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Ghana Tour + Afrochella VIP Festival Experience!
December 24, 2021 – January 05, 2022
13 days, 12 Nights
Celebrating all things African Culture
ART ~ FOOD ~ MUSIC ~ LIFE
This trip will SELL OUT!!!
=Limited Space Available=
“Join us on this exciting adventure to Ghana, the ‘Gold Coast’ city of abundant love. This trip is packed with great value, and YES, we always provide a flexible payment plan, and non-golfers you are always welcomed.”
Debert Cook
Publisher
African American Golfer’s Digest
BOOK NOW! Make your $300 Deposit TODAY
before this trip sells out!
Call 212-571-6559
[SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $4,990]
[Call for LAND ONLY rate]
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- Roundtrip flight (IAD) Washington, DC/Dulles to (ACC) Accra, Ghana
- Beautiful hotel accommodations
- Tours to historic sites
- VIP Ticket to Afrochella!
- Options for golf, spa, hair braiding, custom-made African dresses/suits measured to fit you perfectly
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ALL THIS:
- Meet & greet assistance upon arrival and departure
- Group ground transport for airport transfer and optional select tours
- 12 nights Hotel accommodations in the indicated properties + day room on day of departure
- Meals as indicated with Breakfast daily, 12 Dinners
- Experienced English-speaking tour guide
- Admission to listed sites
- Bottled water per person during the tour
- Personalized Name Tag boosts your social networking during our trip
- The AAGD traveler luggage tag to help identify your bag
- The ‘Exclusively Chic’ AAGD Traveler T-Shirt!
*ITINERARY
Fri./December 24 – Day1:
ARRIVAL IN ACCRA AKWAABA!!! * WELCOME TO GHANA!!!
Christmas is a magical season of the year and while there’s truth to the notion that there’s no place like home for the holidays, Ghana offers you the unique experience of how much Christmas is celebrated here. This trip will offer the chance for one of the most unforgettable holidays of a lifetime.
Upon arrival in Accra, you will be welcomed, ushered through immigration and customs and transported in a private air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel in Accra. Check-in at your hotel, relax and prepare for a memorable night of delicious meal and soothing music.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal: Included: Dinner
Sat./December 25 – Day2: ACCRA
Welcome to the bustling city of Accra which today is a blend of modern-day edifices and colonial day’s structures that give you a feel of a great experience. This 120-year-old city has a number of historical. After breakfast, we set off to tour Accra visiting the following places:
- Independence Square where you will see the enclosed flame of African Liberation, which was lit by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1961.
- The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of Ghana’s first president Set in attractive gardens, there is an adjoining museum, which contains photos, artifacts and an insight into Dr. Nkrumah’s life.
- Your day’s visit ends at Jamestown Community-One of Accra’s most historic neighborhoods where history resides on every corner. Best known for its lighthouses (the first of which was constructed in 1875 by the British) as a navigational aid for trading vessels sailing through the Gulf of Guinea. The original structure was ruined but a larger and more improved lighthouse completed in 1921 is still functioning today.
- Tonight, we will enjoy Accra nightlife as we tastefully dine and enjoy African music at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
South African Airlines is the official flight sponsor
for Afrochella Festival!
Sun./December 26 – Day3: (Afrochella)
After breakfast, you will visit the following places: Visit the W.E.B. DuBois former home, now a museum and Center for the study of Pan Africanism · Drive through Flagstaff House, the official residence and administrative offices of the president (Ghana’s Whitehouse).
This afternoon, we will attend the Afrochella festival with your VIP ticket! This festival is in its third year and is designed to elevate and highlight the thrilling and thriving millennial talent from and in Africa. The day will feature a festive celebration of our culture in the form of Arts and Fashion Installations, Live painting, the best of African Culture and Live performances. Return to the hotel with beautiful memories of a truly authentic African experience.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mon./December 27 – Day4:
ACCRA- KROBO ODUMASE-AKOSOMBO
After a refreshing night and breakfast and check out, we will have a scenic drive to a small village called Krobo Odumase to witness a first-hand experience of beads making from specially crafted glasses- Cedi Beads Factory. We will have the opportunity to design our own beads using the traditional Krobo technique.
The bead-making craft has a long history in Ghana. Beads have been used in ceremonies of birth, coming of age, marriage, or death for the past 400 years. You will watch and participate in the whole bead-making process from beginning to end.
Enjoy a boat cruise on the Volta Lake before returning to Accra.
Hotel: Royal Senchi
Meal(s) lncluded: Breakfast, Dinner
Tue./December 28 – Day5:
AKOSOMBO-KUMASI
This morning after breakfast and check out, we set off to Kumasi, the seat of the Ashanti Empire to explore the legends of the famous Ashantis, whose legacies are still evident today.
Upon arrival, we enjoy a drive through the city with monuments dedicated to the memory of the great Ashanti people on our way to visit the Okomfo Anokye sword site, 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.
We shall also visit Manhyia Palace, the official residence of Ashanti kings (Asantehene) until 197 4, now a museum containing treasured items relating to the Ashanti Kingdom. This is where we obtain firsthand information on the legacies of this unified monastery.
Transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Wed./December 29 – Day6:
KUMASI AND ITS VICINITY
After a well-deserving breakfast, we check out of our hotel and travel to Kumasi, the seat of Ashanti empire, where legend is still evident today. At the outskirts of Kumasi, we will visit the Ashanti Craft villages of the surrounding lush countryside as follows:
- The village of Adanwomase where the famous Kente cloth is handmade on looms in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. See the Kente weavers in the process of creating Kente cloth in various intricate styles.
- The village of Ntonso, where artisan’s hand-stamp patterns on cotton cloth to make Adinkra Adinkra textiles are worn for funerals and other solemn occasions. Learn how the black dye is made from the bark of trees, and create your own Adinkra sash to take home.
- The woodcarving Village Of Ahwiaa, known for the talented craftsmen who fashion royal stools, fertility dolls and other crafts from wood.
Time permitting, drive pass the central market which serves a major marketing center for a number of traders from all over the country.
Return to the hotel for another night
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Thurs./December 30 – Day7:
KUMASI-ASSIN MANSO-CAPE COAST
Following a leisure breakfast, we depart to Cape Coast in Ghana’s Central Region.
This region has had the most significant effect on the lives of Africans in the diaspora. We will pass through small villages and arrive at Assin Manso, the burial site of two former slaves from Jamaica and the US whose remains were reinterred here in August 1998 during Ghana’s first Emancipation Day Celebration. You will see the “Slave River:” where our ancestors were washed before confinement in the slave dungeons to await shipment to the Americas.
Arrive in Elmina late evening and check-in your hotel.
Hotel: Ridge Royal Hotel
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Fri./December 31 – Day8:
CAPE COAST & ELMINA CASTLES
After breakfast, we travel a short distance to visit the Elmina Castle/Slave Dungeon- originally called Fort Sao Jorge de Elmina – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, completed in 1486 and were the first European made structures built in sub-Saharan Africa.
We continue to the Cape Coast dun2eon, where we will experience the emotional journey of going in the opposite direction of our ancestors, through the infamous “door of no return”. RETURNING through the “door of no return” be prepared to console your traveling companions as this is always an emotional experience.
Transfer to your hotel.
Hotel: Ridge Royal Hotel
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Sat./January 1 – Day9:
CAPE COAST
After a leisure breakfast, we visit the Kotokoraba Market in Cape Coast “Kotokoraba” the cradle of Cape Coast The Kotokoraba market is the economic hub of the region, with major trading stores located around it The market has existed for many decades and was a major trading site during the pre-independence era. It serves as a major point for all trade in the region and it is a hotspot for economic activity as most major activities in the city take place in and around the area.
Late afternoon you will participate in the “Fihankra” ceremony. Fihankra is a ceremony which seeks to reconnect people of African descent, who have been lost due to the transatlantic slave trade, to the motherland. This ceremony reconnects returnees with the cultural and spiritual ties that had been denied them for centuries. The final part of Fihankra includes a naming ceremony.
Hotel: Ridge Royal Hotel
Meal (s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Sun./January2 – Day10:
CAPE COAST-KAKUM NATIONAL PARK-ACCRA
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel for a visit to the Kakum National Park, Ghana’s most famous parks. Take a brief walking tour on the forest floor where you will learn how our ancestors lived in the forest See birds, butterflies and perhaps catch a glimpse of the forests over 40 species of mammals including monkeys and the reclusive forest elephant Proceed to the canopy walk Kakum is home to Africa’s only aerial walkway through the tree canopy, 1000-foot-long and even- bridge walkway with viewing platforms that reach heights over 150 feet above the ground.
Visit ‘Global Mama’s’ -an inspiring non-profit and Fair-trade organization, assisting women in Ghana to become economically independent During this visit you can learn about the challenges and successes of running these kinds of projects. Get crafty and turn your hand to learning about the traditional West African art of Batik making.
Arrive in Accra late afternoon.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mon./January 3 – Day11:
ACCRA
This morning, enjoy the day at leisure.
You may also want to experience worship service at a local church as you are sure to enjoy how Ghanaians thank their maker for ushering them safely into the new year.
Or at your own pace, enjoy sunbathing at the La Pleasure Beach.
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Tue./January 4 – Day12:
ACCRA (SHOPPING EXPERIENCE)
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up at your own convenience to
experience some of Accra’s most authentic shopping opportunities including Crafts, Carvings, Authentic African Art, exquisite fabrics and custom-made clothing.
Your day begins with a visit to the Makola Market which is the biggest open market in Accra. This fascinating market has been compartmentalized into various sections to make shopping easy for buyers. You will have the chance to walk through this unusual busy market and even get the chance to bargain for stuff you would like to purchase.
You will also stop at the city’s arts and crafts market to try out our bargaining skills.
After the chaos at the Makola Market, the next two shops in Osu will be a bit of a relief. You continue to the fashionable Oxford street that has colorful stalls
Hotel: Golden Tulip Accra
Meal(s): None Included / Dine on your own at your leisure
Wed./January 5 – Day13:
ACCRA-DEPART
Today is at leisure but with the assistance of your driver and guide; decide on your excursions and activities.
In the evening, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight home
Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Dinner
**Important Notice: Your passport must have four blank visa pages (two facing pages – two facing pages) for any visas and entry stamps upon arrival in Ghana. (Please make sure the blank pages say “Visa” at the top) If visiting other countries, more will be required. Also, your passport must be valid for six months after the intended date of return from Ghana.** Only MACHINE READABLE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (MRTDs) will be accepted to enter Ghana with effect from 24 November 2015. Please note that extended passports won’t be accepted any longer. For this reason, we advise you to closely check your travel documents.
As a general precaution, all travelers are advised to carry a photocopy of the photo/bio information page of their passport and keep it in a location separate from their passport. Also recommended is that you take a picture of your passport with your cell phone to keep it handy.
Safety Notices
For international travel advisory and emergency, alerts check the U.S. Department of State website. If you have lost your passport or wallet, please contact the local police department and file a report. Once you have done this, contact the U.S. Embassy in Ghana
U.S. Embassy Ghana
No. 24, Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra
P.O. Box GP 2288
Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 (0) 30 274 1000
COMMUNICATING While Abroad
DOWNLOAD WhatsApp before you leave the USA for easy WiFi use in communicating with the tour group, friends and family back home during your international travel. This application is available for Android and IOS.
Not included in the trip price
- Cost of visa
- Travel insurance
- Other meals not listed
Optional Tours you may select optional tours on your own and pay in advance, or purchase onsite, should the tours still be available - Golf is an optional tour and is not included in the trip price. There will be a golfers conference call to discuss courses, playing opportunities, transportation, tee times, costs, dress code, and etiquette. Golfers are not restricted to group rounds and may venture out to play on their own should they wish to do so via taxi/Uber.
- Tips for luggage porter at the airport coming/going (est. $3US per bag coming/going)
- Tips for the Guide/Escort/Driver & his helper (est. $3-$5 per day)
- Tips for servers at dining areas, at hotels and area restaurants (est. 10%-15% per meal)
- Personal expenses
*As with any travel programs this itinerary is subject to change.
Travel insurance is highly recommended to protect your trip and we can offer several affordable packages for your consideration.
Baggage: Group customers are subject to airline guidelines regarding checked and carry-on baggage which is noted in Contract of Carriage. Each group customer may check one personal bag complying with the airline’s guidelines free of charge. All other baggage fees apply as stated on the baggage fees page on www.southafricanairwayscom. Bags must NOT exceed overall dimensions (length + width + height) and must NOT exceed 50 pounds (22.73 kilos). Overweight and oversized bags may be checked on a load availability basis, for a fee, per the baggage fees page on www.southafricanairways.com. The airline is not liable for damage, loss or spoilage to musical instruments, electronics and fragile or perishable goods. International destinations have additional baggage restrictions. For a complete list of baggage guidelines, including liability limitations, please see the airline website
SMILE!
By participating in our programs and events you are consenting to be photographed/videotaped for material to be used in our publication and marketing efforts.