Ghana - can anyone give information based on direct knowledge/experience?

[Earlybird]

A friend's dd wants to visit for part of her gap year travel, and is thinking of working in an orphanage there for a few months.

What you can you tell me/us about it? We know next to nothing, so please excuse our ignorance.

TIA.

The Lonely Planet West Africa book is a good place to start reading. It's the best guide book I've found because it includes phone numbers, which are otherwise hard to track down sometimes. There is an official website somewhere but U can't remember the new name.Ghana is generally a very safe and friendly country so it's a particularly good choice for a gap year.

Anyway, she will need a visa and proof of certain inoculations to enter the country (I'd go all out on those, actually, and on insurance. There is no free healthcare and state facilities are often poor, so if illness strikes she would probably need to get to a private clinic in Accra, and those are expensive).

The High Commission is in Highgate in London and although the queues are long, it is all quite straightforward. I think you can download forms online to fill out before you go.

I don't know any particular organisations she could contact but would strongly recommend that she sets everything up before she goes: like all developing countries it can be hard for an inexperienced 'First-Worlder' to navigate.

Flights to Ghana tend to be expensive with Xmas the most pricey time. KLM and BA fly there, there is Ghana Airways (cheaper but apparently sometimes chaotic). For travel around Ghana the state coach company is pretty good. I wouldn't recommend driving in Accra, but the countryside should be ok.

If she's going to fit in sightseeing, Cape Coast and Elmina, Mole National Park and Kumasi are must-sees, and I really like Aburi Botanical Gardens as well. Dixcove is recommended.

Finally, she MUST MUST MUST practise safe sex (AIDS infection is nowhere like S. Africa but it's much higher than here)as well as get and take anti-malarial drugs, and follow the instructions to the letter, including continuing to take them for the prescribed period after she gets home. She must not give her drugs away for anyone else to use (a common error, esp in voluntary workers). Malaria can be mild, but it can be a killer.

Sorry that's a bit rambly but I hope it's a start. I also hope it doesn't sound offputting. I love Ghana and miss it terribly.

Hi,

I would also agree that Ghana is a great place for a gap year; politically safe, very friendly welcoming people etc. I lived there for three years and absolutely loved it.

You do not have to go the High Commission in Highgate to obtain a visa - I have always downloaded the forms and sent them off with passport, fee and pictures - never had any problems.

She must, must, must take anti-malarials and any other jabs recommended. I would recommend going to a travel clinic rather than your gp (although your gp can most likely refer you). I had malaria twice whilst there and it was horrendous. In Accra (the capital) there are some very good private 'Western' style hospitals, but elsewhere facilities can be very limited.

You can fly to Ghana from the UK with British Airways, KLM, Emirates and Afriqyah (Ghana Airways went bust a few years back). I've always flown with BA, it will cost approx £550 return. I would recommend though paying extra for a flexible ticket where you can return at any time for a £50 fee.

The other danger in Ghana is traffic accidents. Locals travel around in 'tro-tros' which are small minibuses, packed full of people. These are in varying states of decay, it is not unusual to get into one and see gearboxes/windows held together with string. There are always stories of tro-tros smashing into something due to their brakes failing or coming off the road. I would advise to always use the large coaches to travel long distances and shared-taxis for shorter distances.

For places to visit, I would recommend all of the above. Whereabouts will the orphanage be where she will be working? There is a fantastic beach resort in Kokrobite, called Big Milly's, that she will absolutely LOVE. Another great trip is to take the ferry from Akosombo to Yeji along Lake Volta. There are only a few private cabins so you must pgone ahead to book them.

She will get approx. 50 marriage proposals a day! All done in a totally non threatening way, but gets very tiring after a while. As does getting called 'oubruni' (white person) - children will literally chase you around shouting this in some villages!

There is a good new guide to Ghana which includes volunteering and has up to date prices for everyday items - you can download it for about £5 - www.g-lish.org

I hope some of that helps, feel free to ask anything else. I am going back to Ghana in November and can't wait!

Do you know where in Ghana the orphanage is located?

Madagascar

This is nice. Just found out about it today via a link someone kindly posted on my female explorers thread. Not that I am trying to put you off Ghana. I was born there but have never been back so couldn't comment on it. Way way back Mum and Dad liked it a great deal but things will have changed enormously since then.