Ghana has it all!
Modern glass-and-steel buildings, rainforests, jazz lounges, ceremonies with traditional dance and music, clubs banging with highlife and hip music, democratically-elected leaders, tribal chiefs, wildlife, and major film industry. All of these things are possible because Ghana is a forward-thinking country that has not forgotten about the past. This Ghana insider tips edition will help you navigate the many riches of this diverse nation this summer!
Ghana was prized as a colony for many European nations because of its vast supply of natural resources. The nation’s colonial name was the Gold Coast. Ghana is a unified collection of people, such as Ashante, Fante, Ewe, Mole-Dagbonian, and Guang. While English is the official language of Ghana, over 80 tongues are spoken within its borders.
9. Transportation
Before we get started you must know that public transportation is ancient and unreliable in Ghana. The best option for traveling is a taxi. The Ghanian cedi is relatively weak compared to major currencies, so you won’t find yourself spending more than 3 euros to get anywhere in the country. If you are out, just ask a shop owner or a restaurant manager to ring up a taxi for you. Plus, Ghana is served by Uber. Hotel and hostel managers can arrange for professional drivers for long distances or you can go on a group trip with JoinMyTrip!
For a more local experience, our insider tip is to try traveling with a tro-tro, which usually is a few cents for a ride in town. Tro-tros also travel between major cities and tourist destinations. These minivans drive a fixed route with badly-indicated stops and no official schedule. They stop picking up passengers when the van is full and don’t leave tourist spots until they are full, so you may have to wait a while to leave.
8. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum
The next stop on our insider tips for Ghana edition can be viewed as a design treasure from the outside or an educational storehouse from the inside. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum is the burial place of the first president after colonial rule ended in 1957 and his wife and a subterranean museum about his life and work. Nkrumah’s body lies in rest on the same spot that he and his colleague proclaimed that Ghana was free from British rule. This declaration of independence was made on the grounds of the British polo grounds, a place locals were not allowed to go. It may not be an insider tip but it is an important place for the people of Ghana, which you should visit to understand the countries rich history. Today, it’s a major destination for Ghanaians visiting the capital and international tourists.
7. Accra
Accra is one of the best places to visit for design lovers. Ghanaian fashion features bright colors in bold patterns. You can buy modern design pieces, contemporary art and innovative jewelry, and other accessories in galleries and shops in Accra. You can also scoop up a custom-made dress or suit for very little money in very little time. A made-to-measure dress can cost 50 euros and be ready in two days; a brilliant off-the-rack outfit may cost 30 euros. Ask your hotel or hostel manager for a recommendation. Maybe you find a place while walking through the Osu area or take part in a tour of the galleries and fashion boutiques. Go on unique trips like this with JoinMyTrip today in over 100+ destinations!
6. Mole National Park
Mole National Park is Ghana’s largest wildlife preserve and is marked by vast savanna, flat-topped hills streams, and waterfalls. It sits in the northwestern part of the country. It’s a little complicated to get there but well worth the effort. The wildlife preserve is home to elephants, lions, spotted hyenas, civets, warthogs, bushbucks, and genets in addition to 90 mammal species, over 300 bird species, 9 amphibian species, and 33 reptile species. With 4,849 square kilometers, you have a lot of ground to cover. After a rest break at the area motel or park lodge, you can also go on a night tour of the park (4 euros), which the park management arranges. On the tour, you can see the nocturnal lives of animals.
5. Grilled tilapia and Black Star beer
When in Accra, the Ghana capital, find some grilled tilapia and Black Star beer at a casual restaurant. Some foodies say the best fish they’ve ever had was caught and served in Accra. Afterward, follow that with a stroll down Oxford Street. At night, the street turns into Accra’s version of drag. People dressed in their Saturday-night finest outfits and drive up and down the street in search of food and fun at the restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that populate the area.
4. W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture
W.E.B. DuBois was an African-American intellectual. A writer, a founder of a major civil rights organization in the United States, and a Pan-Africanist. At the age of 93, he accepted the invitation of Nkrumah to write Encyclopedia Africana, a massive description of concepts and people of the African diaspora. DuBois’s death was honored with a moment of silence the next day at the March on Washington and a two-day state funeral in Accra. DuBois was originally buried at Osu Castle, then later in 1985, his body was moved to his former residence, which is now the W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture. His second wife is also buried there.
Visitors must be guided through the small museum, which holds his personal items, photographs, some of his personal books and documents. You’ll be walking through and touching his actual home and viewing the burial site, which is surrounded by symbolic decoration.
3. Osu Night Market
Our insider tip for you is to visit Osu Night Market. Night markets sell ingredients for cooking, prepared food, and everything you might need — housewares, clothing, shoes, textiles, books, backpacks. Sometimes there’s live music and sometimes there’s just silence. While crouching on an overturned bucket or rickety table, you can dine on waakye (the Ghanaian version of rice-and-beans, usually made with blackeye peas) or grilled lobster and sip fresh fruit. There are much less haggling and hard selling at night markets compared to the huge Makola Market in Ghana for example. It’s a nice way to experience Accra as it has been for more than 420 years. If you would like to explore Ghana with other like-minded travelers and lead your own trip, don’t forget to check out JoinMyTrip!
2. Tafi Abuife village
One of our most favorite insider tips for Ghana is to take a visit to Tafi Abuife, a village where men weave colorful textiles in a traditional way. At the interpretation center, you’ll learn about the weaving process and the meaning of some of the colors and patterns. Then you go to the shed where men use both hands and both feet to create wearable art. You are free to take photographs and you don’t have to deal with a hard sell. The prices of these pieces are fair but not cheap. You’ll know why once you see them in action.
1. Wli Falls
The Wli Falls is the highest waterfall in West Africa. Reaching the falls requires an amazing walk through a lush forest. The lowest level of the Wli is a trek over flat land and takes about 45 minutes. During the walk, you’ll see a variety of birds, butterflies, trees, and flowers. If the spirit is willing, you can visit the village ostrich farm, where you can buy eggs and support the village or just gawk at the birds. The falls are most impressive from April through October, after the rainy season.
We hope you enjoyed this edition of insider tips for Ghana that will make your trip worth it! Find like-minded travelers to join your trip to Ghana or plan your own trip with JoinMyTrip. Share costs, experiences, and come home with unforgettable memories. Stay tuned for our next edition of the Insider Tips Series!
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