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Beaches
Instinctively,
we gravitate towards the shores of the ocean when entering a tropical
environment. It is usually the therapy that washes off the remnants of
distant lands left behind. Ghana sits in the middle of West Africa with an
extensive coast line featuring several beaches from which to choose.
Accra Beaches
One should beware of
our beaches. They are very seductive, but quite rough and they often take
people out, never to return. The best swimmers should take heed to this
warning. Also beware of the trolls that patrol the beach, with their
sticky fingers, snatching and attaching to your possessions.
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Labadi Beach-
Is a trendy place to be seen and see, not really to swim. Loaded with
tourists and traders and everything typical at such a beach.
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Coco Beach-
Much nicer, but not really picturesque, as it is sometimes un-kept, though a
much nicer vibe with plenty of friendly brethren.
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Kokrobite
Beach- Within Accra, but a good hour from the city, not long after the
barrier leaving Accra, heading to Cape Coast. A decent beach with a
nice back-drop. The water is rough, but most of our beaches are rough.
It is located in a sea-side village which stretches for about 2 miles with
many different beaches going along. They all have their own vibe and
you are sure to find your preference.
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Bojo Beach-
Just before Krokrobite beach, on the same road to Cape Coast. Pretty
much the same. They both offer unpopulated sections in which you can
enjoy with your family or friend.
Cape Coast Beaches
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Anomabo Beach
Resort- About 20 minutes before reaching Cape Coast you will pass a
village called Anomabo, there you will find another beautiful beach,
equipped a restaurant (continental) and lodging (camping and nice cabins).
Yet and still, it is owned and frequented by mostly Europeans.
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One Africa
Beach Resort- Not a swimming beach, really it is a quaint resort on a
beach with plenty rocks, but a most meditative atmosphere. Owned
and operated by African American repatriates (15 years in the land), who
also have a wonderful mini museum in their house. Located within Cape
Coast, about 5 miles past town.
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Kasoa Beach-
Just 20 minutes from One Africa, there is a lovely swimable beach,
with a natural enclave, surrounded by rocks, that makes it impossible to get
very hard waves, which is great for pleasant swimming.
Kasoa Beach
Takoradi Beaches
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Busia Beach
Resort- By far, the best beach I have been to in Ghana. The
picture above was taken one early rise at this beach. The water here
is actually sedate and most inviting. The beach stretches for miles and isn't
littered with trash or excess people, partly because it is quite far.
You have to make the effort to go there, but it's worth it. There are
many more beaches in the general area which are also very nice, but this is
my preference.
For some reason the
beaches within the city of Takoradi are very, very rough. Don't get
discouraged, trod out to the outskirts and find the real beaches.
After Takoradi is
Ivory Coast, with many towns and villages in between, with their own beaches all
along the way, but before Accra, on the coast, coming from Togo there are also
many quaint villages which are part of the Volta.
Volta Beaches
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Keta Beaches-
Keta is a coastal city which reminds me of Venice beach, California.
It is a very different atmosphere from anywhere else in Ghana, with
pretty nice beaches.
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Ada Beach-
This beach meets the Volta River and makes for a wonderful sight.
There is also a resort with jet skies and a yacht community.
Volta
Wli Water Falls
My favorite region
in the whole of Ghana is the Volta. The Volta is good for so many things starting with
the magnificent falls that you see in the above picture. Wli Water Falls
is located 45 minutes from Ho Hoe town, in the Volta. Once you arrive to the
place to disembark, you must prepare for a 45 minute walk, through an awesome
rain forest on a beaten path. What you see when you get there will
certainly make you think of the Creator.
The Volta River is also the largest
river in West Africa and offers much opportunity for cool fun. The river
runs from the northern part of Ghana straight down to almost the most southern
part, emptying out in the sea. It is the river that feeds the Akosombo
Damn, which generates all of Ghana's power. Akosombo is just 1 hour from
Tema and worth the drive for the sake of viewing the Damn or this river from
that bridge:.
The Volta also has a
wonderful landscape, with rivers, falls and mountains all with a very green
backdrop. Another one of the highlights of this region is the tallest mountain
in West Africa, Mount Afedzeto. It is a challenge worth taking, not for
the weak at heart. This is what you may look like when you reach the top and this is what you will see
once you recuperate:
There is also the
Tafi Monkey Sanctuary, but it isn't worth the journey, 2-3 miles off the main
road. The monkeys are rarely visible, but for some very awkward hours and
there's nothing else to do there.
Kumasi
The great
Ashanti Region, made most popular by a woman, Yaa Asantewa, for her
warrioress spirit. It is truly the center of Ghana with the
best of all worlds. About four hours drive from Accra, it is
in the interior of Ghana, a bit away from the coast. The
interlands are rich and the trees massive, reflecting a beauty and a
bounty that is quickly being depleted. Kumasi has a bustling
city, with little real attractions in my opinion, but on the
outskirts of the city there is this beautiful oasis called Lake
Bosumtwi:
Tamale
Mole National Park
Finally, you get to
see some animals. Yes Ghana has a safari, however you must plan well
before you will fit this journey into your schedule. It really requires a
reliable 4x4 to make this journey, as it is more than 8 hours from Accra
and the roads can often be rough. The distance makes it very hard for most
tourist to get to this place, but if the time allows, it is worth it.
Indeed you will see many beautiful animals in their natural habitat. Lions
have been sighted, but not very often.
Another
breath-taking feature about your journey to the North will be the various
differences in the landscapes and appearances of villages. It is primarily
in this part of the country where you will truly see rural living and experience
Ghanaian hospitality. The weather, though, is arid extra dry between the months
of December and March.
Aburi Mountains
Located just 45
minutes outside of Accra central, Aburi mountains offers the kind of sanctuary
that a person craves if he or she is required to stay near the city. It is
where I live and where I would suggest any one stay while in Accra. The
air is 10x cleaner, the mosquitoes are 10x less, and the nights are 10x cooler.
What more could you ask for? Well there is also the botanical gardens,
Rita Marley's recording studio and the best wood carver's market in Africa.
Marley Center, Aburi
Takoradi
As fore mentioned,
one of the best things about Takoradi is Busia Beach, but to be fair, there are
a few more, almost as nice, in the area. There is also a crocodile sanctuary on the coast, near Axim, a
village that is built on stilts, in the water, and a wonderful forest reserve
just before the border of Ivory Coast.
Cape Coast
Last, but not least,
the most common of them all, the dungeons where those who traded in human beings
did their commerce. It is probably the biggest tourist draw to Ghana,
however I say it should be burned to the ground. There is nothing pleasant
about witnessing the horrid conditions that we once suffered as we were ushered
through the "Door of No Return", and to ad insult to injury, those of us who
have returned are merely treated like the tourist dollar we represent and
ushered back in and around, in a slightly more polite manner than we were
ushered out.
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