West Africa 3: Benin, Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone
In April, 2012 we continued on the Epic Voyage with Lindblad along the West coast of Africa from South Africa to Morocco, stopping in 17 countries in five weeks. The day in Coutonou, Benin began with a visit to the Sacred Forest, famous for its voodoo statues. A group was performing dances. In the afternoon we boarded small boats and went out to a floating village way in the center of Lake Nokoué. This was where people hid when the slave hunters were after them. It is now on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list. The next day was a stop in Lomé, Togo. It was packed with great experiences. First was the stop to visit the largest Fetish Market in Africa, supplying everything for the voodoo culture. Next we visited an artisans village where I bought a lovely batik from the artist. After lunch on the ship we visited a local school, loved the kids, then were welcomed in a ceremony by the village chief. Back on board we enjoyed an after dinner concert by the famous singer, King Mensah.
We stopped in two cities in Ghana, the first sub-Saharan country to become independent, in 1957. First was Accra, Ghana, the capital. We visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park which honored their first president, then had lunch at a beach hotel and watched a cultural show. In the afternoon we visited a fellow who made very unique caskets. Next was Takoradi, Ghana where we visited a fishing harbor as they were bringing in the morning catch. The Gold Coast Castle, built in the 1650 was sobering, as it was used to house slaves before shipping them out. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited another fishing village before lunch, then viewed the Elmina Castle, the largest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
We docked two days in Monrovia, Liberia, and were quite sensation, as we were the first passenger ship to visit in over 40 years. The vice president and other state officials came aboard for a good conversation about the country. We arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone in time to be caught in rush-hour traffic while driving through town. This slow pace gave great opportunities to photograph the people going to work. That night "The Refugee All Stars" group came aboard for a concert.
West Africa 1: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, and Congo
West Africa 2: Gabon, Sao Tomé and Principe, Cameroon
West Africa 4: The Gambia, Senegal, Western Sahara, Canary Islands, and Morocco
We stopped in two cities in Ghana, the first sub-Saharan country to become independent, in 1957. First was Accra, Ghana, the capital. We visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park which honored their first president, then had lunch at a beach hotel and watched a cultural show. In the afternoon we visited a fellow who made very unique caskets. Next was Takoradi, Ghana where we visited a fishing harbor as they were bringing in the morning catch. The Gold Coast Castle, built in the 1650 was sobering, as it was used to house slaves before shipping them out. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited another fishing village before lunch, then viewed the Elmina Castle, the largest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
We docked two days in Monrovia, Liberia, and were quite sensation, as we were the first passenger ship to visit in over 40 years. The vice president and other state officials came aboard for a good conversation about the country. We arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone in time to be caught in rush-hour traffic while driving through town. This slow pace gave great opportunities to photograph the people going to work. That night "The Refugee All Stars" group came aboard for a concert.
West Africa 1: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, and Congo
West Africa 2: Gabon, Sao Tomé and Principe, Cameroon
West Africa 4: The Gambia, Senegal, Western Sahara, Canary Islands, and Morocco
