Turtle Conservation Project (EXVGN)

Duration: 15 days (may vary)
Areas: Ghana
Tour types: History & Culture, Nature & Wildlife

Description

10 day turtle conservation project
Leaving Accra, we pause at Kakum National Park where there's the chance to take a spectacular walk on a rope bridge suspended over the jungle canopy! Continuing past long sandy beaches and 'slave forts', we arrive at Akwidaa which will be our base for the next 10 days. Following our training, we'll be participating in the daily turtle patrol; monitoring and recording turtle nests, recording any hatching baby turtles and helping any stragglers reach the sea! The opportunity to witness a large Leatherback turtle nesting on the beach at night is a once in a lifetime experience. A vital part of the project work is its educational projects with the local community and we will be engaged in a variety of activities during the day; from interactive work in the local schools, erecting effective signage, to workshops with local fishermen.

Capital of the Ashanti
Heading inland, we drive to Kumasi - once the seat of an empire that stretched from the Ivory Coast to Togo. Here we explore West Africa's largest market, jostling with women dressed in the zany colours of the locally-woven kente cloth. We'll also take a trip out to see tranquil Lake Bosumtwi. Created by a meteor impact, the area is considered sacred in local lore.

What are the benefits?
Considerable manpower is needed to effect beach patrols during the nesting season and deliver consistent turtle education in the community. The development of this project is bringing tourism and thus alternative sources of income to the area, reducing the reliance on poaching.

Tour itinerary

Day 1-2

Join tour Accra. 2 Tour Accra.

Day 3

Drive Akwidaa; visit Kakum NP (optional canopy walk); meet project staff and briefing.

Day 4 to 12

Turtle conservation project.

Day 13

Drive Kumasi; visit Lake Bosumtwi.

Day 14

In Kumasi; sightseeing.

Day 15

Drive Accra; tour ends Accra.