Cape Coast & Elmina Castles

OVERVIEW

Peer into Africa’s past during this scenic visit to two of Ghana’s medieval castles, both boasting a UNESCO World Heritage site designation, on this enlightening and moving tour. Explore 17th-century Cape Coast Castle, a gate of no return for slaves boarding ships bound for the Americas and the Caribbean. See canoes used to transport slaves to their ships and inspect mortars used for the castle’s protection. Travel to the seaside Coconut Grove Beach Resort, where you’ll enjoy a brief refreshment stop. Visit Elmina Castle, the oldest European-style fortification built outside of Europe and the first slave trading post in Sub-Saharan Africa. See the dungeons where slaves were kept and the spacious rooms where soldiers ate, slept and socialized. Capture photos of a quaint nearby harbor with fishing boats sporting flags from around the world. As your tour ends, you’ll ponder these castles’ poignant heritage and their impact on countless lives.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and see the gate of no return for slaves being shipped to the Americas, as well as the dungeons where they were kept.
• • Enjoy the picturesque views of fishing boats and fishermen busy tending nets, going and coming to sea, and selling their catch in the busy harbor.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.