FULL DAY ACCRA CITY TOUR

Good To Know

Before Embarking

• Obtain your visa for travel to Ghana
• Receive a required yellow fever vaccination and bring proof of such vaccination.
• Purchase travel insurance of the desired coverage.
• Arrival at Kotoka International Airport, your vaccination card will be examined upon arrival. Queue at Immigration to have your passport with an entry visa examined.

1. MEDICINES YOU’LL NEED Arrange to go see a travel doctor to make sure all your vaccinations is up to date. The most common vaccinations recommended will be things like cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and yellow fever. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is needed to enter Ghana – so this is a must. Malaria is also common. You’ll need to get prescription from your doctor to prevent catching this mosquito born nasty. Also remember to bring along precautions against insect bites including using an insect repellent (preferably one with at least 20% deet) and wear long, loose-fitting, light clothing. Unless you have literally lined your stomach in some kind of iron plating you should prepare for at least one stomach upset – it completes the full African experience. You can also ask your travel doctor for a general antibiotic for if you get stuck with a bad stomach bug. Additionally, get a hand sanitizer and make it your best friend.

2. INSURANCE IS A MUST This is particularly. Doctors and hospitals often request immediate cash payment for medical treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the appropriate facilities is necessary! Insurance will ensure that you will get all your money back when you return home. Travel insurance will also prove useful in the unlikely event that your bags go missing and you need to buy some emergency jocks or whatever. If any of these unlikely events occur, make sure you keep all receipts for when you claim back home. Having to get insurance doesn’t mean that something bad is going to happen, life is unpredictable and it’s best to be prepared!

3. BRING CASH
Make sure you’ve got a VISA card or a money card. Chat to your bank about your options, but investigate the offers and make sure you know what costs are associated with transactions and withdrawal fees. If you get a travel card make sure you ask to load up your card with US dollars/Euros/Pounds. It is often difficult to get funds from an ATM at times. So I’d recommend bringing lots of USD/Euros/ Pounds in cash. Most of the time locals will trade with US dollars /Euros/Pounds over their own currency so it is really handy to have. Also let your bank know that you are planning to travel to Africa.

4. BRING YOUR OWN MOBILE PHONE
It's definitely worth bringing a phone. It is also worthwhile going and speaking to your network provider and making sure you turn off data roaming etc. That way you can use Wi-Fi and be able to contact other group members if needed. You don’t want to be hit with a huge bill when you get back so make sure you get all the proper things switched off before we go.

5. PHOTOCOPY ALL YOUR DOCUMENTS
Make copies of your passport, insurance and plane tickets. Leave copies at home, as well as taking some copies to put in your luggage and backpacks. This takes out a whole lot of hassle if your passport/insurance/plane tickets go missing.

6. BRING A POWER ADAPTER.
The power points are the same as the UK ones so bring an adapter to charge your phones. You can buy these from bag shops or travel stores. Don’t stress if you forget though, you can buy universal chargers by the dozen in Ghana.

7. BRING SOME SNACKS IF YOU’RE PICKY WITH FOOD.
Be prepared to stock up on some tinned food at the supermarkets to take into the rural areas. Keep in mind that traditional Ghanaian food may not be to your liking, so please remain respectful and stock up on snacks instead! It is also handy to bring along some Spirulina capsules which are basically vegetables in capsule form. Like from the future. They give us lots of nutrients!

8. RESPECT THE LAW
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include mandatory prison sentences. Reassess your need to dabble with prohibited drugs (and perhaps your life choices in general) - it’s just not worth it. As in most places you can’t photograph government buildings, airports and bridges and remember areas may not always be clearly marked or defined. As your private tour guide I will ask permission first before you can be able to take photographs in some areas.

Tipping
In regards to guide tipping, as in all other areas of the hospitality industry, tips are a major part of service employees’ income. Tips are performance-based and should be provided in exchange for excellent service. Somewhere in the range of $10-$20 per day will make them happy, or for groups, a minimum of $3 per person per day. These tips should be collected by someone on behalf of your group at the end and given to the guide, who will share them with any other tour staff. If meals are included in your tour, then tips to your servers are also included. Of course, if anyone is exceptional or goes beyond expectations to make an favorable impression, it is acceptable for you to provide an additional tip or gift or some sort.

Departure
Exchange or donate your Ghana currency. Donate or leave behind any clothing or personal supplies that you can easily replace. Every bit helps here! Pack well for the trip home. Your bags will be weighed and inspected at the airport check-in. Kindly be informed of what you may legally bring into your home country. Private tour planning is easy with me! FINALLY, DON’T ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEST
What works in your country may not work over there – so don’t assume you know better. It’s all about R E S P E C T. Keeping all these things in mind will help prepare you for an amazing journey. And it will be amazing.