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Small Group Tour of West Africa for the adventurous senior traveller.

Odyssey offers easy, convenient, and relaxed escorted small group tours across the world, including to Ghana, Togo and Benin. We explore the natural beauty, its ancient  heritage, its World Heritage Sites, and famous cities, all with some truly spectacular scenery along the way across these three countries. This and more is all waiting to be explored on one of Odyssey’s small group tours of Ghana, Togo and Benin, designed for the senior traveller, and led by experienced, and enthusiastic like minded tour leader and guides.

This small group tour to Central West Africa has been specially designed for the mature traveller. Those with a sense of adventure and a desire to explore this exciting but infrequently visited region. Ghana, Togo and Benin may be off the usual tourist route, but each has much to offer the discerning visitor. Our tour concentrates on the history, culture and wildlife of these African countries. Meet the friendly local people and come to a greater understanding of just what has made them what they are today.

Small group tours to Ghana, Togo, Benin

This small section of Africa has a fascinating, if often tragic, past. Colonial powers including the Portuguese, French, Germans and British all fought for control of this gateway into the rich African interior. It was from here that enormous numbers of slaves were shipped to Europe and the Americas from the 16th to the 19th century. On our tour we will visit some of the well preserved "Slave Castles" to witness this infamous part of European history.

The pre-colonial past is also fascinating. Local kingdoms existed from very early times. Our trip explores the culture and history of a number of different groups. In Benin, for example, we will visit the mud tower houses of the Batammariba people. Take time to trace the history of Somba culture in the Natittingou Museum. A Gelede masked dance ceremony will give us an insight into local traditions dating back to the 15th century.

Ghana, Togo and Benin offer a diverse range of cultures and activities in what is actually quite a small region. There are long, palm fringed, sandy beaches, dense rain forests, teeming cities and exotic wild life parks. These countries all suffer from great poverty but each is attempting to escape from their economic hardships through a variety of strategies, including increased tourism. Become a part of the solution!

Our tour itinerary

We spend much of our time in Ghana. With a population of 25 million, Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957, and is today considered one of the most stable democracies in West Africa. Gold, cocoa and more recently oil, formed the cornerstone of the nation's economic boom. The country has much to offer the visitor including historic fortifications, diverse wildlife and vibrant cities. We visit the coffin makers of Nungua, where coffins are made to reflect a person's interests - leading to colourful and quirky shapes including fish, race-cars, and even a coca-cola bottle! (For more information, take a look at this Guardian piece). We also head to Kumasi, where we join the Akwasidae festival - a traditional gathering of chiefs and members of the Asanteman.

We then continue on to Benin, where we learn about Voodoo. Our tour unpacks the usual cliches - sinister cults and magic - portrayed in Hollywood movies. Voodoo is followed by 40% of the population, while many Christians and Muslims incorporate voodoo rituals into their belief systems. We also visit the Pendjari National Park, one of the best wild life parks in West Africa, where lions, cheetahs, leopards and elephants thrive.

Our journey also heads to Togo, which was once a German Protectorate but was ceded to the French and British after World War I, before eventually receiving independence. A long, thin nation sandwiched between Ghana and Benin, Togo is home to a surprising diversity of landscapes and cultures. The nation has a population of more than seven million. In Togo, we discover the country's artistic traditions and colonial past at the National Museum of Lome and shop for traditional artistic objects and other souvenirs at the Grand Market.

For more details about this tour, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page. We also have a number of other Africa tours, for travellers interested in exploring the world's least-touristed continent.