The Gold Coast | Journey Across Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana & Côte d’Ivoire

The birthplace of voodoo and pivotal centres of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, 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.

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.

Côte d’Ivoire is the undisputed cocoa superpower: about 40% of the world’s chocolate begins its journey here. Add coffee, palm oil, and rubber plantations stretching to the horizon, and you get a country that essentially fuels your morning routine and your dessert cravings. Along the coast, palm-fringed beaches and historic trading towns tell stories of centuries of commerce and cultural exchange, while inland communities preserve ancient traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs that continue to shape everyday life.

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 West Africa. 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

Let’s go!

DAY 1 / NIG :: Lagos
DAY 2 / NIG-BEN :: Cotonou
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 - CDI :: Accra and fantasy coffins + ACC-ABJ
DAY 12 / CDI :: Abidjan + flight to San Pedro, boat on Nero river
DAY 13 / CDI :: Grand Bereby, Dodo river + stay at turtle beach
DAY 14 / CDI :: drive back and 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 14,280 excluding flights until OCT 05th.
Past this date cost will change.

Flights by Ethiopian + Emirates:
DAY 1 :: DXB-LAG
DAY 14 :: ABJ-DXB

Specifically excluded: Meals, visas, single supplement.

Visas:

Nigeria: E-visa (cost passport specific)
Benin: E-visa 60 USD
Togo: E-visa 40 USD
Ghana: transit visa on arrival 50-100 USD
Cote d'ivoire: 75 USD

Yellow Fever Certificate is mandatory for this trip.

See yah in West Africa x

Trekkup Crew

Whatsapp 0504848238 / info@trekkup.com
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