17 Important Travel Tips for First Timers Visiting Ghana
Visiting Ghana can be a bit overwhelming, especially for those visiting the continent of Africa for the first time. Many people's first impression of the continent is always one of political instability, poverty and diseases. But that's not true. The continent of Africa has a lot to offer like exotic safaris, beautiful landscapes, interesting culture, welcoming people and great food. Ghana also has so much to offer and is known as the "gateway to Africa'' because of its hospitable people and laid-back lifestyle. Ghana has also launched the "Year of Return and Beyond Initiative '' to invite Black people in the Diaspora to visit the continent and connect with their roots.
When traveling to Ghana, there are many things you need to be aware of before getting on your flight and arriving in the country. Here are some of my general tips and travel advice for anyone preparing for a trip to Ghana and even Africa at large.
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4. Be aware of Malaria and other required vaccinations
6. Take an Unlocked Smartphone
7. Protect yourself from Traveler’s Diarrhea!
8. Don’t take photos of locals without permission
9. Don’t connect to unknown WIFI Networks!
10. Always inform your bank about your travel plans before traveling
12. Carry Packets Of Wet Wipes and Tissues
1. Be Open Minded
Ghana is a developing country and very different from many other countries. You must be very open-minded to embrace many experiences that may come your way. This may include the local food, the people's way of life and sometimes the infrastructure and amenities available. For example, some roads leading to certain tour sites in Ghana can be very bumpy making the ride sometimes uncomfortable. Also, some Ghanaians can be overly friendly without knowing it which might sometimes be very different from what you are used to, especially for people from cultures where it's not common to be overly friendly with people you don't know. Another example will be how often you are required to greet others. In the Ghanaian culture, whenever you enter a room, you are required to greet those already present. Of course, these experiences may vary but it is always advisable to learn more about the local customs of Ghana as it will make it easier for you to blend in and have a much more wholesome experience.
2. Get a travel insurance!
I cannot stress this enough, Get travel insurance before traveling. One thing about traveling is that there can always be unexpected incidents like illness or accidents. You could accidentally crash into someone's vehicle and your insurance would cover the cost. If you lose your luggage, you can always get your insurance company to replace your missing items with some new clothes, toiletries and other accessories. It's always good to know you are covered if any unforeseen incident happens. I always book my travel insurance depending on where I am visiting, and how long I will be staying. Especially if you have any preexisting illness, then please make sure your travel insurance has got you covered in case of a relapse. Depending on which insurance plan you go for, you can sometimes be even covered in case your trip is canceled.
3. Take big US Dollar Bills
If you are traveling from the US, bring along large denominations of the US Dollar like the $50 and $100 notes. Also, bring along bills no older than Series 2009 and even newer if possible. This is because older notes and smaller denominations attract a lower exchange rate and you will end up losing some money because you will not get the actual exchange rate. Some money exchange services might not even accept some notes especially if a note is both old and small like the $1 and $5 note.
ATMs in Ghana only allow you to cash out local currency which is the Ghana Cedis (GHC). Always keep some of your money behind at the hotel and carry only as much as you need.
Read more about Money Management and Currency Exchange for Travelers in Ghana
4. Be aware of Malaria and other required vaccinations
One of the travel requirements to enter Ghana is the yellow fever vaccination. You will be required to show proof of yellow vaccination at the immigration point before being allowed entry into the country. You also need to be aware of Malaria and take prevention methods so you reduce the risk of catching it while visiting. Of course, you don't have to be in a state of panic and think just because you are coming to Africa you are going to get Malaria. Depending on where you stay, you might not even encounter any mosquitoes. Also, know that Malaria is caused by a specific type of mosquito that carries the parasite and most of the mosquitoes you will encounter (if any) will probably be harmless mosquitoes that just leave bites. That's not to say you shouldn't take measures to protect yourself but rather, don't over obsess over mosquitoes to the point that you don't even get to enjoy your trip because I have seen many people do that during some of my trips.
Malarone and Doxycycline are some of the two most common anti-malaria medications. I highly recommend you see a health professional to recommend some Malaria prevention medication and start taking them maybe a week or two before you travel. Also, bring along some insect repellant to use whenever you are outdoors at night or in the farm or forest.
5. Bring along some Sunscreen
The sun can be sometimes very scorchy depending on when you visit Ghana. Northern Ghana is much hotter than Southern Ghana so know where you will be traveling to so you can prepare accordingly. Bring along some Sunscreen to use during the day especially if you have some outdoor activities planned. It might be difficult for you to find a brand that you are used to and love here in Ghana so it is always advisable for you to bring yours along. You can also have some caps and a beach hat so can wear them as well and maybe some sunglasses. Depending on where you are traveling from you might sometimes even find the weather here similar to back home. Check out some tips for packing for your trip to Ghana.
6. Take an Unlocked Smartphone
Technology is fast growing in Africa and as such, many Africans have also adopted it and integrated it into their lives and businesses. One very popular question asked by many travelers is how to stay connected while traveling in Ghana. Before traveling to Ghana, you can either get a roaming service package from your Internet service provider back home or get a local sim card when you arrive in Ghana. Some smartphones are locked so they can not pick other sim cards. You can either bring an unlocked phone that can integrate with the local sims or get an international roaming data plan from your home country that you can use while here.
7. Protect yourself from Traveler’s Diarrhea!
As a traveler, you always need to be careful about what you eat and where you eat when traveling. While most restaurants practice proper hygiene and you wouldn't have any problems, it's always good to be extra careful as you are not used to many things from the country. Food in Ghana is generally not spicy but if you have a very low tolerance for spice, then you should always prompt your server at the restaurant so the food can be made to your preference. If you also have any dietary requirements, you need to communicate that as well. If you are not sure about the ingredients of a meal, you should always ask so you can be properly informed. For instance, I don't eat pork and during my first visit to the Philippines, I wasn't aware of how common pork was present in their meals. I went to a restaurant and ordered a beef burger and the beef burger that came had pork and beef. When I asked the server, I was informed it was expected that a beef burger also had pork. So apart from a vegetarian burger any other burger still had pork. Of course, they were nice about it and changed my order but I learned a lesson to always ask if I wasn't sure of something.
Another traveler tip to prevent Diarrhea is not to drink water straight from the tap. Tap water in Ghana is good for cooking and other domestic chores but I wouldn't recommend it for drinking. There are 2 main water brands I love and are safe which are Voltic water and Bel Aqua water.
I will also recommend some probiotics as it greatly decreases the risk of traveler’s diarrhea, and is also excellent for your health in general. (Consult with a health specialist before traveling)
8. Don’t take photos of locals without permission
I have seen many travelers just take out their cameras and start taking pictures of locals without their permission. Many locals will take offense if you do that. I understand that many of the things you might see here will be fascinating especially if it's your first time visiting like the street hawkers you see carrying stuff on their heads and selling in traffic. No matter how it may seem, always ask for permission to take photos of them before you do so. Many people will say yes if you ask very politely and even if they say no, thank them politely and move on. You can always buy something from them and ask them for a photo. This is a great way of supporting their hustle. There might be rare times when some people might ask for a tip to get their photo taken, you can give them something just to say thank you if you want to or again say thank you and walk away.
9. Don’t connect to unknown WI-FI Networks!
Always connect to WI-FI services from trusted establishments. For example, the airport in Accra has WIFI so you can always connect to that when you arrive to contact others, for instance, if you have someone picking you up. Most hotel accommodations and restaurants have good Wi-Fi which is usually password protected so you can always ask to be connected if you are staying there or eating there. If you don't know the source of the WI-FI connection, don't connect to it. Again, most Wi-Fi networks are password-protected so always be skeptical about Wi-Fi networks that are open with no password. You can also get a VPN before connecting to a Wi-Fi network to encrypt all your connections and ensure your activity is secure, which is particularly important if you’ll be accessing bank details online, PayPal, credit cards, or any other sensitive information. If you are connecting to a Wi-Fi network from a trusted establishment, you shouldn't have any problems so make sure you know the source before you connect to it.
10. Always inform your bank about your travel plans before traveling
The number of people I have encountered who have had their credit cards canceled because their bank was not familiar with the location a transaction was coming from is countless. If your bank doesn't know you are traveling to Ghana and all of a sudden they see that someone is trying to cash out money or make a purchase with your card in Ghana, of course, they are going to think that your card was compromised. It's too much of a hassle trying to make an international call to your bank from Ghana to explain the situation and get your card reinstated. I just advise that you let them know you will be traveling and maybe where you will be traveling to so if they notice a transaction coming from the country you are visiting, it won't raise any alarm bells.
11. Don’t draw Attention
As a traveler, you’re already going to draw attention to yourself because you will look different and even if you are black, you might give off the vibes of a tourist so locals will always know you are not from the area. It is always best to try and stay as low-key as possible. This means not wearing shiny watches, expensive rings, bracelets, earrings, or necklaces. Even though Ghana is generally a safe country and you wouldn't encounter any crime while you are here, it is always better not to wear flashy Jewelry that will attract thieves or pickpockets. Also, should you lose such a piece of expensive jewelry, it will be very difficult to find it and the police wouldn't be of much help even if you report it. Another thing you should be mindful of is the culture. While short shorts, low-cut blouses and tank tops might be normal to wear in Ghana, it is always good to be mindful of which sites you are visiting so you know when to cover up more. For instance, if you are visiting a religious establishment or the slave castles, it's always best to dress appropriately to show respect to the people, their beliefs and their heritage.
Check out this blog about how to dress when traveling in Ghana.
12. Carry Packets Of Wet Wipes and Tissues
Wet Wipes are common to purchase in Ghana but you can always pack some along from home before traveling. You will need it for places hard to find soap and water to wash your hands. Wet Wipes also come in very handy if you need to wipe surfaces or clean handles before touching them. Many washrooms you might come across especially outside of the city will not have toilet rolls so having tissues on you will come in very handy. You can always purchase any of these in a supermarket if you forget to pack some for your trip.
13. Be smart with hustlers
As I mentioned earlier it will sometimes be hard to blend in with the locals and many people are very smart about spotting tourists so you will get many people trying to sell you things. For instance, if you go to the Accra Arts Center, many people will try to sell you arts and crafts or lure you to souvenir stores in an effort to earn a commission after a sale. Many of these people are harmless so you don't need to be hostile towards them even though I understand that it can be annoying sometimes. Just stay relaxed and polite saying "no thank you " if you are not interested in whatever they are trying to sell to you.
People will mostly ask if it is your first time in Ghana and I recommend you say "No I have been here numerous of times and I have a relative staying here." You don't need to further explain and if the person still insists on asking more questions just tell them politely that you are in a hurry and move on. Usually, once they think you are not new to the country, they won’t bother you and move on to a new prospect. For me, because I speak the local dialect (Twi), I always start speaking it with them when they approach me and once they realize I speak the language they just compliment me and move on. Always be polite and never say it’s your first time in the country. If you feel overwhelmed, just don’t say anything, smile and be on your way.
14. If you find a Good Driver, hold onto him/her
Some of the best modes of transport in Ghana are Uber/Bolt and taxis. It is very likely you will be using one or the other to get around unless you have booked a private vehicle for your stay or have an all-inclusive tour booked with a local operator. While utilizing any of the above mentioned commercial means of transport, if you come across a driver who is honest, polite and most importantly reliable, get his or her contact so they can drive you around anytime you require their service. You can also always ask your hotel receptionist to recommend a driver or taxi to you as well. It's always good to have a driver who is reliable because you don't know when you might need assistance getting a ride back to your hotel. For instance, it is sometimes hard getting a ride late at night in certain parts of the city so if you plan to stay out late, it's always good to have someone whom you can call to pick you up when you can't find a ride.
15. Pack a First Aid Kit
A first aid kit can be a lifesaver to have when traveling. I always like to pack some antiseptics, prescription antibiotics, bandages, anti-diarrheal, plasters and painkillers. If you are a female, remember to pack some sanitary products as well because you never know when it will come in handy. You can find most of these first aid items in Pharmacies in the city of Ghana but it doesn't hurt to pack one along when preparing for your trip.
16. Overbudgeting is Wise
Don’t underestimate how much things cost here in Ghana. Before traveling, know how much you would like to spend and what type of traveler you are i.e. budget or luxury traveler. Do your research when budgeting for your trip and be sure to over budget for activities you will be taking, food and souvenirs. You don’t want to be caught off guard by unexpected costs and price hikes.
Read more about everything you need to know to budget for your trip to Ghana.
17. Trust your Instincts and Stay Safe!
Ghana is ranked one of the most peaceful countries in Africa and you generally wouldn't encounter any issues while visiting the country. Despite this, it is always good to take extra measures to stay safe like you would anywhere especially if you are a female solo traveler. Always trust your instincts and remain alert at all times. Always be aware of your surroundings and don't go wandering to unfamiliar places, especially at night. Keep your personal items close to you and don't leave them unattended. You can always ask your hotel reception or contact me if you need any assistance or want any recommendations or advice.
9 Safe and Exciting Destinations in Ghana for Solo Female Travelers
Ghana is an amazing country and you will love visiting the country. These general travel tips and advice will guide you and make your trip a memorable one. You can always contact me if you have more questions or concerns and would like to speak to a local expert for some assistance. Explore Ghana and create new memories for yourself.
Share any helpful travel tips you have with people who are visiting a new destination or who have just started traveling the world.
Safe travels!
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Hello, fellow adventurers! I'm Rashida, your not-so-typical travel guide. Join me for laughs, mishaps, and perhaps a questionable decision or two (because let's face it, those always make for the best stories). Learn More
