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

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

International Telephone Code:
+233

ISBN-10: 1841622052

ISBN-13: 9781841622057

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Part One: General Information
  • Background Information
    • Facts and figures, A historical background, Economy and infrastructure
  • Natural History
    • Geography, Climate, Vegetation, Wildlife
  • Planning and Preparation
    • When to go, Paperwork, Getting there, What to take, Money
  • Travelling in Ghana
    • Tourist information and services, Public holidays, Money, Getting around, Sleeping, eating and drinking, Interacting with Ghanaians, Media and communications
  • Health and Safety
    • Health, Safety
• Part Two: Accra
  • Accra
    • Getting there and away, Orientation, Getting around, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Safety, Listings, Places to visit
• 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, 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, 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, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Listings, Exploring Kumasi, Bia Protected Area
  • Greater Ashanti
    • Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Lake Bosumtwi, Ejisu and surrounds, Bobiri Forest Reserve, Bonwire, 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 Reading
  • 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.

Other Titles by this Author

East African Wildlife Printed in full colour throughout, this new guide provides a lively overview of the region's variety of large animals together with information on their habits and habitats, plus an excellent introduction to the region's less heralded variety of smaller creatures including 1,500 bird species and butterflies. » more details

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Mozambique Mozambique should whet the appetites of all adventurous travellers. » more details

Tanzania with Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia Whether you need advice on removing ticks, or tips on photographing wildebeest, the sixth edition of this comprehensive guide has the latest information. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. One fifth of Africa's large mammal population lives here. Now fully updated, this guide covers practical information for both independent travel and all-inclusive safaris. » more details

Malawi This fourth edition of Malawi features all that you would expect from a Bradt guide, including comprehensive practical advice, information on local wildlife, conservation area and a detailed history of the country. » more details

Uganda Whether visitors want to climb to the snows of the fabled Mountains of the Moon, track mountain gorillas and chimps, raft the headwaters of the mighty Nile, or marvel at the legendary tree-climbing lions of Ishasha, this sixth edition of Philip Briggs' much-praised guide is the most comprehensive resource available to Uganda. » more details

Rwanda Fifteen years on from the tragic genocide of 1994, Rwanda is rapidly emerging as one of Africa’s most exciting ecotourism destinations, boasting three diverse national parks and famed for its mountain gorillas. This updated fourth edition of the only English-language guidebook to Rwanda lists the newest hotels, tours, activities, tour operators and all other travel practicalities. » more details

Northern Tanzania: The Bradt Safari Guide with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar The second edition of this tightly focused guide includes updated information on the best accommodation in every price bracket, and the best of the safaris. There's specific coverage of the wildlife and natural history of the region, making it the indispensable companion to a safari in northern Tanzania's renowned national parks. Mt Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar are also covered. » more details

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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