The West-African gem that is Ghana is a much-loved destination for seasoned travellers and newbies alike. But for those newbies, it can be difficult to truly work out what you need when you come to travel. Is travelling to Ghana as simple as jumping on a flight and booking a decent hotel? Is there more to be done than simply packing a suitcase and jetting off? Well, that’s where we come in. We’ve pulled together the top five things you need to know before you travel to Ghana on your next break!

You’ll need a vaccination

Those who aren’t a fan of needles might not be too pleased to know that there is an immunisation required of travellers by Ghana. If you’ve never had a Yellow Fever jab in the past, it’s time for you to book in with your GP and get one! Not only is it required by law when entering the country, but it’s important to keep you safe and healthy on your travels. All other immunisations are optional, but we suggest topping up on out of date immunisations anyway. After all, medical bills can be expensive when abroad, particularly if you do not have appropriate travel insurance. While payday loans from lenders such as Wizzcash are available in the case of an unexpected medical bill or other financial emergencies that you need quick funds for, being cautious with your health and safety while travelling is paramount in order to avoid any issues.

There’s plenty to do

Okay, so if you’ve done your research you may already know this, but Ghana really is a hub of activity both during the day and at night. During the day, the city is alive with rich history to explore including the James Fort lighthouse that dates way back to the 1920’s, or if wildlife is more your style, there’s plenty of that too. Ghana has plenty of landscapes and parks to explore, including the Kakum National Park which was established by the local people to preserve the rare and endangered wildlife that call this rainforest their home. For a taste of the mountains, Ghana certainly doesn’t disappoint either. While there’s no Mount Kilimanjaro, Ghana is home to West Africa’s highest waterfall that is tucked comfortably in the folds of a mountain range for that picture-perfect exploration trip.

Don’t drink tap water

For the sake of staying fit and healthy while you’re in Ghana, avoid drinking water from taps. You can purchase bottled water for under a pound, or pick up a sachet of pure water that has undergone a filtration process. As a rule, brands like Dasani, Voltic and Aqua-In are good brands to go for when it comes to buying bottled water in this part of Africa, or if you want to pick up a water sachet from a hawker on the street, Ice Cool, Aqua-In, Voltic and Little Drops are all trustworthy brands. Avoid ‘ice water’ too – this is just tap water that has been chilled!

Forget all Sense of time

Ghana is no exception to the relaxed African rule, which only adds to the charms of this destination. If you’re usually on time, stick to a schedule and get stressed when this doesn’t go according to plan, the Ghanaian way of life might be quite the shock to the system, so it’s best to prepare yourself in advance! Chances are, if you arrive on time you’ll be made to wait around, and if you try and plan out a set schedule, be prepared for it to not go quite according to plan. Things tend to ‘just happen’ here, which is a part of the culture that could actually do you a world of good! Relax and slow down – you never know what you might experience!

Keeping your tummy full

If there’s one thing you won’t have to worry about when travelling to Ghana, it’s making sure that your stomach stays full and happy. There’s a wide range of Ghanaian and Continental restaurants to choose from if you’re thinking about eating out every, or even some nights, or if cooking your own food is more satisfactory, it’s easy to access plenty of produce. Hawkers will sell plenty of fruit and nuts for full snacking satisfaction, and there are supermarkets too if you want to pick up some familiar foods to cook! When it comes to tipping and gratuities, you can rest safe in the knowledge that tipping is very much encouraged! In fact, Ghanaian servers are unlikely to earn much more than the equivalent of $2.00 a day, so tips supplement their wages. A 10 percent tip is more than adequate, and you could even give them the tip upfront as opposed to after your service if you want a better or more consistent service throughout.

So there you have it – our top things to know before you travel to Ghana. While this destination is perfect for new travellers and the seasoned amongst you alike, there’s no harm in being prepared before you go! Happy travelling.