Unlike our other placement destinations, most of Ghana is open for business all year round. The main sights are largely unaffected by weather, and although there are seasonal rains, it is generally hot all year round. You may need to watch out for the dreaded humidity, but as long as you are prepared for a level of stickiness then you should be fine! Besides, there are plenty of waterfalls to cool off in and sleeping in a tree top canopy brings a lovely breeze at night!
As a general guide, in the South the rainy season is April to June and then again in September and October. The best times to travel are therefore November to March or July and August (also the most popular times for tourists). In the central region, the rains are heavier and last longer. In the hotter and drier north, there is one rainy season, lasting from April to October.
We shall start on the year-round attractions in this beautiful country - a big thanks to Ezekiel at the Ghana WTW house for his help compiling all the info!
All year...
The Coast - The stunning coastline stretches from the Ivory Coast to Togo. As well as beautiful, palm lined beaches, there are lots of historic forts that once serviced the slave trade.The Western region is famous for some of the best beaches in Ghana. Some of the most popular beaches apart from Axim beach which is highly recommended by past and present housemates includes; Busua Pleasure Beach and Green turtle beach at Akwidee which are accessible throughout the whole year but the roads especially to green turtle beach is not in a good conditions thus advisable not to travel in the night if you not travelling with a 4x4 vehicle.
Cape Coast - Cape Coast was the British Colonial capital and the faded grandeur of the buildings shows the wealth that was once here. Slave trading was big here and both Cape coast and Elmina castles played a big role. The Cape Coast castle has been extensively restored to host a moving museum.
Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary - Ride in a pirogue on the Black Volta river to observe hippos in their natural habitat - nothing between you and the hippo but a little stretch of water and the boatmen's good sense to not get too close. A truly unforgettable experience.
Kumasi Market - Largest in West Africa.
Kakum National Park - The 350m canopy walkway at the national park is the big draw here. It consists of seven viewing platforms taking you through undisturbed virgin rainforest linked by a circuit of narrow suspension bridges, 30m above the forest floor. Lots of students choose to stay overnight – sleeping on a tree platform under the stars! See Ghana’s indigenous plant life, as well as rare butterflies, birds and game (that could include the extraordinary Bongo and forest elephant).
Tafi Atome Monkey Village - The sacred monkey sanctuary around Tafi Atome is easily accessible from Accra the capital. It is a home of Mona monkeys and an interesting place worth visiting all year round. It opens to tourist between the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm daily.
Wli Falls - Wli waterfalls are the highest in Ghana and consist of the lower and upper falls. Reaching the falls is part of the adventure - with 11 log bridges spanning the river on your route to the falls. The pool at the bottom is perfect for a swim to cool down.
Boabeng-Fiema Sanctuary: The sanctuary is home to over 200 Geoffrey’s Pied Columbus and 500 Campbell's Mona Monkeys. The monkeys are protected and treated as sacred, so they have become used to being fed and looked after by village people and interact with them.
Adae Kese Festival - This is a very important, albeit rare celebration of the Ashanti's. It is held in a large open space in the capital city of Kumasi. The festival is normally well attended and embraced by Ashanti's from all walks of life.
January
Mole National Park - Mole is Ghana's largest national park and it's biggest eco-tourism site. There are 90 different species of mammal in this park, but perhaps the most famous are the elephants. January to March are the best times in terms of access.
Edina Bronya - This festival is a novel Christmas introduced to the people of Elmina during the Dutch era of the colonial period. The period coincides with the Dutch Festival which falls on the first Thursday of January every year and marked in Elmina to signify the bond of friendship between the Dutch and the people of Elmina.
Mt. Afadza is the highest mountain in Ghana, at an altitude of 885 meters (2,904 ft). It is highly recommended for those who love to hike and it is open to visitors all year round but difficult to hike during raining season thus visitors are advice to follow the direction given by the guide.
February
Mole National Park - The 600 or so elephants are often drawn toward the two artificial watering holes near the lodges where most people stay. This is also one of the only places to do a walking safari - many of our students have reported being yards away from elephants!
Mt. Afadza - At an altitude of 885 meters (2,904 ft), Afadzna is the highest mountain in Ghana. It is open for visitors all year round, but the wet season can lead to flooded and swampy areas in the approach.
March
Mole National Park - This is still a good month to visit Mole to spot some of the 90 different species of mammal. As well as the elephants, there are 80 leopard.... a little harder to spot!
Paragliding Festivals (Kwahu Easter celebration) - The history of the festival goes back to March 2003 and in just a few short years; the Ghana Paragliding Festival has become an integral part of the annual Easter celebrations in Ghana. The festival attracts both Ghanaians and foreigners alike for more than 3 days of spectacular aerial fun, ceremony and music.
April
Bobum or Dipo Festival - Dipo is celebrated in April by the people of Manya and Yilo Krobo in the towns of Krobo Odumase and Somanya, about 80 kilometres north of Accra. The mode of celebration is that, adolescent girls are adorned in beautiful beads and half-clothed. The festival initiates such girls into womanhood.
Nzulezo Village-on-Stilts - Travelling out to Beyin you can get a canoe to Nzulezo, a traditional village built entirely out of raffia. It stands on stilts over the river and you can even spend the night. The best time to visit the settlement is during the rainy seasons (April to September) as you will need to reach it via dugout canoe.
May
Aboakye Festival - The festival is a celebration to mark the migration of these people from the ancient Western Sudan Empire where they were led by 2 brothers and a god called Otu. The festival is celebrated in May each year and is a major event in Ghana.
Nzulezo Village-on-Stilts - Canoeing out to Nzulezo is adventure in itself, but spending some time on the manmade island will give you an amazing insight into life for this unique Ghanaian group.
June
Nzulezo Village-on-Stilts - This is still a good time to travel to Beyin and then take a dugout canoe to Nzulezo stilt village. It is an amazing experience and a highlight for our Work the World'ers.
July
Panafest - Pan-African Historic Festival is a major biennial event of cultural forum for Africans and people of African descent as well as friends of the continent committed to the noble cause of Pan Africanism. The venues for the Panafest are the historical towns of Cape Coast and Elmina. All participants to PANAFEST must register.
Edina Bakatue Festival - Literally translated means "The opening of the Lagoon" or the Draining of the Lagoon". It is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the town, Elmina by the Europeans.
Nzulezo Village-on-Stilts - You will often get to see monkeys swinging in the rafia trees en-route to Nzulezo - another highlight of the trip to the stilt village.
Boti Falls - Spectacular, but seasonal waterfall in the forest reserve at Huhunya. In the immediate vicinity are cascades, the twin fall dries up completely in the dry season mainly around November to April but at its best between June and August.
“Asafotu Fiam” Festival - This annual festival which commemorates the victories of warriors in battle is celebrated by the Ga Adamgbe people and takes place between the last Thursdays of July and ends in the first week of August.
August
“Homowo” Festival - The festival is celebrated by the people of the Ga Traditional Area. Homowo, which is an annual celebration, simply means hooting at hunger. It is a month long event that takes place in August every year.
“Agbamevoza” (kente festival) of the Agotime people - The chiefs and people of Agotome traditional area, a few kilometers east of Ho, celebrate this annual Kente festival in August. This is a unique festival by all standards. The Agotime people claim they introduced the art of Kente weaving to present-day Ghana and consequently have been marking this event with a colorful festival. A unique aspect of the festival is Kente-weaving competition and one that brings about the best is crowned.
Nzulezo Village-on-Stilts - It sounds pretty remote, but tourism is playing it's part on this unique village. Come armed with pens and sweets - the kids like to get presents if you want to take their photos! And don't think it will be a quiet idyll.... car batteries keep villagers plugged in to the latest in Ghanaian soap operas and the top tunes!
Boti Falls - This is still a good time to visit Boti.
September
Fetu Afahye (Carnival) - The most attractive aspects of Ghanaian cultural life are that of the colorful traditional festivals and durbars which are frequently held in all part of the country. This festival starts on the 1st of September every year.
Nzulezo Village-on-Stilts - The last month to easily visit Nzulezo. After this the water levels are low and it's harder to reach the village via dugout. It is possible (the locals manage to get into town to charge the batteries that provide them with power), it's just not so simple.
November
“Hogbetsotso Festival” - The festival is celebrated by Anlo Ewes, an ethnic group on the eastern coast of Ghana. An essential aspect of the festival which is worth witnessing is a durbar of Chiefs and the people which takes place on the first Saturday of November in Anloga, a two and half hour drive from Accra the capital city.
Read more about our placements in Ghana.
