Ghana

Ghana at a Glance

Ghana is the most alluring, colourful nation in West Africa. The hospitality of the Ghanaian people and their vibrant culture are the hallmarks of this former British colony where English is widely spoken.

Visitors may discover palm-lined beaches and 500-year-old European castles on the coast, or the lesser-known attractions of the interior: the animal-rich savannah of Mole National Park, the sacred monkeys of Boabeng, the mud-and-stick mosques at Larabanga and Wa and the spectacular jungle-bound waterfalls of the eastern highlands.

Capital City:
Accra

Currency:
Cedi (C)

Language:
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe)

International Telephone Code:
+233

ISBN-13: 9781841623252

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Part One: General Information
  • Background Information
    • Geography, Climate, History, Economy, Language, Religion
  • Natural History
    • Vegetation, Wildlife
  • Practical Information
    • When to Visit, Tourist information, Tour operators, Red Tape Ghana high commissions, embassies and diplomatic representatives, Getting there and away, Safety, What to take, Money, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Photographic etiquette, Media and communications, Business, Cultural etiquette
• Part Two: Accra
  • Accra
    • Getting there and away, Orientation, Safety, Getting around, Tourist information, Tour operators, Embassies and high commissions, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment, Shopping, Other practicalities What to see
• Part Three: The Coast West Of Accra
  • Towards Cape Coast
    • Kokrobite Beach, Fete and Senya Beraku, Winneba, Apam, Mankessim, Saltpond, Anomabu and Biriwa, Moree
  • Cape Coast, Elmina and Surrounds
    • Cape Coast, Kakum National Park, Elmina, Towards Takoradi
  • Sekondi-Takoradi and the West Coast
    • Sekondi-Takoradi, Basua and surrounds, The coast between Akwidaa and Axim, Prince's Town, Egyambra, Axim, Nkroful, Beyin, Nzulezo and the Amansuri Wetlands, Half Assini, Ankasa protected area, Elubo
• Part Four: Eastern Ghana
  • The East Coast
    • Tema, Prampram and Ningo, Ada, Songor Ramsar site, Sogakope, Akatsi and Xavi, Keta and the far east coast, Aflao
  • Inland of Accra
    • The Akuapem Hills and Aburi, Koforidua, Boti Falls, The road to Akosombo, Akosombo and surrounds
  • East of Lake Volta
    • Ho, Around Ho, Kpetoe Agotime, The Avatime Hills and surrounds, Kpando, Hohoe, Around Hohoe
• Part Five: Central Ghana
  • Between the Coast and Kumasi
    • Accra to Kumasi, The Kwahu Plateau, Cape Coast to Kumasi, Takoradi to Kumasi
  • Kumasi
    • Getting there and away, Tourist information, Hassles, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Sport, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Bia National Park
  • Greater Ashanti
    • Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Lake Bosumtwi, Ejisu and surrounds, Bobiri Forest Butterfly Sanctuary, Adanwomase, Bonwire, Wonoo, Effiduase and surrounds, Mampong, Nsuta and surrounds, Ntonso and surrounds
  • From Kumasi to Tamale
    • Sunyani, Wenchi, Bui National Park, Techiman and surrounds, Nkoranza, Baobeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Kintampo, The old Tamale road
• Part Six: Northern Ghana
  • Tamale and Mole National Park
    • Tamale, Around Tamale, Mole National Park and Larabanga
  • Bolgatanga and the Upper East
    • Bolgatanga, Around Bolgatanga, The Gambaga Escarpment, Navrongo, Paga
  • Wa and the Upper West
    • Wa, Around Wa, Lawra, Tumu and surrounds, Around Tumu, Bole
• Appendices
  • Language
  • Glossary
  • Further Information
  • Index

About the Author

Johannesburg resident Philip Briggs is a travel writer and tour leader specialising in East and southern Africa. Born in Britain and raised in South Africa, he started travelling in East Africa in 1986, and his first book, Guide to South Africa, was published by Bradt in 1991.
 
Since then Philip has written or co-written numerous books on the African continent including Bradt travel guides to Northern Tanzania, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and East & Southern Africa, as well as Bradt's East African Wildlife guide. He also writes regularly for magazines including Africa Geographic, Travel Africa and Africa Birds & Birding.

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Guidebook Updates

Companion Website

To get the most up-to-date information between editions, or to send feedback directly to the author, visit the companion site for Ghana:

Notes from the Author

During the two rapidly paced months we spent researching this guide, barely a day went by without at least one memorable highlight, be it swimming below one of the gorgeous waterfalls of the eastern highlands, the thrill of getting closer on foot to a wild elephant than I ever have in East Africa, climbing to the roof of one of the surreal mosques that dot the northwest, taking a dugout canoe through papyrus swamps to the stilted village of Mzulezu, or watching colourful mona monkeys play between the houses of Baobeng village.

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