Everything you need to know about how to plan and have the best time in Ghana!
So, you’re planning a trip to Ghana. You’ve already made the best decision yet!
You’re next step is to decide what to do while you are there – and that’s where this post will come in handy! Let’s get going!
ROOFTOP POOLS
Something I always love to do very first thing after arrival, is to visit the hotel facilities. Personally, I stay with Accra Luxury Apartments every time. They are amazing from start to finish. You’ll feel taken care of, safe, and welcomed before you even arrive. Check out more about The Gallery here, and why it is the perfect place to stay in Accra.
Most hotels and apartment facilities have a pool – and most of those are rooftop pools with beautiful 360º views. Get acquainted, meet people, and chat with the locals! I always use the first day to plan out the rest of my days. That way, you know that everything you want to do has a time and place that allows you to do it. And from there, you can mix and match if need be! Something I love about Ghana is that even if you don’t want to plan, you can be like the locals and just take every day as it comes. It’s incredible.
So with that out of the way, where to first?
OSU
Well, you’ll definitely want to head down to Osu. Osu is a section of Accra that is kind of like a “downtown” vibe. This is where most of the popular nightclubs and bars are. For daytime though, there TONS of local vendors selling authentic Ghanaian clothing, jewelry, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. The also have SO many tasty spots to grab some food and enjoy the scenery (I really loved a restaurant called Burger & Relish). The staff are always so friendly and it’s super relaxing. You can easily spend the day in Osu just shopping around and enjoying the Ghanaian lifestyle.
As I mentioned, Osu is also popular for nightlife. A couple of notable, popular spots in Osu that I’ve been to include Bloom Bar and Purple Pub. Bloom Bar is an outdoor pub with beautiful modern settings and a mix of the best music. In fact - every time I’ve been there, the music has been perfection. All the hits (in both Ghana and internationally), and all the crowd favorites – new and old. Both times I was there, the DJ was an award-winning DJ, iPhone DJ (ig: @theiphonedj)! He LITERALLY DJs for the whole pub from his iPhone. It’s incredible. He’s there on Fridays, Saturdays, and most holidays!
The next nightlife spot in Osu to make your way to is called Purple Pub. To be totally honest, it’s my favorite spot in all of Ghana. The laid-back attitude and neon purple lighting just sets an incredible vibe. The TV's around the perimeter are playing music videos while people are packing the entire streetside, and that atmosphere is just something that does it for me. Its almost like feeling “yes, this is why I came to Ghana.” They also have kebab stands and hookah to round everything out. Ugh, I love it.
I will go more into detail with nightlife in Accra in a future post.
CAPE COAST
Cape Coast is one of those places that you’ll never forget. To start, the heart of the city is the Cape Coast Castle, a castle on the seashore looking deep into the ocean, and was once the center of the African slave trade. There is a phenomenal tour in which I would highly recommend, that is given by an incredibly knowledgeable and engaging tour guide. They take you through the castle, and to the shore through the “Door of No Return”, which was the last door the imprisoned slaves had walked out before leaving their Africa forever.
It is tremendously somber to see first-hand where these African men and women were held for no fault of their own. Pitch black rooms with small ditches along the floor for “sewage”, stoned walls with no access to oxygen or light, small rooms for hundreds of people with no sanitation… it’s horrifying. We all know the slave trade was tragic, but to be in the same room as some 4 Million African men and women being held to be shipped to a new land – its life changing. And the wonderful tour guide really explained the story behind the slave trade in way I’ve never heard it before.
There is also a museum of artifacts and more information. They have historical remnants from over 400 years ago. Please go take the tour, walk through the museum, and experience the history. You won’t regret it. Below are the entrance fees according to ghanamuseums.org.
Visitor Category Entrance Fee
Primary to JHS Students: GH¢ 0.30
SHS Students: GH¢ 0.50
Tertiary Students with ID: GH¢ 1.00
Ghanaian Adults: GH¢ 2.00
Foreign Children USD 2.00 or its equivalent in Ghana
cedis (GH¢ 10)
Foreign Students with ID: USD 4.00 or its equivalent in Ghana
cedis (GH¢ 20)
Adult Foreigners: USD 7.00 or its equivalent in Ghana
cedis (GH¢ 35)
Cape Coast is also the home of Cape Coast University, a university made up of nearly 6,000 students. There are also some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen, and relaxing beach-side vendors and cafes. Being about 91 miles (148 km) from Accra, and about a 3 hour trip with standard traffic, Cape Coast makes a perfect place for a day trip! Even an overnight trip would be great if you want to see the nearby Elmina Castle or Kakum National Park as well.
KAKUM NATIONAL PARK
Still the Cape Coast Area, about 170km from Accra, we bring you to Kakum National Park. Kakum National Park is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Ghana. Its most iconic attraction is its canopy walk, which allows visitors to take in views from a walkway between the treetops.
These trees are gorgeous, tall trees towering over 200 feet tall.
Tour guides designated throughout the park will give you a fantastic tour of the sights and sounds of the rainforest. According the Forestry Commission of Ghana, Kakum National Park host many species of animals including elephants, red riverhogs, primates, and more. There are over 200 species of birds including parrots, frazer-eagle owls, and 5 different hornbil species. And to top that off, an amazing 400+ species of butterflies call this forest home.
LABADI BEACH
With its lively music and friendly atmosphere, Labadi Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Ghana. Located in Labadi (a section of Accra), it sits along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. There are many restaurants and street food vendors to satisfy an appetite of any craving, and in doing so you’ll be taking in some of the prettiest views in Ghana.
Here on this beach you will also find vendors selling arts and local jewelry. It’s a great place to experience the light, carefree vibe of Ghana. You can stroll the beach on horseback for a small fee, or you can sit at on the numerous tables and make some new friends.
There is also an entrance fee to the beach, which is around 10 cedis ($2.50 USD).
BLACK STAR (INDEPENDENCE) SQUARE
Black Star Square (a.k.a. Independence Square) is public square in downtown Accra. It is neighbored on one side to the Accra Sports Stadium, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park to the other. The focal point of Black Star Square is a colossal archway with the iconic Ghanaian Black Star on the top. This area hosts the country’s Independence Day celebrations as well as other national events throughout the year. I actually read in an article that Ghana’s Independence Square is the second largest city square in the world.
You can visit the square day or night. During the day, you’ll see the sunshine shining on the beautiful surroundings composed of other parks and statues. You’ll see this still, towering monument in the heart of the bustling city around you. At night, you see the confident beams of light highlighting the Black Star and the pride of Ghana. It’s really a win-win either way.
KWAME NKRUMAH MEMORIAL PARK
After admiring the breathtaking Black Star Square, take a stroll through Ghana’s history at the neighboring Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Kwame Nkrumah was Ghana’s first president, and led Ghana to Independence from Britain in March of 1957. In Kumasi, there is one Ghana’s largest universities named after him— Kwame Nkrumah University of Technology and Science—which hosts over 42,000 students.
The centerpiece of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is the mausoleum of he and his wife. The modern architecture of the shrine is captivating, and a small reservoir of water really creates a beautiful, scenic tribute.
ABURI BOTANICAL GARDENS
Aburi Botanical Gardens is the ultimate destination for peace. Located in the Akuapem hills approximately 35 km (45 minutes drive) from Accra, this serene environment will have you relaxed in no time. Opened way back in 1890, its one of the only 1,800 botanical gardens in the world. The Garden has several different lawn spaces for picnicking, or you can simply find a bench and enjoy the cool breeze. Because of the higher elevation, this area makes a great getaway from the sizzling neighboring city of Accra.
When you arrive at Aburi Botanical Gardens, you have several options. The park offers tours that allow you to visit each of the attractions at the site, as well as learn the history of the Ghanaian botany. Some of Ghana’s oldest trees reside here in the Gardens.
There are also three restaurants on-site in case you decide you’d like to eat. Or, as mentioned, pack a picnic and enjoy the scenery.
The main attractions at the Gardens include:
The Bush House - The Rock Garden - The Pergola or Lovers Lane - The Ficus tree - The Retired Helicopter - School of Horticulture
Keep in mind that as a tourist, you may not have access to a car – and that’s fine! There are car rental services and public transportation options available. There are Mini-buses that make the trip to Aburi Botanical Gardens from Accra, and as always you could take the TroTro. The TroTro is a public transportation van that allows passengers to ride for an incredibly low fare. Or, like many of us are used to, you can simply book an Uber.
There is entrance fee to Aburi Botanical Gardens in the amount of 5 cedis ($1.00 USD).
Have fun and enjoy beautiful Ghana!
Share your experiences with me!
コメント