Discover Ghana: David’s TravelLocal trip

Whether you’re a seasoned visitor or looking to make your first trip to Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana is always a good idea. It’s a place of fascinating history and traditions, iconic landscapes from green hills to golden sands, and abundant wildlife, all underlined with the infectious warmth of its locals. Returning from his TravelLocal trip, our Head of Finance David Williams shares his most memorable experiences and tips on how to plan a Ghana trip of your own. Have a read before browsing through our suggested itineraries and getting in touch with our local experts…

First off, tell us about your trip to Ghana: when did you go and what was your itinerary?

I travelled with my girlfriend in early March, landing at night in Accra before taking a morning flight north to Tamale and visiting the Mole National Park. We spent two days there on safaris, visiting a local eco-village and touring the ancient Larabanga Mosque. We then flew back to Accra where we experienced nightlife at a Ghanaian music eatery, followed by a beach day at Labadi Beach. Next we travelled to the Volta Region for two days, experiencing the Wli Waterfalls and hiking to the highest point in Ghana, Mount Afadjato (also known as Afadja). Lastly, we returned to Accra for a city tour and market visit before flying home.

What were the most memorable and unexpected experiences from your trip?

The Ghanaian people. Despite our many great encounters with wildlife, including walking up to a lake where elephants were bathing and having a troop of monkeys descend on the hotel at breakfast time, it was really the interactions with Ghanaian locals that made our holiday. From stopping on roadsides to speak with trainee seamstresses and an elderly lady manually making charcoal, to the rangers, guides and local villagers, those interactions and understanding their way of life was what made the trip really special.

What was it like planning with a local expert through TravelLocal?

It was really great. We looked at a few of the itineraries and picked our favourite experiences from each, but were unsure if we were asking for too much, trying to squeeze it all into nine days. I asked this question on the request form and our local expert Nuru-Deen responded within a few hours, with an initial proposed itinerary confirming it was all possible. After making a few tweaks for different hotel options, we were ready to book. Having a local in-country expert reassure us that our trip would not be too rushed, really provided the comfort we needed to confirm it with all the experiences included.

In your opinion, what were the biggest advantages of booking through TravelLocal, as opposed to putting the trip together by yourself?

The on-ground service really was exceptional and extremely comforting. We had a guide and a driver for eight days of the trip, as well as a driver for the first day until we met our guide in Tamale. This was our first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa and it would have been quite daunting if we’d been on our own, but having the guide made us feel completely at ease and enabled us to interact with all the locals, not just those that spoke English. And having the driver was a must – some of those Ghanaian roads really do need a local expert!

What advice would you give people looking to plan a tailor-made trip?

Give as much information and requests that you want for your trip as you can. What is important to you may not be known or considered by the person putting the trip together, especially when you’re planning a trip somewhere where the culture and way of life are very different.

What is one highlight from your time in Ghana that makes you want to visit again?

I mentioned it before – the main highlight would be the people. But I’ll add this: in the nine days, we felt like we’d had multiple vacations, as Ghana has so much to offer. A vibrant capital city, beaches, safari, history, mountains, waterfalls, incredible wildlife, and a lot more that we didn’t get to!

Make it happen

Have David’s stories about his trip to Ghana inspired you to book a tailor-made adventure of your own? Speak to our local experts: they’ll help you with the finer details of how to plan a Ghana trip, and will get the ball rolling for an unforgettable vacation.