510-594-6000 Fax: + 1-510-594-6001 Email: info@mtsobek.com |