Adventure Travel in West Africa
Full of history, and home to the Ashanti Kingdom, a once prosperous and robust dynasty, Ghana is a great place to start travelling in Africa. It's one of the more ‘user-friendly’ destinations in Africa, while offering a great deal of opportunities for the demanding traveller searching for the next best beach, probably the most succulent dish, the intense cultural encounter, or even the fast paced adventure activity.
Ghana is around the Gulf of Guinea, the ‘under-belly’ of West Africa, facing south for the Atlantic Ocean. In terms of geography, the nation presents flat plains, low hills and some rivers. The coastline is really a low, sandy shore backed by plains intersected by a number of rivers and streams as the northern part of the country features high hills and rolling plains.
Southwest and south central Ghana consists of a forested plateau region composed of the Ashanti uplands and the Kwahu Plateau and also the hilly Akuapim-
Togo ranges are found along the country's eastern border.
Ghana's highest point is Mount Afadjato that is 885 m (2,904 ft) and it is found in the Akwapim-Togo Ranges.
For all of those searching for adventure, dosed with vibrant culture and welcoming people, this is actually the place to go. Hiking, biking, surfing, whale watching, not to mention the overwhelming smells, bright colours and entrancing music are the awe-inspiring experiences you can have in Ghana.
Trekking
What about trekking up Mount Afadjato, spending the night time in a homestay and enjoy a relaxing evening of music and good food (I’ve heard about this place where you can eat village grown mushrooms inside a spicy tomato sauce with rice. Vegetarians, eat your... artichoke heart out).
An execllent place to go to explore Ghana slightly from the beaten track is Kwahu-Tafo. Kwahu-Tafo is a of a group of towns around the high Kwahu plateau, about three hours' drive towards the north of the capital Accra. The Kwahu Ridge contains a few of the highest ground in Ghana, plus some remarkable geological features such as Buruku, a towering sacred rock. In Tafo the environment is fresh, and the land was historically lush the name Tafo means literally 'my ladle is full', indicating that originally there is good hunting in the area. MBA's own Sam trekked this area only a few months ago and should not wait to return and try it again. The highlights of the trek would be the half-waterfall and the fantastic Lake Volta views. Also, for all those with avid imaginations, the trek feels similar to a Flintstones episode save for that dinosaurs, thanks to the dramatic shards of volcanic rock scattered all around the extreme tangerine paths and lush evergreen terrain. Perhaps it had been just the heat.
Biking
If you're into mountain biking, how about biking through rural Ghana, stopping off at mud-hut dotted villages for any rest or to sample the neighborhood Jollof rice dish (tomato-flavoured rice that meat or fish is added) for supper?
We highly recommend you do this with is Samuel Kofi, who owns the local Guide and Bike Company Ghana Bike and Hike Tours. Sam in the muchbetteradventures team, met Kofi in the summer of 2010 in Ghana and was immediately drawn in by his good nature and spirit. Kofi combines genuine social and environmental commitment by having an eye for challenging adventures within the most stunning and authentic parts of West Africa. Seeing how serviceable the was to both tourists and native people, he decided to use his passion biking and hiking to assist sustain his local community. Ghana Bike and Hike Tours runs trekking and biking tours in the mountain ranges around Accra. On longer treks you are able to stay in isolated villages or tents and visit bead making villages, waterfalls, see local wildlife as well as live and experience local village life.
Forest
If you are searching for something different, look no furtherthan the only real tree-top canopy walk in Africa situated in Kakum National Park, home to over three-hundred types of birds, unique monkeys and also the highly endangered forest elephant and bongo antelope. The rope bridge suspended 100-110 feet from the forest floor yields an exceptional sweep of nature from what seems like just below cloud level, a must-see if you’re not scared of heights. The park is just a tro-tro ride away from Cape Coast where one can visit the various “Slave Castles” and other fascinating landmarks.
A vacation to Ghana is not complete without having done this.
Sailing, fishing and canoeing Down through the ocean, there are plenty more opportunities for adventure. Ghanaians are natural ocean goers, maybe because of their culture of fishing, which is reflected in the activities which are on offer.
There is the possibility to rent an angling boat in order to spend an entire day catching your lunch for that evening and learning the different traditional techniques the locals use to sustain their livelihoods. You may even catch a peek at a whale poking its tail fins from the water! Or if you prefer a far more relaxing experience, there are plenty of possibilities to take a traditional canoe up one of the numerous tributaries and try your hand at freshwater fishing.
A great place to do this reaches the Green Turtle Lodge in Takoradi, within the Western Region.
Surfing Ghana’s coast also provides some of the best waves in West Africa (you realize where I am going with this), and for that reason surfing and body-boarding in Ghana will also be on the ‘adventure menu’.
Busua beach, in the west, is among the best locations forsurfing in Ghana and it is a wonderful mix of a traditional Ghanaian coastal village along with a tourist destination, allowing you to become familiar with the people and culture of Ghana, whilst offering you many entertainment options in an exceedingly relaxed atmosphere. Beginners and veterans alike are thanks for visiting try their hands in the different sized swell found across the Busua stretch of coast.
Again, a great spot to do this is at saving money Turtle Lodge. Situated off the beaten track on the beautiful and secluded beach around the sunny west coast of Ghana, it's an ideal location for beginners or easy-going surfers.
Obviously, as always when visiting a West African country, there's a richness of culture, background and biodiversity to discover, but you would want a life-time to make your way round the amazing things to see and do.
Many thanks to Thomas at West Africa Discovery with this great insight into the adventures awaiting us in Ghana. We are spending so much time to bring the best adventure choices in Ghana to the site so you can contact them direct and plan your vacation.
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