Excursion Cedi beads & shai hills nature reserve tour at Tema

Cedi Bead Factory

A two hour scenic drive, passing through towns, villages and the countryside will take you into the Krobo region. The area of Krobo is famous worldwide for its beads. Here they are produced and used for cults and esthetic purposes. The Cedi Bead Factory, specializes in the production of these special beads. The Cedi compound is a small peaceful garden with trees and a few thatched buildings that serve as the outdoor bead factory. Cedi Beads Factory - Mr. Cedi is the president of the Manya Krobo Beads Association, a founding member of the Ghana Based Society and a member of the international society of glass beads makers.

There will be a Bead making demonstration at the outdoor factory showing the intricate process of bead making, starting from the composition, all the way through to the firing stage. The craftsmen have now been making beads following the same long lasting traditional technique for centuries. They use scrap glass that they ground into a fine powder. The glass powder is then meticulously made into patterns and placed into hand-made clay molds covered in kaolin. The beads are cooked, then decorated, washed, and eventually strung. At Cedi Bead Factory, glass beads are made from recycled glass bottles and sold to markets and craft shops throughout the country and overseas. The art of making glass beads has a long history in Ghana. For the past 400 years, the finished products have been used in ceremonies of birth, coming of age (Dipo Ceremony - the rites are held every year between the months of April and May), marriage, and death.

Depart the Cedi compound and drive to a nearby hotel for a buffet lunch. After lunch, drive to Shai Hills Reserve and enjoy a nature/game/birding drive.

Shai Hills Resource Reserve

Shai Hills Resource Reserve is located along the Tema-Akosombo road. About 50km from the port of Tema and 70km from Accra. The Shai Hills Resource Reserve is a resource reserve located in Doryumu in the Shai Osudoku District all in the Greater Accra Region. The area was declared Forest Reserve in 1962 with area of 47 square kilometres (18 sq mi) which was later extended to 51 square kilometers (20 sq mi) in 1973. It was made a Game Production Reserve in 1971. The site has archaeological importance as well: the caves were originally inhabited by the Shai people since the late Stone Age, from10,000 BC until 1892. In 1892 the British army expelled them from the hills and forced them to move. The Shais lived in clans with each clan occupying a particular cave and its surrounding area. Remains of Shai people's works can still be found at the reserve. Drive from Shai Hills back to the ship in Tema.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Shai Hills Reserve, Cedi Bead Factory, Krobo Region, Lunch

Note

Please note: This tour involves a minimal amount of walking for approximately 300-350mt with some stairs at the hotel for lunch and a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach. This tour is suitable for guests with limited mobility but not those who utilise a wheelchair. Lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes and sun protection are recommended. Local souvenir shop accepts cash in US dollars, Pounds, Euros and local currency. No Credit Cards. Guests should be aware that the Ghanaian public and security personnel are friendly, but you must ask permission before taking photos of local residents. The tour sequence may vary. Guests are advised that drive time is about 2 hours one-way and may vary depending on traffic. The last part of the road (about 5 min driving time) is over an unpaved road making for a bumpy ride.