About

West Africa and the Origins of the Slave Trade

Explore the rich culture, history and diversity of West Africa, and learn about the impact and the role that these countries played in the transatlantic slave trade.

September 3 – 16, 2025: Coming Soon!

  Contact us at [email protected] or 212 –209 –5401 with questions or for more detail.

Trip Details

Join us on on a journey to Senegal, Benin, Togo and Ghana. Nestled together in West Africa, each country has a unique and diverse culture and history, offering travelers a rich and immersive experience.

On this tour we’ll explore the region’s painful legacy of slave trade through visits to important sites such as Gorée in Senegal, the largest slave trading center on the Africa coast; the Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle in Ghana, where we will discuss the relationship between western slave traders and the African rulers that supported the transatlantic slave trade; and follow the Slave Route in Benin, which covers the route that more than one million people kidnapped in Africa traversed before boarding ships t America. We’ll also explore many of the region’s colorful and vibrant open-air markets; learn about the history and heritage of the Ashanti Empire, whose legacies are still evident today; and spend time at the Fetish Market in Togo, a unique experience where ingredients for traditional African remedies can be found. These are just a few of the remarkable experiences travelers on our new small group tour of Western Africa can expect.

Highlights:

•Participate in a pre-departure call with Accra based journalist, Anakwa Dwamena, whose work focuses on the African diaspora.

•Meet with Chika Oduah, an award-winning Nigerian-American reporter, writer and photojournalist.

• Explore the history and heritage of the Ashanti people, the largest tribe in Ghana and one of the few matrilineal societies in West Africa.

• Visit the site of Donkor Nsuo, the former Slave River and market that served as the last stop on the slave trade route that originated in Northern Ghana.

• Learn about Vodoo (or the Vodou believe system), in Ouidah, the cradle of African Traditional Religion. 

Please note that Ghana, Togo and Benin require all travelers be vaccinated against yellow fever.  For additional information on contraindications and precautions, see yellow fever vaccine and consult with your doctor prior to committing to this tour. 

Questions? Contact us using the “Learn More” button or call us at 212-209-5401.

100% of the proceeds from our travel programs support The Nation’s journalism.

The Nation purchases carbon offsets to cover the emissions generated by our travel program in order to help mitigate effects on the climate.

 

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