Ghana

A growing economy and burgeoning tourist industry has boosted the development of accommodations in Ghana, and options range from high-end, name-brand hotels to inns and budget rooms. The best hotels are not always the most expensive. Budget prices are available, but do plenty of research before booking. In Ghana, it’s always advisable to remember the saying "you get what you pay for." Less expensive hotels may supply the minimum of comfort and sanitation.

Ghanaian cuisine revolves around humble, homespun dishes featuring lots of corn, beans, yams, and potatoes. Spicy condiments add zest to complex soups and stews based on various vegetables and meats, including goat. Portuguese and Mediterranean cooking influences much of what’s served in restaurants and seafood is often featured on menus, especially on the coast. Fish and shellfish might be steamed, fried or grilled, and lobsters may be quite large. Exotic items show up, too, including whelks.

Peak Season, Northern Ghana: June to August

Although it’s not the time of year with the best weather, these months are when most tourist visit. Beaches and attractions are crowded and mosquitoes are bothersome.

Off Season: April to November

Wind and thunderstorms can come up suddenly in March and April, but rain is occasional thereafter, especially come September and October. Those months are worth considering, as crowds wind down and harvest festivals take place.

Shoulder Season: December to March

Dry desert winds blow into northeast Ghana at this time of year, lowering the humidity and pushing temperatures up into the upper 20s and low 30s C (80s and 90s F). This is the dry season, when mosquitoes are less bothersome and roads are in better condition.