Accra Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Accra is the capital of Ghana.
Contents |
Understand
Accra has a population of 1,661,400 (in 2001). The main local languages here are Ga and Twi, pronounced 'ch-wee' but there are many other languages in the country. Accra has rich western looking buildings and dusty shanty towns.
History
In 1877, Accra became the capital of the British Gold Coast colony. It is now independent with district assemblies of limited scope. Many charities are setting up water and santiation systems and health funds and hospitals farther up the country.
Get in
Kotoka International Airport is a major hub, with many internal connections.
Get around
SUV or Car with driver
If you need an SUV or a sedan there are plenty of affordable options because even the best drivers earn only about $15 a day in Accra. You can book directly from Avis and local rental companies at the larger hotels, such as the Golden Tulip, La Palm, or La Badi Beach. Cars are available on short notice but if you want a van or SUV it is best to book ahead. Rates for car and driver are about $9 (Cedis 80,000) an hour. For a $75 you can book a ten hour day, but fuel is extra. Rates increase if you leave metro Accra, which is fair because poor roads add to the wear and tear on the vehicle. Toyota Land Cruisers are a popular choice and are widely available.
By foot
Accra is relatively safe to walk around during the day. Watch out for open sewers, automobiles, wandering livestock (even in the city) when walking the streets.
By taxi
To flag a taxi wave your arm with your finger pointed down to the ground. On a busy street you will have many taxis driving past trying to offer you their service. There are no meters on Ghanaian taxis. You must negotiate how much you are willing to pay before you start the trip. Try to ask someone local how much a trip to a certain location usually costs.
Metered Taxi
There are some taxis with meters in them. They are generally more expensive, but you can be a little more sure about how much they will cost.
Share Taxi
These follow fixed routes, similar to taxi's and have fixed rates per passanger. These can be a very useful way to get about the centre of Accra. The rate is not dependant upon numbers of passengers, so you may be lucky enough to travel in a taxi alone for a fifth the rate you'd have paid to flag it down.
Tro Tro
TroTros are very crowded and dilapidated private vans that act as the city's public transit system. TroTros travel along a well known routes in the city, and stop at various points along the way (some stops have signs, others don't). As a TroTro approaches a stop, a "mate" (the driver's assistant) will usually yell out the side of the window where the TroTro is going.
See
Accra's best attractions are scattered across a relatively wide area, so if you can afford the modest prices the best thing to do is hire a car and driver (see above) to take you around. Travel companies offer drivers who double as well-informed guides, which helps as interpretive exhibits and brochures (if you can find them) leave much to be desired. A very reliable Accra-based tour operator with it's own SUV's and minivans is Westlink Travels (http://www.westlinktravels.com) based in East Legon, not far from the airport. Reach them by phone at +233.21.513698 fax at +233.21.513697 or email INFO@WESTLINKTRAVELS.COM They also offer tours outside of greater Accra.
- The National Museum
- The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
- The National Archives of Ghana
- Ghana's Central Library
- Christianborg Castle, built in the 17th century by the Danes
- WEB DuBois Memorial
- Independence Square, aka "Black Star Square"
- Jamestown, Accra's oldest neighborhood still an active fishing harbor
Jamestown is the oldest part of Accra, and is similar in many ways to Zanzibar's 'Stonetown' though it has not yet been restored, and so it is not typically highlighted on tourist itineraries. That's a shame becauseit is one of the most memorable sights in the city. Jamestown is a short distance west from Independence Square; from the busy street the only real sights are the lighthouse,a prison building housed inside an old colonial fort, and the old Customs House. From the lighthouse there is a road which takes you to the otherwise hidden delight: one of the largest working fishing harbors in Ghana. Go early in the morning and see dozens of small boats bring in the day's catch. It's best to find a friendly local guide so you don't miss the hidden alleys, old stone houses, and fantastic clifftop harbor vistas. Enoch and Elija at "E & E Tours" will give you an insiders tour from a real local perspective. (Cell +233.243.677412 or Email enoch.elijah@gmail.com or web http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/shared/5258/l84sc2wqpuhoztm
Do
Buy
Shop at three of the busiest and best markets in town, Makola, Kaneshie, and Tetteh Quarshie.
Eat
Eat out at one of Osu's many trendy resterants. Osu, a suburb of Accra, is known for its nightlife and multitude of Chineese, Western, and fastfood resteraunts.
Drink
Sleep
Get out
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