Ouidah Voodoo Festival

Notes

Essentials

Visas
Visitors from most countries, including UK, EU and US visitors require a visa for entering Ghana. This needs to be obtained in advance. Visitors from most countries, including UK, EU and US visitors require a visa for entering Benin. This also needs to be obtained in advance. The Togolese border can be obtained at the border - the current price is CFA10,000. Visa regulations can frequently change and therefore we recommend that you check with your nearest embassy for the most up to date details.

Airport Tax
No departure tax is payable when flying out of Accra.

Health and Immunisations
As with travel to most parts of Africa, we strongly recommend that you contact your doctor’s surgery or a specialist travel clinic for up-to-date information, advice and the necessary vaccinations. For a visit of less than one month, almost certainly you will be advised to have immunisations against the following: Diphtheria and Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Meningitis.

Vaccination against yellow fever is a compulsory requirement for entry into Ghana, and you must bring your certificate with you. This may or may not be checked when you enter the country, but we strongly advise that you do not risk being denied entry.

You should also seek advice about malaria prophylactics.

Insurance

What should my travel insurance policy cover?

• medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad

• 24 hour emergency service and assistance

• personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property

• lost and stolen possessions cover

• cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover

• Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as certain sports

The policy should cover the whole time that you are away.

Your policy may also have:

• personal accident cover

• legal expenses cover

Common travel insurance policy exclusions

Always check the conditions and exclusions of your policy:

• most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents

You must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you.

Practical information

Local Currency
The local currency in Ghana is the cedi. The local currency in Togo and Benin is the CFA. For current exchange rates visit www.xe.com. These are not obtainable outside of West Africa, and so it is best to bring currency in Euros. It is not usually possible to exchange US dollars or sterling and we do not recommend that you bring them.

Where currency can be exchanged
It is a simple procedure to change money in exchange booths and banks in the region, even in smaller towns. Your tour leader will be able to assist you with this.

Credit cards and travellers cheques
Cashing travellers’ cheques is generally possible but can be difficult and take a long time. Credit cards are not widely accepted.

Best time to go
Generally speaking, the best time to the region is between October and March, when the temperature will be hot, but not uncomfortably so. From March onwards it gets very hot and we do not recommend travelling during this time. The rainy season starts from May, lasting until September.

Main Language
A number of different languages are spoken in the region, including Twi, Ewe and Dagbani. English is widely spoken in Ghana, even in smaller towns and villages, although many older people in remote areas may not understand it. In Togo and Benin, French is the official language and you will not find many English speakers.

Main Religion
Roughly speaking, most people in southern Ghana are Christian while most in the north are Muslim. However traditional beliefs are still strong, even among those belonging to the above two faiths. The principal religion in Togo and Benin is a form of spirit and fetish worship known as voodoo – an ancient form of animistic belief that is widely practised in the south of the region. In the north, more people follow Islam, and there is a sizeable Christian community as well.

Food and drink
It has to be said that food is not always one of the region’s highlights. Typical dishes usually consist of rice with a mildly spicy sauce, sometimes with portions of meat in it – although these are often quite tasty they can become monotonous. Fufu is a popular food – ground and mashed yam rolled into a ball, usually eaten with one hand and dipped in sauce – it can get messy! Kenkey is similar but is made from maize. However some chicken dishes can be quite interesting, and there are often roadside vendors barbecuing meat on grills in the streets. In hotels the selection will be better, with variations of European dishes often being served.

Beer tends to be quite inexpensive, ranging from around $1-3 equivalent.

If you have any special dietary requirements you must notify us at the time of booking. While we will make every effort to cater for you, we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Transport
Our tours in Ghana, Togo and Benin use either minibuses or 4wd vehicles – usually Landcruisers or Landrovers.

Local conditions
Travelling in the destinations that we visit requires a good deal of understanding that often standards simply won’t be as they are at home. While we aim to make your trip as comfortable as possible, please be aware that we are often visiting remote or less developed regions that may have little infrastructure. While we aim to make your trip run as smoothly as possible there may be times when we need to ask for your patience while we rectify any problems.

What to take with you

First Aid Kit
The first thing on your list should be a first aid kit. Whilst there is no undue cause for alarm, travellers are best advised to travel well-prepared: adequately immunized, with sufficient supplies of prescription drugs, along with a medical kit.

Clothing
West Africa is very warm and so light cotton clothes are generally a good idea. You should also bring a hat – the sun is very strong here, even in the winter. It might be a good idea to bring a fleece in case of cooler evenings in the north but this is usually not a problem.

In general, shorts are acceptable, although there may be occasions when it is appropriate to where long trousers. Long trousers also provide better protection against insects and are recommended for nature walks.

Footwear
Footwear is a main priority on this tour. Comfortable walking shoes/boots are recommended, as well as a pair of sandals.

Luggage
Your luggage should not exceed 20kgs (44lbs). One large suitcase/rucksack, and one small hand luggage rucksack is acceptable.

Other
Suncream/sunblock is a must. Insect repellent, including a bite spray will also be useful to have.

Fitness
This tour does not require any special degree of fitness but you will find it more enjoyable if you are reasonably fit.

Cultural and environmental guidelines

You may come across beggars while on tour. Every traveller has different perspectives on this and ultimately the choice is up to you. Many sources recommend that you watch to see if local people give, and then follow their lead with genuine beggars. We do not recommend giving money, sweets, pens etc to children as this can encourage a begging mentality and can lead to children choosing to beg rather than go to school.

Haggling is a way of life in West Africa when making many purchases, especially with tourist souvenirs. Usually, but not always, the vendor will start with a price that is higher than they are prepared to accept, and the buyer is expected to haggle. There are no hard and fast rules with this – some vendors may initially quote a vastly overinflated price, others may start with a price close to the true value, while others may just present you with one price and not be prepared to discuss it. Although many tourists may feel uncomfortable with this, it’s important to remember that this is best entered into in a relaxed manner. Once you have agreed upon a price, it is extremely bad form to then not pay this. Please also bear in mind that a small amount of money to you can be a relatively large amount for the vendor, and that it is not necessarily best practice to ‘beat the vendor down’ to the lowest possible price. Remember that they also have a living to make.

Please make sure that you take any rubbish back to the hotels or camps with you where it can be properly disposed of – this includes cigarette butts as well.

Please do not buy any products made from endangered species – this is not sustainable and hastens the species’ decline.

Photography
You should always ask permission before taking anyone's photograph and respect their decision if they say no. In more remote areas women and older people often do not want to be photographed. Some people may also ask for some money – sometimes a little, sometimes a lot - in return for a photo. Taking photos of military installations, state buildings, and airports can lead to problems with local authorities. If you are unsure about whether it is acceptable to take a photo, please ask your tour leader or guide. Always ask before taking photos of any local ceremonies.

Tipping
Tipping is commonly recognised as a way of rewarding guides and drivers for good service. If you are happy with your guide and driver, please consider leaving a tip for them.

Tipping is generally only common in the better restaurants, rather than the smaller streetside ones.

Foreign Office Advice
We constantly monitor the advice posted by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In particular we will always advise clients of any travel warnings. At present there are no warnings against travel to Ghana, Togo or Benin. Please feel free to contact us should you have any specific concerns or would like to know in detail what measures are being taken to ensure visits remain trouble free and without incident.

It should be noted that this information applies to British citizens. Other nationals are asked to check the current position of their respective government.

Further Information

Public Holidays in Ghana:

1 Jan New Year
6 Mar Independence Day
1 May Labour Day
25 May Africa Unity Day
4 Jun June 4 Anniversary
1 Jul Republic Day
5 Dec Farmer’s Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

Public Holidays in Benin:

1 Jan New Year
10 Jan Voodoo Festival
16 Jan Martyr’s Day
28 Feb Liberation Day
1 May Labour Day
1 Aug Independence Day
15 Aug Assumption
26 Oct Armed Forces’ Day
1 Nov All Saint’s Day
4 Dec Republic Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec Harvest Day

Public Holidays in Togo:

1 Jan New Year
13 Jan National Liberation Day
27 Apr Independence Day
1 May Labour Day
21 Jun Martyr’s Day
1 Nov All Saint’s Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

Other holidays such as those associated with Ramadan are Islamic holidays and as such follow the lunar calendar, varying year to year. Easter Good Friday and Monday also vary annually.

Dates are for guidance only and may vary year to year

Electrical Supply
Electrical supply is 220V/50 Hz and plugs have three square pins as in the United Kingdom.

Recommended Reading

Ghana – The Bradt Guide
Philip Briggs

Benin – The Bradt Guide
Stuart Butler

The State of Africa
Martin Meredith

The Viceroy of Ouidah
Bruce Chatwin

Show me the Magic: Travels around Benin by Taxi
Annie Caulfield

The State of Africa
Martin Meredith

All God’s Children Need Travelling Shoes
Maya Angelou

IMPORTANT NOTES – PLEASE READ

Please note that the information provided is correct at the time of writing but may change. It is intended as a guide only. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health visit www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk or contact your local healthcare provider.

In addition we strongly advise you to check the information and any travel advice provided by your government. For British citizens you should visit the Foreign Office website www.fco.gov.uk.

Furthermore, you should be aware that any travel warnings or advisories may affect the validity of your travel insurance. Therefore, at the time of booking your tour it is essential you check any restrictions on cover with your insurance provider.

Issue Date – 04/08/11

For possible changes to this dossier please visit www.undiscovered-destinations.com or call +44 (0)191 296 2674