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Travel Tips
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Need to Knows

To enter Ghana you still need an Entry Visa which can be obtained at the Ghanaian Embassy in your country. Please apply early enough - approximately 6 weeks in advance.
Make sure your passport is still valid to cover your traveling period.
Inoculations for Yellow Fever are mandatory to travel to Ghana.
International Driving License in case you have plans to rent a car during your stay in Ghana.
Traveling Insurance is advisable.

Ghana is getting used to plastic money and credit cards - Visa & Master Card - are widely accepted in most bigger hotels, restaurants, filling stations, supermarkets. If you prefer to carry cash take US Dollars. Even though it is no problem to change other denominations the exchange rate for the Dollar is better. If you decide to take along cash, please carry $50 or $100 denominations as smaller notes are not accepted easily. Traveler Cheques are a problem to cash in and the exchange rate is very low.

Traveling in Ghana can be cheap but also expensive depending on where you stay. Here you can find 4 star hotels with $200 per night but also budget hotels for $20. The same goes for restaurants. You should budget about $15 for continental food but about $2 for local food.

Bring everything you might need and as little as possible!!!!!!!!! Sounds odd but it basically spells out what to pack.

Your luggage will depend on how you are going to travel. Are you likely to travel in Ghana from place to place using local transport or are you staying in a hotel and taking day trips from there? Will you be camping?

If you are going to be on the road a lot you may want to use a backpack and keep it as light as possible. You may want to carry a sheet sleeping bag.

Campers need to carry a tent - with mosquito net - sleeping bag and roll mat, box of firelighter blocks. Other items like stove and gas, pots, plates, cups and cutlary can be purchased in Ghana and you do not have to bring them along.

Clothes
Again it depends on how you decide to travel through Ghana. Remember depending on the time of year the nights might get a bit chilly especially up in the north of the country.

In general you may need light cotton trousers and or skirts, cotton T-Shirts, shorts, a light sweater or sweat shirt, a light windbreaker, cotton underwear and socks, solid shoes for walking, sandals and slippers. Swim wear is not sold everywhere and it would be better to bring it along.

For backpackers it is advisable to take the minimum as you can easily buy anything you may need on the local markets.

Medical Kit
You should carry a medical kit for first aid containing the following:

paracetamol

aspirin

imodium

something against constipation

vitamins

malaria prophylaxes

broad spectrum antibiotics

antihistaminic

thermometer

plaster

bandage

syringes and needle

gloves

disinfectant

In case you have a special condition please speak to your GP before traveling.

Other useful items
Torch, penknife, alarm clock, sun block cream, insect repellant cream, beach towel, short wave radio, games, traveling guide, dictionary, novels, sewing kit, sun glasses, lighter, pens and other small items to give away, spare film and batteries for cameras, spare passport pictures.

Toiletries - soap, toothpaste & toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant etc. can be obtained in the country and you do not need to bring spares.

If you wear contact lenses you have to bring along cleansing and storing fluids or you may consider reverting to glasses as many people complain of the intense sun and dry weather conditions.

Eating in Ghana
"Peel it , cook it or forget it" - that is what you should remember if you are traveling in the country.

The staple local diet consists of various food prepared from rice, maize, cassava and yam ( roots similar to potatoes ) and plantain served with spicy sauces and soups prepared with fresh fish or meat. The oil used is either palm oil, groundnut oil or vegetable oil. Any of these foods is safe to eat if it is freshly prepared and piping hot. Fresh fruit is sold every where and you can purchase canned foods in any supermarket. In case you want to cook you can shop for whatever you may need fresh from the local market.

Most up scale restaurants serve international cuisine. Local restaurants also known as "Chop Bars" serve local dishes only.

Pipe born water is not too safe for drinking. Bottled mineral water is normally sold in every shop and at filling stations. If you are in an area where you have no access to bottled water either boil it if you can or purify it with "Micro Pur" or any other purifying tablets. Or drink coconut water if available.

Traveling in the country
All major roads are covered by a variety of public transport in three main categories - tro - tro, buses and taxis. Tro - tro are small buses seating 15 - 20 which stop where ever they see a passenger along the street. In most small towns and villages there is one major place from where all transport leaves. This is referred to as 'Station'. In bigger cities you find one Station for each destination in a different direction. The Stations are again divided into categories of taxi, tro - tro and buses as well as smaller buses and larger busses. The easiest way to get the right station to where you are heading is to pick a taxi and ask the driver to take you to the station for your destination.

The safest and most efficient way to travel between the major cities is by VANEF STC buses. These buses have fixed departure times and run very frequently. It is always better to buy a ticket a day in advance.

The Train goes only from Accra to Kumasi and from Kumasi to Takoradi. There is no food service on board and the train from Takoradi to Kumasi is a sleeper which leaves at around 8pm. The train is normally on schedule.

Taxis are a very easy way to travel in the city. You could either join a loading taxi at a station or charter one to take you to your destination. - loading means that several people going to the same destination will share the taxi whereas with charter you have the taxi to yourself, but that is more expensive. When it comes to charter you can bargain for the fare most of the time.

There is only one existing Airline for inland flights as at now which goes from Accra to Kumasi to Tamale.

There are several Car Rental agencies in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi. Amongst these are Hertz and Avis. If you rent a vehicle without driver it is more expensive.

The only regular Shipping Line on the Volta Lake which is the Yapei Queen that travels from Akosombo to Yeji in the North once a week. It is possible to join this trip which leaves Akosombo on Monday morning and returns on Thursday afternoon.

Etiquette
Ghana like any other country has rules of etiquette and even though exceptions are made for tourist there are some which should be followed if possible. The first and probably most important one is that you should never use your left hand in eating, receiving or passing something and in greeting. Greeting procedures tend to be more formal in Ghana and it is custom to treat elderly people with respect. This is especially important in smaller villages where you are expected to greet everyone you meet on the street. Never cross your legs in the presence of a chief and always take off your cap or hat. If you are offered a drink of local gin it is impolite to refuse it unless you use the excuse of never touching alcohol.

Photography
Photographic Etiquette is a sticky subject especially in the northern regions where you find mostly Muslims. It is advisable always to ask permission before taking pictures and if denied you have to accept that fact. Others may ask a token fee for being photographed but there may be instances where you will be refused with the reason, being that you will capture their soul. Be particularly careful in aiming your camera at the State House, prisons and other Military Men and Police Men and Installations - Airport, Ashanti Museum where it is strictly forbidden to take pictures.

Dress Code
There is no particular dress code in Ghana and even though the Ghanaian prefers long dresses in women and long trousers and shirts for the men it is very casual. Of course that does not mean you can walk in town wearing your swim clothes. You can safely wear shorts or skirts and t-shirts or light cotton shirts as well as shorter dresses. Don't make the mistake of being to casual about it especially when going to an Official office - keep it simple and clean. When it comes to shoes you are welcome to wear what ever makes you comfortable.

Women Travelers
There is no country where women have less to fear on a gender specific level. An element of flirtation and perhaps the odd direct proposition are about the sum of it, but these can easily be stopped with a simple "no" and the mention of a husband at home. When traveling in the northern parts of the country which are mostly inhabited by Muslims it is advisable to wear less revealing clothes as they may be perceived to make an unintended statement.
Tampons and sanitary napkins are difficult to come by in remote areas so stock up on those in the city.

Please give me.....
These are the three most common words to start a conversation with a child and also sometimes adults in the rural area. They ask for money, a pen and mostly your address. Asking for money does not mean that they are needy, it is more a game of chance and every tourist who accedes to such a request is guilty of reinforcing this behavior. Asking for pens is the same only more sophisticated and when it comes to your address it is mostly only another form of autograph hunting. You do not need to be rude to anyone asking for something just be firm in saying no. There are genuine beggars to which you can give some money but please no foreign exchange but rather loose change in cedis.

Tips
It is not custom to give a waiter a tip but if you were pleased with your service you can give a tip of 5% or 10% of your bill. Some places add a service charge but this is mostly not for the waiter.