HISTORY & ECO - TOURISM TOUR OF GHANA

Set amidst tropical landscaped gardens, overlooking one of Ghana's most beautiful beaches is the famous Labadi Beach Hotel. The hotel, which is renowned for its food and the unique spirit of Ghanaian hospitality, is located within easy access to both the city and airport.

You will be picked up from your hotel this morning for the sightseeing city tour of Accra. It starts with a drive through the administrative and economic districts of the capital of Ghana. This 139-year-old city has a blend of colonial and modern architecture that summarizes the history of this capital city. Visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum, where you'll learn about the great life and works of Ghana's first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The mausoleum, the final burial place for the first president also has the famous forward-pointing life sized statue of Kwame Nkrumah. Next, head to the W. E. B. Dubois Centre for Pan African Culture, where the great American Civil Rights Activist and Author Dr. WEB Du Bois was buried after his long stay in Ghana. You will drive past captivating monuments and architecture including the Independence/Black Star Square. The tour continues to the Arts Centre where you will have an opportunity to use your bargaining skills to shop from an open-air market for artefacts and souvenirs from Ghana and West Africa. The Arts Center is Accra's bustling hub for all things arts and crafts. Take your time to explore the center and enjoy a range of art exhibitions where you can view uniquely colorful art and crafts made by brilliant local artists. Experience an authentic African market environment by shopping for souvenirs and engaging with the friendly vendors who bargain excitedly and display diverse goods for sale. Next, visit Osu-Oxford Street, which shares very little with London's shopping hotspot. The only similarity is the volume of people and traffic. Probably the busiest street in Accra, it's the site of many bars, clubs, restaurants and boutique shops. If time permits, later enjoy an amazing tour of Jamestown, the historic centre of British Accra with its bright colours, authentic tastes and rich history. The architecture here is a unique blend of Eurocentric and Ghanaian influences, a reminder of the district's history as the seat of British Colonial rule before Ghana's independence. Take a picture by one of Ghana's most famous buildings, Jamestown's red and white lighthouse that overlooks the Gulf of Guinea.

Depart from your hotel early this morning on the exciting day of sightseeing. First stop is the Shai Hills Game Reserve combines nature conservation, rich cultural interest and archaeological sites with splendid scenic beauty. Trek through the savannah plains where you might get to see some of West Africa's notable game: antelope, bushbucks, kobs, baboons, monkeys and many bird species, including the crested eagle. Visit the Obonu Tem and Se Yo caves which serve as home to many animals and were once home to the Shai people's ancestors and used by their king until the late 19th century. The area was defensible in times of war thanks to the large stone rocks and overhangs and tunnel-like cave openings and you'll learn about the various artifacts that have been found here on this site. Next, it's on to the town of Aburi to visit The Aburi Botanical Gardens, which were created in 1890 for pleasure and scientific research. The gardens are a habitat for plants and butterflies from all around the world. Your guide will explain the history on your walk through the gardens before you return to Accra

Accra Hotel to Accra Kotoka International Airport.