important information for our trip

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Passport Information
Passport must have at least six months of validity remaining beyond the traveller’s planned date of exit from the
country. The passport must also have at least 3 full blank pages (consecutive). Travellers are strongly encouraged
to have a minimum of six or more unstamped visa pages in their passports prior to commencing travel if travelling
to more than one African country (this does NOT include the annotation/endorsement pages at the back of the
passport) as each country requires a certain number of blank pages.
Visa Requirements

  • U.S. passport holders require a visa to enter Ghana.
  • You are required to submit your application within three (3) months prior to your intended travel date.
    Please note that the visa application process may take up to one month. To apply for the visa use this link
    Visa&Passport for Ghana (ecimsglobal.com)
    Vaccination and Health Concerns
  • Yellow Fever: Ghana requires all travellers (including those from countries with no risk of yellow fever) to
    have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. This certificate will be requested upon your arrival in Ghana.
  • Malaria: It is important to take protection against malaria before your departure to Ghana. Please consult
    your doctor to determine the best anti-malarial pills for you.
  • Medication: It is advisable to let us know about any ailments that you have in case of any emergency. We
    suggest that you bring along any medication (in original packaging – important) you are taking, as you may
    not find the same kind in Ghana. We advise that you always keep your medicine with you.
    Medical Insurance
  • If your health insurance plan does not provide coverage overseas, we strongly recommend supplemental
    medical insurance and medical evacuation plans
  • If travelling with prescription medication, please check with the Ghana International Travel Information
    (state.gov) to ensure the medication is legal in Ghana. Always carry your prescription medication in original
    packaging with your doctor’s prescription.
    Travel Insurance – Travel insurance is essential.
    We strongly advise travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for accidental death and
    disability, major medical expenses, emergency-related expenses, as well as trip interruption (cancellation,
    curtailment, illness, loss of baggage, personal accident, personal liability and default at the time of booking).
    Mobility issues/Allergies
    Kindly advise of any mobility issues or specific allergic reactions.
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    Important Travel Documents
  • Passport, visa and airline tickets
  • Spending money (you can exchange currency or withdraw from ATMs)
  • Major credit card(s) and cash (bills) for miscellaneous tips and shopping in markets
  • Additional forms of identification (e.g. driver’s license)
  • Photocopies (in case of loss) of: passport, credit cards, insurance cards, important documents (keep separate
    from originals)
  • List of emergency contacts
  • Inoculations and other medications (As per your personal physician)
    Currency/Foreign Currency Exchange
  • The currency used in Ghana is Cedi. Foreign currency can be exchanged at Forex bureau, which generally
    give a better rate than banks. Notes in larger denominations attract a higher rate. Avoid changing money on
    the street. Traveller’s cheques are difficult to change. Visa and American Express cards are not widely used
    outside of major international hotels. ATM machines are available in all banks and EZI cash points in most
    cities. VISA cards are widely accepted by all ATMs. Only one bank, Ghana Commercial Bank accepts
    MasterCard.
    Climate & Weather
  • The climate is tropical, hot all year round, with a dry season in winter and a rainy season in summer due to
    the African monsoon. Average temperatures in December range from a low of about 24°C (75°F) to a high of
    around 32°C (90°F).
    Luggage Tagging Tips:
  • For quick identification of your luggage, all group members should use the same bright coloured tags.
  • As a precaution, you should tag all luggage with your business address, your destination, dates of stay and the
    name of the Airline and Flight number as well. Remove all old luggage tags so that airline luggage handlers
    do not get confused.
  • Make a list of contents of each bag, especially if you will be switching airlines.
    Packing
  • Please check with the airlines booked to ensure you meet luggage size requirements and that you do not
    exceed the liquid size limit for your carry-on.
  • Place expensive items (such as electronics, jewellery etc.) contacts/glasses, medications in your carry-on
    luggage. Leave room for or pack an extra bag for souvenirs!
    Clothing and Accessories
  • Long sleeve shirts/blouses (necessary even in summer to protect you from the sun and mosquitoes)
  • Long pants / jeans
  • Warm jacket / fleece / sweater for cool evenings
  • Comfortable walking shoes for exploring in the cities
  • Swimsuit/trunks
  • Cap or wide brim hat
  • Camera (extra memory card & battery for avid photographers)
  • Headphones
  • Electronic converters/adapters
  • Chargers
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    Health items, toiletries and other
  • Medication/prescriptions in original packaging (Important!)
  • A small first aid kit with band aids, topical antibiotics, etc.
  • Motion sickness pills/bands
  • Glasses/contacts and cases/neck strings
  • Eye drops
  • Face masks, hand sanitizers and wet wipes
  • Tissue packets
  • Sunscreen (block)
  • Lip balm
  • Insect repellent (with high DEET concentration)
  • Sunglasses
  • Journal & pen
  • Snacks and energy bars for long drives
  • Small backpack to carry water and a packed lunch
  • Personal water bottle
    Laundry
    Most hotels offer laundry services that you can request as an add-on for a relatively small fee.
    What to take care of
  • Advise personal physician of travel plans
  • Notify banks and credit card companies of your travel dates and destinations
  • Leave hotel list and contact information with friends/relatives
    Food
    Ghana has an abundance of food grown locally or imported and you can find a wide variety of continental and
    local Ghanaian dishes in most Ghanaian restaurants. There are also many international restaurants, which
    specialise in food from countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Eastern & Western Europe as well as other
    West African countries. There are fast food chains from America that serve fried chicken, hamburgers, French
    fries etc. We definitely encourage visitors to sample the local dishes however, be careful with the local hot pepper,
    called shito and we suggest that you Do Not eat food from street vendors.
    Water
    For safe hydration, drink only sealed bottled water, widely available at most grocery stores in Ghana.
    Electric Appliances: Travel adaptors
    Power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type D and type G are used
    Important to note
  • Visitors are permitted to take photos and videos within castles, museums, and monuments, but there is a fee
    for cameras and recording equipment.
  • Avoid taking photographs at military and police installations, embassies, restricted zones, private residences,
    the airport, and the Osu Castle, which serves as the Official Residence and office of the President.
  • Seek explicit permission before photographing individuals.
  • Refrain from engaging in trade or business dealings casually; seek guidance from consultants. Avoid
    purchasing precious minerals from unlicensed dealers.
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  • Giving gifts is appreciated but avoid distributing them when there are more than five people present to prevent
    crowd issues. Seek assistance from your tour guide before distributing gifts.
    Tipping
  • Tipping for good service is customary, though not mandatory.
  • As a general guideline, it is recommended to give tour guides at least US $15 per person per day, and drivers
    US $10 per person per day as a tip.
  • It is customary to tip 10% in restaurants and bars when no service charge has been included; cash is generally
    preferred.
    When you arrive
  • Ghana: Airport Meet & Greet: Due to recent renovations at Ghana’s International Airport, tour operators can
    no longer meet clients inside the arrival hall. Our team will greet you at the designated “meet and greet” area
    outside the arrival hall. Look for your driver/guide holding a placard with your name and/or group name for
    easy identification. You will be responsible for your luggage upon arrival.
  • Senegal: Airport Meet & Greet: Upon arrival at Blaise Diagne International Airport, our team will meet you
    inside the arrival hall. Look for your driver/guide holding a placard with your name and/or group name for
    easy identification. You will be responsible for your luggage upon arrival.
    When You Arrive…
    Welcome to Ghana! Akwaaba