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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
Cultural diversity, history & scenery
Learn about the culture and colonial history of Ghana while exploring the country’s capital and coastline. Step into the past at a UNESCO World Heritage site where thousands of enslaved people spent their last moments in Africa before being sent to the Americas. See how the country’s 70 ethnic groups are thriving today. Experience traditional dances and food. Get busy providing much-needed service at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind, and then relax while hiking through tropical rainforests and along the tranquil beaches. This program is the perfect mix of history, culture, scenery and service.
My trip to Ghana was my first exposure to the continent of Africa. It was also the first time, in my memory, that I began to consider my role as a global citizen.
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By: Perrin Duncan
Arrive at the airport where you’ll meet your group. Check in, go through security, and get acquainted with your fellow travelers as you prepare for your upcoming journey!
Arrive at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and meet your program leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to a comfortable hostel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead and get an introduction to the local culture.
Flight Details: Rustic Pathways is happy to book your flights as an optional add-on service.
Overnight: Hostel, Accra
Stroll through Accra, the bustling capital of Ghana. Explore the lively Makola Market and its wide variety of local wares and foods. Immerse yourself in the day-to-day life in Ghana as you see local residents bargain for goods. Then set out to visit Kwame Nkrumah Park, where you’ll learn about Ghana’s first president. After lunch, visit the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre for Pan Africanism and the Ghana National Museum. Learn more about Ghana’s pre-colonial history as you view exhibits. Head back to the hostel for a good night’s rest.
Head west to Cape Coast, the former capital city of Ghana that’s known for its windy streets, colonial architecture, and its UNESCO World Heritage sites. Make a stop in the town of Assin Manso on the banks of the Pra River. See the spot where enslaved people were forced to take their last bath before entering castles where they waited for ships to the Americas. Continue to Cape Coast where you’ll enjoy a Ghanaian dinner and time with your fellow travelers.
Overnight: Hotel, Elmina
Head to St. George’s Castle in Elmina, the first and oldest European building in Sub-Saharan Africa that was constructed in 1482. Stand at the “point of no return,” the last place where enslaved people stood in Africa before boarding ships to the Americas. Walk in the footsteps of the captives in the dungeons of Cape Coast Castle, another UNESCO World Heritage Site that also houses a museum on slavery and European colonization. Reflect on what you’ve learned while watching the sunset at the Fort Williams Lighthouse. Gather for a mid-trip discussion to talk about what you’ve experienced and learned so far.
Travel to Kakum National Park to hike through one of Ghana’s tropical rainforests that’s home to 400 bird species, butterflies, and other flora and fauna. Trek across seven hanging bridges that connect some of Kakum’s largest trees. Learn about the medicinal benefits of some local plants. Wrap up your time in the park and head to Global Mamas Cooking Workshop where you’ll learn how to make some traditional Ghanaian dishes. Try your hand at dyeing batiked organic fabrics to bring home with you and then kick back for a traditional cultural performance that’ll include a wide range of Ghanaian and West African dances.
Get ready to work up a sweat at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind. Learn about the daily lives of the students and then work on pressing needs, which may include road improvement, cleaning, painting and various other activities.
Service Hours: 6
Relax and reflect as you kick back on a palm-lined beach. Wander along the shoreline and watch local fishermen come in, unload their catch, and prepare their nets. After a day in the sun, hop into a van for a journey back to Accra. Stop in the town of Abandze along the way for a short tour of Fort Amsterdam that was built by the English between 1634 and 1645 and was later used as a trading post.
See the different pace of life in the fishing community of James Town. Watch local women preparing and smoking their husbands’ daily catch. Explore the James Town Lighthouse and Ussher Fort, where you’ll learn more about the Dutch and British colonial history. Then head to Christiansborg Castle on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea to check out the former seat of government in Ghana. Enjoy lunch and drive to the Accra Arts Center for an opportunity to bargain for paintings, masks, and other crafts. Stop by Independence Square where thousands of Ghanaians stood as the country declared independence.
Wrap up the day with the traditional Rustic Ties ceremony that allows students to reflect on what they’ve experienced and talk about how to apply these lessons in their own worlds. Enjoy your last moments in Ghana, as you head to the airport where you’ll say goodbye to your program leaders.
Relax on your flight back home as you cherish the memories that’ll last a lifetime!