Ghana - cash and travel

You'll be fine ... your son will enjoy it, I took my 12yr old goddaughter to Ghana (Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina, Togo & Benin) a few years ago, she loved it. We also travel using local transport etc

Euros are fine to change in big cities and smaller places too - Takoradi for example
The park is visited on foot with a park guide, you can rent a 4x4 with driver/guide for the day and visit it that way too
Bradt is the only book for Ghana, but also visit the online wordpress page with updates for the book

I have a feeling you might be French, if so or even if you aren't, you should visit www.busuainn.com run by a French couple with excellent African food with a French twist must be the best cuisine in Ghana. They also own www.ezilebay.com which my goddaughter loved - on a quiet bay with great swimming opportunities, no worry about the rip tide

Bonne voyage!

Kira

Thank you very much for this very usefull answer, I'll keep your suggestions indeed !
(and you're right I'm french ^^)

Two more questions :
- were you there in february ? Is the Harmattan wind blurring everything ? My point is : should I bring an heavy Nikon if there's nothing to be seen ? :-) )
- if you compare to Togo, Burkina and Benin, what are the pros and cons of Ghana ?
Is there (around Kumasi maybe) traditionnal village or eco-village maybe (these do exist around Burkina and Benin).

Salut

En fevrier je suis jamais allee, mais il faut demander a Olivier de Busua Inn, il veut te reseigner de ca.

Ghana est un peu 'trop' dans les villes les gens peut essayer de t'arnaque ... surtout dans les endroit touristiques!!! Faites attention et parler Francais - ils seront perdu si tu parles pas anglais!

Je crois il existe un village traditionnel dans le nord vers la frontiere de Burkina ... mais je suis jamais alle - meme chose que Tiebele au Burkina

Bonne voyage, c'est bien pour ton fils d'apprendre anglais la bas!

Kira

If you like to take photos, bring a good camera. Distance shots and panoramas are often very blurry, but even so there are interesting effects. Closer shots are as good as ever, although with some diffusing of light; this can be used to good effect, since the light is otherwise very harsh except early and late in the day.

Virtually everyone uses ATM's, not cash.

I'm not sure of your travel plans, but I'd try to include at least one or two of the major slaver castles: your son might as well learn something about where Europe's wealth came from.

My French is not up to Kira's standards (or yours). Your English sounds fine.

enjoy,

Mark

Joyeux Anniversaire Mark!

Personally never use ATM's ... usually because I stay out of the towns as much as possible where it's cash only!

Agreed, the OP's English seems great!!!

Kira

Merci, Kira. Mes meilleurs voeux à vous!

Thank you, you two, (and it's nice of you not to denigrate my poor english. And I must say your french sounds good too).
By the way, you're perfectly right Kira, that trip is also supposed to help him improve his english.

I'm very surprised about the ATMs : in neighbouring Togo, only 2-3 ATM's last time I went there and only in Lome ! And in Ghana, ATM in each big town, wow ! What a change ! No need for a stuffed inner wallet or a full money belt, that's good ! Visa card are ok I guess ?
Kira, some place out of town where I should go ?

For the scam (is it the right translation for french 'arnaque' ?), the usual stuff ? Try to guide you to the cousin's shop and make you pay twice the price ?

Yes, I have thought of slaver castle along the coast. He has seen these places in his history book but it is always better to BE there ! Some place to recommand ?

For the camera, I've got 2 :
- a brand new DSLR Nikon with several lenses (2 zooms, 1 fisheye, 1 standard 35mm) : excellent + but heavy, fragile (mainly while you change the lenses) and expensive
- a 3 y.o. bridge Panasonic which is very good and lighter and more robust... but well... quality is not the same.
I don't know... I have to seriously think about it. I feel also uneasy about bringing the 1st one which cost a local family income for month or maybe years.

(and happy -late- Birthday ^^ )

Only visa cards, never seen mastercard in W.Africa!

Yes, scam = arnaque; yes the usual so I'm sure you're used to it, the worst was at the Burkina border north of Wa which resulted in a lot of upset for some Mauritanians trying to help!

Slave castles: Dixcove is lovely & laid back, Cape Coast is probably the best - tours there & lots to see for your son. There's a Ghanaian/French owned (run by Ghanaian family) at Cape Coast, Hexagon Guest House which was excellent value with a pool, paid GhC35 a night for a bungalow.

If your son is sporty I can highly recommend a surf school at Cape Three Points 'Mr Brights' with a UK and some Ghanaian instructors, good for language learning at the same time!

The cameras - I took my big Pentax with 2 lenses when I took my goddaughter, I have a 'Lowe' daypack that has a camera part in the bottom of it zipped away; but I also took my small Nikon that was used a lot too ..the Pentax was great for Mole Park and sitting in certain areas to take shots, but didn't carry it openly on the streets

Bonne voyage!!

Kira

1. Does anybody know the ATM limit per transaction for VISA cards?
2. Is it easy to get an advance in US$ from credit cards or to change cedis into us$ (good quality banknotes). I'm flying to Ethiopia after Ghana and need some cash in US$.
   Thanks