17 Days Kenya Cultural Safari and Ghana Heritage Tour
Route in Kenya: Nairobi - Kisumu - Bondo - Kogelo - Masai Mara - Nairobi
Route in Ghana: Accra - Fort Elmina & Cape Coast - Kakum Park - Accra
Day 1: Arrival Nairobi
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International airport, you will be met by Hallmark Travel Planners representative before you are transferred in a private vehicle to Nairobi Serena Hotel. Overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel- bed and breakfast.
Day 2: Day in Nairobi
Breakfast at the hotel in Nairobi. After the meal, leave for a full day tour of Nairobi City. Visit the national museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum and the Giraffe Centre.
Lunch at the Karen Blixen Restaurant. Afternoon visit 2 orphanages. Overnight at Nairobi Serena Hotel
Day 3: Flight Nairobi to Kisumu
After a sumptuous breakfast at Palacina Hotel ,transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Int. Airport for your flight to Kisumu. Pick up at Kisumu Airport and transfer to your hotel at Kiboko Bay Resort. Lunch at the resort.
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at 1131m, with a population of about 500,000 people. It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu District. It has no municipal charter. It is the largest city in Nyanza Province and second most Important city after Kampala in the greater Lake Victoria basin.
Attractions in the city include Kibuye Market, the Kisumu Museum, an Impala Sanctuary, a bird sanctuary, Hippo Point, and the nearby Kit Mikaye and Ndere Island National Park. Dinner and overnight at Kiboko Bay Resort
Day 4: Drive Kisumu to Bondo
After breakfast, depart for Bondo. Drive for about 45 minutes and check in at Bondo West End Hotel or similar.
In the afternoon, do a sightseeing tour of Bondo Town and possibly a visit to Jaramogi Odinga Museum and Moseluem. Dinner and overnight Bondo West end Hotel – bed and breakfast.
Day 5: Visit Nyangoma Kogelo
This day is dedicated to a visit to Nyangoma-Kogelo village, where Obama’s father grew up and where his grandmother still lives. Return to Kisumu late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight Kiboko Bay Resort – bed and breakfast.
Day 6: Drive Kisumu to Maasai Mara
After an early breakfast drive via Bomet to Masai Mara Nat. Reserve to arrive in time for lunch at the Mara Serena Lodge.
This popular lodge is set high on a ridge within the reserve. It commands magnificent uninterrupted views down across the Mara plains and over two water holes. The Mara Sopa's unique architecture and décor suggest a fantasy Masai manyatta - rounded spaces, earth tones, natural furnishings and tribal touches. A swimming pool has been positioned to take advantage of the wonderful view. Do afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.
Day 7: Days in Maasai Mara
These days are solely reserved for game viewing in the vast Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara is the most popular game reserve in Kenya. It is an extension of the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania, and offers the best game viewing in Kenya. On these wide open rolling grasslands you can often see an incredible variety of different animals at one time. Every year millions of wildebeests migrate north from the Serengeti to the green grass of the Mara. This exciting spectacle usually occurs sometime between July and August.
Visits to a Masai manyatta can be arranged between you and the driver. Another popular 'excursion' is a romantic hot air balloon trip where you view animals from above and then touch down for an extravagant breakfast in the bush. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Mara Serena Lodge - fullboard.
Day 8: Drive Maasai Mara to Nairobi - Overnight
After breakfast, depart for Nairobi. Later in the evening, transfer to the Carnivore Restaurant for dinner. Return to hotel for overnight.
Day 9: Flight from Kenya to Ghana
On your arrival at the airport in Accra, you will be picked by Hallmark Travel Planners representative and transfer to your hotel – African Royal Beach Hotel or similar.
Day 10: Day in Accra
After breakfast we will set off to discover Ghana’s capital Accra, a busy city with its own distinctive style. Among our stations: DuBois House, National Museum, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial, plus a brief visit to Makola market, Accra’s commercial heart. Our relaxation program for the afternoon begins at the pool or you may visit Labadi Beach. Overnight at African Royal Beach Hotel or similar.
Day 12: Visit Elmina and Cape Coast Slave Castles - Unesco Heritage Sites
After breakfast, set out for the Sensational Canopy Walk. Early tour to visit two famous UNESCO Heritage Sites: the Slave Castle of Elmina and Cape Coast Castle.
The Portuguese built the Elmina castle in 1482, originally established as a trading post for goods bartered for local gold and valuable gem. However, as the demand for slaves increased in the Americas and Caribbean, the castle became strategic in the perpetuation of this abhorrent human cargo trade. The storerooms of the castle were converted into dungeons, and the ownership of the castle changed hands several times, eventually ending up being seized by the British in 1872. By this time, slavery had been abolished. The British didn't use Elmina to house slaves; they used Cape Coast Castle for that.
Elmina Castle, known then as the slave castle, is one of over twenty castles built along the shoreline of the Gold Coast (now known as Ghana). The Gold Coast was one of the richest markets for slave traders during the peak of the slave trade. Hundreds of thousands of captives passed through the dungeons of Elmina Castle, and were shipped off, like commodities into the Americas and Caribbean against their wishes. This illicit human trade carried on for close to 300 years.
You will then continue our excursion to Kakum National Park for our first encounter with the tropical jungle. Following a sensational walk from tree to tree we will end the day with a sun downer at Coconut Grove Hotel or similar.
Day 13: Kakum National Park
Free Day. Take this day to explore the immediate community and relax.
Day 14: Relaxation
Beach, Sand & Sun. We will enjoy the warm Atlantic all day, on the palm lined beaches of Brenu-Aykiiim and Ampenyl. Back to Coconut Grove in the late afternoon.
Day 15: Visit Busua and Dixcove
On excursion. It is a trip to enjoy the pristine beaches of Busua and Dixcove. On the way we will sight see Sekondi Takoradi, Ghana’s third largest city. Return to Elmina in the evening and to Coconut Grove Hotel.
Day 16: Day in Accra
After an early return to Accra, we will spend our last full day on the lookout for souvenirs: Osu Road, the Arts Centre. Visit the coffin makers of Teshie Nungua and last walks on Labadi Beach or relax at the pool side of your hotel.
Day 17: Depart
The return. Early morning arrival at your place of departure. Transfer to airport for flight back.
End of services
The Package of Tour Services Will Include:
In Kenya
- Arrival & departure transfers to and from international Airport at the destination.
- Bed & breakfast accommodation on the first day where applicable.
- Use of customized safari vehicle with Pop up roof for game viewing & photography
- All entry fees where applicable in the parks, reserves and sanctuary
- Full board meal plan while on Safari – breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Qualified local English - Speaking driver guide (French, Spanish & German on request)
- Game drives as per the program
- All government taxes applicable
- Arrival & departure transfers to and from international Airport at the destination.
- Bed & breakfast accommodation on the first day where applicable.
- Use of customized tour vehicle
- All entry fees where applicable in the parks, reserves and sanctuary
- Full board meal plan while on Safari – breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Qualified local English - Speaking driver guide (French, Spanish & German on request)
