Holidays in Ghana

Whether you’d like to experience an out-of-the-ordinary holiday or one which has nothing in common with the traditional concept of holiday abroad, this website definitely suits your desires.

Our offer is not a typical picture postcard, but that of nights full of stars, stillness and crying of babies, sunlit ocean waves and thoughts that will reach your heart.

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Aflasco is the name of the host village, a small community of fishermen within the area of Keta, former principal town of the Volta Region.

[The Volta Region is the eastern of Ghana’s ten administrative regions. Ho is its capital city. The Volta Region overlooks the Gulf of Guinea, being south-east of the Northern Region, east of the Ashanti Region and the Eastern Region, west of Togo and north-east of the Greater Accra Region. The V. Region embraces Lake Volta‘s entire eastern coastline and includes Ghana’s highest peak: Mount Afadjoto]

Our host village is placed in between the lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Our white-sand beaches make the perfect setting for you to relax, contemplate the fishermen and perhaps get to know local people.

The compound, perspective

The small hut

The small hut, inside

The big hut, inside

Our kitchen

Toilet and showering area

Common place, detail

Common place

A&Y Wild Camp Ghana is the name of our place.

Life in the village is the life of this typical African region. The compound has the basic comfort, running water and electricity.

You will experience the taste of our food: cassava, yams, rice, fufu, a lot of fresh fruit like bananas, avocados, pineapples, mangoes, coconuts and…fish from our ocean. Ghana’s food specialties – fufu and banku – are always available, but we are able to offer you pizza, bread and homey sweet tarts baked in our oven. And Italian pasta, of course!

In the evening you can enjoy the music and some drinks at our bar.

stranges3

We will always be at your disposal for any request.

The contribution amounts to 45 euros per person per day and includes the overnight stay and three meals a day. Beverages are not included (water as well).

The price of the rooms is 50 GHC for the small on and 120 GHC for the big one. If you don’t like the all included offer you can order your food from the menu.

Internet connection available – not free of charge.

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The Ewe people are the region’s ethnic group. They are guardians of many believes, traditions and… superstitions. You will have in fact the chance to visit some sacred shrines where rituals, dances and local ceremonies are performed.

If you would like to go visit other locations, we can offer you a chaperon and local a guide to accompany you.

Ghana is full of natural and historic attractions. Its many forts which are scattered all over the coastline are one of the best examples. They once served as gathering places for slaves waiting to embark for the Americas and are now part of UNESCO World Heritage.

In the Keta area it is possible to visit Fort Prinzenstein, the only fort in the eastern territory of the Volta Region. The fort, which was built by the Danish in 1784, has been consumed by the numerous sea storms.

Even though most of the ancient majestic building is now in ruins, a significant part of the same remains as an evidence of its former power at the time of the slave trade. The old city of Keta is by now lost to the waves of the ocean but sometimes its spirit can still be sensed in the air.

The journey from Accra to Keta crosses the Lower Volta Bridge and can be made by tro-tro or private car: absolutely worthwhile!

Once you get there you can visit Ghana’s largest lagoon: 40 km long and 8 km wide. The place is well-known by birdwatchers. Visitors can choose between going on a board trip to one of the lagoon’s wild isles, swimming in the ocean or going shopping at the local market.

A&Y is one hour from Togo’s state border and therefore represents a convenient transit for those who intend to cross its border.

One of the best experiences is to relax on white-sand beaches while reading a book on African literature and history (we have a little but well-selected library) or to sink into the village sounds and fall asleep with the rhythm of the ocean waves.

We can offer you touring programmes tailored to specific requirements, schedules and interests. The cost of the service is calculated depending on the places you wish to visit and on the duration of the trip.

If you wish to travel alone, you can do so. Ghana is considered Africa’s most friendly state.

We decided to open a guest house because we wanted it to be connected with all the supporting activities that Ashanti Development Italia carries on within the rural communities of the Ashanti Region. Our guests are invited to visit the villages in order to better know our projects and engage with the families we support.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE – DOCUMENTS, VACCINATIONS AND PROPHYLAXIS

If you wish to visit Ghana, it is fundamental to prevent any health issues which may occur during your stay.

To enter the country the only mandatory prophylaxis is that against the yellow fever. Following your arrival at the airport of Accra you will be asked to show the certificate of vaccination. Other types of prophylaxis are strongly recommended (e.g. anti-malaria prophylaxis).

We suggest you visit the reference websites of your home country for information both on Ghana and on its health situation. Carefulness is always recommended, although it is also suggested not to read any news of danger as exceedingly alarmist.

In every country there are regulations which help prevent issues and inconveniences.

If you wish to leave for Ghana but still have some questions or doubts, please feel free to contact us.

More and useful information on the official Ghana Tourism Authority web site.

BEFORE YOU LEAVE – THINGS TO KNOW

We believe it would be advantageous for you to acquire further information.

We recommend this page from the Bird Life International website, where you can read about the features of the Keta Lagoon (protected area) and its rich fauna which hosts dozens of bird species – a unique destination for the birdwatchers.

If you are fond of mystery novels we recommend Ghana’s author Kwei Quartey, whose stories set between Accra and its villages are full of interesting facts about Ghana and its superstitions.

On Goodreads you will find many books (in English language) that are written by Ghana’s authors or are set in Ghana.

Martin Meredith’s The State of Africa makes a great choice if you wish to know more about African History.

We also recommend The shackled continent by Robert Guest.

We couldn’t forget about Kwame Nkrumah – former Pan-Africanism leader and President of Ghana who achieved the state independence in 1957.

Ayi Kwei Armah is considered one of Africa’s and Ghana’s most representative authors of all times.

Ama Ata Aidoo, a woman writer, won the Caine Prize for African Literature in 2007. Here is the list of her publications which includes African Love Stories, collection of stories by African feminine writers.

Becky Ayebia Clarke, another woman from Ghana, is the founder of a publishing house (est. 2003) which specializes in African and Caribbean literature. Its name is Ayebia and it offers a wide and interesting catalogue.

For those who are fond of academics we recommend Exploring Africa, 12 extended lectures by qualified professors.

If you have any other literary suggestion to make, please contact us.

TRADITIONS (ADINKRA)

The symbols of the adinkra and their implementation on textile works are one of Ghana’s most typical traditions. What are these symbols trying to communicate? They seem to represent sayings, believes, ways of saying and thinking, through a visual synthesis.

If you wish to learn more about the adinkra here are two different pages: on Wikipedia and Adinkra.com.

The following symbols are our favourites: