Day 1
Welcome to Tamale, the capital city of Ghana's Northern Region. You will kick of your journey by embarking on a Tamale city tour. With a population of approximately 250,000, Tamale is a Muslim-majority city and the cultural and economic center of Ghana's north. Our first stops around the city center will include the Tamale Central Mosque as well as the Tamale market, where you will see traditional smocks, fabrics, beads, and a wide range of food products. Your final stop will be at the Tamale art market, where you will have a chance to shop for handicrafts, jewelry, masks, paintings, and more.
Day 2
This morning you will depart your hotel in Tamale and travel north to the Upper East region of Ghana. The capital city of Bolgatanga is home to the Frafra people, and shares a boundary with neighboring Burkina Faso. After settling into the guest house, you will head north to the border town of Paga, where friendly crocodiles have lived alongside the local population for hundreds of years, and are believed to carry the souls of individuals in the town. If you are brave enough, you can pet them yourself! Your second stop for the afternoon will be the Sirigu Pottery and Arts Village. Sirigu is best known for its traditional architecture and wall decorations made with local paints and clay.
This evening we will travel to Bongo where we meet the famous chief Baba Salifu and his entire family (four wives) at his compound. You will go through the ritual of greeting the chief to receive his blessing to climb Bongo Hill, which is believed to be sacred.
Day 3
This morning we will begin the long journey to Mole National Park, the crown jewel of Ghana's national park system, and the largest wildlife reserve in Ghana. At 4,500 square kilometers, this park is home to elephants, pata monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, crocodiles, hartebeest and hundreds of species of birds. This afternoon you will embark on your first game drive to see what wildlife is active in the park today. After a long day of driving and safaris, you will settle into the lodge for dinner and a good night's sleep.
Day 4
The walking safari will start at six in the morning, as this is the best time to spot elephants swimming and feeding near the watering holes. It is also the best time to see birds, crocodiles, and various other species that rest as the day gets hotter. Accompanied by a gun-toting ranger, you can approach many of the animals at a safe distance. After the walking safari you will return to the lodge for breakfast.
This afternoon includes a canoe safari along the Mole River. This peaceful ride is a perfect way to explore remote parts of the park. Later you will visit the village of Mognori for a guided tour, where you will learn about family life and local customs and traditions, like making shea butter.
Day 5
As this morning marks our last day of the tour, so we will embark on our last walking safari to see more wildlife and wave goodbye to the elephants before departing. The tour will end with a goodbye lunch in Tamale before heading to the airport of wherever your final destination may be.