7 days Ghana trip

Flights to Accra are available on many major airlines from major hubs around the world. Immigration is straightforward and efficient even at the old terminal. Accra airport is a bit chaotic for the rest but the new terminal is ready later in 2018 so that this will improve. I just want to note that if you don’t fly that often and, as me, want to visit all countries do make a short trip to Sao Tomé and Principe as it can only easily be reached from Ghana. I used the remainder of the day to pickup my rental car and relax at the pool of the hotel. I’m not a beach person unless it’s a magnificient tropical unique beach. I stayed at Holiday Inn Accra but if you want a beach book one of the hotels at Labadi Beach.

Start early morning as the ride from Accra to Cape Coast takes just under 3 hours over the well maintained coastal road. The main place of interest in Cape Coast is Cape Coast Castle which is an old slave fort. It’s one of eleven forts along the Ghanaian coast that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fort dates to the mid-17^th century when the Swedes built a gold and timber trading post. It changed hands to the Danes and Dutch after which the British used it as their headquarters on the gold coast. The French almost destroyed Cape Coast Castle after which it was totally rebuilt at the end of the 19^th century and still stands today. The gold and timber trade changed to slave trade and Cape Coast Castle was one of the bigger centers of slave trade. If you can only visit one castle then make sure to visit Cape Coast Castle as it’s the biggest, best restored and has a good guided tour of about an hour. I found it very interesting to visit and learn about this sad history. I stood in the small dungeons where hundreds of slaves where held before they could board the boats to the western hemisphere. I even walked through the door of no return. History can’t be changed, but it’s important to keep it alive and to not repeat such horrible things.

Nzulezu is an interesting town built on stilts in Lake Tadane 90 kilometers west of Takoradi. It’s a unique and interesting day trip which should be included on any Ghana itinerary. The name means “water surface” and that fits perfect as the small town can only be reached over water in a (motorized) canoe. The village is several centuries old and one of few such villages in the world. It’s basically one “road” of 300-400 meters and a few side roads of maybe 30-50 meters. The interesting part is to see how the people live in Nzulezu. Make sure to arrive at the visitors center in Beyin early morning at 9AM or latest by 10AM as getting to the village is a bit chaotic. There are just a few canoes of which 2 are motorized and they only go when full. Especially on the way back sometimes they wait long to have them filled. It took me 3 hours to get to the village which was well worth it. Keep in mind that the motorized trip that I did takes 20 minutes and the canoe with paddles about an hour. The visit itself takes about an hour which left me just enough time to visit the old slave fort in Axim on the way back and arrive in time for dinner at my hotel in Takoradi.

Butre beach is said to be the best beach in Ghana and after visiting I agree! It reminded me of Raz Markaz beach in Oman. In the morning first visit Fort Metal Cross in Dixcove and then put your GPS to The Hideout at Butre Beach. Make sure to make a beach walk to the ruins of Fort Batenstein too for an awesome view on Butre Beach. In case you didn’t visit fort Axim the other day and are into forts you could add it on this day early morning. These forts are small, and a visit takes about 40 minutes. Check the full details on each fort in my day trip from Takoradi to 5 slave forts article. I decided to only lunch at the beach and drive to two more forts at Shama and Komenda. Shama is beautiful restored but Komenda is just a small ruin and not worth visiting. I did go as it’s one of the 11 forts on the UNESCO World Heritage List and all those places are on my bucket list. Although these two are on the other side of Takoradi I still managed to return in time for dinner in Takoradi.

Kakum national park is a rainforest park in Ghana easily reached if you do drive the coast road. The park is a must include on any Ghana itinerary. Its main attraction is the canopy walk which is awesome if you have never done one before. It was my first! It takes about an hour to finish the walk, but I recommend extending the day with a 1-hour forest hike. It’s a beautiful green and peaceful place. Kakum national park can be reached in 2 hours from Takoradi and from the park it’s another 2-hour drive to Accra. I didn’t drive back direct to Accra as along the coastal road were 3 more forts I wanted to see to complete my quest to see all UNESCO Sites. They are Fort Amsterdam in Abandze (recommended if you want to see one), Fort Patience in Apam and Fort Goedehoop in Senya Beraku. If you have seen enough forts drive to Accra direct and relax at the pool or beach.

Accra is the capital of Ghana and has several attractions worth visiting. One day on a Ghana itinerary is enough to see them all. I recommend starting at the Dubois museum and from there take a taxi/uber to Independence Square. The rest of the sights can be reached by foot. The Ghana National museum is closed, and the guard couldn’t say when the renovation will be ready (maybe 2020 or later) so don’t bother going there. Osu Castle is also closed for visitors as it’s used as an official government seat.

End of trip