Last updated on April 16th, 2025 at 04:14 pm
In 2024, I embarked on my first visit to Ghana, a long-awaited dream destination in West Africa, as part of a recce trip to prepare for one of my upcoming group tours through Ghana, Benin, and Togo.
While I had already explored Benin and Togo, Ghana had always been high on my travel bucket list, but I’d never quite gotten around to actually going, but in 2024, I went twice!
The first trip came together quite unexpectedly – an exciting opportunity made possible by Ghana’s temporary visa-on-arrival policy for holiday visitors, introduced between 1st December 2023, and 15th January 2024. This initiative, a welcome alternative to the typically lengthy visa application process, was a real game-changer. I only hope Ghana repeats it in the future!
Ghana is often referred to as the “Gateway to Africa,” a title earned through its rich history, strategic location, political stability, and profound cultural heritage and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with this extraordinary country and I’m excited to share that passion with others.
So to help you plan a safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable journey, I’ve compiled a handy list of tips of things to know before you visit Ghana.
PS. Did you know that I organise Ghana (plus Benin & Togo) group trips? Click here for details!
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Things to Know Before You Visit Ghana
Planning Your Trip to Ghana
Why Visit Ghana?
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already curious about Ghana—or maybe you’ve just heard the name, seen a few photos, and started diving into some research. Well, let me tell you a bit about this incredible country!
Ghana is a vibrant and captivating destination, rich in history, culture, and character. Its complex past includes a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade, as evidenced by the UNESCO World Heritage-listed castles at Cape Coast and Elmina. Visiting these sites offers a poignant and deeply moving insight into this chapter of human history.
In 2019, Ghana launched the ‘Year of Return,’ commemorating 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were taken to America. This initiative highlighted Ghana’s commitment to welcoming the African diaspora back to their ancestral homeland, fostering connections and reconciliation.
Ghana also plays a major role in the global economy as the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa. From the chocolate you enjoy to the livelihoods of many Ghanaians, cocoa is a vital part of the country’s identity and economy. Learning about Ghana’s cocoa production, or even visiting a cocoa farm, is a fascinating way to connect with this significant aspect of its culture.
Like many African nations, Ghana faces challenges with poverty and corruption. However, it also stands out—it was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence after colonial rule, and it’s a relatively prosperous country with political stability (always a big plus)! It’s a fantastic introduction to West Africa, especially for English speakers, as Ghana’s official language is English—unlike most of its Francophone neighbors.
If you’re considering a trip to West Africa, Ghana is an excellent place to start. I absolutely loved my time there, and I can’t recommend it enough!
Where is Ghana?
Ghana is located in West Africa. It borders Ivory Coast, to the east, Togo to the west and Burkina Faso to the north and the Gulf of Guinea/Atlantic Ocean to the south.
The capital, Accra, lies right on the coast and it reminds me a little bit of a mix between Nairobi in Kenya (the city set up/roads – which may be partly down to the British colonial influence) and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania (the tropical city vibes).
Geographically, Ghana is located directly south of the UK and operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which means it shares the same timezone as the UK for half the year. Unlike the UK, Ghana does not observe daylight saving time.
How to Get to Ghana
Ghana is a relatively easy country to get to, with connecting flights from cities in Africa, Europe, the US and the Middle East. These include London, Amsterdam, Paris, Istanbul, Nairobi, Washington, New York, Dubai, Qatar and Lisbon etc, so there’s plenty of competition, keeping those flights reasonably priced.
Return flights from the UK start from around £600.
The main airport is called Katoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. There are also a few other airports in Ghana including Kumasi and Tamale.
I always look for my flights on Skyscanner, which allows you to compare flights from different airlines – you can then book direct with the airline or through a third party online travel agency.
The airport is very close to the city, so expect to pay no more than around 55 – 65 Cedis ($4 – $5) in an Uber from the airport to the city centre.
The Best Time to Visit Ghana
With climate change, the weather has become a lot more unpredictable, but here’s a general idea of what to expect in Ghana. Just keep in mind, things aren’t as reliable as they used to be! As we sat together during a thunderstorm, our driver, Apia, mentioned how surprising it was to see rain in November – he said that never happened when he was younger!
The seasons are shifting, but one thing that’s true, is that Ghana is pretty HOT most of the time. In the Volta region in January, it did cool down enough for me to wear a light jacket in the evenings, but the days were scorching!
The best time to visit Ghana is generally during the dry season, which runs from late October/November (sometimes December) to March. During this time, the roads will be much easier to travel on, especially the untarmacked ones, of which there are many. However, even in the dry season, some of these roads are in terrible condition, so during the wet season, they can be a real challenge.
In the south, the rainiest months are April to June (with June seeing the most rainfall), then there’s a little respite in July and August, then more rain in September and October (although not as heavy as April to June). The south tends to be dryer than the north overall.
In the north, the rains last from around May to September, with September being the rainiest month. The rain can make the north very difficult for travellers. The ‘coolest’ month is August, but that’s still pretty hot. The hottest months are usually March/April. The driest month is usually January, whilst the wettest month is usually June.
One of my guides said that August was his favourite month as the rain is low and the country is nice and green. Although some of the roads may still be pretty muddy, so a 4×4 might be better than a regular car and just be aware of flooding in the north.
Just be aware that the Harmattan (winds that bring dust from the Sahara) takes place between late November and March, causing a haze to fall over the country. This makes it slightly less humid, but can also makes photographs look a little dull. And make your skin very dry, so take moisturiser!
If you want to experience one of Africa’s best music festivals, AfroFuture (formerly Afrochella) usually takes place between Christmas and New Year at Accra’s El Wak Stadium.
But, whatever time of year you go, just make peace with the fact that you will be pretty hot and sweaty most of the time and take a handheld fan of some description – you can also buy them there. They are an absolute lifesaver – you can thank me later!
Accommodation in Ghana
For West Africa, Ghana has some good, reasonably priced accommodations, from hostels and to cheap guesthouses to apartments and high-end hotels.
Booking.com has a good selection of properties in Ghana, but I will write an itinerary post with accommodation recommendations (and things to do) soon!
Key Highlights of Ghana
Ghana has many charms, but here are some of the places you may want to include in your trip.
- Accra: The vibrant capital city.
- Cape Coast & Elmina: Fishing towns and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites that played significant roles in the transatlantic slave trade (I prefer Elmina to Cape Coast).
- Mole National Park: Safari and wildlife adventures.
- Volta Region: Lakes, mountains, Mona monkeys (they cute, not scary) and waterfalls.
- Busua Beach: A surfer’s paradise with gorgeous beaches and nightlife, halfway between Cape Coast and Ivory Coast.
- Kokrobite: Lively spot near to Accra.
- Aburi Botanical Gardens: Beautiful spot to visit, with a wide variety of tropical and subtropical plants.
- Lake Bosumtwi: A beautiful lake that is rich in cultural significance.
- Kumasi: A large town and the heart of Ashanti Region.
I promise I will write a post of the best things to do in Ghana soon!
Entry Requirements
Visas
Visitors usually need a visa to enter Ghana, unless they come from a country that is visa exempt or that is allowed to get visa on arrival (most countries that fall into these categories are in Africa and the Caribbean). You can see the visa policy of Ghana here.
For those of us who do need a visa (which includes citizens of UK, US, Australian, Canadian and most of Europe), Ghana isn’t the easiest place to visit on a whim and most nationalities need to apply in advance online here. The normal process sees you sending off your passport (with a self-addressed envelope) to your nearest embassy using a recorded delivery service. They say that the visa takes around 10 – 20 days to process.
Unfortunately, you’re unable to apply more than 3 months in advance,…
