An African Connection
An immersive cultural tour experience of African life and culture
Trip To Cameroon
Considering joining our 2024 cultural tour of Cameroon? Consider the following:
Trip Date:
November 10th to 30th, 2024.
Festivals:
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Bikutsi Festival - Yaounde
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Nguon Festival – Foumban
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Ngondo Festival – Dry season – Sawa – Litoral - Douala
Requirements for Entry:
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Passport
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Visa
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Current immunization records, including evidence of yellow fever vaccination
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World Health Organization (WHO) card with yellow fever vaccination.
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Proof of polio vaccination for visits longer than four weeks.
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Covid19 Negative PCR test of less than 72hours.
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Covid 19 immunization
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Flight, accommodation and feeding expenses
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Visas: Obtain your visa before traveling. Visit Embassy of Cameroon website for the most current visa information.
Fact About Cameroon
Brief History:
- 8000 BC, Baka people (pygmies) migrated to this land.
- Many migrations lead to the arrival of Bantu speaking people and nomadic pastoral Islamic Fulani.
- 450 BC, Hanno a Carthaginian explorer while observing a coast lit by fire at night, a mountain named the chariot of the gods was sighted. Although much disputed, it is possibly Mount Cameroon. The native name happens to be Monga-ma Loba or the “Seat of the Gods”.
- 1472, first contact with European, Portuguese explorer Fernando Po led a mission to explore the Wouri There was an abundance of shrimp in the Wouri River, because of this Po named the river Rio dos Camaroes (River of the Prawns). ‘Camaroes’ forms the base of the name Cameroon.
- Atlantic slave trade: Cameroon became a significant source of slaves, a number of whom were sold and traded at Bimbia, Douala, and other ports.
Religious Denominations:
- Under the leadership of Englishman Alfred Saker and West Indians such as Joseph Merrick, a Baptist station was established in 1845 at Akwa Town (now Douala). Saker established a larger post at Victoria (now Limbe) in 1858.
- The American Presbyterian mission opened a station in 1871. The origin and denomination of the missions changed frequently, but the Presbyterians, Baptists, and Roman Catholics have been the most prominent.
Location:
-Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Area: Total:
- 475,440 sq km, Land: 472,710 sq km, Water: 2,730 sq km
Border countries (6):
- Central African Republic 901 km, Chad 1116 km, Republic of the Congo 494 km, Equatorial Guinea 183 km, Gabon 349 km, Nigeria 1975 km.
Climate:
- The climate varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north.
Terrain:
- Diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north.
Elevation:
- Highest point: Fako on Mount Cameroun (4,045 m), lowest point: Atlantic Ocean (0 m), mean elevation (667 m). Last Mount Cameroon volcano eruption in 2012.
Known As:
- Sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea.
Population:
- 28,524,175 (July 2021 est.). A large youth population, with more than 60% of the populace under the age of 25.
Religion: Roman Catholic 38.3%, Protestant 25.5%, other Christian 6.9%, Muslim 24.4%, animist 2.2%, other 0.5%, none 2.2% (2018 est.).
Major urban areas:
- Yaounde (Capital), Douala, Garoua, Bamenda and Bafoussam.
Languages:
- English (official), French (official) and close 230 African languages. These include 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, and 173 Niger-Congo languages. This latter group is divided into one West Atlantic language (Fulfulde), 32 Adamawa-Ubangui languages, and 142 Benue-Congo languages (130 of which are Bantu languages).
Symbols:
- Lion; national colors (Green, Red, Yellow).
Currency:
- The Central African CFA Franc (French: Franc CFA or simply Franc, ISO 4217 code XAF)
Natural Resources:
- Cameroon possesses practically every variety of flora and fauna found in tropical Africa. Waza National Park in the north, which was originally created for the protection of elephants, giraffes, and antelopes, abounds in both forest and savanna animals, including monkeys, baboons, lions, leopards, and birds that range from white and gray pelicans to spotted waders. To the south lies Dja Faunal Reserve, one of the best-protected rainforests in Africa and a reserve renowned for its biodiversity. Korup National Park contains one of the oldest and richest tropical forests on the continent of Africa in terms of flora and fauna.
Sport:
- Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport. Cameroon’s national team was the first African team to reach the quarter final of the World Cup (1990).
Music:
- Cameroon is home to rhythms such as Bikutsi, Makossa, Assiko and Mangambeu. Bottle dance and other traditional varieties.
Trip To Ghana
Considering joining our 2024 cultural tour of Ghana? Consider the following:
Trip Date:
July 27th to 28th, 2024.
Festivals:
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Akwasidae Festival (Every 6 weeks)
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Panafest
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Bakatue festival
Requirements for Entry:
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Valid passport
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Proper travel document establishing the identity of the holder Pre-pay for COVID-19 Testing in Ghana
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All international arriving passengers, including those from the ECOWAS region, will be required to meet the following health requirements prior to admission into Ghana:
(a) Passengers must not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 including body temperature ˃38C.
(b) Passengers must possess a COVID – 19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin.
(c) The test should have been done not more than 72 hours or not more than 3 calendar days before the scheduled departure time from the country of origin.
(d) Airlines who board passengers without PCR test results or transport and disembark passengers with Positive PCR test results into Accra will be fined US$3,500 per passenger.
(e) Passengers will be subjected to a mandatory COVID-19 test at the airport terminal at a cost of $150 to be borne by the passenger. Payment can be made online at https://myfrontierhealthcare.com/Home/Ghana. Any passenger who is unable to pay online will be required to make payment on arrival for the test.
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Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required upon arrival in Ghana for anyone over nine months of age.
Foreign nationals who are over six years old and who have been physically present in Ghana for a cumulative period of 90 days or more during a calendar year are required to register with the National Identification Authority (NIA). The NIA will issue registered foreign nationals a non-citizen Ghana card. The non-citizen Ghana card will be necessary for all transactions that require identification, i.e., opening bank accounts, obtaining work permits, acquiring driver’s licenses, etc.
Important Immigration Notice
Individuals intending to travel to Ghana must note that:
The possession of the appropriate documents does not confer a right of entry;
Travelers may be refused entry into Ghana if they fall within the category of prohibited immigrants and
If they do not satisfy immigration requirements at the point of entry. The Government of Ghana will not be financially liable for their repatriation.
Flight, accommodation and feeding expense
Facts about Ghana
Brief History:
4000 BC Archaeological evidence indicates that present-day Ghana has been inhabited (the coastal zone and north of the forest zone)
600 BC Phoenician sailors probably also landed on the Guinea coast.
The early Kingdom of Ghana (sometimes known as "Ghanata" or "Wagadugu") was one of the most powerful African empires for several hundred years. The Ghana Empire was in the Sahel: It included most of present-day Senegal and some regions of Mali and Mauritania but did not reach as far south as what we know as Ghana today.
1471: The Portuguese arrives on the coast of Guinea as the first Europeans.
1482: The Portuguese build their first fortress on the coast. They name it "Elmina" (the mine).
1661: The Danish fort "Christiansborg" (sometimes known as Osu Castle) is built in Osu (modern-day Accra). It becomes the home of the Danish governor and later the centre of Danish slave trade. In modern-day Ghana the fort is the residence and office of the president. More than 350 years of slave trade. With its gold and accessible coastline "Ghana" becomes the centre of all European activity in West Africa.
1700's: Several of the southern kingdoms are deeply involved in the slave trade while others are almost wiped out. Akwamu, Fante and Asante are among those who benefit from the trade. Through their European connections the Asante gets weapons and uses them to conquer more land and fight other kingdoms. The Asante capital of Kumasi is highly developed and ahead of many European cities. ("Ashante" is the European spelled version of the name "Asante")
The Europeans trades weapons and manufactured goods for enslaved Africans, who are transported for about five weeks across the Atlantic Ocean to work on plantations in "the new world". More than two thirds of the Africans died when captured, in the dungeons of the forts or during transport. It is estimated that between 12 and 20 million enslaved Africans are transported across the Atlantic.
1874: The Gold Coast is officially proclaimed a British crown colony.
March 6, 1957: Independence of Ghana.
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Area: total:
238,533 sq km; land: 227,533 sq km; water: 11,000 sq km
Border countries (3):
Burkina Faso 602 km, Cote d'Ivoire 720 km, Togo 1098 km
Climate:
Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north.
Terrain:
Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area.
Elevation:
Highest point (Mount Afadjato 885 m); lowest point: (Atlantic Ocean 0 m); mean elevation: (190 m)
Population:
32,372,889 (July 2021 est.) Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25.
Ethnic groups:
Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande 1.1%, other 1.4% (2010 est.).
Official languages:
Akan, Ewe, Dagbani, Dangme, Dagaare, Ga, Nzeema, Kasem, Gonja and English.
Religions:
Christian 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 est.).
Major urban areas:
Kumasi, Accra (capital), Tamale, Sekondi Takoradi and Ashaiman.
Currency:
The Ghanaian Cedi (Currency sign: GHC; currency code: GHS)
Symbols:
Bird (Eagle). The flag (Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band).
The kakum National Park:
A natural rainforest in the Central Region, and a traditional habitat for some 40 species of large mammals including the forest elephant, rare plants, birds and butterflies. A new canopy walkway provides for an adventure and allows visitors a unique view of the forest.
Sport:
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Ghana
Music:
Ghana is home to rhythms such as Highlife, Hiplife, Agbadza, Adowa, Kete, Bewe and Kundu.
