One of the most incredible things about Ghana is that you can see so many diverse landscapes. From bustling city life and coastal views to jungle adventures and rainforest excursions, it’s all right there within a few hours of a drive. All of which I’ll be sharing with you within the next few weeks, so I thought I’d start with where we landed, Accra, the capital of Ghana.
Like any major city, you’ve got smells, crazy drivers, and tons of people, but the most wonderful thing I first noticed about Ghana after getting off the plane was how hospitable and friendly everyone is!
Where We Stayed
We stayed at a budget hotel and modest accommodation called The Rising Phoenix. I haven’t done much traveling with anyone else but my family and we often stay at traditional hotels, so I just haven’t experienced anything else. While at first, I’ll admit, I was a bit shell-shocked because it’s definitely a diamond in the rough, I’m glad we ended up here because I think it really added to the experience. Not only is it located on a cliff above the beach, but we met so many amazing Ghanaians just by spending time hanging out. It’s very unsophisticated, almost unrefined, by Western standards, so an open mind and released expectations were essential, but if you’re feeling more adventurous and you also want to experience the local vibe, it’s a great option.
Visiting the Beach
On our first day there, we visited Labadi Beach – only about 25 minutes outside of the city. It was filled with ocean side restaurants and it’s where I tried my first Ghanian dish – Jollof rice with chicken. As a picky eater, I knew what to eat would be an interesting adventure on this trip (don’t worry, I packed enough snacks that I could have lived off of them if I had to). They said it wasn’t spicy, but I disagreed – haha!
One of my favorite parts
We also spent the next day around the Accra area with Andrea’s friend (she’s the friend and fashion designer I went with and that’s her handsome son in the photos) and tour guide Francis Awuni, owner at Awuni Tours Ghana. Even though it was the only day we were able to spend time with him, he went out of his way to check in on us throughout the week and was continually available to answer questions and help with navigation. If you ever visit Ghana, I highly recommend that you utilize him to make your experience the most memorable and smooth that it can be. After lunch, Francis was kind enough to take us to the village where his family lives and it was one of my absolute favorite parts of the trip. I remember him telling us something about how this is where he learned to find paradise. As I looked around at the community that did not have access to many of the benefits of modern day life, I saw them living in simplicity, gratitude, and with an impeccable work ethic.
Learning the History
To finish off our day, we visited The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park. Kwame Nkrumah was a revolutionary and the first prime minister and president of Ghana. Not only was the architecture beautiful, but I was intrigued to learn about some of the history behind the fascinating country I was in.
Accra has its struggles. The immediately visible are trash, poverty, and overpopulation (the rate at which the city is expanding is one of the fastest in Africa). However, there is so much beauty to be observed in this city and its people. Every time we drove to different parts of this city, I became aware of how many different ethnicities coexist peacefully within the area together. There’s bustling, creative energy that I couldn’t get enough of. Everyone is always on the move, but not with the same stress and anxiety that we attach to the hustle here.
