The slave trade resulted in the trans-shipment of millions of Africans as slaves from the continent to the Caribbean and Southern American states. On this tour we trace our route from the “Salaga Slave Market” through the “last bath” to the “door of no return” where we will make a grand re entry to celebrate our emancipation.
| SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT | $400 | ||||||
| DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | Accra | ||||||
| DEPARTURE TIME | Please arrive at least 2 hour before the journey. | ||||||
| INCLUDED |
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1
Akwaaba! Arrive and check into your hotel where you will receive a traditional welcome ceremony. Overnight at hotel in Accra
2
Breakfast at hotel. Explore Accra, the capital of Ghana. The city boasts glittering beaches, monumental buildings, museums, libraries, galleries, traditional markets and lively nightlife. Accra’s architecture reflects its colonial history, with 17th century castles standing alongside modern skyscrapers. A veritable melting pot of cultures, the city’s central financial and shopping districts contrast sharply with the less affluent residential areas surrounding the urban core. Enjoy a local lunch, and bargain at the Arts Market. Overnight at hotel in Accra
3
Early breakfast at hotel. Depart to Salaga to receive Antonement. Here you will participate in a feet washing ceremony by the traditional elders on the outskirt of the community, pay courtesy call on the Chief and elders. Visit the sites where the slave trade started in the Gold Coast known as “the Salaga Slave Market”, the slave wells and cemetery. Here you will find families whose ancestors were slave raiders and the replicas are still available in some of the family homes. In honor of this special commemoration village elders will perform an atonement ceremony and the symbolic slaughtering of a sheep. Return to Tamale where you will spend the night.
4
Today we explore the Ashanti kingdom. Visit Manhyia Palace Museum where you will obtain firsthand information on the legacies of the Ashanti kingdom, a regal history that dates back to 1700 and is told with relics and artifacts. Enjoy a drive through the city of Kumasi to view monuments dedicated to the memory of the great Ashanti people. Overnight at hotel in Kumasi
5
After breakfast we check out for a drive through the former slave route to Assin Manso. This was the final transit point for enslaved Africans before being shipped off to the new world. You will have the opportunity to visit the slave dungeons as well as the final resting place for two ancestors whose mortal remains were returned from the USA and Jamaica and re-interred in Ghana. Enshrine your place in history by signing the Returnees Memorial Wall at the former Slave River and slave market.
The Emancipation Day Celebration is opened with a Grand Durbar of Traditional Chiefs and people of the Central Region. Witness this grand, colorful and spectacular event that showcases the pomp and pageantry of Ghana’s traditional rulers, dressed in rich Kente and adorned in glittering gold jewelry. Discover the African rhythm in you as you dance to the beat of the ‘fromtomfrom’ drums. Late afternoon departure for Cape Coast – Elmina where you will spend night.
6
Breakfast at hotel. This morning we embark on an emotional tour to the Castles, Slave Dungeons and Door of no Return. Commemorate the departure and middle passage of Africans more than 280 years ago, when they were transported via slave ships to the Americas. Upon landing on the shores of Cape Coast, make your way to the castle where your will enter through the “Door of No Return.” That was the last door African ancestors passed through on their way to board the ships to the new world. During the slave trade, that door was a symbol of hopelessness. To modern pilgrims, it is a “Door of Return,” a symbol of hope and healing. You will explore the grounds of this infamous castle, including its slave dungeons. Every part of the castle has historical significance, as it also houses the West African Historical Museum, established by the Smithsonian Institute in collaboration with the Ghanaian government in 1994. Tour the museum and watch the film ‘Crossroads of People, Crossroads of Trade.’ Overnight in Elmina
7
Check out after breakfast for a drive to Accra. Spending the afternoon for your last minutes shopping or relaxing by the pool while soaking up the African sun! Overnight at hotel in Accra
8
Breakfast at hotel. Morning at leisure. Late afternoon check out for airport formalities and final departure