Journey To Your Roots-West Africa edition

All of the group trips at AWFT are special. However, our Journey To Your Roots trip was probably our best.

The Journey To Your Roots trip crossed five different countries in two weeks.We flew to Kenya from New York and then journeyed to Ghana and Senegal by flight, Gambia by bus and finally Portugal by flight. The entire trip covered nearly 15,000 miles.

On our stop in Kenya we journeyed to a safari in Nairobi National Park. It was amazing to see wildlife set in the back drop of Nairobi City.

Our next stop was to Ghana. We arrived to fanfare with dancers and drummers! The Journey took us to the “Last Bath.” The Last Bath was the place where slaves took their last bath before being taken to the slave forts. It was a moving experience that left us in tears.

Four of the guests, standing together and posing for a photo on the historic site known as the Last Bath, shared a moment that was deeply profound. This was an incredibly moving experience that resonated powerfully with all of us, ultimately bringing us to tears as we reflected on the significance of the location and what it represents.

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Before we left the beautiful country of Ghana, we made a heartfelt stop at a charming local village, where we took the opportunity to deliver much-needed school supplies to the eager elementary age children. The entire village came out to meet us with smiles and open arms, celebrating our arrival with a warm sense of community. The young kids, filled with excitement and enthusiasm, remarked that they could hardly wait to go to school the very next day, looking forward to using the new supplies to aid their learning.

Our next stop was Senegal. We toured the slave fort at Goree Island and after set off for Gambia. The ride to Gambia allowed us to explore parts of Senegal.

Our trip to Gambia included stops at Kunte Kinteh Island where we were met one of Kunte Kinteh's relatives. It brought the 1970s Roots movie to life.

Finally, in Senegal we met with the lions! Each person got a chance to walk with lions and take pictures at the Fathala Lion Reserve. Before the trip, people were nervous about this experience, but it turned out to be the highlight of our trip.

On our Journey home, we made a stop in Portugal, where people were able to put together all of the history that they learned over the previous two weeks.

We’ve been asked if we will do this trip again and the answer is yes! Stay tuned for the updates!