Akwaaba! Welcome to Ghana!
Upfront and Frankly:
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Travel requires patience and good humor, as Western standards, very often, don`t apply outside larger cities.
Don`t expect public rest room and WC, especially not in villages! Have always your own toilet tissue, and cleansing tissues with you! Roads are often a bit rough, as Ghana is an developing land. Be aware that Western style food is often, only in larger towns and cities, available. Don`t expect fast service early Saturday or Sunday morning. Sunday is church day in Ghana! Be aware, there are quiet some Muslim orientated Ghanaian population (about 17%), in Ghana. The same applies to the neighboring countries of Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Please respect the customs of the Ghanaian people. Ghana is not Florida, and not Germany. Photography and video - Please ask, before taking pictures! There have been incidents of miss-understanding. There are some areas, where photography might be not permitted at all. (Military and some government buildings) |
When visiting tourist sides, often you will have Ghanaian`s offering help as tour guide. Usually, they expect some one or two Ghana Cedis, for their service. Ghana has an high rate of unemployment, so every one is trying to earn some money.
Ghana often, is experiencing power cuts. (Localy called Dumsor; "Light on-Light of"). Have always an torch-light with you. If you have an mobile phone, tablet with you; a solar charger would be a good idea.
Ghana often, is experiencing power cuts. (Localy called Dumsor; "Light on-Light of"). Have always an torch-light with you. If you have an mobile phone, tablet with you; a solar charger would be a good idea.
Water - Bottled water is widely available, but usually you may drink the much cheaper, and without problems, sachets of "Ice Water", offered nearly every where!
Accommodation - Ghanaian hotels and guesthouses are quiet often simple, with little service. Rooms often offer a sealing fan, rather than air condition. You may find a simple and basic accommodation, from just $10 - $15 per night, but there are places, you might have to spend $50 - $350. There are high ranking and international hotels in Ghana, as Holiday In and other international brands. But their rates are much higher, than in Europe or United States.
This might be due, Ghana has become the conference country of Africa, especially Accra. Ghana is hosting many international conferences, due the peaceful location. Ghana accounts for the largest UN - Peacekeeper contingent of whole of Africa.
Probably the largest US embassy of Africa - located in Accra.
Ghana`s beaches are as famous, as the Castles and Forts of Ghana are un-famous! Visit Fort Batenstein (Western region of Ghana) or make a trip to Fort Ussher in Accra (Ussher Town)! Fancy football? See the "Black Stars" in action, at Accra Sports Stadium!
There are so many beautiful places, and tourist destination`s in Ghana! National Parks with plenty of wildlife, like Elephants and Hippos. Travel back in time, and see ancient Elephant-footprints in Bongo, left thousands of years ago, now solid. Discover ancient natural caves in the Shai Hills, north - and near Accra, once used hide out protection, by local tribes. Uncover the secret of, not widely known, UNDERWATER CAVES in the rocks of Bongo (Upper East region).
Visit Ghana`s tropical waterfalls, experience a fantastic journey on lake Volta, to Northern Ghana with an ferry, starting point Akosombo port. Experience Ghana`s hospitality at the Volta Hotel in Akosombo! Not as much time, to sat over night? Why not make a trip with the "Dodi Princess", a cruise-ship, departing every Saturday and Sunday morning, as well all official Ghana holidays, from Akosombo. You also may book a guided tour, to Akosombo dam and power station.
Visit Nkroful, the village, where the *first president of Ghana was born!
You`ll find there Dr Kwame Nkrumah`s original Mausoleum and a Museum village. Nkroful is located in the Western region of Ghana. *Dr Kwame Nkrumah - president of modern Ghana, from 1957 - 1966. Overthrown March 1966, by a bunch of higher ranking Ghanaian traitors, with friendly involvement of CIA and MI6. He died in Romanian exile, in 1972.
Accommodation - Ghanaian hotels and guesthouses are quiet often simple, with little service. Rooms often offer a sealing fan, rather than air condition. You may find a simple and basic accommodation, from just $10 - $15 per night, but there are places, you might have to spend $50 - $350. There are high ranking and international hotels in Ghana, as Holiday In and other international brands. But their rates are much higher, than in Europe or United States.
This might be due, Ghana has become the conference country of Africa, especially Accra. Ghana is hosting many international conferences, due the peaceful location. Ghana accounts for the largest UN - Peacekeeper contingent of whole of Africa.
Probably the largest US embassy of Africa - located in Accra.
Ghana`s beaches are as famous, as the Castles and Forts of Ghana are un-famous! Visit Fort Batenstein (Western region of Ghana) or make a trip to Fort Ussher in Accra (Ussher Town)! Fancy football? See the "Black Stars" in action, at Accra Sports Stadium!
There are so many beautiful places, and tourist destination`s in Ghana! National Parks with plenty of wildlife, like Elephants and Hippos. Travel back in time, and see ancient Elephant-footprints in Bongo, left thousands of years ago, now solid. Discover ancient natural caves in the Shai Hills, north - and near Accra, once used hide out protection, by local tribes. Uncover the secret of, not widely known, UNDERWATER CAVES in the rocks of Bongo (Upper East region).
Visit Ghana`s tropical waterfalls, experience a fantastic journey on lake Volta, to Northern Ghana with an ferry, starting point Akosombo port. Experience Ghana`s hospitality at the Volta Hotel in Akosombo! Not as much time, to sat over night? Why not make a trip with the "Dodi Princess", a cruise-ship, departing every Saturday and Sunday morning, as well all official Ghana holidays, from Akosombo. You also may book a guided tour, to Akosombo dam and power station.
Visit Nkroful, the village, where the *first president of Ghana was born!
You`ll find there Dr Kwame Nkrumah`s original Mausoleum and a Museum village. Nkroful is located in the Western region of Ghana. *Dr Kwame Nkrumah - president of modern Ghana, from 1957 - 1966. Overthrown March 1966, by a bunch of higher ranking Ghanaian traitors, with friendly involvement of CIA and MI6. He died in Romanian exile, in 1972.
Nearby to find; Nzulezo - a wooden village, build within a lake!
On your way back from Nzulezo, visit Busia Beach, Butre Beach, White Sands Beach and Fort Batenstein! Discover more history, and visit Fort Three Crosses.. Sample local food and drink!
Visit Sekondi-Takoradi, and discover more than just oil! If you like an adventure, why not boarding the weekly running trains from Takoradi to Kumasi (Ashanti), via Obuasi - Ghana`s main Gold Mining town... Wiles in Kumasi, discover the palace of the Ashante king, visit Kumasi Zoo or Kumasi market.. one of the largest markets in the whole of Africa.
Education lovers - visit the National Cultural Centre of Ghana (Kumasi) or Ghana University of Science and Technic Kumasi. Fancy flying? Return to Accra cia Kumasi International Airport (even late nights!).
Visit Sekondi-Takoradi, and discover more than just oil! If you like an adventure, why not boarding the weekly running trains from Takoradi to Kumasi (Ashanti), via Obuasi - Ghana`s main Gold Mining town... Wiles in Kumasi, discover the palace of the Ashante king, visit Kumasi Zoo or Kumasi market.. one of the largest markets in the whole of Africa.
Education lovers - visit the National Cultural Centre of Ghana (Kumasi) or Ghana University of Science and Technic Kumasi. Fancy flying? Return to Accra cia Kumasi International Airport (even late nights!).
Food Lovers
Food lovers will find a broad range of local and international dishes in Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Accra alike. Favored Ghanaian dishes are FuFu with different light-soups, Banku or Kinkey with fish, Plantain - roasted, fried or boiled..., Yam and Casava, fried, boiled...
Experience Kakum National Park, where you have great nature, and canopy walkway 30 - 40 meters above the Rain-Forrest, near Cape Coast city (Cape Coast with nearby Elmina welcomes you with some interesting colonial buildings). Elmina and Elmina Castle; relax on beautiful beaches, along the fantastic coast line.
Need Accommodation? Check GhanaHotels.biz, with contact information`s of hotels and guesthouses, including all regions, towns and some villages in Ghana ! Enjoy your stay! Welcome! Akwaaba!
(c) Copyright text: Ghana-Net.com / Ghana0.com 2015
Experience Kakum National Park, where you have great nature, and canopy walkway 30 - 40 meters above the Rain-Forrest, near Cape Coast city (Cape Coast with nearby Elmina welcomes you with some interesting colonial buildings). Elmina and Elmina Castle; relax on beautiful beaches, along the fantastic coast line.
Need Accommodation? Check GhanaHotels.biz, with contact information`s of hotels and guesthouses, including all regions, towns and some villages in Ghana ! Enjoy your stay! Welcome! Akwaaba!
(c) Copyright text: Ghana-Net.com / Ghana0.com 2015
Kakum National Park
The long-tailed Verreaux's Touraco floats down from the sky. From your vantage point on the canopy walkway, you see a brilliant flash of red on the wings of this magnificent bird as it lands a few feet away to settle on a Kuntan tree, one of the tallest trees in the forest canopy.
This is something you'd never see from the forest floor. Located in Kakum National Park in the West African country of Ghana, Africa's only canopy walkway is suspended 100 feet above the ground, offering you what is truly a bird's eye view of the rain-forest. At this height, you don't have to be an expert to identify the colorful patterns of tropical birds as they glide through the forest below you. |
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You don't even have to climb to get onto the walkway. It starts at ground level, and as you walk along, the land below you slopes into a valley, and you find yourself twelve stories up in the forest canopy. The horseshoe-like pattern of bridges — made of steel cable, netting, and narrow wooden planks — are connected by tree platforms that serve as observation points for viewing the rainforest. You circle back to complete your tour on level ground.
"The slight swaying is intimidating, but it's an incredible sensation to walk along it. The experience is pure adrenaline, and is definitely not for people with a fear of heights," said Mari Omland, project manager of the Ghana program at Conservation International. Despite its scary appearance, expert designers and climbers were consulted throughout all the phases of its construction, to ensure that the walkway was safely built and able to meet world-class safety standards.
Among other species, more than 300 kinds of birds and about 550 types of butterflies make their home in the forest canopy, and many of the canopy's inhabitants have never set foot on the forest floor. You can hear the distant rustling of leaves as a troop of monkeys travel through the canopy, but don't expect to see them. Kakum's mammals are known to be extremely elusive.
Kakum National Park is an island of tropical rainforest in a sea of agricultural lands — an isolated fragment of what was once a continuous belt of rainforest extending from Guinea through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d'Ivoire to Ghana. Degraded by mining, farming, and settlement, and combed by hunters and timber extractors, Kakum now covers less than 140 square miles, but it provides one of the last remaining habitats for six globally-endangered species, including Diana monkeys, bongos, yellow-backed duikers, and forest elephants.
Exploring the forest with a local guide enhances your experience. Local knowledge of the forest is extensive, as its resources have been fulfilling people's spiritual, medicinal and subsistence needs for centuries. Guides help you identify animal prints found in the mud, and may explain how distinct marks on a tree resulted from a forest elephant scratching its back, or how the juicy contents missing from a fruit casing were a monkey's breakfast.
Walking the ethno-botanical trail, you learn about the hidden properties of Kakum's plant species. In traditional medicine, plants serve to fight infections, heal wounds, increase lactation, ease muscle strains, relieve stomach ailments, and eliminate fevers. Your guide picks up a chewing sponge containing medicinal properties, explaining how it is still used by the Akan people as a toothbrush. You pass the Kuntan tree, which has roots above the ground that extend out and down from its trunk. This characteristic makes it look as if it has been pulled 12 to 15 feet out of the soil with the roots forming a visible stand for the tree. Not only is the Kuntan tree unique in appearance, but the leaves are used as natural, healing bandages.
The local culture adds another facet to the forest experience through myths, stories, and practices. Among these practices is a revived traditional artform know as the bamboo orchestra, which local residents of the Masomagor community perform for your enjoyment. To the beating of the drum, the orchestra illustrates stories through an elaborate dance.
At the interactive exhibition Hidden Connections: the Web of Life in a Rainforest, in the park Visitor Center, you can explore the biological connections that exist within rainforest ecosystems, and the cultural connections that the Akan people of southern Ghana hold with the natural world.
Kakum National Park stands as part of one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the African continent. Valuable from both a global and a local perspective, this forest is an important conservation priority. For locals, who now have restricted use of forest resources under its national park status, the canopy walkway provides an alternative means of income through tourism. Since protecting the integrity of the forest was an essential element to the conservation of the area, Conservation International and Ghana's Wildlife Department constructed the walkway using materials and a design that would not harm the trees. By visiting Kakum, you are making an active contribution to the preservation of the rain-forest.
"The slight swaying is intimidating, but it's an incredible sensation to walk along it. The experience is pure adrenaline, and is definitely not for people with a fear of heights," said Mari Omland, project manager of the Ghana program at Conservation International. Despite its scary appearance, expert designers and climbers were consulted throughout all the phases of its construction, to ensure that the walkway was safely built and able to meet world-class safety standards.
Among other species, more than 300 kinds of birds and about 550 types of butterflies make their home in the forest canopy, and many of the canopy's inhabitants have never set foot on the forest floor. You can hear the distant rustling of leaves as a troop of monkeys travel through the canopy, but don't expect to see them. Kakum's mammals are known to be extremely elusive.
Kakum National Park is an island of tropical rainforest in a sea of agricultural lands — an isolated fragment of what was once a continuous belt of rainforest extending from Guinea through Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d'Ivoire to Ghana. Degraded by mining, farming, and settlement, and combed by hunters and timber extractors, Kakum now covers less than 140 square miles, but it provides one of the last remaining habitats for six globally-endangered species, including Diana monkeys, bongos, yellow-backed duikers, and forest elephants.
Exploring the forest with a local guide enhances your experience. Local knowledge of the forest is extensive, as its resources have been fulfilling people's spiritual, medicinal and subsistence needs for centuries. Guides help you identify animal prints found in the mud, and may explain how distinct marks on a tree resulted from a forest elephant scratching its back, or how the juicy contents missing from a fruit casing were a monkey's breakfast.
Walking the ethno-botanical trail, you learn about the hidden properties of Kakum's plant species. In traditional medicine, plants serve to fight infections, heal wounds, increase lactation, ease muscle strains, relieve stomach ailments, and eliminate fevers. Your guide picks up a chewing sponge containing medicinal properties, explaining how it is still used by the Akan people as a toothbrush. You pass the Kuntan tree, which has roots above the ground that extend out and down from its trunk. This characteristic makes it look as if it has been pulled 12 to 15 feet out of the soil with the roots forming a visible stand for the tree. Not only is the Kuntan tree unique in appearance, but the leaves are used as natural, healing bandages.
The local culture adds another facet to the forest experience through myths, stories, and practices. Among these practices is a revived traditional artform know as the bamboo orchestra, which local residents of the Masomagor community perform for your enjoyment. To the beating of the drum, the orchestra illustrates stories through an elaborate dance.
At the interactive exhibition Hidden Connections: the Web of Life in a Rainforest, in the park Visitor Center, you can explore the biological connections that exist within rainforest ecosystems, and the cultural connections that the Akan people of southern Ghana hold with the natural world.
Kakum National Park stands as part of one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the African continent. Valuable from both a global and a local perspective, this forest is an important conservation priority. For locals, who now have restricted use of forest resources under its national park status, the canopy walkway provides an alternative means of income through tourism. Since protecting the integrity of the forest was an essential element to the conservation of the area, Conservation International and Ghana's Wildlife Department constructed the walkway using materials and a design that would not harm the trees. By visiting Kakum, you are making an active contribution to the preservation of the rain-forest.
With Kakum National Park as your starting point, Ghana's unique mix of culture, historical heritage, and rich biological diversity offers you an all-inclusive African experience. A short drive from the wonders of Kakum are other points of interest, including numerous European forts, lodges, and castles that line the 300 miles of Ghana's coastline.
Two of the most notable are the recently restored Cape Coast and Elmina castles, built in 1655 and 1482 respectively, which served as central facilities in the centuries-long trans-Atlantic slave trade. The area's vibrant markets are a great place to purchase or simply admire Ghana's pottery, Adinkra cloth, brass castings, hand woven baskets, glass beads, symbolic Kente cloth and intricately carved stools, which the Ashanti believe to be receptacles of the soul. Outside of Kakum, you'll notice how the colorful shapes and symbolic patterns in textiles and in other cultural art-forms reflect images of the forest.
Two of the most notable are the recently restored Cape Coast and Elmina castles, built in 1655 and 1482 respectively, which served as central facilities in the centuries-long trans-Atlantic slave trade. The area's vibrant markets are a great place to purchase or simply admire Ghana's pottery, Adinkra cloth, brass castings, hand woven baskets, glass beads, symbolic Kente cloth and intricately carved stools, which the Ashanti believe to be receptacles of the soul. Outside of Kakum, you'll notice how the colorful shapes and symbolic patterns in textiles and in other cultural art-forms reflect images of the forest.
Festivals of Ghana & More Cultural Life
Traditional festivals, held each month, provide a glance into the cultural heritage from the past. As part of the Bakatue festival, the people of Elmina have been welcoming in the new fishing season with a variety of processions and competitions for the past 500 years. Other festivals, such as Bontungu, feature traditional drumming and dancing.
And after a busy day at a local markets and festivals, you can relax at one of the beautiful beaches. Brenu beach is considered by Ghana's tourism board as the best place to swim and sun in the Central Region.
For more information on Kakum National Park visit The Ecotravel Center (Entrance of National Park)
And after a busy day at a local markets and festivals, you can relax at one of the beautiful beaches. Brenu beach is considered by Ghana's tourism board as the best place to swim and sun in the Central Region.
For more information on Kakum National Park visit The Ecotravel Center (Entrance of National Park)
MUSIC DANCE DRAMA
The rhythmic throbbing of the drums and percussion, and the verbal expression of the songs, create music that triggers off the Ghanaian into a spontaneous dramatic expression in the form of dance.
To the Ghanaian, music, dance and drama are three virtually inseparable media of emotional expression.
Music, dance and drama can thus be found in virtually every aspect of the Ghanaian life - in happiness or sorrow. Ghana is characterized by three main types of music. There is the ethnic or traditional music, the "Highlife" music and the choral music.
The Adowa of the Ashantis, the Agbazda of the Ewes and the Kpanlogo of the Gas, are a few examples of traditional music. These are normally played during festivals and at funerals. "Highlife" is a type of music of local creation which is charaterised by a blend of traditional and "imported music."
It is essentially vocal music performed by 'Dance and guitar'bands during day-to-day recreational activities. Choral music is a new idiom of African art music, which is more orientated to the concert hall, the church and educational institutions.
Ghana can aptly be described as a Land of festivals, music and traditional dances. There is hardly any community, clan or tribe which lacks an occasion to celebrate annually.
To the Ghanaian, music, dance and drama are three virtually inseparable media of emotional expression.
Music, dance and drama can thus be found in virtually every aspect of the Ghanaian life - in happiness or sorrow. Ghana is characterized by three main types of music. There is the ethnic or traditional music, the "Highlife" music and the choral music.
The Adowa of the Ashantis, the Agbazda of the Ewes and the Kpanlogo of the Gas, are a few examples of traditional music. These are normally played during festivals and at funerals. "Highlife" is a type of music of local creation which is charaterised by a blend of traditional and "imported music."
It is essentially vocal music performed by 'Dance and guitar'bands during day-to-day recreational activities. Choral music is a new idiom of African art music, which is more orientated to the concert hall, the church and educational institutions.
Ghana can aptly be described as a Land of festivals, music and traditional dances. There is hardly any community, clan or tribe which lacks an occasion to celebrate annually.
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Welcome to Ghana! Akwaaba!
Ghana-Net.com is one of Ghana`s oldest websites, with tourism information`s about Ghana, Live Radio, life and culture of of all Ghana Nation`s, and tribes - like Ga people, Fante, Ewe, Ashanti, Dagbani, Frafra, Krobo and many other tribes and kingdoms of Ghana.
Ghana-Net.com 1st time online late December 2000, and updated since 2001 !
Ghana-Net.com is one of Ghana`s oldest websites, with tourism information`s about Ghana, Live Radio, life and culture of of all Ghana Nation`s, and tribes - like Ga people, Fante, Ewe, Ashanti, Dagbani, Frafra, Krobo and many other tribes and kingdoms of Ghana.
Ghana-Net.com 1st time online late December 2000, and updated since 2001 !
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