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Itinerary: Ghana Wildlife Safari - Walking with Elephants

Ghana Wildlife Safari - Walking with Elephants

Have a close encounter with the world’s largest land mammals, the African elephants during an amazing foot safari, and experience the tranquility of the Black Volta river, viewing hippos in traditional dug out canoes.

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Operator rating 5/5 from 19 reviews
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Ghana Wildlife Safari - Walking with Elephants

Day 1
Our expert guides will meet with you on your arrival at the Kotoka International Airport Accra, which is situated on the beautiful gold coast of Western Africa. Look out for our sign board when you leave the main terminal building after passing through customs. Make yourself known to your guides who will be accompanying you for the duration of your time in Ghana and they will take care of you from here.

After boarding our air conditioned vehicle, which will be your mode of transport for the duration of your tour, we transfer you to your hotel which is situated in Accra. Once we have checked you in, our experienced guides will offer you Akwaaba (welcome) and brief you on all aspects of your trip. You can enjoy your evening meal at the hotel restaurant whilst acclimatising yourself to Africa.
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Day 2
Your first full day in Ghana, after breakfast we load up our vehicle and depart Accra, Ghana’s busy capital city. Our destination is Kumasi capital of the Ashanti region and home to the Asantehene, king of the powerful Ashanti Empire and its people. Our journey takes us through the beautiful Akwapim range, which offers outstanding panoramic views of Tema and Accra in the distance.

At the top of the range we find the relaxed and friendly Aburi craft village, where traditional African drums and crafts have been carved for generations. As we watch the skilled craftsmen at work it is worth noting that prices here are amongst the lowest in Ghana, making Aburi an ideal place to pick up some souvenirs. We make the short detour to the picturesque Boti waterfall (seasonal), a great place to kick off our shoes for a refreshing paddle. Boti is in the eastern region of Ghana which is famous for producing traditional glass beads. We stop at a nearby village to visit Comfort and her family, experts in making beautiful beads the traditional way. Your guides will talk you through the skilled process of making the beads as we enjoy a demonstration from Comforts husband. After the demonstration we have the opportunity to admire and buy a wide selection of beads that have been made here. We enjoy our lunch in Koforidua, capital of the Eastern region of Ghana before setting off on the final leg of our journey to Kumasi. Upon our arrival we check into our hotel and eat our evening meal around the pool, the rest of the evening is free leisure time.
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Day 3
After a leisurely breakfast, we load up our vehicle and set off for the beginning of our Northern adventure. We head northwards; our first destination is Techiman, a large town in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana where we will spend the evening. We check into our hotel and enjoy lunch before setting off for the villages of Boebeng and Fiema. These two villages nestled closely together have been protecting the black and white colobus and Mona monkeys which are found in the surrounding forests, the locals perceive the monkeys to be sacred and offer them traditional burials. During our time in the villages we interact with the locals learning about their culture and daily routine as farmers. As we walk trails into the forest viewing these beautiful monkeys our local guide will identify the many medicinal trees and plants found here and explain how they benefit the locals. After our first taste of wildlife in Ghana and a wonderful afternoon with the villagers we return to our hotel for our evening meal and to relax.
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Day 4
The day starts with a buzz as we load up our vehicle after breakfast and set off northwards, our destination is Wechiau and the community hippo sanctuary. The landscape changes from the broad leaved woodlands of the Ashanti Region to the sahelian savannah plains and woodlands of the North. We stop off en route at a traditional Sudanese style mud and stick mosque which is approximately 150 years old. We have an excellent relationship with the locals in this remote village and during our time here we all have a unique opportunity to actually go inside the mosque. The Imam explains the history of the mosque to us and we can enjoy a walk through the village interacting with the locals. We continue our journey towards Wechiau stopping for refreshments at one of the local spots (bars) before reaching our destination. As we near Wechiau, we notice the change in design of the traditional homesteads of the Lobi tribal communities of the Upper West Region. On our arrival, we pick up a local guide at Wechiau town before proceeding to our accommodation for the evening. The Talowana lodge is a clean, basic and comfortable accommodation built in the design of a typical Lobi homestead. Wechiau is a fantastic project protecting vulnerable hippos on the beautiful Black Volta River. It was voted the 3rd best conservation destination by the Independent Newspaper, UK in 2000.

After settling into our lodge, we visit a nearby Lobi village and compound meeting with the locals and learning about their fascinating traditional practices and ways of life. In the evening, we sit under the beautiful African night sky listening to traditional xylophone music around our bonfire. This is a perfect time to experience pito, the local brew before retiring for the night. We have a choice of accommodation this evening we can settle down in our traditional homestead or sleep on the roof as the locals do, gazing up at the beautiful African nights sky. The stars are amazingly vibrant with the Milky Way visible from here on a clear night, as most are.
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Day 5
After an early breakfast we walk down to the river for an early morning river safari in a traditional dug out canoe. The Black Volta is stunning and the canoe ride is a memorable experience. You will be dazzled by the beauty of the woodlands either side of us as we travel up the river to one of the hippo pools. To our left is Ghana and to our right is Burkina Faso. The bird viewing as we travel along this boarder is excellent with over 250 species recorded. Encountering the hippos is obviously the highlight of the safari. The feeling you experience is enhanced all the more as these beautiful mammals are endangered in Ghana. We can enjoy the breathtaking views as we return down river, we should meet some of the community fishermen which gives us the opportunity to observe their traditional fishing methods which have not changed for centuries. After lunch we visit the town of Wechiau, where we mix with the locals and experience everyday life within this community. The main ethnic groups in Wechiau are the Lobi, Biri and Wala’s, some Lobi and Biri elders can still be seen wearing traditional lip plugs. A visit to the centuries old mud and stick Palace is a must while in Wechiau and there may be an opportunity to meet the local Yaa Na chief.

After our evening meal, you have the option of sleeping at the hippo hide built on the banks of the Black Volta River. It is a wooden platform built on the canopy of a large tree above vegetation known to be an evening hotspot for grazing hippos. It is an amazing feeling lying under the beautiful African night sky listening to hippos feeding beneath. Alternatively you can stay at the Talowana lodge or sleep on the roof as the locals do, gazing up at the vibrant stars. On a clear night as most are it’s almost as if you can touch the stars, the Milky Way is also visible in this area of Ghana. The evening is sure to be an unforgettable experience which will live with you for ever.
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Day 6
We enjoy a leisurely breakfast, before bidding farewell to our new found friends in Talowona and Wechiau. We load up our vehicle and leave for Mole National Park, Ghana’s oldest, largest and best game viewing park. On our arrival, we check into the Mole hotel, which is the only accommodation in the area. Situated on a 250 metre high escarpment over looking this 4840km² park, it offers breathtaking views. It is an amazing feeling to be sitting around the pool on the hotel terrace watching African savannah elephants bathing in the two nearby watering holes which are inhabited by crocodiles. We will take an afternoon foot safari around the watering holes with armed guides. Many of our guests who have travelled extensively around Africa are amazed at how close we get to African Elephants the world’s largest land mammal on foot. There are over 93 mammals recorded in Mole, as we walk through the savannah and bush, we are likely to see troops of olive baboons and patas monkeys getting extremely close to these beautiful primates. Kob, bushbuck and waterbuck regularly come to the watering holes to drink, being cautious of the crocodiles lurking in the muddy waters. Deeper in the park, lion, leopard, hyena and African buffalo roam.

As we return to the hotel, we may encounter a family of giant warthogs or a crocodile sunning itself on the waters edge. After our evening meal, we enjoy the beautiful sun setting over the Savannah woodlands and gallery forest, which surrounds the hotel. A perfect ending to a wonderful day!
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Day 7
The day starts with a buzz as we set off early in the morning with our armed guide tracking the worlds largest land mammal, African Elephants on foot. We will dedicate the entire morning to tracking and getting as close as possible to these amazing mammals. We are sure to encounter many other animals during our trek, our experienced guides are on hand to identify some of the 300 species of birds found at Mole. The afternoon is free time for you to relax, enjoy your surroundings and the atmosphere of being so close to African nature.
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Day 8
After breakfast we leave Mole National park after 2 wonderful days, our destination is Kumasi. En route, we take a cultural excursion to Larabanga and the 14th century mud and stick mosque. This wonderfully preserved traditional Sudanese style mosque dates from around 1421 and reportedly houses one of the original copies of the Koran. A tour of Larabanga learning about the history of the mosque and the traditions of the villagers is a must. After which we continue our journey, stopping at the beautiful Kintampo waterfall to relax. Some of our more adventurous guests use this opportunity to experience the best shower in Ghana, an invigorating experience and a great way to cool off during our journey. After our refreshing stop, we set off on our final leg to Kumasi, on our arrival checking into our hotel to enjoy our evening meal around the pool. The rest of the evening is free time for you to relax.
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Day 9
After breakfast, we visit Kejetia market. Found in the heart of the city, Kejetia is the largest outdoor market in the whole of Western Africa. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience everyday life for the people in this great city. The market is a labyrinth of stalls nestled close together, and a hive of activity. Some stallholders sleep here in the evenings as trade rarely stops. We then start our journey towards Cape Coast; stopping for lunch en route in Obuasi. Ghana is the world’s second largest exporter of Gold and Obuasi is home to Ghana’s largest Gold mine. After lunch we continue our journey to Cape Coast, on arrival we visit Cape Coast Castle. This wonderfully preserved castle was once the headquarters of the Trans Atlantic enslaved African trade. Now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the castle offers a unique insight into Ghana’s recent and tragic enslaved African trade era. More enslaved Africans passed through Ghana’s Cape Coast Castle than any other in Western Africa.

After our tour we transfer to Hans Cottage Botel, This will be our accommodation for the evening. Hans is built over a lake containing Nile crocodiles and set in a beautiful location surrounded by tropical guinea rainforest. It is an original and comfortable establishment, which is teeming with bird life and an excellent place to stay during our time in Cape Coast.
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Day 10
Sadly your final day with us in Ghana, during our breakfast, in the restaurant on the lake, we can enjoy the sights and sounds of the many beautiful birds found in the surrounding vegetation and catch a glimpse of Nile crocodiles which inhabit the lake. Afterwards we will set off for Kakum National Park, Africa’s only rainforest canopy walkway. This is a truly beautiful, tropical guinea rainforest and the canopy walkway is sure to be a highlight of your time in Ghana. The canopy walkway consists of a series of 7 bridges, attached to 7 emerging trees, 40 metres above the rainforest floor. Prepare to take a deep breath as you walk the suspended bridges. You will marvel at the outstanding views that stretch for miles across this breathtaking rainforest, as you rest on the tree platforms between the bridges. We are sure you would agree that this is an exciting excursion never to be forgotten. We return to the park headquarters where we find an excellent information centre that offers a very informative overview of the parks flora and fauna. Over 40 different mammal species have been recorded within the park, which includes forest elephants, leopards and 6 primate species to mention just a few.

After a wonderful morning on the canopy we return to Hans Cottage, load up our vehicle and set off for Accra. If time permits we may have the opportunity to pick up some last minute souvenirs at the cultural center which is actually Ghana’s largest arts and crafts market. We enjoy an early evening meal before your transfer to the airport and departure after a wonderful 10 day tour.
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All our tour prices include
Collection, transportation in and around Ghana
Accommodation
All meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
Mineral water
Park entrance fees
All guide fees
Excursion costs
Professional care and attention

Price does not include
International Flights
Visa
Items of a personal nature or not mentioned in the itinerary above

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Ghana Wildlife Safari - Walking with Elephants

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