Ghana, Togo and Benin. Aquasidae Festival

Arrival in Lomé and transfer to the hotel. 

Discover Lomé, a cosmopolitan coastal capital shaped by German, British, and French influences and home to diverse African and Afro-Brazilian communities. Stroll through its lively central market, meet the iconic “Nana Benz” traders, and explore the largest fetish market in Africa, where ancient spiritual traditions come alive. Immerse yourself in Lomé’s vibrant art scene, visiting a local gallery and connecting with a new generation of Togolese artists before unwinding at a lakeside retreat on Lake Togo.

Spend a full day exploring the mystical world of Voodoo, the living faith of southern Togo, Benin, and Ghana. Visit remote villages where ancient shrines bear witness to countless prayers for love, prosperity, and protection, marked by wooden pegs and offerings to the spirits.

Enjoy lunch in Aneho, Togo’s first capital, followed by a tranquil boat ride between lake and estuary, then continue to Glidji, the country’s most sacred village, to meet priestesses adorned in white and glass beads.

Conclude the day at an authentic Voodoo ceremony, where drumming, chanting, and dance summon the gods, and devotees enter deep trances under the spell of the divine. Return to your serene lakeside hotel, filled with the spirit of Africa’s ancient traditions.

Benin border crossing (Hilla Kodji / Save Kodji).

In a remote village, witness the mesmerizing Zangbeto mask dances of the Fon people—straw-covered spirits that guard the community and ward off evil. As the masks whirl and spin, they cleanse the village of negativity, their movements charged with mystery and power.

Continue to Ouidah, once a major slave port of the Dahomey Kingdom, now a city of Afro-Brazilian charm and deep spiritual heritage. Visit the sacred Python Temple, where an ancient Voodoo cult still thrives, and walk the historic Slave Road to the poignant Door of No Return, where history and memory meet the sea.

Cross Lake Nokwe by motorboat to reach Ganvié, Africa’s largest and most enchanting stilt village, where life unfolds on water and traditions remain strong. Watch fishermen, market women, and children in colourful canoes glide gracefully across the lake’s calm surface. Return to the mainland and continue to Abomey, exploring ancient caves and traces of the once-mighty Dahomey Kingdom.

Start the day with the Gelede Mask dances, a vibrant Yoruba celebration honoring Mother Earth, where brightly painted masks bring myths and moral stories to life with humour and theatrical flair. Travel through scenic rock hills to a Fulani encampment, meeting nomadic shepherds known for their striking beauty, intricate facial tattoos, and serene connection with the land.

In the afternoon, witness the Egun mask ritual, where initiates representing ancestral spirits parade through the village, combining awe, theatricality, and a powerful sense of the sacred.

Day driving to the North, brief stop at Dankoli Shrine in Savalou, then on to meet a tribal King. His Majesty Atchiba II will receive us in a large round building, the room of the Council of the Elders. The King, sitting on the throne, will be surrounded by his notables in traditional costumes. His Majesty rules the Anii peoples settling between the central part of Benin and Togo. 

Track and road in a hilly landscape will bring us to Togo border at Soudou and to Kara, the “capital” of north Togo, where we will spend two nights. 

Venture into the remote valleys of the Tamberma people, whose fortified adobe dwellings—reminiscent of small medieval castles—have stood for centuries as protection against invaders. Handcrafted layer by layer, these homes blend strength, beauty, and tradition, reflecting the Tamberma’s deep-rooted animist beliefs, with sacred shrines guarding each entrance.

With the inhabitants’ permission, explore inside to experience their unique way of life in this UNESCO World Heritage landscape, before returning to your comfortable base in the Kara region.

Begin the day with breakfast in the African bushland, accompanied by two young elephants rescued from poachers, who now freely join visitors in a remarkable display of trust and friendship.

Drive through the mountains to meet the Kabye people, exploring their adobe “soukala” homes, watching women craft pottery by hand, and men forging iron using ancient techniques.

In the evening, experience the incredible fire dance of the Tem tribe, where dancers leap through flames and handle glowing embers unharmed, a breathtaking blend of skill, courage, and spiritual tradition.

Witness the Kotocoli cavalry and Fantasia, a centuries-old tradition where skilled horsemen perform dazzling displays of horsemanship, galloping and dancing to the rhythm of drums in vibrant costumes.

Continue south with a stop in Atakpame, a charming hill town known for its forest products and brightly woven Kente fabrics crafted on traditional looms.

Arrive in Kpalimé, a historic cocoa and coffee hub, and explore the surrounding villages and farms while learning about the region’s medicinal and culinary plants from a local guide.

Ghana border crossing and continuation through the Volta Region.

Border Togo side: Kpadape.

Visit the Krobo tribe, renowned for their vibrant glass beads used in ceremonies and daily life, and explore an artisan community where traditional techniques have been preserved for centuries. Try your hand at making your own bead, following the meticulous process of grinding glass, shaping patterns, and firing them in clay molds.

Then travel along a scenic route through lush tropical forests and rolling hills to arrive in the colourful Ghanaian town of Koforidua.

Discover Kumasi, the historic and spiritual heart of the Ashanti Kingdom, once one of Africa’s most powerful empires. Witness the enduring Ashanti pride in the tribute paid to the Asantehene (King) and explore the bustling central market, one of Africa’s largest, filled with crafts, Kente textiles, leather goods, pottery, beads, and a vibrant array of tropical fruits and vegetables.

Enjoy lunch at Jofel, a well-known Ghanaian restaurant offering a delightful mix of local and Western cuisine.

In the afternoon, participate—if available—in a traditional Ashanti funeral, a festive celebration where mourners in red and black togas honor the deceased. Witness the chief and his court under grand umbrellas, as drummers set the rhythm for symbolic dances that celebrate memory, ancestry, and community.

Drive to the hotel.

It is Saturday night Kumasi is lively town.  At the restaurant of the hotel there will be a live-band. We have also the possibility, after dinner, to experience night life and local music in town.

In the morning continuation of the tour of Kumasi: a visit to the Ashanti Cultural Centre: a rich collection of Ashanti artefacts housed in a wonderful reproduction of an Ashanti house and visit to the Royal Palace Museum hosting a unique collection of gold jewels worn by the Ashanti court with interesting gold regalia. In the afternoon visit to some Ashanti villages with traditional clothing as the Adrinkra hand-printed with traditional symbols and carvings. 

Akwasidae Festival 

In the afternoon drive south to Obuasi.

Venture into the Kakum National Park, a rainforest wonder where a canopy walkway suspended 120–150 feet above the ground offers breathtaking views of the treetops and forest life below.

After exploring the park, drive to the Ghanaian coast, dotted with over 50 historic forts and castles that tell the story of gold, ivory, and the transatlantic slave trade.

Visit Elmina Castle (Sao Jorge da Mina), the oldest and largest European building in Africa, built by the Portuguese in 1482 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore its historic halls once used for trading gold, ivory, and slaves.

Outside, admire the vibrant fishing harbour, where skilled fishermen navigate large wooden canoes through powerful ocean waves to make their daily catch.

We will board on a boat to discover the fishing harbour from inside and skim the ocean in an unprecedented navigation.

Visit a nearby town to see the Posuban shrines, vibrant monuments of the Asafo warrior companies of the Fante people, where rituals and libations continue to honour and protect their communities.

Continue to Accra, Ghana’s capital, where modern life blends with history, from elegant colonial villas to the bustling James Town neighbourhood, a lively coastal village within the city. Explore the National Museum and a workshop creating fantasy coffins, uniquely crafted artworks reflecting local creativity and now celebrated worldwide, before your evening transfer to the airport.