Why Ghana is the ideal destination for your first trip to Africa

Ian Packham

Ian Packham

Ghana goes a long way to counter the nerves of those on their first trip to Africa. Tucked into the heart of coastal West Africa, and encapsulating the spirit of the wider continent, you won't be there for long before you hear the word akwaaba or, 'welcome'.

Regularly termed 'Africa for beginners', Ghana would undoubtedly also be called the smiling coast if that hadn't already been taken by another country in the region.

Though it can appear hectic (and just a little bit sweaty) at first glance, Ghana offers an extraordinary entry into this continent of wonders. So forget the niggling doubts, and uncover the many reasons why Ghana is the ideal destination for a first African holiday. It certainly won't be your last.

Getting there: book a great value tour of Ghana with Explore!* to see much of the country with an expert guide on hand.

Seriously warm welcomes

Greetings in Ghana come in just one flavour: warm, and that's nothing to do with the prevailing sub-tropical climate. Beyond spontaneous renderings of akwaaba on its streets, the nation exudes an open and welcoming atmosphere that's difficult to match.

Though obruni (white man) is also a common refrain heard by Caucasian visitors, it's said with no intended malice or racial undertone, and it's certainly not unusual to have drinks or meals covered by passing strangers despite the country's already good-value-for-money status.

More complex interactions are thankfully easy to understand too, given that English is the country's official language and is spoken widely alongside a range of regional ones (akwaaba is a Twi word, spoken by about eight of Ghana's 34 million people).

The country's much-lauded stability, cemented by strong democratic values, ensures plenty of airline options for getting there. Meanwhile, generally good roads and tourist infrastructure make travelling around Ghana, roughly the size of the UK, and between its main sights, achievable on a standard-length holiday.

Wonderful wildlife

Africa is often defined by its wildlife, with safaris a key reason travellers opt to holiday on the continent. While Ghana lacks East Africa's vast savannahs, animal lovers won't be left disappointed.

The country's most important protected space, Mole National Park (pronounced Mo-lay) provides a typical safari experience with game drives and, more uniquely, walking safaris. Their usual starting point is accommodation with dramatic locations on the edge of an escarpment, made all the better by the presence of cooling outdoor pools.

Getting up close to savannah elephants is Mole's main draw, though antelope are also prolific and the birdlife along its river is similarly plentiful. Further north, the village of Wechiau is home to a community-led hippo sanctuary offering boat trips to visit its animal neighbours.

In the more forested south of Ghana, Kakum National Park is celebrated for its canopy walkway, and Tafi Atome for the chance to stand mere inches (and often less) from cat-sized mona monkeys held sacred by the local community. Bringing bananas is encouraged by both the staff and the mona.

Bountiful beaches

Bounded to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, Ghana is also a key habitat for five of the world's eight turtle species. There are several locations known for turtle sightings during the October to January nesting season, from Keta in the east and Winneba in the centre to Cape Three Points in the west, which also serves as the country's southernmost point.

Turtles aside, Ghana's beaches, which stretch for much of the country's 340-mile Atlantic coastline, marry perfectly with many people's mental image of what a beach should be. Tiki bars may remain thin on the ground, but warm, soft sands and gently swaying palm trees are not.

Largely free of the hassle that sometimes manifests on a day on the sands elsewhere on the continent, there are beaches for partying (La, just outside of capital Accra, and Kokrobite), beaches for surfing (Busua) and beaches with such tranquillity it's easy to forget the rest of the world even exists (try Gomoah Fetteh, Apam or Ada Foah to start).

Must-see forts & castles

Standing behind and among some of Ghana's best beaches are over 50 forts and castles, together the largest collection of such structures anywhere in Africa. Built by European powers from the 1480s to the 1800s, none share an obvious pattern of construction, but all are intricately linked to the horrors of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Pitch up at any, and there's a good chance the caretaker will take you on a quick guided tour, comparing the rooms used by its European occupants and those of their persecuted humans.

For a more considered look at the role these structures played in the barbaric practice, it's better still to visit Cape Coast or Elmina castles, separated by just six miles, and together forming the centrepiece of Ghana's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Accra, Osu Castle's heritage spans from the 1650s until almost the present day, as the seat of government until 2013. Newly introduced tours offer visitors a glimpse of life on the other side of the presidential desk, with stops at the former presidential office and the similarly humble bedroom used by Queen Elizabeth II during her 1961 state visit.

Unmissable cultural events

Although Kumasi's iron-red fort, now the Armed Forces Museum, should also rank highly on any first-time visitor's list of things to do, the second city's Akwasidae Festival takes some beating when it comes to delving into the country's rich culture.

Taking place in the grounds of the Manhyia Palace, home to the king of the Ashanti, one of Ghana's most important tribes, the festival takes place on Sundays every 42 days (making visits much more achievable than for a one-off annual event).

Utterly devoid of tourist trap vibes, it sees the king appear to the public in all his regal finery alongside drummers, dancers, singers and a long retinue of chiefs and courtiers.

Smaller festivals in a similar vein, often honouring ancestors with offerings of schnapps, take place in villages, towns and cities across Ghana year-round, but increase in number in August and September. Also worth looking out for are public audiences held by regional chiefs, generally taking place on Fridays in their royal compounds.

Climate in Ghana

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
32°C maximum daytime temperature in January in Accra32
32°C maximum daytime temperature in February in Accra32
32°C maximum daytime temperature in March in Accra32
32°C maximum daytime temperature in April in Accra32
31°C maximum daytime temperature in May in Accra31
29°C maximum daytime temperature in June in Accra29
28°C maximum daytime temperature in July in Accra28
28°C maximum daytime temperature in August in Accra28
29°C maximum daytime temperature in September in Accra29
30°C maximum daytime temperature in October in Accra30
31°C maximum daytime temperature in November in Accra31
31°C maximum daytime temperature in December in Accra31
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
5 days with some rainfall in January in Accra5
7 days with some rainfall in February in Accra7
10 days with some rainfall in March in Accra10
11 days with some rainfall in April in Accra11
16 days with some rainfall in May in Accra16
21 days with some rainfall in June in Accra21
13 days with some rainfall in July in Accra13
12 days with some rainfall in August in Accra12
13 days with some rainfall in September in Accra13
14 days with some rainfall in October in Accra14
9 days with some rainfall in November in Accra9
7 days with some rainfall in December in Accra7
Sea temperature °C
27°C sea temperature in January in Accra27
27°C sea temperature in February in Accra27
28°C sea temperature in March in Accra28
28°C sea temperature in April in Accra28
28°C sea temperature in May in Accra28
27°C sea temperature in June in Accra27
24°C sea temperature in July in Accra24
23°C sea temperature in August in Accra23
24°C sea temperature in September in Accra24
26°C sea temperature in October in Accra26
28°C sea temperature in November in Accra28
28°C sea temperature in December in Accra28

The above shows the climate in Accra. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Ghana.

Ready to experience Ghana? Check out the latest offers on small group trips with Explore!, which has an eclectic collection of tours throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

More about Ghana

Ghana by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ian Packham

Ian Packham

Posted in: Adventure Africa Culture

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