West African Kingdoms
Overview
Highlights
- West Africa is a world of colour, rhythm, festivity, dance and music – experience it in Bobo Dioulasso, Abomey and Ganvie
- Witness the stunning intricate ornamentation of the pottery-like houses of the Kassena people in Ouagadougou and the nearby village of Tiebele
- Adventure though West Africa’s premiere wildlife area – Pendjari National Park – on an afternoon game drive
- Jump in to the cool, refreshing waters of Tanougou Falls on the outskirts of Natitingou
- Learn about the artistic, reverent and still immensely popular religion of Voodoo in Ouidah, and meet some of the local practitioners
- Look out for hippos (believed to be sacred in this area) on a boat ride with local fisherman on Lake Tengrela
- Discover the story of Ghana - from ancient to modern history - and its culture through music, clothing and art at the National Museum in Accra
- Rub shoulders with the chiefs of Kumasi and the King of Ashanti at the Akwasidae Festival at Manhyia Palace
- Unwind on the Ghanaian coast at the beautifully remote Axim Beach
- Visit the atmospheric St George’s Castle and unearth the nation’s haunting history of slavery
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
Welcome to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. On arrival at Ouagadougou International Airport, you will be met by a Peregrine representative and transferred to your hotel (approximately 20 minutes). There will be a meeting sometime this evening, or first thing ...
Travel into the green, lush and cooler climes of the west today to the town Bobo-Dioulasso (approximately 5 hours), where you will spend the next two nights. No highlight in Bobo-Dioulasso is greater than its music, with the town known as the Music Capital of Burkina ...
Bobo’s tree-lined streets give it a calming feel, but at it’s centre lies the busy, bustling Grand Marche, renowned as the crossroads of numerous tribes and an excellent place to experience the colour and atmosphere of a typical city market. It’s filled with everythin...
Today you will take a short drive (approximately 3 hours) to one of Burkina’s prettiest towns – Banfora. This serene, sleepy town is set against lush greens hills of sugarcane, surrounded by waterfalls, small lakes and wonderful natural places to visit. You’ll spend t...
Drive south-east (approximately 3 hours) towards Gaoua, a place of secret rituals, wooden fetishes (objects believed to have supernatural power), and steeped in ancestral significance. It is home to the guarded Lobi people, and is a fascinating and culturally distinct...
Today you will visit a traditional Lobi house meet the family before heading to the Poni Museum dedicated to the Lobi culture. It's then a 7 hour drive to the Reserve de Nazinga. Reserve de Nazinga was established in 1979 by Canadian brothers. It is home to elephants...
This morning enjoy a morning game drive in the reserve. You then set off for a full day excursion to the unique village of Teibele, close to the Ghanian border and home to the Kassena people (approximately 1.5 hours). The town is known for its unusual architecture – p...
This morning you will visit the local cultural centre. Here you can learn more about the culture of Burkina Faso and purchase excellent quality carvings, brass work and other handmade pieces. The rest of the day is free to explore the city.
Leave Burkina Faso behind today and head to the second country on your West African adventure – Benin. This relatively small, club-shaped country was once home to one of the most powerful empires in West Africa - the Dahomey Kingdom, which lasted for almost 300 years....
Today travel south to the town of Natitingou (approximately 3 hours), a great base for exploring the tribes, mountains, and wildlife of the surrounding region. En route you’ll make a stop at the most impressive waterfall in the county, Tanougou Falls, surrounded by th...
Today starts with a 5-hour drive to Dassa Zoume. On the way, see how the countryside becomes less green and how the palm trees are replaced with acacias and boabs. When you arrive, embark on a 2-hour hike to visit the altars and shrines of voodoo on the Dassa Hill. Da...
Continue south today (approximately 1-2 hours) to Abomey, the ancient capital of the Dahomey Kingdom. The city is filled with palaces, shrines, altars, and monuments to what was once one of the greatest empires in West Africa. Each successive king built his own palace...
Today you will discover more of the rich cultural heritage of Abomey, starting with a visit to the underground villages of Agongointo-Zougoundo. This once subterranean community consists of a series of around 50 caves dug 10 metres in to the earth and divided into sec...
Travel towards the coast with a short drive (approximately 3 hours) to the port of Calavi. From there you will climb aboard a motorized 'pirogue' (dugout canoe, the traditional boat used by west African fishermen). Your destination is the lake village of Ganvie. This ...
Today continue on in your motorized pirogue to Benin's administrative capital, Porto Novo. Porto Novo is a port on an inlet of the Gulf of Guinea and is Benin's second largest city. Originally developed as a port for the slave trade by the Portugese, the city is full ...
The town has a fascinating and colourful history, having been an important centre during the slave trade. The Portuguese, English and French all constructed forts here to protect their trading interests, one of which now houses the Ouidah Museum of History museum and ...
Today you will leave Benin behind and cross the border into Togo, one of Africa’s smallest countries. Drive approximately 45 minutes to Lake Togo before continuing by boat to visit Togoville - a historic town renowned for its royal palace and colonial church. It was h...
Today enter your final country, crossing the border into the English-speaking Ghana (approximately 6 hours, not including time spent at the border). It will certainly be a welcome adjustment after travelling through so many French-speaking countries. Upon arrival you ...
Leave Accra and drive inland (approximately 6 hours) to the ‘Garden City’ of Kumasi. This one-time capital of a powerful kingdom is nicknamed for its beautiful flora. The city is the beating heart of Ashanti history and is seen as the home of Ghanaian culture. It’s al...
Kumasi is a royal city, home to the Ashanti King, who resides at the new Manhyia Palace. Today you will visit the museum of the palace, which sits close to the current royal residence. It was built by the British in 1925 and was home to the Ashanti Kings until 1974. I...
Leave the Ashanti Kingdom behind and travel south to Axim. En route, you will visit a cocoa plantation. Ghana is the second largest exporter of cocoa in the world, and their beans are held up at the best around. At the plantation you’ll find out more about the history...
Take the day to soak up the utterly relaxed atmosphere of the beach and simply sit back, relax, or stroll the quiet shores. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more energetic then you can take part in one of the many activities that Axim Beach offers. If the wav...
This morning you’ll get on the road back towards the end of your adventure, with today’s destination as Elmina (approximately 3 hours). In the city you’ll discover the dark history of the slave trade at St George’s Castle. The fortification is one of 20 or so ‘slave c...
Today return to the capital city of Accra, stopping en-route for a short walk in the township of Cape Coast (total driving time 3 hours). Here, in what was the centre of British administration and capital of the Gold Cost between 1700 and 1877, see the colonial archit...
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Peregrine Adventures Reviews & Ratings
Other Peregrine Adventures Reviews
Good impression overall
My first trip with this agency, and I will not hesitate to recommend it to friends and family. The right mix of planned activities and free time. Good central locati...
Ruth
Mar 2020
very reasonable
Thank you to Tucan Travel for early cancellation notification of June tours to Africa and the response, which is very reasonable. Even if matters improve by then, ar...
Expect I'm not the only one
they are 'fair weather friends' I did not receive so much as an email advising of changes in the cancellation policy, discovered when I contacted them to cancel. I n...
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