22
votes
Travel tips for Ghana/West Africa?
I've been slowly convincing myself that I want to go to Africa, mostly because I haven't done a solo trip in a while, but also because I haven't been to Africa at all yet! Some of my team members are in Ghana and they sent me pictures of it, and it looked amazing. I definitely would love to go! I'm thinking of going during the week of Christmas only because it's probably my only time I'm available for the rest of the year. Any tips or places that I should be looking at?
(I also have some Scandinavian countries, Prague, or Scotland/Ireland on my docket, but I've been to Europe so much these last couple of years and I figure I'd need something new)
I'm Ghanaian ethnically but live in the US. I've been many times usually for family events, as a child (with my parents leading) and as an adult being able to choose my own experiences. When you travel, what kinds of experiences do you normally look for? Museums? Beaches? Shopping? Restaurants? (dietary restrictions?).
Going during the week of Christmas is gonna be the most expensive, but likely the most comfortable for you because many tourists go during that time. Traffic has exploded since Year of Return and the events that normally are hosted around that time.
For history/politics, I recommend a starter pack of visiting Cape Coast Castle, which is one of many Ghanaian slave castles, places where native Ghanaians were held by the Dutch and/or Spanish before being shipped off during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. You'd also learn a lot of the founding and Independence of Ghana by visiting the recently renovated Kwame Nkrumah Museum.
Right next to the Kwame Nkrumah Museum, and adding to the cultural exploration I highly recommend visiting the Accra Arts Centre and bring cash to haggle and purchase one-of-a-kind art pieces including fabric, clothing, hand-carved wooden sculptures, genuine and hand-crafted leather works, and other types of art!
For restaurants, one thing I've found is that in Ghana you will be able to find good Ghanaian food basically anywhere that serves food. If you're looking for foreign cuisines, they will be worse than what you'd find in the States and likely priced for tourists. Though there are a few recognizable chains that will still hit if that's what you're into. I don't recommend touring restaurants if you're not looking for native cuisine.
But yeah, I don't have all the answers because I only go places with family who can make personal recommendations and we stay in our family home when we go, but if you give a bit more about what you travel for, I might be able to point you in the right direction.
In general, and since you're already a seasoned traveler, I probably don't have to say it, but visit a travel clinic and make sure you're up-to-date with vaccines and get your prescriptions for Malaria-prevention drugs. Bring lots of sunscreen, your favorite electrolyte mixes, and be prepared for a Sun that is very close to the Equator and does not let you forget it.
Wait these are all amazing suggestions! I do loveeee Ghanaian food, I might just eat jollof and fufu all day every day. I usually do a bunch of museums and just general wandering, so I love all these suggestions. My team member in Ghana sent me some pictures at a safari resort he went to as well that definitely looked really cool! And of course, I definitely love the shopping experience, especially buying things that I can't normally get in the states.
Your suggestions have definitely pushed me more into just buying the tickets to go, and I definitely would love to read about some of your favorite places!
If you have a moment, do you know anything about the Safari Park/resort that my co-worker mentioned to me? It seemed interesting!
Did you link the resort somewhere?
I think it was this one! https://safarivalleyresort.com/
I've never been to this resort so can't offer any advice on it, sorry. It looks pretty good via the website though!
If you’re coming from the US, and your team there can arrange an on-arrival Visa, it’s much simpler than the process to get one before departure, which involves mailing your physical passport to the embassy in DC so they can put the Visa in and mail it back.
I don’t know how that would be done, but a recent group from the university I work for was able to swing that and had no issues (unlike a group the year before that wound up going a week late after their passports weren’t mailed back in time).
oh interesting! When I looked it up it said US citizens don't need a visa so I'll have to take a look at that. Unfortunately it would be for fun and not for work so i'm not too sure if i can ask my team to do something like that haha.
Looks like you at least need an evisa?
oh that makes life a bit easier thankfully!
Oh, that’s new and good news! In Summer 2025, the mail in Visa was the only option. When we sent in the passports, they just sat in the embassy for 2 months, then the embassy was shut down and the staff was swapped out for some kind of scandal. We sent someone to the Embassy in DC, and after 3 days, they were able to recover all the passports. So yay for an actual eVisa!
nowadays especially in the US it definitely would make me nervous to not have easy access to my passport haha
i get that, i think prague might be like an off-season visit for me, i do really want to see it but i feel like it's definitely less of a high priority for me
Op really has a point. I went in the off season last year and it was still PACKED. Pretty much every "tourist attraction" had velvet rope for long queues filled with tourists. It honestly was like Disney.
There is a good reason, I'd say the city is like the quintessential "European city". But if you've seen a bunch of cathedrals and museams filled with stolen Jewish art, it's more of the same really.
makes sense! I'll probably lower it in my list in that case.
I have been summoned here! For @phoenixrises and @kaffo - I am from Czech Republic and while I also sometimes go and visit Prague, the city of "mine" is Pilsen, the city of beer, and I can recommend doing that!
While in Pilsen, you should see Pilsner Urquell brewery, the place of origin of Pils type beer.
We also have Great synagogue here and also Old synagogue. When at Great synagogue, you will also see the Great theatre of Josef Kajetán Tyl.
The cathedral of st. Bartholomew on the main square is also worth visiting and I recommend gping up the tower to have a very nice view of the city. As Pilsen was 2015 European city of culture there were new bells casted and mounted in the tower since I-don't-know-wheb (likely second world war) and you will be able to see them when climbing the stairs - some have names of people who donated money for the bells casted on them. The bells first rung with the openung ceremony in 2015. It was very touching to hear this cathedral's bells for the first time in my life.
But I should have started with your arrival, probably by train - if that is the case, you would see the main train station first, which by itself is worth visiting as it is very nice historical building thaf underwent renovations in recent years. Intercity trains come through here with Italian Pendolino trains being probably the ones to take. Just before Pilsen there are 4.5 kilometers (3 miles) long railroad tunnels (one for each way) that may suddenly surprise you.
In the city there is very good public transport network consisting of three tram lines (weirdly they are numbered 1, 2 and 4 - this is for historical reasons as there were more lines in the past; numver 3 should come back though), all trams are yellow in Pilsen with exception of full cover ads ones and historical ones which have period colors. If you come on some Czech memorial day, you could even see tram of Czech inventor František Křižík which rides on such special occasions. There are also trolleybuses (green) in the city and regular buses (red). All of those have their time schedules and they run frequently and on time. Many stations have displays showing when will next one arrive and which line it would be. You can buy 24 hours (or less) ticket right in the vehicles using touchscreens there and paying with your debet/credit card - you will be given paper ticket by the machine. 24 hours comes under 4€ these days I think. You buy the ticket right in the vehicle, not before you enter it (like in Prague). You have to buy it right after boarding.
Back to what to visit - You may be interested in visiting the Science center Tachmania where you can see and try many technical/science things by yourself. It is situated in old Škoda works building. Škoda made, and some companies bearing the name to this day still do, things like steam and electric locomotives, trams, trolleybuses and through the second world war even cannons, some of them were used on Axis warships, I believe up to 305mm ones? Today there are still some famous Škoda companies - one makes transformers, one still makes public transport vehicles or at least the electrical gear in them, one does things around nuclear power plants... Speaking of Emil Škoda - there is his grave in the city that you can visit yourself. These Pilsen Škoda companies are NOT the ones that make Škoda cars!
You should also know that Pilsen was build on the place where four rivers emerge into one. It has population of (guessing) 160-180 thousand people and is fourth biggest city in Czech Republic. The city doesn't have airport (some smaller cities in Czech Republic do).
If you are into sport, FC Viktoria Plzeň, which made it into Champions League and European League, is based here, right next to brewery, which is right next to train station. Hop of the train, get drunk, go see football - you can't make that up. try not to drown in the river between brewery and stadium though!
One history fact - Pilsen (and part of Western Bohemia region) was liberated by US (and Belgium and others) army while the rest of the Czdch Republic was "liberated" by Soviets. Pilsen is proud of this fact and we hold big celebrations annualy where many history enthusiasts come into the town with period vehicles and juniforms and form various camps in the city. Many war veterans came to these celebratoons to talk with people, remind them why and what for they fought in the war. And we are grateful for what they did for us. These celebrations take form of about a week of various activities, the mood is very cheerful in the city, it is a great time to be here (but also.many people in the streets). Celebrations end with Convoy of Liberty where all.the historical vehicles form a convoy and ride.through the main city street - this included even Sherman tank in recent years and (sometimes?) there are also planes flying by over the convoy. I think there were Gripens of Czech Air Force and a fleet of historical planes doing just that at 75th anniversary of city's liberation.
There is also Christmas market being held on main square, but once again - too many people and there are also nicer markets in other towns (ie. České Budějovice).
I will probably end it here, but I'm absolutely sure I didn't mention like 90% of other things to do and visit in Pilsen - one such thing is Museum of Western Bohemia, at least go have a look at it from the outside, do it from 100 meters (yards) distance to fully appreciate the view.
Oh, how cpuld I forget! you have to eat, too! Around the city center there are many restaurants to visit. If you want traditional Czech cuisine, maybe have a look at Restaurant 12 in the park circle around the main square. Or visit U Salzmannů, which is right around main square's corner. In one of the middle streets from the square you can find Švejk restaurant and right under the Great theatre, there is Lokál, anothe Czech food restaurant. If you want to have a good espresso in a cozy coffee shop, have a look at Orient Coffee, which is in the yard (not accurate word) right next to the tram station on the main square (there is Orient Coffee shop on the square, the place you are looking for is next to it and you go through "tunnel" there (another bad word, sorry, it's nearing midnight here). If you rather have a burger, go to Delish rrstaurant. If you like mexican food like burrito, La Chica is near the square. If you would like to have the best pizza there can be, hop into train number 1 going to Bolevec (terminal station on the edge of the town) and visit Pulcinella restaurant. You can get Pilsner Urquell beer in all of those restaurants, yes, even in mexican and italian - you are visiting the town of beer after all.
EDIT: If you ever want to come to Pilsen, let me know in advance, I can compile some list with places and links to wikipedia or city's information website and I would like to meet you in person and you can have a beer on (and with) me! One day visit may not be actually enough thoigh to see all of the above and not be in a hurry. Oh and sorry for typos, this was written on my phone in the last 60 minutes (ouch!)
Amazing!! Such a nice detailed post hahaha you're making me want to go too!!! I'm hoping maybe sometime in January or February for me, but that's so far down the line that I haven't made a solid plan about it yet!
I try my best to avoid anything that looks remotely like that when traveling. I feel like the people waiting in those lines are running their vacation on autopilot. There are always so many interesting things (especially to a foreigner who is new to the country) that won't have any line at all.
Yes, one suggestion. Don't. Horrible experiences.
please elaborate?
Thieves, police literally laughs in your face.
I've been to many places internationally and I think that happens to a lot of people everywhere unfortunately. I probably wouldn't generalize a whole country like that.
You're welcome to go there, don't say you weren't warned.