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Why Birders Love to Go Bird Watching in Ghana

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Anyone who is looking for a great place to do some birding should consider doing some bird watching in Ghana. There are tours and field guides available that can get fans of nature to the action quickly. There is no shortage of wildlife-protected areas and national parks in the area in which to admire our feathered friends.

Birding is popular in Ghana because of the diversity of bird species in West Africa. In the area of Ghana alone, there are over 700 varieties of them. Some of the most popular with tourists are the Western Bluebill, the Western Grey Plantain Eater, the Chestnut Wattle-eye, the Blue-headed Bee Eater, and the Blue-breasted King Fisher.

How to Go Bird Watching in Ghana

There are a couple of ways to enjoy birding in the area:

Free Birding Pals

These are serious bird lovers in Ghana who are willing to share what they know about their hobby. They will take you to the best areas to see the most interesting birds. The tour is free. They do it because of their love for birding. There are no fees, but it is traditional that you pay for their gas and buy them lunch.

Paid Tours

Professional guides are available for hire to take bird lovers to the best spots in Ghana. These trips can last less than a day, and they can last for up to three weeks. If hiring a guide appeals to you, a trip of at least seven days is suggested. A half-day trip doesn’t allow enough time to get a good start on all the birding opportunities.

If birding is your thing, bird watching in Ghana is certainly a trip you should add to your agenda. Whether you choose to go for a short tour with a free birding pal or a full-blown bird watching safari for a few weeks, it will be an experience to talk about when you get back home.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: Bird, Birdwatching, Ghana, King Fisher, Recreation, United States, West Africa, Western Bluebill

Enjoy a Trophy Hunting Safari in Ghana

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Most every sportsman dreams of going on a big game expedition. Trophy hunting is very popular in West Africa, and for good reason. Prize hunters can hire a tour guide to take them on a trophy hunting safari in Ghana. Trips to that area include those for both rifles and bow hunting.

Even the word safari brings to mind Africa, which has always been well known for sightseeing as well as big game expeditions. In the country of Ghana, hunting safaris are common for wildlife such as the Mountain Goat, the Klipspringer, Royal Antelope and the Mountain Reedbuck.

A trip with an African tour guide is the only way to go. They know the area and right where to take hunters. This does not always guarantee success, but the odds of it are much higher with a chaperone and a crew who know their way around.

An African hunting safari package for Ghana will include a stay at an area lodge. Some of the lodges have accommodations that include butlers and house cleaners. Both group and private lodging is usually available. The owners take pride in offering chef-prepared meals that are based on the local wildlife.

Normally, hunters will fly into Accra and go by automobile to the lodge. When it comes time for the hunt, professional hunters and trackers will assist them. Drivers will take them to their destination in 4-wheel drive vehicles. This, as well as the lodging, is all included in the cost of the package. Also included are licenses and other fees.

Anyone who has the dream of bagging a big game trophy should plan for a trophy hunting safari in Ghana. Even those who have hunted in other areas of the continent would be pleased with what the country of Ghana has to offer as far as wildlife, terrain and scenery.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Ghana, Hunting, Klipspringer, Mountain Reedbuck, Royal Antelope, West Africa

Sightseeing on a Wildlife Safari in Ghana

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Sightseeing on a wildlife safari in Ghana is a great way to get to know this beautiful country in West Africa. The abundance of beautiful animals against a background of forested terrain in the high plains makes everything there look like a picture waiting to be taken. Even if the wildlife werenâ€™t there, this would be a trip well worth taking.

Ghana is near the coast, so it has a variety of terrains. The low sandy area near the beach gradually works into a high plains wooded area. Both are beautiful, but if it is the big game you want to see, you will need to move up higher to the plateau.

The area is full of national parks and wildlife reserves that are home to around 100 different animals, not including hundreds of species of birds. This is where sightseers will see creatures living in their own habitat as opposed to those they normally only see on television or in a zoo.

A Few Animals You Might See on a Wildlife Safari in Ghana

Elephants
Hippopotamus
Monkeys
Antelope
Buffalo
Leopards
Lions
Hyenas
Baboons

There are a variety of tours that can be taken, including those in a motorized vehicle such as a jeep, hiking expeditions, horseback excursions and even canoeing trips. Anyone who has the time should try to spend a day or two with each one of them.

The weather is warm in Ghana, so most any time of the year is a good time to plan a sightseeing safari. However, those who do not like the wet weather might not want to go from the months of April through November. That is the rainy season.

Going sightseeing on a wildlife safari in Ghana is sure to create some memories and photos that will last a lifetime. Pick up the phone or go online to book a guided safari in West Africa.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: Africa, Ghana, Gulf of Guinea, Hyena, Travel and Tourism, Travel Services, United States, West Africa

The Popularity of Whale Watching in Ghana

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Most of the time when people think of doing some sightseeing in Africa, whale observation is not what comes to mind. Instead, they think of animals such as lions, hippos, elephants and monkeys. However, whale watching in Ghana is quite a popular activity with tourists and locals alike.

One good thing about those who go on saltwater fishing expeditions off the coast of Ghana is that, even if the marlin aren’t biting, the fishermen may still be entertained by the whales. Likewise, there is occasionally some turtle watching to do, as well.

This is a seasonal trip. July through December is usually when tours for whale watching are booked. They typically last for one day and include an overnight stay. Of course, multiple days can be booked simply by rebooking. A tour will usually consist of two to as many as twenty people, depending upon the size of your party.

The better trips include transportation to your lodging from the Accra airport. They will take you back to the airport when your tour is over. The lodging is usually included in the cost of the tour, as are meals and drinks in the evening.

One thing you should know before you arrive at your destination: The inhabitants of Ghana take whales very seriously. They believe that the creatures are divine, which is one reason why the expeditions have been set up. The information is good to know so you can avoid any comments that might upset your guides and the other locals.

If you are looking for a getaway that provides a very different experience, plan to do some whale watching in Ghana. There are so many other things to do there that, even if you don’t get a chance to see Moby Dick, you are still sure to have a whale of a time.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: Africa, Ghana, Recreation, Specialty Travel, tourism, Travel, Whale, Whale watching

Why Tourism in Ghana is Popular

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There is a lot to see and do in most all areas of Ghana. Everything from hunting and fishing, to hiking and canoeing, to bird watching and sightseeing, to getting a tan on the beach and even the nightlife are a few of the reasons why tourism in Ghana is popular.

The outdoors is the name of the game in West Africa, namely in the beautiful country of Ghana. The beach in itself is a well-liked tourist attraction. From there, you can hop aboard a vessel and head out to sea for some great marlin fishing and whale watching.

After you return to port and get your land legs back, you can start making your way to the higher country where you can go out on horseback to do some bird watching and check out some of the gorgeous waterfalls. Then, tie the horses up and do some whitewater rafting or kayaking.

If you still have any energy left when the evening comes, you can slip into town and enjoy a fine restaurant and some nightlife. In the cities, you will find a variety of international foods, but you should try the local cuisine. It is not often most people get a chance to eat authentic Ghana fare such as fried yam sticks, jollof rice, or fufu with palm nut soup and goat meat.

After that, if you’re not too full, you can take in a show or opera at the theater. Later, you can wind down by relaxing in one of the local pubs.

You can spend many days and weeks getting familiar with all of the reasons why tourism in Ghana is popular. In fact, you would have to make several visits to the region just to take everything in. If you are a lover of the outdoors, a long trip to West Africa will allow you to see some wonderful things that you have never seen before.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Ghana, Gulf of Guinea, Jollof rice, tourism, United States, West Africa

Don’t Miss These Major Festivals in Ghana

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The country of Ghana is famous for so many things that it would be hard to experience everything in just one trip. With all of the sightseeing and wonderful places to go, you could find yourself running out of time before you get to see some of the best attractions. However, if you are planning a trip, there is one thing for sure: You want to be sure you take in one of the major festivals in Ghana.

The festivals in Ghana occur in all parts of the country and celebrate a wide variety things. They normally last a full day, but can go on for as much as a couple of months. Some are the celebration of religious beliefs, some commemorate victories and freedom, and others are for the giving of thanks for the New Year, the celebration of or thanks for a crop harvest and the anticipation of good fishing.

There are also festivals that observe things like the time of girls coming into puberty, the Kete-Kyen fetish, the donning of new clothes, the purification from social evils, the honoring of the spirits of departed family members, and the purifying of stools. What you probably want to ask is something you will just have to get the answer to when you go.

Most of the festivals in Ghana are celebrated with bright garments, headgear and jewelry, as well as interesting decorations, marching and parades, dancing and music, and food festivities.

If you are considering taking a tour of West Africa, allow yourself plenty of time to do the many things available to you there. Pick one or two of the major festivals in Ghana that most interest you and plan your trip around those. They will give you the opportunity to become more familiar with the culture and tradition in Ghana.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Aid and Development, Business and Economy, Ghana, Government, New Year, West Africa

Booking Affordable Luxury Hotels in Ghana

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One of the great things about visiting Ghana is that you can stay in a luxury resort without spending a lot of money. Hotels in Ghana that might cost a couple hundred dollars would easily cost over $1000 in some parts of New York City. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy a luxurious vacation without breaking the bank on hotel accommodations.

Finding Affordable Hotels in Ghana

When searching for affordable hotels in Ghana, be sure to check the most popular vacation websites such as TripAdvisor and Expedia. These sites are useful because they tell you how much the hotel rooms cost and give you some indication of which ones offer the best services. When you browse the hotels, you will find that many of them are affordable. A lot of them cost less than apartments for rent in Atlanta and other large U.S. cities.

Finding Luxurious Hotels in Ghana

After deciding which hotels fit into your budget, you will need to determine which ones can give you the services that you want. This differs from traveler to traveler, so you will have to read the description of each hotel to choose one that appeals to you. Some people will want hotels that offer spa services. Others, however, are more interested in finding a hotel located near the attractions they want to see.

Paying for Hotels in Ghana

When you book your hotels through travel websites, you take all the guesswork out of paying for the rooms. Instead of giving your credit card information to an overseas company that you do not know, you can pay through popular websites that are based in the United States. That way you know that you are paying a legitimate company for your hotel accommodations instead of falling for a scam.

Filed Under: Customs, Ghana Tagged With: Ghana, New York City, United States

Where to Go Sightseeing in Ghana

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The question of where to go sightseeing in Ghana does not come to mind because there are so few places to go, but because there are so many places to go that it is hard to narrow them down. Tourists are typically only going to have time to see a handful of things in proportion to everything that is available.

One of the first things you will have to decide when planning a trip to this country in West Africa is what to leave out. You can best do this by narrowing down what cities you are going to visit. You won’t likely have time to see all of them, so maybe you should only plan to visit those that are the largest. Even if you could make it to them all, it would be hard to see everything.

Some of the largest cities that you might want to consider visiting during your sightseeing trip to Ghana include the capitol, Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Obuasi. These four will give you plenty to do during your visit to West Africa. You will learn a lot about the culture, the religious beliefs, the history, and the traditions and customs of these wonderful municipalities.

In addition to taking tours of the cities, you have several choices of themed tours that you can get as part of a tourism package. These include diverse areas of the region, and they will help you to learn a lot about Ghana in a short amount of time.

Examples of these themed excursions include eco-tours, camping, bird watching, fishing, hunting, safari and beach tours. Eco-tours are those in which the trip is focused on the environment.

When you are planning your trip, be sure you narrow down your choices for sightseeing in Ghana. Pick only the things in which you are most interested. You will have to save the others for another trip.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Ghana, Kumasi, Obuasi, tourism, Travel and Tourism, West Africa

National Parks You Should Visit in Ghana

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There are all kinds of things to see and do when you travel to Ghana, including many kinds of tours, shopping, shows and festivals. One of the things you will want to do on your trip is to visit some of the national parks and wildlife conservation areas in the country. They are a bit like a “best of” list because you can so see many things all in close proximity.

Among others, some of the popular recreational areas in Ghana include the Mole, Digya, Bia, Nini Suhien, Kayabobo and Kakum National Parks, the largest of which is Mole. Mole has beautiful vegetation and diverse landscape. Its forests are full of rivers and streams bordered by steep slopes.

Mole National Park is the biggest and most popular in the region. It gets more visitors each year and there are more varieties of animals there than any of the other recreational areas. The area is home to around 100 kinds of animals including warthogs, baboons, hartebeest, bushbucks, antelope, monkeys, lions, buffalo and elephant. Hundreds of species of birds also claim residence there.

The journey to Mole is rugged, but worthwhile. There are buses that can take you there from Accra, which is the capitol of Ghana. From there it is about a six-hour ride to your destination. However, it’s not a straight shot. You will first arrive in the city of Kumasi, and then you will go to the town of Tamale. Then from there, your next stop is Mole.

When you go to Ghana, save the shopping and the fine restaurants for later in the day. You will want to spend the daylight hours visiting the various national parks and wildlife conservation areas available to you in Ghana. Those are the things that are going to be the most memorable to you after you return from your trip.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Bui National Park, Ghana, Kumasi, Lake Volta, Mole National Park, Travel and Tourism

Sanctuaries and Reserves to Visit in Ghana

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There is a long list of sanctuaries and reserves you can visit in Ghana. Once you have had your fill of seeing the wonderful attractions in some of the major cities such as Accra and Kumasi, you may want to head out to see some of these other areas. They are a big contrast to what you find in the cities.

Located in the western region of Africa, Ghana is home to a wide variety of birds, fish, mammals and vegetation. The people of that region have been good enough to make sanctuaries for all that life to preserve it and make it so that the locals and the tourists can enjoy it.

There are zoos you can visit in some of the cities, but it almost makes you wonder why. It’s not too long of a trip away from the metropolitan areas to one of the reserves where you can see those wonderful creatures in their own habitat. Some of the sanctuaries are even home to some endangered species.

Here is a very short list of the many sanctuaries and reserves you can visit in Ghana:

Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Reserve

This reserve has been designed to protect the monkeys from being hunted and killed. This is done because the locals consider them to be the children of their gods.

Xafi Bird Watching Sanctuary

This sanctuary is a great place to do some birding from a canoe in the river.

Bunso Arboretum

Bunso is a sheltered forest reserve that has over 100 kinds of vegetation, butterflies and birds.

Keta Lagoon Complex

The complex is a protected wetland area for migratory birds and a breeding area for sea turtles.

You certainly want to see everything you can in the big cities of Ghana, but you also want to set aside to visit the some of the sanctuaries and reserves. You will rarely see the quality of scenery and the wildlife anywhere else in the world but this region of Africa.

Filed Under: Ghana, Transportation Tagged With: accra, Africa, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, Kumasi, Lake Volta, Nature reserve, Volta Region