Name: The Gold Coast | Journey Across Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana
Start: 2025-11-27T02:00:00+04:00
End: 2025-12-08T06:50:00+04:00
Location: Dubai International Airport

**The birthplace of voodoo** and pivotal centres of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana have rich and complex histories and fascinating cultural traditions that continue today.

We’ll discover this little known corner of West Africa on **an 11-day journey** deep into these countries’ northern reaches and along the Gulf of Guinea coast, to the heart of the regions **where voodoo is still widely practiced** today.

We will wander the fetish markets for relics, sail through stilt villages, and discover the mysteries of ancient practices.

**Nigeria’s** former capital of **Lagos** is a sprawling mega-metropolis of an estimated 21 million people, and not only the largest city in Nigeria, but the most populous urban area on the African continent. Spreading inland from the Gulf of Guinea across Lagos Lagoon, the city has it all, from historical sites and beautiful beaches to vibrant culture and nightlife. We’ll discover a thriving **art scene** and explore the infamous **Makoko floating village**, an unplanned, impoverished community of stilt homes with the nickname of the 'Venice of Africa'.

In **Benin**, formerly known as Dahomey, we will get to know the roots of Voodoo beliefs and practices. The country is also famous for its wonderful local craftsmanship and numerous bustling bazaars. We’ll look through the often-surprising assortment of offerings at a fetish market, visit the **Python temple**, and explore the **Slave Route in Ouidah**, a place where enslaved peoples were sold and forced to bid farewell to their homeland forever.

With a population of around 20,000, **Ganvie is the largest lake village in Africa**, standing on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoue. 500 years later after its founding, the people of Ganvie have developed their own distinctive culture and lifestyle on the lake. Shaky houses, churches, mosques and other structures are built **using red ebony wood,** which is resistant to rotting and hence ideal for the watery conditions.

Neighboring **Togo** is a narrow strip of land located to the west of Benin. Another stronghold of Voodoo and animist practices, and a key region of the so-called "Slave Coast" in centuries past, it features picturesque hilltop villages and palm-lined beaches. Togo has suffered under the **colonisation of three different nations**, resulting in a melting pot of influences that linger to this day.

Here we will have the opportunity to learn about the customs of local communities, from **mudbrick castle** **architecture** of the Somba people and traditional ceremonies like the **Fire Dance** to animist beliefs reflected at **shrines and fetish markets**. We’ll make our through verdant landscapes and have close encounters with wildlife, visiting the **Valley of the Bats** and spotting rare butterflies in the green hills.

**Ghana**, the economic powerhouse of Western Africa, is a place where modernization intertwines with ancient rituals. Home to several very unique traditions, such their **elaborately decorated coffins**, Ghanians are open and welcoming people, and there will be excellent opportunities here to see the true face of Africa.

From encounters with Voodoo priests and slithering reptiles to immersion in colorful markets and lush jungles, this trip is a deep dive into the culture and landscapes of Benin, Togo and Ghana. Our journey through this little-known region will surely reveal plenty of surprises, leaving you will memories of a lifetime and a few stories to tell!

Take a quick look at what awaits you here: [https://vimeo.com/392949560](https://vimeo.com/392949560)

**Let’s go!**

**Day 1** :: NIG :: Lagos arrival and floating village
**Day 2** :: NIG-BEN :: Badagry and border crossing
**Day 3** :: BEN :: Amazons, snakes and slave port
**Day 4** :: BEN :: Stilt village and ancient palaces
**Day 5** :: BEN :: Sacred hills and fetish shrines
**Day 6** :: BEN-TOG:: Border crossing, mud castles and Fire Dance
**Day 7** :: TOG :: Crafts and Bat Valley
**Day 8** :: TOG :: Hills of Kouma Konda to capital Lomé
**Day 9** :: TOG-GHA :: Border crossing and Volta Region
**Day 10** :: GHA :: Akossombo waterfalls
**Day 11** :: GHA :: Accra and fantasy coffins / Departure

*Full details available to confirmed RSVPs.*

**Level of difficulty:** Easy
**Activities:** Sightseeing, walking
**Accommodation & meals:** Hotels and lodges, double sharing rooms. Meals excluded.

**Cost: AED 9,100** **excl. flights** until NOV 20th. Past this date cost will change.

**Flights:** approx. 3,400 AED
DAY 1 DXB-LOS Ethiopian
DAY 11 ACC-DXB Emirates

**Specifically excluded:** Meals, visas.

**Visas:**

**Nigeria:** Evisa or pre-arranged at 300-500 USD
**Benin:** E-visa 60 USD
**Togo:** E-visa 40 USD
**Ghana:** Pre-arranged at 260 USD

**Yellow Fever Certificate** is mandatory for this trip.

See yah in West Africa x

Trekkup Crew

[Whatsapp 0504848238](https://wa.me/971504848238) / [info@trekkup.com](http://info@trekkup.com/)
[Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup](https://linktr.ee/trekkup)

Piotr

Natalia Trekkup Admin

Trekkup Dubai ✔

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The Gold Coast | Journey Across Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana

Dubai International Airport

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The Gold Coast | Journey Across Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana

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