The Cape Coast Tour
Description
Cape Coast is a must visit tour destination in Ghana. The presence of forts and castles have made this destination a popular site for those who want to learn more about the history of slave trade in Ghana and other parts of West Africa. These forts and castles can mostly be found on the coast of Ghana. While in Cape Coast, we will also visit the Kakum National Park which is the second largest national park in Ghana. We will climb the Canopy walkway which will give us the perfect sight of the breathtaking view of the forest from above.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Cape Coast Castle is the smallest and the only castle built for the purpose of slavery by the Europeans in 1652. The Cape Coast Castle as recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site has become an important site in the remembrance of the history of slavery. On the first Pan African Festival celebrations in 1998, remains of 2 slaves from Jamaica and Barbados were exhumed and brought back to Ghana through the door of no return, now the door of return. This was a symbolic welcome to their descendants saying, they are always free to return to their roots where they were taken. The site has contributed to preserving our history as Africans and helped tell the African perspective to slavery.
The Elmina Castle is the oldest and the largest castle below the Sahara built by the Europeans in 1482. It was initially built as trade settlements with warehouses for keeping goods and items exchanged. Later, the warehouses were converted to male and female dungeons where slaves were kept for a maximum of 3 months to be shipped to the “new world”. The Elmina castle is now recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Castle has served many purposes like Prisons, as a secondary school, and is now a historical site that connects guests to their heritage and roots.
There would be a visit to the Kakum National Park, the second largest national park in Ghana. It is the home for various animals, reptiles and birds that are dominantly nocturnal; active and usually seen at night. There is a 15 minute walk/hike to the canopy walkway, the main attraction of the visit. The walkway was built by 2 Canadians and 6 Ghanaians in 1994, about 40-50 metres high with a distance of about 350 metres. The walkway gives an aerial view of the forest and guest safety is assured as three of the Ghanaians who helped to build the walkway are still with the park and carry out frequent maintenance. This tour is recommended for those who would want to conquer their fear of heights.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up from agreed pick up location
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(179)
You will love this experience for its thrills and for the deepened educational awareness. The canopy walk was super fun and does require you to walk up steps to the actual canopy. The castle visits were heart wrenching but glad I took the time and witnessed it for myself.
Hello Nashira, thank you very much for the review, we appreciate it. We are glad you enjoyed the tour
The Cape Coast guided tour was a meaningful and memorable experience, made even better by Mensah’s (tour host) kindness, patience, and willingness to answer questions. The site tours at Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, and Kakum Park were rich, informative, and thoughtfully paced, offering important historical and cultural context that deepened the experience of visiting Cape Coast. Tips for future travelers: The ride to Cape Coast is quite long (4-5 hours depending on traffic & road conditions). When we traveled, there was ongoing road construction along parts of the route which made the ride very bumpy at times. I highly recommend bringing a small pillow for comfort, snacks and water, medication if you’re prone to motion sickness, and—most importantly—patience. The journey is well worth it, but being prepared will make it much more enjoyable. Overall, this was an excellent tour led by a gracious and personable host. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore the highlights of Cape Coast.
Hello Moya, we appreciate your review and we are glad you enjoyed the tour.
I am very glad I did this tour. Suwaiba, the guide, is a very kind person. The canopy walk in the Kakum National Park was a lot of fun, and the visits of the Cape Coast castles were very moving and educational.
Hi Raphael, Thank you very much for leaving us this review, we really appreciate this. You were also an amazing guest on this trip.
Amazing tour through the Cape Coast, Elmina Castle and Kukum National Park. The drive to and from Cantonments took about 4-5 hours but it was well worth it. The slave castles are a must see, and the canopy walk was quite a hike up and the across the canopy walk 40 feet above ground. The view was breathtaking. We had a great tour guide. Gian was very helpful and friendly. I went with my mom and we had such a great day together.
Hi Prescella, We are glad you and your mom had an amazing time on this tour. We really appreciate this positive review from you.
We went with Suwaiba from ProTour Africa and Mr Ernest the driver - both friendly and informative. Really great experience - the day didn't feel rushed and they even kindly dropped us off to a restaurant we wanted to go to for dinner. I would recommend them to anyone - they were on time too!
Hi Roshan, We really appreciate this positive feedback from you. We are glad you had a good time on the tour as well. We hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Ghana.
Gian was the personification of calm under pressure. On our way to the National Park he luckily noticed a sound coming from the engine. Upon inspection he found a frayed fan belt. He tracked down a couple mechanics, located a new belt and we were able to finish the tour albeit a bit late. A long day for Gian!
Hi Deborah, Thank you very much for the positive review. We are glad you enjoyed your tour.
This tour is a perfect mixture of nature and history. The visit to the Kakum National Park and its elevated walkways was very memorable. The visits to the slave forts presented the history of the slave trade, the sheer scale of the enterprise and also the inhuman conditions on which the slaves were held before transportation to the Americas. I noticed that in many of the prison areas and particularly at points of embarkation, many visitors from the US had left floral tributes to their ancestors. Suwaiba and Ernst were great guides
Hi Peter, thank you so much for leaving us this positive review. You were amazing on this tour and we are glad you enjoyed the day.
Great tour! Understandably a long day with the driving but a nice way to see more of Ghana if you only have a few days and you’re based in Accra. Really enjoyed the castle tours as well as lunch and the canopy walk at Kakum. One concern was that our group joined other groups at each of the castles for the tours, and due to how timing worked out we joined both late and missed the intros. Other than that, a great experience!
Hi Sarah, We appreciate this feedback. We are happy to know that you enjoyed your experience and we apologise for areas we fell short. We hope to have you again in Ghana soon.
Seeing the horror that our ancestors had to endure. I hope this will never happen to any group of people again.
Hi Godfrey, thank you for booking this tour with us. It was very amazing having you on this tour as well.
I was a bit nervous about prep and logistics leading up to my first tour in Ghana, but received a very detailed message from Rashida at ProTour Africa the afternoon prior. Our guide Gian was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and went above and beyond with additional recommendations for the remainder of our visit. Such an impactful day touring the 2 castles, followed by delicious and authentic lunch and fantastic hike at Kakum. A wonderful experience I would highly recommend!
Hi Kristin, thank you so much for this positive review. We are glad you enjoyed the experience and the rest of your stay in Ghana.
