|
|
|
|
This is a list of items you may want to consider packing if you're planning on going to Ghana. I traveled there during the summer months, which is their winter and the temperature was just fine. Between May and August is the rainy season and the temperature was usually in the 80's. At night it sometimes got even cooler being around the low 70's. My group and I were staying in the Volta Region, which has many foothills and mountains, making it cooler than the rest of Ghana. |
This list is generally for people who are staying and traveling in the rural areas of Ghana. Many items on this list are things you may not be able to find in the rural area but could find in the big cities. Hopefully this will help you when you want to stray away from the beaten path and rough it a bit.
If there's anything you would like me to add to this list please feel free to E-mail me |
Assuming that you'll be traveling in the rural area, make sure that you dress modestly. Exposing too much skin may offend the elders and if you're a women you may recieve harrassment from men. Buying your clothes in Ghana is the perfect solution to this. Getting clothes made is dirt cheap and you'll be dressed like the locals and it's very comfortable and cool.
Clothes from Home:
MEN:
WOMEN:
* = Jeans are HOT and very hard to dry when you wash them. Plus you'll be labeled as an American in a heart beat.
(A NOTE ON SWIMSUITS: If you plan on going swimming or sunbathing on a beach outside of Accra, be prepared for a big reaction. From what I experience, many locals in the rural areas are not used to seeing women wearing bikinis and the such. You will probably receive strange looks from them and have a stalker watching you from the bushes (hahaha!). You'll also notice that you'll be the only one wearing a swimsuit. You'll be found offensive. If you want to go swimming you can try the upscale hotel pools in Accra were they're used to seeing foreigners. Make sure you read up on where's the best place to swim because Ghana's ocean has a bad undertoe.)
Clothes from Ghana:
MEN:
WOMEN:
(NOTE: You can buy fabric by the yard absolutely anywhere and cheaply get anything you want made by seamstresses.)
*Insect Repellant with 100% DEET is a must. Although I was still bitten...)
* It is said that you will not be allowed into the country without proof of a yellow fever vaccination
If you're traveling with Cross-Cultural Solutions you don't have to worry about food because you're given plenty. You're also given an endless amount of water. Some volunteers did bring little snacks with them, but think twice about chocolate because it melts fast.
(NOTE: If you're traveling with Cross-Cultural Solutions you don't need to worry about toilet paper because there's plenty. But.... if your're on your own make sure you bring plenty because you won't find any in a restroom.)
+||+ clothing +||+
** = It's better that your best jewelry be left at home. It may bring too much attention to yourself and get lost or stolen.
+||+ medicines +||+
** Read about the different malaria medications here: CDC Health Information: West Africa. A few of the volunteers in my group got malaria and they were all on Malarone. We think there may be a resistance building up on that one. Also, use a bit of common sense when viewing the CDC health site... they are a little paranoid.
+||+ money and important documents +||+
+||+ food +||+
* You don't need to bring your own water. Buying bottle water in the country is completely fine. In your travels you may come across water in little plastic packs. You'll know what I'm talking about, they are found all over the bus stations and marketplaces. There are two types: labeled and unlabeled water packs. I tried the labeled pack and was completely fine. I wasn't brave enough to try the unlabled ones, and suggest that you don't either.
+||+ camera information +||+
(NOTE: Many digital cameras require special batteries that are more powerful than regular ones. You won't find these in Ghana so make sure you bring plenty of those along.)
+||+ extras +||+
+||+ travel tips +||+
+||+ main page +||+