My dilema - Ghana or Gabon

Hi, I cannot decide me, what I do, if go to Ghana or Gabon. Was some one in both this countries and can give me advice?
I'm not the type of backpacker, but very accustomed to travel a lot, not so very comfortable, but like to rent a car if possible, not scared or worried, like to travel and learn about the countries, meet local people, see the scenery and even animals (my favorite animals are lions though they are not where do I know), also like to take a short bath in a nice cove, love palm trees and so on.
But, where to go? If someone can give me a little thread I will be grateful. Thanks!!!

I've only been to Ghana I'm afraid. The main thing I would mention (I've looked a little into travelling to Gabon) is probably that Ghana will be, by far, a lot cheaper, if that's one of your concerns.

Swimming in Ghana is not always easy, there are big undercurrents on a lot of beaches. Though it's possible to find places, I'm not sure about a 'nice cove' - the beaches I've been to were mostly big, broad affaires.

Renting a car - it is very much advisable to rent a local car WITH driver. Driving yourself is not recommended in Ghana (though I have no experience of this or others, sorry). But I'm not sure your vision of driving yourself will be possible, if that's what you mean, unless you have done this many times before and are an old hand I do not know about!

Gabon is substantially national park, and is quite different to Mole national park in Northern Ghana. The two countries are very different so maybe the best thing for you to do is make a list of things to do in each country to make comparisons, then decide for yourself which most meets your interests.

Thanks Pagolino, it is good idea and I think also I will do the list of things to do and plus and minus and then I will see. It is not easy to decide :)
I read it on a page somewhere that it is necessary to have a driver but we are use to drive self everywhere we were as in Kenya, Sao Tome and other. But maybe in Ghana it is big difference from this.
Swimming is not so important even if I like it, it is nice to only look also at sea and waves.
Anyway I have time for decide because we will go first in January.
Thanks much again.

Hi, I've been based in Gabon for three years and had quite a good tour of the country in my 4x4 during the New Year. The country is beautiful and wild and is very quiet. It is possible to drive for hours and hours through the bush and not see any villages or people. It’s possible to put together an interesting travel plan using boats and taxi’s. A good 4x4 and reasonably strong heart is needed for touring the interior. I’m not sure if it’s possible to hire a 4x4 in Libreville.

The cost of living outside of the two main cities Libreville and Port Gentil is comparable to most African countries. Even in Libreville and Port Gentil it’s not so bad if you eat and drink in with the Gabonaise rather than the expensive expat haunts.

Hi, thank you very much for your post and description or your opinion of that trip in the country. We are very attracted, the biggest problem is actually the language that we can not, French. People, talk they also a little English?

I have read a little about the country, but can you recommend something that is worth not to miss? What about the elephants and monkeys? Can we see they, are they to find easy? Well, we're a little curious about the pygmies too, where can we find those? Maybe a little silly, but I think you understand our curiosity.

When it comes to driving and to have a heart of stone, that we can handle, it would not be the first time, we may experience some problems. Stuck in the countries we have drove, type Morocco, Sao Tome, Kenya, they have probably better road condition than Gabon, right? But the road on Sao Tome was not so good anyway, but distance not so long and not hours to drive without to see someone or some village.

Beaches, it is possible to swim a bit in there somewhere, are they filled with palm trees? I love palm trees and when we were in January in Sao Tome, the bays were fantastic so I would like to see similar again.

Edited by: khamlia

Edited by: khamlia

For swimming safely in a cove with palmtrees, try Ezile Bay Village in Western Region. Anyway, the most beautiful beaches are in this region.

Thanks everyone, but it will not be some Gabon for me this time, because I wanted to go in January but heard all hotels are reserve for football people. So maybe I will go to Cameroon, probably.
So Gabon have to wait for me to next time I have holiday :)

Edited by: khamlia

I have not travelled to Gabon before, but for Ghana you can experience Safari in the north part of the country; that is Mole National Park. If you want to swim and also experience one day tour to Kakum National park you can visit Abuesi Beach Resort. www.abuesibeachresort.com and the workers can arrange one day tour to Kakum National park and a day tour to Nzulesu Water on a stilt. For Abuesi Beach the water is calm to swim and now the community has engaged workers to clean the beach. If really you want to relax I can tip Abuesi Beach and also the enviroment and vegetation. The Manageress was kind and servisable.