Get Away to Ghana 10 Days Tour

Essentials: 

Will be sent with full itinerary when confirmed

Check List: 

Will be sent with full itinerary when confirmed

Passport:

Click here to check the visa requirements

Weather:

Ghana has a tropical climate, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season in summer. The rainy season runs from May to September in the north, from April to October in the centre and from April to November in the south. The driest areas are the north and the eastern coast, which includes the capital, Accra.
Temperatures are constantly high throughout the country and range from a low of 21C in the coolest month of August to a high of 38C or more in March. Humidity adds to the discomfort during the rainy season. Travel to Ghana is best during the dry season, when there is slightly less heat and humidity, driving conditions are better and there are fewer mosquitoes.

Currency:

The official currency is the cedi (GHS), which is divided into 100 pesewas. Foreign currency can be exchanged at any bureau de change as well as at some commercial banks; banks and foreign exchange facilities are available at the airport and in all major towns. Visitors can easily exchange US dollars and euros. ATMs are common in larger towns and credit cards are accepted at many hotels, guesthouses and some shops. Banks and businesses may not accept credit cards other than Visa; credit card fraud is common. Visitors should take care when using their cards and contact their card issuer to make sure their cards will work.

A service charge is rarely added to restaurant bills and tipping for quality service is only expected in restaurants (usually about 10 percent). Tipping for other services is discretionary, though travellers should note that if someone offers to help them, whether it is with directions or to carry a bag, they usually expect some kind of payment.
Carrying ₵50 notes or larger is convenient for large purchases, but many places where you spend money will not be able to make change for these bills – or even a 20 cedi note! It is always a good idea to keep a lot of small cedi notes in your pockets. Easier said than done!

Vaccination:

Covid Ghana

• All arriving passengers 18 and older must show proof of a full vaccine dosage.

• You will not be required to undergo temperature checks or additional testing while on tour. However, some visited destinations may do a quick temperature scan before entry is permitted.

• Masks are no longer required at any venue.

• All visited tourist destinations, restaurants, shops and hotels will have hand sanitization stations at their entrance. These must be used.

• Hotels and restaurants are required to be operating with enhanced hygiene protocols as defined by the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture.

•  Please Note:

  • Establishments that fully enforce this level of hygiene will generally be higher-end (more expensive).

  • Small establishments, budget guesthouses, rural lodgings and local restaurants may not strictly enforce all requirements.

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Health 

Malaria and Avoiding Mosquitoes

The mosquito is the most dangerous animal in Africa by far! It is essential that casual visitors to Ghana take proper precautions against mosquitoes and the malaria that some may be carrying. Taking a prophylaxis is no guarantee that you will not get malaria if bitten, but do not over-react and think that every mosquito bite is deadly.                                                                                                                                                

While you may have heard that malaria-carrying mosquitos come at dusk and dawn, there are many types of mosquitos traveling at all hours of day and night. These beasts can also transmit a number of other maladies, so it is best to avoid mosquitoes as best as possible.                                                                                                                                               

For protection, stay in open, sunny, breezy areas and wear light coloured, loose fitting long pants and long-sleeve shirts, shoes and socks. Mosquitoes can bite through T-shirts and other lightweight, tight-fitting clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted by motion, heat, the trail of carbon-dioxide (CO2) in your exhaled breath, the smell of Lactic Acid, found on your skin when exercising, and other elements of your skin biotics. Scientists estimate that genetics account for 85% of your appeal to mosquitos.                                                                                                                                              

Mosquitoes do tend to prefer men over women, adults more than children, and larger people. Larger bodies produce more heat, more carbon dioxide and have more body mass to bite. Sleeping with a strong fan makes it difficult for mosquitoes to find you and also helps prevent the ability of these insects to fly. They also can love the bacteria that grows at your ankles, so keep your feet washed well.                                                                                                                                          

Be sure you bring a DEET-based mosquito repellent, as these are difficult to find in Ghana. After extensive testing, the US military has determined that a 35% time-release (micro-encapsulated) formulation offers best coverage with the least side effects. Anything in the range 20%-35% will be effective in most situations.                                                                                                                                          

Use of DEET with sun-block lowers the efficacy of the sun-block. So, more frequent applications of sunscreen will be needed for adequate solar protection. Apply the sunscreen first, let it dry, then spray the DEET over the top of the sunscreen. DEET works by inhibiting signals from the mosquitoes’ antennae and making it difficult for them to find you. It does not stun or kill mosquitos.                                                                                                                                           

Treat your clothing before you arrive with a Permethrin spray. This is very effective as it does kill or stun insects that come in contact with the treated fabric. Permethrin will remain in fabric for 6 or more washings. Both DEET and Permethrin sprays may found at any camping goods dealer.                                                                                                                                          

There are three choices for an anti-malarial prophylactic drug:                                           

Mefloquine (Larium)        

This is a once-a-week tablet that is the least expensive malaria prophylaxis. As with any medication that staying in your body for a week, the potential for side effects is higher.                                                                                                                                           

Malarone (proguanil and atovaquone)

This is a daily tablet that is much more expensive than Larium. It is not associated with the side effects that some people experience on Larium.                                                                                                                                                  

Doxycycline 

This common antibiotic may also be used when taken daily at 100mg.                                                                                                                                           

While locals you talk to in Ghana may seem very casual about malaria, it is no joke to you and your virgin immune system. The first symptoms feel like the flu, with a general malaise. Quickly developing, it will give you a rapid fever and chills, make your head pound like a sledgehammer, make you vomit and give you diarrhoea. If you do not get immediate treatment, you could die. Even with treatment, it is not a fun way to spend a week of your holiday recovering.                                                                                                                                          

Without a test kit, malaria is not easy to diagnose, as there are many illnesses that have these same symptoms, including typhoid, meningitis and various viral fevers – some of which are also transmitted by mosquito bites. So you should always seek treatment when experiencing a rapid rise in temperature.                                                                                                                                              

When in remote areas, you may wish to carry a test kit and a course of treatment. The best course is a short term (about 3 days) malarial treatment such as artesunate, available over the counter here. It wouldn’t hurt for you to purchase these inexpensive treatments before you leave to bring back with you in the event you begin to display malarial symptoms, your treatment is at hand.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Vaccinations                                                                                                                                         

Only a Yellow Fever vaccination is required for entry into Ghana. You will be asked to show proof of immunization at the border.                                                                                                                                         

Other vaccinations are at your discretion. There is at this time no commercially-available malaria vaccination. 

Give yourself plenty of time, as not all vaccinations can be given at the same time and some are given in multiple doses. If you are going to be taking many vaccinations, it will require different appointments over a period of several weeks.                                                                                                                                                                                             

Recommended                                                                                                                                               

Diphtheria, Polio and Tetanus                                

A current DPT vaccination is a good idea. This is a common vaccination given to children, but you need a booster shot if it has been more than 10 years since your last DPT vaccination.

Note that Ghana has been declared polio-free.                                                                                                                                                 

Influenza    

A current flu vaccination is also a good idea. There will undoubtedly be people on your plane carrying this virus and you never know when a major flu season will occur.                                                                                                                                                

Hepatitis A  

This vaccine is strongly recommended. It is given in multiple doses to protect against this illness which is spread orally in conditions of poor sanitation.