Emancipation Home (trip)
Emancipation Home
- Accra ,Ghana
- Active & Adventure
| from £795* per person | 8 Days | July |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Ashanti African Tours | 24 people max | |
Ghana was the first sub Saharan country to gain its independence in 1957, the Gold Coast as it was formerly known has been occupied for more than 300000 years. Europeans landed on the soil of the Gold Coast in an attempt to find a back door to India, soon trade started between them and the local people. They used the Barter trade system where items were exchanged between each other, Europeans brought household items like cooking utensils, mirrors, used clothes and schnapps in exchange for gold, ivory and cotton amongst other things. With the discovery of the new world (America), African labour became very crucial to Europeans who owned sugar, cotton and rice plantations. The Europeans built at least 60 forts and castles stretching from Senegal, Gori inland to Portuguese Angola. On the West African Coast, there were 45 outstanding forts and castles, with the Gold Coast (now Ghana) having 32 of these. With Ghana having more than 70% of the forts and castles found in West Africa on its coastline the majority of enslaved Africans were sent away passing through Ghana more than any other West African country. From the north of the Gold Coast, beyond Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon, the enslaved Africans in chains and shackles were forced to march to the Salaga Market.
The Salaga Market was the second largest market in the region, from here the ancestors were forced to continue their journey for over 300 miles whilst being subjected to whips and having to cross rivers and streams through dense forests, wild animals, almost naked to Assin Manso and the enslaved African river. Assin Manso was the largest enslaved African market in the Gold Coast and was where enslaved Africans were taken for their last bath before transportation to Cape Coast Castle, formerly the headquarters to the West African Trans Atlantic Enslaved African trade era. There are still over 20 castles and fortifications dotting Ghana's coastline today, all with a harrowing story to tell.
Many Africans in the Americas and Africans in the Caribbean have been able to trace their roots back to Ghana. One of the first to arrive from Brazil were the family of Professor Azomah Nelson, the former boxing champion, who settled in Brazil House, which is the central part of Accra Ghana's capital. They made the emotional journey retracing the steps their ancestors were forced to make all those years ago. For many, this is an emotional and thought provoking experience, which has given the majority an overwhelming feeling that they have returned home.
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Locations visited/nearby
Ghana, Africa
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Ashanti African Tours:
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Reviewer: Marcy, Leah and Shana Bernbaum
I and my two daughters (ages 26 and 30) just returned from a month's trip to West Africa where we visited Morocco, Mali, and Ghana. For all three trips we went through travel companies (local companies in Mali and Ghana and an Australian company - Intrepid - in the case of Morocco). While we thoroughly enjoyed all three visits, as well as finding them very educational, the one that really stood out was the one to Ghana. A large part of our positive experience is due to the way Ashanti African Tours organized and managed our trip. The highly positive experience started with planning the trip. I told Mark that I was a retired foreign service officer with USAID, had spent most of my life in development (including living in Kenya), that I am a frustrated applied cultural anthropologist who is very interested in the cultures of the countries I visited, and that I didn't want a typical "tourist" trip. I also told him that my daughters (a fourth year medical student and a school teacher) were also very interested in programs with an ecological focus; as well as education and health systems in Ghana. Based on what we told him, Mark put together a trip that covered all of our interests. In 7 days and six nights (unfortunately we had limited time) he organized a trip that collectively met our interests. We went to Kumasi which is the seat of the Ashanti kingdom where we visited a Museum on the grounds of the King's Palace. We went to craft villages near Kumasi where we saw Kente cloth being weaved. We went to a Cacao plantation (cacao is one of Ghana's major experts), which my school teacher daughter was very interested in given she had done a unit on chocolate with her students. We went to two fascinating ecotourism spots supported by USAID: a forest with sacred monkeys (including a grave yard for the monkeys) attached to two villages where the people worshipped the monkeys; a hippo reserve attached to a fascinating village (where we stayed in a compound built for visitors and had the local villagers come to dance for us, very spontaneous, they had lots of fun as did we!). In both cases we went into family compounds in the villages and had a chance to talk to family members. We also went to a game park which is known for elephants. What we particularly liked about the trip was that, with the exception of the visit to the game park, we didn't see any other tourists: we ate in local restaurants, stayed in hotels (2 and 3 star) which were primarily frequented by Ghanaians. In addition, and a real treat, we went to Mark's home in Kumasi for dinner where -- in addition to having a wonderful Ghanaian dinner -- we met and talked to Mark's wonderful Ghanaian extended family. The trip was definitely value for money. Another plus was that accompanying us on the tour (in addition to Mark and his brother in law who is the driver) was a gentleman who had just been named Ghana Cultural Guide for the year 2006 by the government. He was terrific: we learned so much from him (we also learned a lot from Mark, it was fascinating getting his take on customs and culture in Ghana as well as the take of the cultural guide). We also loved the exchange: Mark was as interested in us as we were in him and Ghana. This made, early on, for a wonderful atmosphere in the car and as the trip developed. Finally, I really appreciated Mark's sincere interest in the country. In addition to the program being a "responsible" travel program, Mark is personally very interested in becoming involved in integrated rural development through eco-tourism. He would like to support a community living near a wildlife program with opportunities for income through tourism, assure conservation of the wildlife, and assist the community with development needs (water, solar energy, education, etc.). Ashanti African Tours are a terrific company, in my humble opinion
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Reviewer: Mrs. Holly Pierce
located in
California
My husband and I have travelled to many out-of-the-way spots on this earth, always under the guidance of major adventure travel companies. When it came to Ghana which finds itself on no major companies’ itineraries, we knew we were taking a chance by signing on by internet for a cultural tour of Ghana with a company unknown to us. What a delightful surprise it was to travel with Mark William's Ashanti African Tours! Our group was small and we never felt as if we received less than the most attentive treatment. Tropical Ghana is not for the faint-hearted, but our team made every possible effort to ensure our safety, comfort and pleasure. With Mark, Peter and Prince's longstanding ties with the locals, our group of six were able to see things and connect with people in a way not possible within the parameters of a larger crowd-the itinerant palm wine brewers, the dealer of West African antiques hidden away in a nondescript neighbourhood, a cheerful group of Ghanaian nurses on holiday. And you ain't seen nothing' 'til you've seen the huge, smiling king of the Ashanti's dance for his rapturous subjects-His Majesty's still got that swing! As a long-time resident of Ghana and with his team of the most knowledgeable national guides, Mark Williams and Ashanti African Tours deliver an authentic and stimulating experience-and create warm bonds of friendship-you will not soon forget.
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Reviewer: Doris, Uncle Tommie, Millard and Sherelle (Septemb
Dear Mark, Diana, Corner, Lydia, Peter, Mama, family and friends: There are not enough words in the entire world that would express our sincere thoughts, love, and care that we have for each of you. Each of you must come to visit us in the U.S. This is an order! Thank you Mark and Diana for taking all the uncertainty out of this tour for us, the scheduling and unscheduling, the yes, then - No! Changes and re-arranging. We owe you so,-so-,so-,so-much. To invite all of us into your personal lives, your home, fed us, and made each of us to feel welcome. I, (we), will never be able (in a million years) to tell you - Thank you. We will see you in July 2007. We all had a great time.
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
Itinerary
Day 1
You arrive on the motherland at Kotoka International Airport Accra, the capital city, where you will be met by your brothers and sisters from Ashanti African Tours. We set off for your hotel where our expert guide, who will accompany you for the duration of the tour, will check you in and offer you Akwaaba (Welcome), before briefing you on all aspects of the pilgrimage.
Day 2
After a relaxing breakfast we travel to Teshie where we are greeted by Nii who will perform a traditional naming ceremony for our group, once we have all received our African names which are a reflection of the day we were born on we start our tour of Accra with a visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park the final resting place of Ghana's founder. After lunch we visit Ussher Fort and the Du Bois center which is the former home and final resting place of Dr William W. Burghardt Du Bois, who led the Pan-African congress between 1919 and 1927.
Day 3
After your breakfast, we head west along the Gold Coast to the Central Region, on our arrival we check into your beautiful beach front hotel, before setting off for the Cape Coast Castle a UNESCO World Heritage site, which held more enslaved Africans captive than any other in the region's history. In the evening we join our brothers and sisters in Cape Coast for the emancipation midnight candlelight procession, which we participate in annually on the 31st July to commemorate the Reverential Night.
Day 4
This morning after a good breakfast we visit Kakum National Park and the world famous Kakum canopy walkway unique in this part of the world. After this exciting excursion we enjoy lunch at Hans Cottage Botel near Kakum, which is built over a lake containing Nile crocodiles. In the afternoon we visit the Castle of St. George, the oldest extent colonial building in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dating from 1482, this castle is steeped in the tragic history of the enslaved African trade era.
Day 5
On our way to Kumasi capital of the Ashanti region, we make an emotional stop at Assin Manso, an important town along the enslaved African trade routes. We pass through Obuasi where we find Ghana's largest Gold mine before visiting the Manhiya Palace home to the Asantehene King of the powerful Ashanti Empire.
Day 6
A morning tour of Kumasi, visiting West Africa's largest outdoor market and the national cultural center, before lunch. In the afternoon we visit Bonwire, home of the world famous Kente cloth before proceeding to Ntunso where traditional Adinkra stamps originate, that have adorned beautiful fabrics for centuries. A late afternoon visit to a coco farm before returning to our hotel in the evening
Day 7
A relaxing breakfast before setting off for Accra, en route visiting Boti waterfalls (seasonal) near Koforidua. After lunch, we continue our journey stopping at the Aburi Botanical gardens which are set in a beautiful location and were founded in 1890. A stop at the nearby Aburi craft village is a must before our arrival back in Accra.
Day 8
The day is at your leisure, you can relax at your hotel or spend the day buying more souvenirs. In the early evening we enjoy our final meal together, before we transfer you to the airport to catch your flight after an unforgettable 8 days with your new family, Ashanti African Tours in the motherland Ghana.
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