Ghana tours for seniors

The west African nation of Ghana is one of Africa’s success stories, a stable democracy with strong economic growth, vibrant cities, and beautiful sandy beaches. Accra, the capital, is a colourful beach city with an energetic vibe and lots of delicious eating options. Ghana’s energy today belies a tragic history: the country was a major centre of the Transatlantic slave trade. Bear witness at the many slave forts and castles that still dot the coast. Outside the cities, you can see amazing flora and fauna, including the magestic elephants of Mole National Park, while Kakum National Park is home to over three-hundred bird species.

Ghana Tours

Hand crafted tours for mature world travellers

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Tour of West Africa - Markets

21 days

May, Sep

Explore the History, Culture & Wildlife of West Africa: Ghana, Togo & Benin

Visiting Benin, Ghana

This small group tour for couples and solo travelers concentrates on the history, culture and wildlife of coastal Central Africa. Meet the friendly local people and come to a greater understanding of just what has made them what they are today.

From A$14,995 AUD

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Articles about Ghana

Colours of West Africa

Portuguese in Africa: The Definitive Guide

The Portuguese in Africa The Kingdom of Kongo and the Transatlantic Slave Trade The Kingdom of Kongo was a former kingdom that dominated West Central Africa in the fourteenth century (Heywood, 2009). Located south of…

20 Apr 19 · 10 mins read
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Touring Ghana

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Bus services operate throughout the country, and are a relatively efficient and convenient way of getting around. Local minibuses (“trotros”) are also available, though can be rather crowded and don’t generally operate to a set timetable. The railway network is somewhat limited however, so it might be best to avoid relying on trains to get around.

Accommodation

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Geography environment and weather

Ghana covers an area of approximately 238,533 square kilometres. Ghana’s coast and immediate interior are relatively flat, with plains and low plateaus dotted by numerous lagoons, streams and rivers. Further inland, a thick tropical rain forest belt stretches across the centre and east of the country. Ghana is home to Lake Volta, the largest artificial lake on the planet, while the surface area of water in Ghana covers a total of 11,000 square kilometres.

The climate of Ghana is tropical, with high humidity and warm temperatures. Many areas of Ghana experience high amounts of precipitation, especially during the mid-year rainy season, so depending on when you intend to travel, check the weather reports and dress accordingly

World Heritage sites

Ghana has 2 properties listed on the World Heritage List, with a further 6 listed on the Tentative List. You can view the listed properties here: (https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/gh). The listed properties include:

Asante Traditional Buildings – the last physical remnants of the Astante civilisation
Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions – the numerous European fortifications and settlements built along Ghana’s coastline which stand as a physical legacy of the former European presence in Ghana.

Festivals and events

Ghana’s local culture and traditions are celebrated in the many festivals and events held across the year in Ghana. Many regions within Ghana have their own cultural practices and festive occasions; for example, the Dzawuwu Festival (a harvest festival marked by religious rituals and traditional dancing) is celebrated in the Agave region, while the Bugum Festival (the “Fire” Festival featuring dancing and lively processions) is primarily observed in Muslim-majority northern Ghana. One of the most colourful events on the calendar is the Fancy Dress Festival, a masquerade event. Held every January, the Fancy Dress Festival is marked by exuberant brass bands and vivid costumes. An event of national significance is Panafest, which aims to promote communication and cross-cultural exchange between African nations, and features performances of music, drama, dance and poetry.

Reading list

The History of Ghana (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations), by Roger S. Gocking
The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay : Life in Medieval Africa, by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack
My First Coup D’etat, by John Dramani Mahama
Oxford Street, Accra: City Life and the Itineraries of Transnationalism, by Ato Quayson

Eating and Drinking

Ghanian cuisine centres around a variety of crops common to the region, including maize, rice, yam, beans, plantains and cassava. Rice and beans feature particularly prominently, and are used in dishes such as waakye (rice and bean served with fried fish or chicken) and red red (a curry made from black eyed peas, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and sometimes fish or meat). Numerous recipes for soups and stews feature in Ghanian cuisine, including shoko (beef and spinach stew) and kontomire stew (spinach or cocoyam soup cooked with spices and either fish or meat).

Traditional beverages in Ghana include sobolo (a sharp tasting drink made from hibiscus leaves and fruit juice) and pito (an alcoholic drink made from fermented millet or sorghum).

Health and safety

Generally speaking, Ghana is safe to travel in, though always exercise common sense while travelling. However, it is advised to exercise a high degree of caution aroun Bawku, Tamale municipality, Yendi district and the Bimbilla area in northern Ghana due to possible outbreaks of violence in that area. Also be advised that flooding may occur during the rainy season between May and October.

Electrical supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. Ghana’s electricity supply runs at 230V and 50Hz. Ghana uses Type D and Type G electric plugs, so make sure you have the right travel adaptor with you.

Tour Reviews

The Victoria Falls were an outstanding treat.

Participant -16

Southern Africa Tour | Fully Escorted Africa Tour for Seniors

This tour was excellent, encompassing not only historical Egypt but also introducing us to modern Egypt. The varied travel by bus, small cruise ship and air, contributed to our interest and enjoyment. The extremely high quality of our tour leader, the Egyptologist and the local guide enhanced our knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of this tour.

Participant 2018

Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt

A tour beyond expectation. Egypt has so much to offer from the past and Odyssey did a fantastic job.

Participant 2018

Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt

THE TRIP WAS FANTASTIC.

BARRIE ASHTON

Southern Africa Tour | Fully Escorted Africa Tour for Seniors

Our Egyptologist, Mohammed, was excellent. Not only was he a very experienced tour guide and very knowledgeable, he was very organised and friendly and we always felt secure with him. He contributed greatly to our enjoyment of the trip.

Participant 2018

Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt

Both cruise ships exceeded our expectations for cleanliness and quality of service.

Participant 2018

Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt

This was a fascinating program and the support was outstanding

Participant 2018

Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt

Mal was a wonderful Program leader. She would be the best tour leader we have ever experienced. Her obvious experience and her calm demeanor contributed greatly to the cohesiveness of our group which, in turn, contributed to our enjoyment.

Participant 2018

Egypt tour: escorted small group history & cultural tour of Egypt

FAQs

What time zone is Ghana in?

Ghana has a single time zone, Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0). Daylight savings are not observed in Ghana.

Is tipping customary in Ghana?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services.

What is the internet access like in Ghana?

Wifi should be freely available in most hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in Ghana?

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in Ghana. Many providers will allow you to pay a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

Is it safe to drink the tap water in Ghana?

It is advised to stick to bottled water while in Ghana, due to problems with the quality of the local tap water.

Articles about Ghana published by Odyssey Traveller:

Discover Central and West Africa: Ghana, Togo, Benin and more.

Portuguese in Africa.

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to Ghana:

Slave trade history sites in West Africa.

Artful Accra: Ghana’s 60th marked by the birth of an ambitious gallery.

Accra’s best local food.

Responsible travel tips for Ghana

  • Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although some locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
  • Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
  • Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
  • When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
  • Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
  • Before departing, make sure you have a number of cedi in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.

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