Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Unexplored Africa…time to go to Ghana now

 

West Africa has cachet & soul. Home to African landscapes of our imaginations & inhabited by an astonishing diversity of traditional peoples, this is Africa as it once was. From the Sahara to tropical rainforests, from volcanic outcrops to stony depressions in the desert's heart, West Africa is an extraordinary sweep of iconic African terrain.

 

And the nation of Ghana may be dubbed "Africa for beginners", but its richness is apparent in everything from the cuisine to its soft mountain peaks, its increasingly hip capital city and the wealth of local languages. The only things more ubiquitous than the Shea trees here, are the smiles from the people who welcome you. Come, discover the history & mystique of Ghana with us……..

 

There are many West African views that will define your journey: an oasis-like clearing in the heart of a rainforest; stirring sand dunes sculpted to perfection by the wind; a gloriously deserted arc of sand along a gloriously deserted coastline; and improbably shaped rocky outcrops in the heart of the Sahel.

 

The mosaic of peoples who inhabit West Africa is one of the region's most beguiling characteristics. The sheer number of peoples who call the region home will take your breath away. Drawing in a little nearer, you will discover that traditions survive in West Africa like nowhere else on the continent, revealing themselves in fabulous festivals, irresistible music & the mysterious world of masks & secret societies. These are peoples whose histories are epic & whose daily struggles are similarly so. West Africa is in-your-face, full-volume Lagos or the quiet solitude of an indigo-clad nomad - not to mention everything in between.

 

West Africa's musical tradition is one of extraordinary depth & richness. Youssou N'Dour, Tinariwen & other musicians may have been 'discovered' in recent decades, but the region's music is so much more than mere performance. The griots of ancient African empires - Mali's master kora player Toumani Diabate is a 71^st generation griot - bestowed upon West Africa's musicians the gift of storytelling as much as the power to entertain. They do both exceptionally well & their ability to make you dance or learn something new about the region may just rank among your most memorable travel experiences.

 

You wouldn't come to West Africa looking for an East African–style safari, but there is more to West Africa's wildlife than initially meets the eye if you know where to look, including elephants, primates, big cats, pygmy hippos & some of the world's best birdwatching. And unlike East or Southern Africa, you are likely to have whatever you find all to yourself.

 

And now, let us talk about Ghana.

 

African Landscapes | African People | Culinary Feast | Secret Wildlife

 

Hailed as West Africa's golden child, Ghana deserves its place in the sun. From the sky, Ghana is a bundle of green on the west coast of Africa, bordered by golden beaches & the warm blue of the Atlantic. Once you are on the ground, its variety hits you like a rush of sweet, humid air. And it shows: Ghana is suffused with the most incredible energy.

 

Ghana is a very friendly country, ideal for first time travellers to Africa with helpful & welcoming people. While their laid back attitude & lack of organized tourist sites can be a little annoying to begin with, but before long, you realize that it is one of the delights of this country.

 

Ghana has a rich, vibrant cultural identity waiting to be discovered, in addition to exceptional birds & wildlife for nature lovers.  With its many historical UNESCO listed sites & recent colonial past, Ghana is a must for any traveller with an interest in history. It is a safe English-speaking country known as the Gateway to Africa.

 

In Ghana, the only things more ubiquitous than the Shea trees are the smiles from the people who welcome you. Ghana’s picturesque landscape, with its beautiful beaches, tropical mangroves, vast grasslands & meandering rivers is almost dizzying to experience.

 

Ghana, a nation on West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, is known for diverse wildlife, old forts &  secluded beaches, gorgeous hinterland, rich culture, vibrant cities easy transport & affable inhabitants and it is no wonder Ghana is sometimes labelled 'Africa for beginners'.

 

Want to don flippers & a snorkel and float through gentle waters? You have got it. Want to walk with herds of elephants? Learn the Twi language? Barbecue plump shrimp, shovel warm handfuls of fufu into your belly or take African dance lessons on a palm-fringed beach? Go to Ghana.

 

It is easy to come here for a week or a month, but no trip can be complete without a visit to Ghana's coastal forts, poignant reminders of a page of history that defined our modern world.

 

Travel north and you will feel like you've arrived in a different country, with a different religion, geography & cultural practices. The beauty is that this diversity exists so harmoniously, a joy to experience & a wonder to behold in uncertain times.

 

The frills of the 540 km coastline are lined with pockets of rainforest, rocky headlands & sugar-sand beaches. The interior of the country is a patchwork of tropical green farmland, dry savannah & hilly urban areas, such as Kumasi, Ghana's second city. The capital, Accra, is built on low-lying land that dips towards the ocean, while in the north, the dry city of Tamale has a mystical, Sahelian feel, heated by hot desert winds. Go east and you will hit low mountains, waterfalls & national parks that beg for hiking boots.

 

Accra, one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa, is starting to rival the Nigerian city of Lagos for entertainment, dining and art. In the district of Osu, sushi bars & sultry clubs pipe out West African hip-hop; construction is under way all over the city and shiny new apartment blocks go up next to traditional "chop bars" serving spicy Ghanaian dishes such as red-red and fufu.

 

Although Accra is a seaside capital, nothing beats the spectacular beaches further west. To feel soft white sand between your toes, jump in a minibus and chase the coastal road, stopping off at sleepy fishing villages & laid-back beach spots.

 

Ghana can't compete with major safari destinations such as Kenya or South Africa, but it has spectacular bird life, snorkelling & opportunities to spot turtles & humpback whales. A small population of African elephants lives in the north, close to the border with Burkina Faso. You can visit them at Mole National Park, where wardens lead walking safaris that wind past watering holes.

 

Spend your days exploring the many small towns & villages where the people take to the streets at night to dance to traditional drumming. Trek through tropical rainforests in search of vibrant birds & butterflies, and visit Cape Coast for a behind the scenes look at Ghana’s turbulent past & the dark legacy of the slave trade. Tour the charming fishing town of Elmina and visit the castle built by the Portuguese in 1482 & visit famous craft villages to watch local artisans create works of beauty,  

 

Spectacular & surreal, a unique experience is just the beginning……. Take the plunge now and yep….iconic Ghana, vastly unexplored is waiting. A warm welcome awaits you and The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

Come……be inspired & discover the World with us

 We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Ghana. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences……… Our small group all-inclusive scheduled Ghana Heritage journeys operate year round. Alternatively, we can design bespoke tours for individuals, couples, families, small or large groups.