GHANA TOGO BENIN

DAY 1: departure from major Italian cities on flights to Accra, the capital of Ghana. Depending on the flight schedule, arrival late at night or overnight flight.

DAY 2: arrival in Accra, and a day dedicated to the capital of Ghana. Chaotic, disorderly, and extremely crowded, Accra is one of the most dynamic cities in all of Africa, the true beating heart of Ghana, one of the continent’s fastest-growing countries. Visit to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, dedicated to the hero of Ghanaian independence, the old district of Jamestown, unrestored and in a semi-abandoned state, and Independence Square, where one of the city’s most famous landmarks is located: the white Independence Arch, topped by the Black Star, symbol of the country. Dinner and, for those who wish, an evening in Accra’s trendy venues, considered one of the best destinations in Africa for nightlife

Morning: transfer by private vehicle westward along Ghana’s Gold Coast towards Cape Coast. Check-in at a seaside resort, lunch, and relaxation

Afternoon: visit to Elmina Castle, located in a stunning position overlooking the Gulf of Guinea. It is the oldest European colonial building in all of Africa, dating back to 1482, and stands as one of the most powerful testimonies to the horrors of European colonization in Africa. Enslaved people were imprisoned and tortured here before being sold to the Americas. The castle is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Evening: dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Cape Coast

Morning: transfer of about one hour inland and visit to Kakum National Park, a protected area rich in forests inhabited by reptiles, insects, and various species of monkeys. A visit to the park would not be complete without a “sky walk” along the suspended rope bridges connecting different sections of the forest

Afternoon: return to Cape Coast and visit of the city’s fort, another example of a prison-castle dating back to the era of the slave trade, also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Relax at sunset over the Gulf of Guinea

Evening: dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Cape Coast

Morning: very early departure from Cape Coast heading east, passing through Accra and continuing to the Togo border. Arrival at the border late in the morning and entry into Togo, the second country of the journey

Afternoon: arrival in Lomé, the capital of Togo, in time to take part in the favorite pastime of young Togolese people: watching the sunset on the city’s long beaches, accompanied by music and a beer. Hotel check-in

Evening: dinner and evening in Lomé

Morning: early wake-up and visit to the Akodessawa Fetish Market, one of the most original and photogenic markets in all of Africa. Togo, like neighboring Benin, is the cradle of voodoo beliefs, and in Akodessawa you will find the world’s largest market dedicated to voodoo rituals: on sale are monkey heads, skinned alligators, dead birds, and a myriad of other unusual objects used in rituals. Departure towards Kpalimé, in the tropical heart of Togo, about two hours from Lomé

Afternoon: visit to Mount Agou, the highest peak in Togo at 986 meters above sea level. In this area it is possible to explore rural villages surrounded by greenery on the slopes of Mount Agou, connected by paths still used today by local people for trading fruit and agricultural products

Evening: dinner and evening in Kpalimé

Morning: early wake-up and transfer towards the Ghana border for a visit to Yikpa, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in West Africa, reachable after about a two-hour walk from the nearest road, set in lush tropical scenery and still almost unknown

Afternoon: continuation north towards Atakpamé, a city in central Togo nestled in a green tropical valley, known for its market. Arrival in the afternoon and hotel check-in

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in Atakpamé

Morning and afternoon: a full day dedicated to visiting the tata villages between Togo and Benin. The visits begin in the Koutammakou area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the richest region in Togo for traditional tata villages inhabited by the Tamberma people. After crossing the border into Benin, the visit continues to villages inhabited by the Somba-Betammaribé ethnic group, who maintain close trade relations across the border with the neighboring Tamberma and also live in tata, particularly concentrated in the Boukoumbé region. In the late afternoon, check-in at a characteristic hotel shaped like a tata and relaxation

Evening: dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Morning: early departure and a long day of transfer towards central Benin. Along the way, a short distance from Natitingou, visit the Kota waterfalls, set in a beautiful natural garden in the Atacora mountain range.

Afternoon: continuation of the itinerary towards Abomey, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful and advanced in Africa in the modern era, which particularly flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries through its involvement in the slave trade. Arrival in the city in the late afternoon and check-in at the hotel.

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in Abomey.

Morning: visit of the Royal Palaces of Abomey, which host an interesting historical museum dedicated to artifacts and relics of the Kingdom of Dahomey. The complex of the 12 palaces is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Departure towards Cotonou, the main city of Benin.

Afternoon: arrival in the early afternoon in Cotonou, check-in at the hotel and exploration of the largest city in the country. A key stop is the Dantokpa Market, the largest and most crowded in all of West Africa, followed by a visit to the new Amazon Square, dedicated to the historic women warriors who were both respected and feared during the Dahomey Kingdom and are now commemorated with an imposing 30-meter statue celebrating the strength of Beninese women.

Evening: dinner and evening in the nightlife venues of Cotonou.

Morning: departure towards Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin. Smaller and quieter than Cotonou, Porto-Novo breaks the stereotype of large and chaotic African capitals. Visit of the city center, where the cathedral and the central mosque stand side by side.

Afternoon: transfer by pirogue to Ganvié, also known as the “Venice of Africa”, one of the most fascinating stilt villages in the world. Exploration by boat and on foot of the village, its lake markets, and its waterways that run through clusters of wooden houses on stilts—undoubtedly one of the most remarkable highlights of the entire journey. Return in the evening to Cotonou.

Evening: dinner and evening in the nightlife venues of Cotonou.

Morning and afternoon: transfer from Cotonou to Ouidah. Located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, Ouidah is one of the most historically significant cities in West Africa: originally established as a slave port during the Dahomey Kingdom, it is today the main center of the Vodun (Voodoo) religion in the world. In Ouidah, it is still possible to follow the Slave Route, a moving 12 km path that ends at the “Gate of No Return”, through which tens of thousands of enslaved people passed over the years, later spreading Vodun beliefs that are still practiced today in the Americas, particularly in Louisiana and Haiti. Visit of the Temple of Pythons, the main voodoo temple, with the possibility of participating in a traditional ritual.

Evening: dinner and overnight stay in Ouidah.