r/ghana • u/IamAMadScientist420 • 8h ago
Visiting Ghana Four Austrians planning a trip to Ghana – looking for local advice! 🇬🇭
Hey everyone! 😄
Three friends and I (four white guys from Austria) are thinking about visiting Ghana for around two weeks, and we'd love to hear some advice from locals!
We're not really looking for a typical tourist vacation. We'd love to experience Ghana beyond the usual tourist spots, meet local people, learn about the culture, explore the nature, and of course try as much authentic Ghanaian food as possible!
I have a few questions:
-What places or regions would you absolutely recommend visiting? Any hidden gems?
-Are there any areas we should avoid, especially for safety reasons?
-How safe is Ghana generally for a group of four European guys traveling on their own?
-What's it like being a white tourist in Ghana? Would we stand out a lot, especially in smaller towns or villages? And how are tourists generally received?
-Any local dishes, markets, cultural experiences, or activities we definitely shouldn't miss?
We're also considering doing a bit of a road trip, so any advice on getting around would be really appreciated!
We're genuinely interested in getting to know the country and its people, and we'd love to experience everyday life in Ghana rather than just staying in tourist areas.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations or advice and love from Austria to Ghana! 🇬🇭❤️🇦🇹
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u/Such_Bitch_9559 8h ago
I’m following along as a white solo woman travelling to Ghana soon, this is interesting. Wishing you luck, guys! :)
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u/Competitive-Lab5351 7h ago
What age range do you fall into? I’m in my early 20s btw. I live alone on the outskirts of the capital city, in a 1 bedroom apt. You could come stay on my couch for if you’d like. You’d have to pay your share of utilities and groceries too tho. We could go out together or you alone if you’d like
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u/rug_muncher_69 8h ago
Hello, me and some friends did a roadtrip though Ghana this year and I can absolutely recommend going to the asa baako music festival in Busua beach, we had a great time. It’ll be in March next year: https://www.asabaako.com/
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u/organic_soursop 8h ago
Alright lads,
Relax! You arent the first white people to visit!😆 Ghana is chill. No aggro at all. You'll genuinely be fine whenever you go.
I enjoyed the Central Region, the Eastern Region and the Volta Region. For unspoilt beaches and the Volta River, for hiking, camping, bike/ kayak/ wildlife.
There are hotels and hostels everywhere, no need to book ahead.
Im not the biggest fan of Accra, it's a city for poseurs, but if you want music, good food, nightlife, that's the place to find it. It's a place where people really take care of tourists.
You can find everything in Accra if you have the cash. You dont have to stay in 4/5 star for safety. Guesthouses are fine. Use the money you save to travel. Download the BOLT taxi app and that will get you anywhere you want to go. You can do a deal with a driver to take you into the other regions. Or check the STC bus schedules- it's the national inter city bus .
Enjoy.
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u/Boring-Programmer922 7h ago
Welcome to Ghana in advance! Ghana is a beautiful country full of wonderful experiences. We are generally welcoming and the push for diaspora repatriation makes it even more welcoming for foreigners. First thing make sure your accommodation arrangement is sorted- Airbnb or hotels? Totally your choice. Accra would be the best as you would have access to almost everything you want. Having a local guide would be super helpful but you can find your way around just fine cos it's generally safe but you know things lurk around in the dark. Even with that you can still enjoy Ghana's nightlife if you apply some common sense like walking in groups. Use the Uber app for a fair idea of prices of fares and google for the general price of goods. Be aware of "white man" prices cos certain locals may try to cash in on your local ignorance. Foods to try definitely are fufu with palm nut soup, waakye and some snacks like 'kosua ne mako' (hard boiled eggs stuffed with freshly ground pepper). I'm not sure whether you are looking for an urban or local experiences but there are a lot a places to visit. Google places to visit in Ghana and you have a fair idea. Let me end with a question I've been wanting to ask an Australian; have you ever encountered an old roo? How do they move since they have to hop? 😃
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u/Pale-Lunch-3555 6h ago
dont come. and if u dont listen and u do come. i am tall but i can still fit in the suitcase 😏
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u/Leading-Bed6061 5h ago edited 5h ago
I would recommend the Volta region, Cape Coast, Eastern region, and Aburi as places you should visit. The waterfalls, mountains, and greeneries at these places are a sight to behold. Some places you could tour include the Boti waterfall, Mount Afadjato, Cape Coast castle, Kakuum National Park, Akosombo Dam, Black Star Square which is in the capital... to name a few
Generally speaking, the country is safe but I wouldn't recommend walking alone at late hours in the night around dark areas as you could get mugged (happened to me twice and I'm Ghanaian). For a group of four, you should be okay. Also, if you do happen to tour Circle, a busy business hub in the capital, be careful as there are pickpockets in the area.
In small villages or towns, yes you would stand out but not really in the capital. You would be received well, however some may try to take advantage of you for being tourists. e.g charging twice or triple the amount of a good
For local dishes, there's a ton to choose from but the most popular around here is fufu, waakye, gob3( beans with red oil, plantain, and gari), tuo zaafi, rice balls (omo tuo) with groundnut soup, banku with okro soup.... just to name a few. And oh for snacks, we have asana and bofrot, kosua ne meko (egg and pepper), kuli-kuli, nkatie cake (which is made from roasted peanuts and caramelized sugar), brukina made from cow milk, and wagashi....there's others to choose from too. When it comes to markets, you could tour Kantamanto which is known for the sale of second hand clothes and it just so happens that it is located in the Accra central market. Kejetia market in Kumasi is also worth visiting.
For road trips, I would recommend getting a guide that knows the country well and can help you get around.
To sum everything up, there's a ton of stuff you and your friends can do so don't limit yourself to just one thing. The people here are hospitable and would give you a good time. Also expect to hear "yes please" in your conversations as we tend to be polite. For festivals, it would depend on your time of visit. I think this would do.
Akwaaba in advance🇬🇭!!!
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u/IndependentMuscle249 2h ago
You can use the Yango app to move around in Accra as well as taxis. STC buses can be used to move from region to region or you can fly; flights are not too expensive (Africa World Airlines /Passion Air). I wouldn't recommend driving in Ghana if you are not used to it. You can rent a car with a driver if you want but it might be expensive. https://traaple.com/discover
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