HIGHLIGHTS OF WEST AFRICA
A cultural tour of Senegal, Ghana, Togo & Benin

Day 1 (SAT) Arrive In Dakar, SENEGAL
International flight arrives Dakar. You are met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. Day at leisure to relax and refresh.
Overnight at Novotel Dakar or Similar 3 nights (D)

Day 2 (SUN) Dakar – Saint Louis Island - Dakar
A UNESCO World Heritage Site (2000) Founded as a French colonial settlement in the 17th century, Saint-Louis was urbanized in the mid-19th century. It was the capital of Senegal from 1872 to 1957 and played an important cultural and economic role in the whole of West Africa. The location of the town on an island at the mouth of the Senegal River, its regular town plan, the system of quays, and the characteristic colonial architecture give Saint-Louis its distinctive appearance and identity. (B, D)

Day 3 (MON) Dakar - Goree Island - Dakar
Today, visit the famous/infamous Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1978). Observe the "Door of No Return" through which millions of Africans passed on the way to slavery in the Americas. The tour includes a visit to the ethnographic museum and a lecture by the curator on the history of Goree Island. (B, D)

Day 4 (TUE) Dakar / Accra, GHANA
This morning transfer to the airport for flight to Accra. Meet & transfer to the hotel. If time permits then a city tour of Accra will be provided.
Overnight at Novotel Accra City Center Hotel or Similar 1 night (B, D)

Day 5 (WED) Accra – Kumasi
After breakfast, depart Accra for a 4 hours drive to Kumasi to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Asante Traditional Buildings (1980). To the north-east of Kumasi, these are the last material remains of the great Asante civilization, which reached its high point in the 18th century. Since the dwellings are made of earth, wood and straw, they are vulnerable to the onslaught of time and weather. Later in the afternoon, continue to see the Okomfo Anokye Sword, an important symbol of Ashanti unity that marks the spot where the Golden Stool descended from the sky and has been in place for 300 years. Legend says the Ashanti Kingdom would collapse should the sword ever be removed. Visit Manhiya Palace, which remains in use by the Asantehene today and houses a small historical museum.
Overnight at Sir Max Hotel or Similar 1 night (B, D)

Day 6 (THU) Kumasi - Cape Coast
After breakfast, visit Kumasi Central Market (also known as Kejetia Market), the largest open air market in West Africa where more than 10,000 vendors sell just about everything imaginable. Depart for a 3 hours drive to Cape Coast Castle, which was the seat of the British Colonial administration until 1877 when the capital was moved to Accra. The Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1979). Arrive at Elmina Castle. Built in 1482, and is said to be the oldest European built structure outside of Europe, and is also known as St Georges Castle. The castle was used during the Anglo Dutch War of 1664-1666 by Admiral de Ruyter, commander of the Dutch fleet. The harbor next to Elmina Castle has numerous pirogues preparing to go to sea and offers one of West Africa’s greatest photo opportunities. Elmina Castle is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Depart Elmina castle for a drive through the township of Elmina where you may visit to the European cemetery.
Overnight at Elmina Beach Resort or Similar 1 night (B, D)

Day 7 (FRI) Cape Coast – Accra
A two hours drive brings us back to Accra for a tour of James Town, a part of Accra featuring colonial era architecture including a 30 km high lighthouse and Fort James. Continue to Usher Town, where you will see Fort Ussher, a former prison where Kwame Nkrumah was once held. See Osu Castle (also known as Christiansbourg Castle), constructed by Denmark in the 1600s and the seat of government from 1876 to the present. Continue to the National Theater to see a display of traditional instruments and carvings including "male" and "female" handcrafted drums. See the traditional crafts and other ethnographic displays at the National Museum. Check in hotel.
Overnight at Novotel Accra City Centre Hotel or Similar 1 night (B, D)

Day 8 (SAT) Accra – Volta – Koutamamakou - Kara, TOGO
After breakfast visit Tafi Atome sanctuary in the Volta Region. Tafi Atome is surrounded by an indigenous tropical forest with very high floral concentration. In this forest one could find the endangered, playful and rather sacred True Mona Monkeys. Believing the monkeys to be messengers to the gods and their protectors, the chiefs and people of Tafi have been protecting them for the past 200 years. Visit also Wli falls, the highest water falls in Ghana. It is perennial as water cascades throughout the year. It is located at the edge of the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, which has hundreds of fruit bats and a few monkeys and antelopes. The water falls from a height of about 1,600 feet. Depart Ghana through to Kara in northern Togo.
Overnight at Kara Hotel or Similar 2 nights (B, D)

Day 9 (SUN) Kara – Koutamamakou - Kara
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (2004)
The Koutammakou landscape in north-eastern Togo, which extends into neighbouring Benin, is home to the Batammariba whose remarkable mud tower-houses (Takienta) have come to be seen as a symbol of Togo. In this landscape, nature is strongly associated with the rituals and beliefs of society. The 50,000-ha cultural landscape is remarkable due to the architecture of its tower-houses which are a reflection of social structure; its farmland and forest; and the associations between people and landscape. Many of the buildings are two storeys high and those with granaries feature an almost spherical form above a cylindrical base. Some of the buildings have flat roofs, others have conical thatched roofs. They are grouped in villages, which also include ceremonial spaces, springs, rocks and sites reserved for initiation ceremonies. (B, D)

Day 10 (MON) Kara – Lome
After breakfast then continue with the tour of Kara Township then depart for a 5 hours drive to Lome, Togo.
Overnight at Corinthia 2 Fevrier Hotel or Similar 3 nights (B, D)

Day 11 (TUE) Lome – Voodoo Ceremony - Lome
After breakfast, depart Lome to visit a voodoo village. On arrival in the village, receive a warm welcome and observe libation by the chief priest, the Hounon. Witness a real voodoo ceremony in which participants get into a trance at the rhythm of drums and ritual songs. Return to Lome for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 12 (WED) Lome
Visit Independence Square, the National Museum, Lome craftsmen village, Lome Central market (realm of the famous Nana Benz), the fishing harbor, the fetish market, and the traditional drugstore for the locals. (B, D)

Day 13 (THU) Lome – Cotonou, BENIN
After three hours drive we reach Cotonou, Benin. City tour of Cotonou and of Porto Novo. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Brazilian Church and the 300 year-old Palace of King Toffa.
Overnight at Hotel Du Lac or Similar 3 nights (B, D)

Day 14 (FRI) Cotonou – The Royal Palaces of Abomey - Cotonou
UNESCO World Heritage Site (1985) From 1625 to 1900, 12 kings succeeded one another at the head of the powerful Kingdom of Abomey. With the exception of King Akaba, who had his own separate enclosure, they all had their palaces built within the same cob-wall area, in keeping with previous palaces as regards the use of space and materials. The royal palaces of Abomey are a unique reminder of this vanished kingdom. (B, D)

Day 15 (SAT) Cotonou – Ouidah - Cotonou
Spend the day in Ouidah, the birthplace of Voodoo. Visit the Museum of History where the exhibits focus on the slave trade and Benin’s links with Brazil and the Caribbean. Visit Kindji market square. Visit the Cathedral and the famous Temple of Sacred Pythons. After a lunch break the tour of Ouidah continues including the slave trading post, the sacred forest. Walk the “Road of the slaves”, visit the place of the common grave, the tree of forgetfulness and the “gate of no return." (B, D)

Day 16 (SUN) Depart Cotonou
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight out. Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)

---

Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures Jan 09, Feb 27, Mar 20, Apr 17, May 08, Jun 26, Jul 17, Aug 21, Sep 18, Oct 16, Nov 06 & Dec 18
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar category Any airfares & Airport/border taxes Meals as indicated (B= Breakfast, D= Dinner) Insurance & Visa fees All transfers and sightseeing with services of local English speaking driver/guide. Tips/Gratitude to Drivers & Guides Entrance fees to museums and sites
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 5560 US $ 1280
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1600 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 2100
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 10 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.