Things to do in Ghana with your Family
Multigenerational travel in Ghana will yield rainbow covered waterfalls, bustling cities, and pristine coastlines. From the castles dotted along the coast to the famous Ghana safari, a trip to Ghana will be highly educational and filled with opportunities to interact with the Ghanaian people and culture. With something for everyone, Ghana is a wonderland of travel for the discerning and the novice alike.
Making The Trip Enjoyable
Before you pack your lightweight clothes and comfortable shoes, make sure you take a side trip to the Ghanaian Immigration Services website. While you will need a passport, there are a few necessities to pick up as you are planning your trip.
In addition to a passport, you will also need to acquire travel visas for each member of your family. This is a simple process but you don’t want to leave it to the last minute. Western travelers cannot get a visa once they arrive at the Ghanaian airport.
You will also need to have an official up-to-date health letter indicating that you and your fellow travelers are vaccinated against yellow fever. This applies to everyone over the age of one year. Ghana is very strict on this requirement so make sure to get that done.
With your paperwork in order, entry into Ghana should be smooth sailing.
Let The Journey Begin: Accra
Start your journey in the historic city of Accra, the capital seat of Ghana and where you will land at the Kotoka International Airport. In the capital, you will find everything to keep everyone happy. Once settled into your hotel accommodations, pack up the kids and grandkids and make your way to La Pleasure Beach for a dip in the water. Beaches are one of the main reasons to visit Ghana. It is often referred to as visiting the Gold Coast. You can swim, surf, boat, and any other water activity on these beautiful beaches.
After shaking off the jetlag, you might be feeling a little hungry. Accra has several restaurants that are suitable for the whole family. Check out Okory3 Tree Restaurant. Located on the water, you and the family can dine under the trees to escape an afternoon shower or just to soak in the ambience with the locals. The food is tailored to fit even the pickiest palette.
While in Accra, be sure to visit the Dr Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park built to honor Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The Monument stands on the same grounds popularly known as Polo Grounds where Ghana’s Independence was declared on March 6, 1957.
There are many more sites to see in Accra but you won’t want to stop there. The rest of the country will provide fun and memories as well!
Fun For The Kids
For the youngest members of your party, Ghana offers educational and cultural experiences. These young adventurers will explore sites from the zoo to one of the many castles dotted along the coastline.
Mole National Park is the premier zoo in Ghana and the kids (young and old) will thank you. Here you can get up close and personal with elephants as they traverse the open savanna. Take a walking tour and see over 90 different species of animals including baboons, warthogs, waterbucks, and antelopes. If walking is too much, take a jeep safari and spend the night amongst the animals.
Next up for the young adventurers is a trip to Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary
Wildlife Reserve in Tafi Atome. Here you can feed the monkeys and learn how they are protected and revered. This is a once in a lifetime educational experience that will leave lasting memories.
Before leaving Ghana, head to the Volta region and prepare to walk in the sky. At Kakum National Park, the real action is in the trees. From the heart-stopping elevation of 130 feet, traverse over seven rope bridges through the sky and see the world from a different perspective. Once you come down, trek over to the waterfalls and cool off in the splendor of the rainforest. Be sure to look up this time to catch a rainbow.
Art, Shopping, History
Ghana is a playground for adults! Once you have taken in the animals and spent time amongst the trees, take a few evenings and check out some wonderful nightlife.
First stop, spend some time at The National Theatre, an ultra-modern structure built-in Chinese architecture. Located on Independence Avenue, the Theater is the venue for theatrical and traditional performances and offers a variety of entertainment mostly on the weekends. Catch performances by the Ghana National Dance Ensemble and the National Symphony Orchestra to name a few.
Other interesting features of the Theater include concert halls, balconies, and beautifully landscaped areas with wonderful fountains. The Theatre Gardens Restaurant specializes in continental and Ghanaian dishes and is wonderful for the whole family.
Exploring Ghanaian history will take you to many of the castles along the coast. Two of the most prominent of these are the Cape Coast Castle and the Elmina Castle. These locations, along with others, figured prominently in the slave trade and are steeped in history. Both locations offer hour-long educational tours from the dungeon to the owners’ suites and give a historical narrative to this period in Ghanaian history.
After an evening at the theater or a day spent exploring castles, save your energy to explore the markets! Ghana has many markets to choose from and the experience can be overwhelming so, hire a guide and get ready to shop.
With over 11,000 vendors, Kejetia Market is the biggest market in West Africa. Here you will find every type of trinket, souvenir, food, shoe, etc. and warm and friendly shopkeepers. Kejetia is frequented by the local population and is a buzzing hive of activity but, as English is the dominant language spoken in Ghana, you will be able to navigate through the maze with ease.
Amazing textiles are created in Ghana and your vacation will be incomplete without a visit to one of the kente cloth factories. Adanwomase Kente Cloth and Tourism village is located near the Kejetia Market and is an explosion of beautiful colors and fabrics that you will want to take with you when you leave.
But, Is It Safe?
Though all travel comes with a level of risk, if you take common-sense precautions, you minimize those risks for you and your family. Traveling within Ghana poses minimal risk to tourists and locals alike. Ghana is considered safe by most government travel agencies. Knowing your surroundings, hiring guides, and not venturing too far off the beaten path, are ways to make sure your trip is as safe and secure as possible. Always check with your countries travel department (in the United States, this information is on the US State Department website) for any change in security status.
Onward to Ghana
Family travel Ghana is an experience everyone will remember. From the food to the people to the location itself, Ghana provides something for everyone and leaves you feeling as though you have touched history in modern times. Pack your bags, grab the grandkids, and explore this jewel of West Africa.