Ghana travel guide

Mole National Park is considered to be the cheapest safari destination in Africa, with walking safaris costing as little as 5 USD. But that's, of course, not the only reason to visit Mole. Mole National Park is Ghana largest wildlife sanctuary and one of the best places in West Africa for game watching. Though there are big cats (leopards and very few rare lions), the star attraction are the elephants. As there are waterholes near the park headquarter and the motel/lodge, there are pretty good chance to spot elephants on walking safari, particularly in the dry season (October - March). Game drives, both day and night, are also possible with more chances to see some of the many antelopes, deers, and bucks - not to mention the naughty baboons, that will find you first.

It's believed that the ancient mosque in Larabanga was founded in the early 15th-century, some 50 years before the first Portuguese castle at Elmina, which will make it the oldest building in Ghana. The mosque is built in so-called West Sudanese-style out of mud and sticks, but isn't unique as there other mud-and-stick mosques in northern Ghana. There are a lot myths and legends related to the mosque, which is considered to be a "Ghanian Mecca" for local Muslims. Since every tourist to Mole National Park, also pays a short visit to the mosque, you have to deal with the usual crowd of would-be guides and donation scammers.

In the 16th century, when the British and the Dutch settled where Accra lies today, they did so within a few hundred metres from each other. The Brits built Fort James and the Dutch Fort Ussher (while the Danes settled a couple of kilometres further east where they built Christiansborg Castle). The colonial towns that grew around the two forts make up Old Accra, though history hasn't been kind to what's today is the neighbourhoods of Jamestown and Usshertown. Semi-shanty towns and in a doubtful state of disrepair, the area's a friendly enough place for a stroll. Fort James was until recently used as a prison and is still closed to the public, though the nearby lighthouse can be climbed offering excellent views of the fort and the fishing harbour below it – Ghana's largest if not most colourful. Fort Ussher has been opened to the public, containing a small museum. For anyone interested in the area's history or in photographing the neighbourhoods, we recommend hiring the enthusiasts and knowledgeable guides from the community centre 100 metres east of the lighthouse.

Along the little-visited coast east of Accra, are the country's most attractive lagoons, Songor and Keta. Both are important nesting sites for turtles during the European winter, with the best chance of seeing turtles being Songor Lagoon. Keta Lagoon has the added quality of being the most important site in Ghana for marine birds, with hundred of thousands of individual birds descending on the lagoon, fleeing the cold winter of the north. Contact Ramsar Wetlands or the tourist information in either Adu Foah or Keta to arrange tours. If you're only looking for an outing on the water, there are plenty of local fishermen who will happily take you out for a few hours.

If you get the opportunity to visit a village - or even better, stay in one - accept. It's a great experience to see how country people lives in Ghana. There will probably be electricity, at least some of the time, but don't expect running water. Houses come in every shape and materials, from mud houses to modern concrete with tin roofs. People are usually super friendly and curious about what brings you to their village. There might be a small market, but else the main place to make new friends will be at the soccer field.

Close to the border to Togo lies Wli Falls, which is known as the tallest waterfall in West Africa. It's a spectacular sight, no matter whether you scramble all the way to the top waterfall or just swim in the pool at the lower waterfall. The flat trek to the lower waterfall takes about 45 min from the entrance through lush gardens and woods. The top trek is a different story. About 4 hours return scrambling up a mud trail through trees and bushes. However, if you don't want to do the full top trek, there is nice viewpoint of the top fall about 15 mins up the trail.