The people and places of Ghana weave together, and become a colourful, cultural whole. This makes it a diverse country, mixing modernism with tradition. Imagine executives making deals with spiritual healers and traditionally dressed woman sending text messages! There are no well-known natural icons, but beach life, past life, wildlife, hip life and village life makes Ghana a country worth exploring

Places to see

Accra is a sprawling city, originally a village town. Busy, bustling streets, hip life and highlife, restaurants and bars, mixed with the sultry temperatures makes for an exhausting and exhilarating city. La Pleasure Beach, 8km east of Accra, is a white, sandy beach and it offers exactly what the name implies. Another attraction, The Lighthouse, offers a great view of the city and the harbour. The National Museum offers a unique cultural and historical experience.

Busua and Dixcove have some of the best beaches in Ghana. These two villages are mainly known as fishing villages, but Busua’s beaches are ideal for swimming and even surfing. Busua is also home to the ruins of Fort Batenstein and worth a visit.

The Cape Coast was once the largest slave-trading centre in West Africa, but now it is a vibrant town filled with rich history. The Cape Coast Castle overlooks the ocean and here you can catch up on your slave trade history. The whitewashed, restored castle houses a museum and one can enjoy a guided tour when visiting.

Kumasi was once the capital of the rich and powerful Ashanti kingdom, today it is a bustling metropolis. This town spills over hills and has energetic markets that spill onto the streets. The inhabitants are a diverse bunch, speaking a wide range of languages. A visit to the Armed Forces Museum is an experience not to be missed – it offers an extraordinary collection of items, including some from World War 1 and WW2.

Tamale is the fourth largest city in Ghana and is the major transport hub of the north. Travelers usually stop here on their way to the Mole National Park. This park offers face-to-face encounters with bus-sized elephants, baboons, water hogs, waterbucks and antelope – 90 species of mammal in total. Tamale is also a stopping point for travelers on their way to Burkina Faso.

Climate and when to go

Ghana has a tropical climate, which means that it is hot all year with seasonal rains. Throughout the year, maximum temperatures are around 30°C, dropping three or four degrees during rainy seasons and the humidity is constantly high. The tourist high season is from June to August, which coincides with the summer vacation in the US. The country sees few tourists from September to December.

Know this!

Bus and tram are the best ways to get around Ghana – there are two classes, luxury and ordinary. The transport is fairly reliable, but delays are common. The unit of currency is Cedi (C). The best currency to take along is US dollars, UK pounds or Euros. Major hotels and agencies accept travelers cheques, and Visa and MasterCard credit cards.
This multi-cultural, explosive, bustling country offers a mix of everything you would want in a destination. Give Ghana a go, you might get more than what you bargained for!

Words: Anzél van der Mescht

About the author: Anzel is currently completing her internship with Hallo Crazy World and Hola Cape Town. She loves the colour purple, laughing, writing and singing loudly. When she travels, she prefers to keep it local, because she hates aeroplanes. Although she has a fear of flying she has travelled to places such as England, Wales, Prague, Germany and Egypt. Her motto in life is "no regrets, only lessons learnt" and she stresses that being young should be an adventure!