4 countries of West Africa: Côte d'Ivoire - Ghana - Togo - Benin

Late evening arrival in Abidjan. Preparing for the Expedition.  

Today is a day for Abidjan itself, an old colonial city founded by the French in the late 18th century. We explore local architecture, cuisine, souvenir markets.  

We start from the city of Grand Bassam, a city built on a sandbank between the lagoon and the ocean. This town was the first French capital on the Ivory Coast. The very well-preserved colonial architecture with the gem, the Post Office, adds to the atmosphere. We move further towards Abysso, where we will spend the night.   

Early in the morning we cross the border with Ghana and head to the fort of Aksim, a Portuguese city since 1515. In general, the coast of Ghana is simply strewn with colonial castles and forts, they carefully guarded the coast because it was the richest gold in all of West Africa. In the evening we arrive at the beach resort of Anomabu.  

The whole day is devoted to pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history, castles and forts, streets and bazaars, museums and galleries. The impression of the day will be Elmina Castle - the oldest and largest building in Africa (UNESCO site).

For a snack, we will leave the streets of the old pre-colonial city of Posuban.  

We leave for central Ghana to Kumasi, the historical and spiritual capital of the ancient state of Ashanti. One and a half million Kumasi, in addition to its history, is famous for its fantastic Central Market, the largest in Africa.

Today we also visit the Ashanti Cultural Center with the richest collection of Ashanti artifacts. Then the culmination is a visit to the traditional Ashanti funeral (if available and there are no unforeseen reasons), a funeral where not sorrow and tears rule, but happiness and fun. Then we will see for ourselves and live).  

We will take part in the Akwasidae festival - a celebration in the royal palace itself with the participation of all high-ranking royal persons: sword and knife bearers, armed guards, bearers of beautiful ostrich feather fans, etc.

The king himself sits majestically on a throne adorned with massive centuries-old ornaments (gold ornaments and Ashanti masks are considered masterpieces of African art).

After lunch, a trip to the villages in the outskirts.  

Departure to the capital Accra. We will see the city for a bit and visit the most intimate thing in the afterlife - a coffin-making workshop. Coffins are made in the form of what a person did before death. For example, a pilot will be buried in an airplane, a lumberjack in a tree trunk, a fruit seller in a banana, and a fisherman in a fish.    

We leave for Togo, the capital of Lome. Lome is one of the rare capitals, and indeed cities in Africa, where the Germans, British and French ruled in turn. 

Of course, where without a market, and even one that is controlled by Nana Benz women, dressed in colorful fabrics, which are sold throughout West Africa and beyond. We are also waiting for the market of potions for love pleasures, rituals and Voodoo spells.  

We are going to Benin. The rest of the tour will focus on the Wuddu culture. Voodoo is the main religion in the coastal regions of Togo and Benin, authentic ceremonies are practiced by numerous adherents. The frantic rhythm of the drums and the chants of the initiates "calling" the spirits, which will manifest themselves by possessing some of the participants who fall into a deep trance: eye rolling, grimaces, convulsions, insensitivity to fire or pain. Sakpata, Heviosso, Mami Water are just some of the voodoo deities that can manifest... Surrounded by the magical atmosphere of the ceremony, we will understand what the locals mean when they say: “In your churches you pray to God; in our voodoo temple we become gods!”. In the evening we arrive in the small coastal town of Gran Popo.  

We will get acquainted with the Zangbeto cult. The Zangbeto mask is very tall and covered with colored straw. The mask represents wild, inhuman spirits (the forces of nature that inhabited the Earth before man). The mask wearers belong to a secret society and hide their identity. When Zangbeto dances, it is an event for the whole village. Its execution guarantees protection from evil spirits and witchcraft. The rotating movement of the mask symbolizes the spiritual cleansing of the village. Zangbeto also performs "miracles" to prove his strength.

We leave for Ouidu - once the local center of the slave trade. Of course, there will be a road of slaves, and doors of no return, and heart-rending stories of the past, when a person's life in Africa was worth nothing.  

We are going to the village of Ganvie - the largest village on stilts in Africa. You can get to it only by motor boats, which we will do, leaving our transport on the shore. Fish breeding according to ancient tribal technology is their main activity. The village surprisingly managed to preserve its traditionality.

In the evening, we go to the airport and fly home.