African adventures

For hospitality: Ghana

Ghana has been described as ‘Africa for beginners’ because it’s generally safe, well-organised and affordable as a result of many years of political stability. An Anglophone country, Ghana openly welcomes British visitors. Accra, the capital, is an amiable, absorbing place to relax, with a vibrant city centre, which has some inviting beachfront resorts, such as the five-star Labadi Beach Hotel.

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But Ghana is more than a country of welcoming faces. Situated on the west coast of sub-Saharan Africa it is made up of ten regions that between them offer a rich variety of attractions. There are cascading waterfalls in the eastern highlands, along with the traditional kente-weaving communities who’ve been making cloth for kings and princes for centuries. Among the tropical jungles of the central interior is the Kakum National Park with 300 species of birds, 600 species of butterflies and the only canopy walkway in West Africa – a 350-metre long suspension bridge 98 feet above the ground that offers a bird’s-eye view of the forest. The Cape Coast, an increasingly popular destination for Africans living in the diaspora, offers palm-lined beaches and imposing slave castles, now designated UN World Heritage Sites.
Ghana has numerous festivals, but the best one to catch is the Panafest, which takes place every two years to celebrate the cultural link between Ghana and the diaspora. It uses African arts and culture to promote the truth about Africa’s history, with a huge series of pan-African music and theatre performances, including a pilgrimage tracing the slave route from northern Ghana to the Cape Coast.

Getting there Fly with Ghana International Airlines from £370 return (020 7100 1165/www.fly-ghana.com).
Stay at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, 1 Bypass, Accra (00 233 21 771 641/www.gbhghana.com). Doubles from £120 per night.Secaps Hotels, Tetteh Quarshie Circle, Airport Area (00 233 21 500 209). Doubles from £40 per night.

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