Ghana Tourist Guides

 

Transport (and communication)

 

Local people travel by tro-tro (converted vans), holding 10 to 20 people. Tro-tros are cheap and move about the towns and cities with many stops to drop & pick up more passengers. Tell the "mate" where to stop.

The best combination for local travel is a mixture of tro-tro and taxi. Taxi fares should be determined prior to departure, and you should not accept a high price as there will be many more genuine taxi-drivers arriving soon.  But if you are travelling long distances - the public bus system is recommended - its fast and safe if you have a guide with you. We do not recommend visitors to travel anywhere alone but a guide will quickly remind other people to remember their manners and give you space and peace for your journey.

Schedules and fares will be worked out by your guide for road travel by the State Transport Company's air-conditioned fleet of coaches between the 10 regional capitals of Ghana. Gorvernment run STC busese are among the best in West Africa & have 2 classes: express (air-conditioned) & ordinary (hot and over-crowded). Book the former well in advance via your guide.

 

Trains are for goods and local people only.

 

Air.  Service provided by a number of regional air carriers, including Ghana Airways, is sometimes very  unreliable. The airlines are known to alter scheduled stops, cancel or postpone flights at short notice, and regularly overbook flights. Travellers may experience unexpected delays even after checking in, and should be prepared to handle alternate ticketing and/or increased food and lodging expenses.

 

Communication with your friends and family back home

Mobile calls can be expensive if you use your home mobile locally and we recommend buying a chip for your mobile/cell in Ghana. Switch chips as you require.

Many visitors travel with their laptop but need a connection to the internet on their travels. Our guides will show you where you can connect, or your hotel/guest house will have its own connection.

If you do not wish to bring your computer with you, there are plenty of internet cafes in every area you visit. Unfortunately, upload/download speeds are often slow.

 

Satellite View of Accra using Google Earth Data (opens in new window)

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Accra.htm