Ghana

Philip Briggs has been exploring Africa since 1986. He has visited more than two dozen African countries and written about most of them for specialist travel and wildlife magazines including Africa Birds & Birding, Africa Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa and Wanderlust. His long relationship with Ghana started in 1997, when he researched the first edition of a Bradt guide to the country that is soon to go into its 7th edition. Philip has returned to West Africa regularly since then to update the Bradt Guide to Ghana and to explore neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal and Gambia. He still spends at least four months on the road every year, usually accompanied by his wife, the travel photographer Ariadne Van Zandbergen, and spends his rest of the time battering away at a keyboard in the sleepy South African coastal village of Wilderness.This edition has been updated by Nancy Chuang. From peaceful fishing villages to the country's busiest festivals, she is fully immersed in all aspects of Ghana. Her cultural education has covered jollof and waakye, highlife and reggae, expat bars and chop bars. From the back of a motorbike or the backseat of a trotro, she dives deep into conversations about solo women travellers and how 'real Americans' are supposed to look. After multiple visits around Africa, she sees Ghana as one of the friendliest, liveliest, and quirkiest countries on the continent. Nancy is physically based in Brooklyn where her commute unfortunately doesn't involve canoeing through Ghana's mangroves.

'A great travelling companion.' Director magazine.Recommended reading The Sunday Telegraph

• Introduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography and location, Climate, History, Economy, Culture, Language, Religion Chapter 2 Natural History Wildlife Chapter 3 Practical Information When to visit, Tourist information, Itineraries and highlights, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Safety and hassles, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays, Media and communications, Business, Cultural etiquette Chapter 4 Health Preparations, On the road, Safety and security PART TWO ACCRA AND SURROUNDS Chapter 5 Accra History, Getting there and away, Orientation, Safety, Getting around, Tourist information and tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Bars and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do Chapter 6 Around Accra Teshie-Nungua, Tema, Prampram and Ningo, Atsiekpoe, Aburi, Shai Hills Resource Reserve, Kokrobite, Bojo and Langma beaches, Gomoah Fetteh and Senya Beraku PART THREE THE COAST WEST OF ACCRA Overview, Best of the West Coast Chapter 7 Winneba and the Cape Coast Road Winneba, Apam, Mankessim, Saltpond and surrounds, Anomabu and Biriwa, Moree Chapter 8 Cape Coast and Elmina Cape Coast, Kakum National Park, Elmina, Towards Takoradi Chapter 9 Takoradi History, Orientation, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Bars and nightlife, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Around Takoradi Chapter 10 Busua and Surrounds Busua, Butre, Akwidaa and Cape Three Points Chapter 11 Axim and the Far SouthwestPrince's Town, Axim, Beyin, Nzulezo and the Amansuri Wetlands, Half Assini, Ankassa Protected Area, Elubo PART FOUR EASTERN GHANA Overview, Best of Eastern Ghana Chapter 12 Ada and the East Coast Ada Foah, Sogakope, Avu Lagoon, Keta and surrounds, Aflao Chapter 13 Akosombo and Krobo Akosombo, Atimpoku and surrounds, Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Chapter 14 Ho and the Volta Interior Ho, Amedzofe and the Avatime Hills, Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, Kpandu,Hohoe, Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, Mount Afadjato, Nkwanta Chapter 15 Koforidua and the Kumasi Road Koforidua, Bunso and surrounds, The Kwahu Plateau PART FIVE CENTRAL GHANA Overview, Best of Central Ghana Chapter 16 Kumasi History, Getting there and away, Orientation, Tourist information, Safety, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Bars and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Bia National Park and Resource Reserve Chapter 17 Greater Ashanti Craft villages northeast of Kumasi, Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Lake Bosomtwe, Obuasi, Bonkro Picathartes Site, Ejisu and surrounds, Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary, Effiduase and surrounds, Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Mampong and surrounds Chapter 18 From Kumasi to Tamale Sunyani, Asumura Conservation Initiative, Bui National Park, Techiman and surrounds, Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Kintampo PART SIX NORTHERN GHANA Overview, Best of Northern Ghana Chapter 19 Tamale and Surrounds History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Tourist information, Guides and tours, Safety , Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Bars and nightclubs, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do, Excursions further afield Chapter 20 Mole National Park Fees, History and wildlife, Getting there and away, Where to stay, eat and drink, What to see and do, Around Mole National Park Chapter 21 Bolgatanga and the Upper East Bolgatanga, Around Bolgatanga, The Gambaga Escarpment, Navrongo, Paga Chapter 22 Wa and the Upper West Wa, Around Wa, Lawra, Tumu, Around Tumu Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Glossary Appendix 3 Further Information Index