Hohoe Scout Camp Site

Hohoe Scout Camp Site. Add showers to facilities. Prices now GHC10 for non-Ghanaian Scouts: GHC12 for non-Ghanaian students: GHC15 for non-Ghanaian adults. Prices inclusive of equipment and facilities.

Telephone numbers: 00233 249 470291

Jo

Detailed accommodation and trip report

Thanks to Nitharshan Srikanthapalan for the wonderfully detailed report below:

Here’s some info from the trip I’ve just had in Ghana (1st – 27th March). Mainly involving prices although I think others have already provided a bit of an update on that front anyway…

FYI I rated each hotel out of 7 (likeart scale) so will provide those ratings as well:

1. Afrikiko’s (just outside Akosombo):
$75/85 single/dbl B&B
An adequate room, pool needed chlorine and lots of it – it was not at all clean. The setting was stunning and the food was very good.
Rating: 4

2. Bob Coffie (formerly Freedom Hotel in Ho):
70 cedis for a twin room (with huge beds) B&B
Room, pool and food all good. Setting was ok – it’s central, walkable from the market/lorry-park. We found the staff very friendly and with a sense of humour.
Rating: 6

If you’re staying elsewhere then using the pool at Bob Coffie is pretty pricey (compared to other hotels in Ghana) at a whopping 10 cedis.

We stopped in at Chances on the way – we found it lacking character and the staff seemed miserable and unhelpful. It had a corporate feel to it and we weren’t keen. It was 90 cedis for a twin.
Also, VIP hotel was nowhere near completion and looked like construction had stopped.

3. Tafi Atome Guest House
20 cedis per person (in a twin room) including breaksfast, dinner and the guided tour
No longer bucket showers – they have a poly-tank providing running (cold) water and flush toilets (although the flush wasn’t working so we had to throw buckets of water down them after, ahem, doing our business).
The room had a ceiling fan (that’s not mentioned in the guide).
Rating: 4 (although it was great value for money)

4. Wli Water Heights (near the falls):
45 cedis for a twin room with bathroom. (B&B)
35 cedis for a twin room with shared bathroom. (B&B)
Phone number had changed: 020 938 7176
Room was nice, there’s no pool, the setting was nice and the staff (particularly the owner) were very friendly. Food was outstanding.
Rating: 6

Big Food Safari Lodge has opened nearby. We didn’t get to see it but there are signs advertising it all over the place. The number is 020 788 2334. It’s worth noting that phone signal in the Wli area is pretty horrendous (I think there’s one network which had an ok signal there – which wasn’t MTN) so if you’re going to call them to book, do it in advance of leaving Hohoe.

5. Galaxy Lodge (in Hohoe):
50 cedis for a twin
The room had AC, a fridge and DSTV but we were disappointed with it:
bathroom door didn’t close, the towels were not what I’d call clean, neither were the sheets – one of which had holes and there was a dead cockroach under one of the beds. Breakfast was not included here but the quality of the breakfast that we ordered was reasonable.
We didn’t have dinner there.
Rating: 2

6. Tsarley Korpey (Ada Foah)
$180 for a family room (B&B)
$110 for a double room (B&B)
Everything about this hotel was excellent apart from the value for money (which was mediocre at best). Rating: 4

If, like us, you are two people who don’t fancy sharing a double bed for whatever reason then Ada Foah is a tricky place to be – we didn’t find anywhere with a twin room apart from Garden Club which we weren’t very impressed with.

For info in Ada Foah, Brightest Spot’s prices are now: 35 cedis for a single, 45 cedis for a double.

And there’s also a newish-looking place not mentioned in the book (it was called something like Emizile) which we liked the look of when we went in to have a look at the rooms and they are charging 60 cedis for a double room.

7. Mole National Park:
18 cedis for a dorm room
70 cedis for a dbl/twin room (plus 18 cedis if you want an extra mattress in there)
Dorm room was reasonable (space to sleep 8 on four bunks although they also threw an extra mattress in there), twin room was lovely.
Obviously the setting (looking over the watering hole) is excellent especially if, like us, you got to see eight elephants go in and have a nice long sit in the watering hole just after we got back from a walking safari where we’d got very close to the same aforementioned eight elephants.
Pool was very clean and good.
Value for money was good too given the location (and their monopoly on accomodation) although breakfast was not included.
Only down side was that the running water wasn’t working for one of our two days that we were there.
Rating: 5

8. Premier Palace (Techiman):
35 cedis for a single, 60 cedis for a double (B&B)
Rooms: good (although the single was a little odourous)
Setting is poor
Food was very good and we felt it was good value for money.
Rating: 7

9. Noks (Kumasi):
45/65/75 cedis single/dbl/exec. suite (B&B – sort of, see below!)
Rooms were good
Setting was reasonable (in a quiet suburb which appealed to us)
Food: Breakfast was good but slow. We didn’t eat dinner there
Value for money: Pretty decent but rather disappointingly they claimed that only one breakfast is included per room so if you’re two people sharing a double room and both of you want breakfast then one would have to pay. Bonkers.
Rating: 5

10: African Rainbow (Busua):
125/135/180/25 single/dbl/family/mattress (added to a room) (B&B)
Thinking back, I think these were the prices of the rooms with AC and they had some slightly cheaper rooms without. The AC is very unreliable because of the whole town’s electricity issues. The AC only works if there is no ‘light-off’ AND the backup generator is on (while neighbouring Busua Beach Resort don’t have that issue as they have more than one generator).
Room was good, setting was excellent (given the balcony that each room has and the excellent, breezy, roof-top bar). Food was superb and the value for money was reasonable (and would be good if the electricity wasn’t an issue). They also had free wifi available in the bar area.
Rating: 6

The prices at Busua Beach Resort next door were:
$175/185/50/25 single/dbl/budget/extra mattress.
A non-resident guest can pay 5 cedis to use the pool (hence our decision to stay at African Rainbow). 5 cedis to use the pool was a bargain.

11. Coconut Grove Bridge House (Elmina):
55/65/75 single/dbl/tpl (B&B)
Room was good and the setting is convenient in that it’s central but also you can smell the fish because you’re right next to the town. It’s busy and bustling which might be good or bad depending on your point of view. The food was very good – particularly their signature dish (which was very coconuty)
Value for Money was good bordering on excellent given the alternatives in the area and especially because use of the Coconut Grove Beach Resort facilities (e.g. the lovely, clean, big pool) is included.
Other info:
Elmina Bay Resort were charging: $135/195/15 for dbl/suite/mattress
Eshu in Cape Coast has closed.

Other info you might be interested in is that there was construction occurring at Step-in Gallery when I went there and was duly not open. It was not clear if this was temporary or not – I couldn’t close enough to nose inside and see if any art was displayed.

It’s worth noting that some of the big cities e.g. Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi etc have “Ford stations” where you can pick up what is essentially a comfortable, new version of a tro-tro for longish journeys in relative comfort (they have AC) and safety (although they also drive pretty fast). Price is slightly more than the same journey by tro-tro.

And finally, as a traveller, I felt it would have been useful to have more Forex Bureaus marked on your maps. For someone travelling cash (which is how you’ll get the best rate), these are the most economical places to get your cedis.

Northern Ghana updates

In Bolgatanga had an excellent guide: Joseph +233 (0)20 9335955 (josephadugbire@yahoo.com). He’s very laid back, has no personal agenda and really tunes into your likes and needs. Took me by bike (with helmets) to all sorts of interesting places. Highly recommended.

Travelled by trotro, shared taxi and bike from the Togo border near Hohoe then north to Bolgatanga. Although many changes needed, and by no means a fast journey, without exception everyone was friendly and helpful, and at no time did I feel unsafe.  A lot of fun.

Your recommended trip to Shiyari near Nkwanta was one of the highlights of my trip.  Very pleasant walk and welcoming villagers, in spite of the pouring rain when I was there.

Another highlight was Sirigu – I wish I had based myself at the SWOPA guesthouse while visiting the region rather than in Bolgatanga itself (suspect the Sand Gardens Hotel has gone downhill since your guide entry – tatty rooms and surly staff).  The people at SWOPA are very friendly and have traditional painted circular huts with thatched roofs (and en suites) you can rent out.

Richard

Taste Lodge, Hohoe

This has very friendly owners, and great food. There is a limited menu but they will make meals that you request. Highly recommended.

Chrissie Mc

Annette’s updates

I spent 4 months in Ghana during 2007 in which I lived just near Kumasi and travelled North to South and recently spent another 2 weeks in 2010 travelling mostly East to West. I have a few updates to the Bradt Guide which I hope will prove useful for the next edition (I was travelling with the 4^th edition as the 5^th edition was not yet out).

ACCRA – I stayed at the Silver Gate Hotel. It is located in Demalt (North Kaneshie) and rooms cost between 15 and 25 cedi. The rooms are very large, self-contained places with a fan and TV. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I stayed here twice and both times it was excellent.

CAPE COAST – Stayed at the Red Cross Hotel. Actually quite impressed. It was really clean and the staff were eager to help even going so far as using their mobile phones to call our next port of call to see whether they had rooms available. At Cape Coast Castle they employ policemen to help tourists (and  keep hawkers out). They are really friendly and even gave me lunch while I was waiting for my friend to finish.

ELMINA – Mabel’s Table. We walked here from Elmina Castle and it was quite a trek! It was a bit more expensive then quoted in the 4^th edition but the food was excellent and they were really large portions. Probably one meal between two would have sufficed.

BEYIN – Beyin Beach Resort. This was our favourite place. The new budget accommodations cost 20 cedi a night (huts with beds and mosquito nets). It was very clean, the shared bathrooms were the best I have seen and it was in such a beautiful location.

NZULEZO – We didn’t stay here. The boat ride was so beautiful although I didn’t see too much as I was constantly bailing out the boat! Did seem a bit gimmicky. The chief’s daughter brought her purse along to our ‘meeting’ to pocket any money we seemed obliged to fork out. Interesting place though.

PRAMPRAM – We set out to find the Turtle Conservation and Ecotourism Project but could not find any sign of it. We asked around the village and nobody seemed to think that they were still around. I have big question marks next to this project in my book. Hotel de Vas was closed, nobody seemed sure if it was going to reopen. We stayed at Sealane and had the same problems as other readers. The ‘Western-style’ food was very expensive. There no water and broken lights. It looked like a very tired place. When we told them we weren’t going to pay unless we got water, they fixed something and we had temperamental water but no hot water. For 30-60 cedis a night, we could have hoped for much more (just take Beyin Beach Resort for instance!). The breakfast which is included is just tea and bread (egg is extra!). Highly recommend not staying here. On the other hand, the ‘Who is your friend chop bar’ had excellent fresh food and really good service.

KETA – From Ho we caught a tro-tro to Denu and then one to Keta. We stayed at Abutia Guesthouse for 12 cedi. The shared bathrooms were absolutely full of mosquitoes (as were the rooms…). I guess that’s what you pay for being so close to the lagoon. The restaurant was not serving food and they instead sent us to Angel Food (on the road to the Lighthouse) which had really good and well-priced food.

BIAKPA – Mountain Paradise Lodge. Unfortunately the weather was terrible while we were staying here and I got the feeling that they were trying to charge for every single little thing. Everything came at a cost. There was no mention of the shared bathroom accommodation (maybe it was full?) and we were not allowed to use tents as it was so wet. The self-contained room was priced considerably more than the book said at 25 – 39.5 cedis. There is now electricity at the site. Taxis were expensive to get there but we were lucky enough to meet the owner of Mountain Paradise at Fume who, although on his way to Hohoe, took our bags so that we could more easily walk the distance from Fume to the Lodge.

FUME – Hanson’s Spot was closed and didn’t look like it was going to reopen anytime soon. We asked many, many people in the village about the unsignposted guesthouse but nobody seemed to know about it.

TAFI ATOME. Accommodation cost 15 cedi. The beds were the most uncomfortable that I came across in Ghana. They do have a running shower now though (no buckets) and the drinks in the shop were cold. The monkey tour was at 6am and we had an excellent guide. Food at the chef’s house was amazing! Seemed the ONLY way to get to and from Tafi Atome was by motorcycle for 1 cedi each way.

HOHOE – Stayed at Grand Hotel. The bar was really loud. I slept with earplugs. Had breakfast at Taste Lodge. Reasonable food but service was very slow (even for Ghana!).

KUMASI – I stayed with friends but when I did have to stay in a hotel in the city, I went to the Kumasi Wesleyan Guest House which is on Asomfo St. It was quite disappointing. There were many stairs to get there and it was not that clean (hair in shower and when we asked to move rooms because our air conditioner didn’t work there were tissues under the bed…). 32 cedis a night for TV and air con. Good location. Nurom Inn Annexe was closed for renovations.

LAKE BOSUMTWI – 2 cedi entrance fee for white people. Good lunch and drinks at Lake Paradise Resort.

Regards,

Annette.

 

 

 

Ali’s updates

I’ve just got back from a month in Ghana. The Bradt’s was a bible but there are a few things that may prove useful for future editions/other travellers. Thanks so much for making the journey light years easier though!

Kokrobite

1, Big Millie’s is great – easy, fun, friendly. Their Red Red was amongst the best I tasted, so if you fancy trying some do it there.

2, If you are leaving on a Sunday Morning the Tro tro’s can be very busy. Church hour.

 

Green Turtle

1, The *most* amazing place, take advantage of the tours on offer. The hike to Cape Three Points is especially spectacular.

2, A taxi there from Takoradi should be no more than 30 cedi

3, Be careful about getting a taxi in Dixcove if you end up there. The cabs there tried to operate like a cartel and charge me 200 cedi for a max 5 cedi ride. Thankfully some strangers took pity on me and then unleashed a torrent of abuse at them.

 

Cape Coast/Elmina

1, Sammo’s guesthouse was very quiet the weekend I went. Except at 5am which was the time when they started noisly cleaning the place. The reception was also the surliest I found anywhere.

2, If you want nightlife head to Oasis Beach resort instead.

3, Keep hold of your bag at St Jago’s in Elmina. A friend I was with had her bag stolen (and then returned by someone taking a pee in a bush who apprehended the thief!) there.

4, The resort at Elmina that offers riding does it on a haphazard basis. The groom claimed it was too wet to ride. It was a dry day..

 

Tamale

1, Some buses to Tamale go via Suryani, this can add an extra hour to the journey. The road between Techniman and Kintampo is currently being resurfaced.This extends the time further and makes for a bone crunching ride

2, The Assempa Lodge in Tamale isn’t due to open until mid december 2010. My advice is to go to Sparkles and check the situation there. The staff at Sparkles are extremely friendly and helpful with all sorts of questions

3, A further good restaurant has opened heading to Bolga out of Tamale. Called Mike’s it is by the Barclays a few mins north of town and serves Western and Lebanese food.

4, The Metro Mass station has moved West a little. It’s still not far from the STC station though..

5, Central Guest House as reccomended in the book is the worst place I stayed by a mile! I stayed two nights, left early on the first to go to Mole and returned at 10pm to find someone had spent the day sleeping in my bed, not changed the sheets and left their t-shirt behind. My friends didn’t get a lock on their door. I’d strongly advise people to avoid it. You’ll also get woken by the morning call to prayer..

6, The STC between from Tamale to Kumasi gets very booked up. The Tro’s can be quicker but if you want STC, book in advance.

 

Hohoe & Wli

1, It’s 5 cedis for a taxi from HoHoe to Wli.

2, A walk to the upper falls is recommended but it is hard work. I’m pretty fit but found it hard. Take plenty of water

3, The guides there are in cahoots with the taxi drivers to rip you off to get back to HoHoe. We went on a Sunday, they said there would be no Trotro’s.. there were plenty.

 

Ada Foah

1, I found this to be a less good version of Green Turtle – much dirtier.

2, Which grates given you get charged a 1 cedi tourist tax by the tourist office so that they can clean the beach. I cut my foot on glass there so I’d keep your flip flops on

 

Some general tips

1, I travelled on my own and generally think I made huge numbers of friends that way. I spent the entire month pretending I was married and on one occasion took to telling a taxi driver I worked for his Government before he stopped trying to hit on me. It was an ultimate line to keep back

2, You’ll come across a malt based drink called Alvaro. It’s brilliantly refreshing, try and expect to get addicted

3, People get each other’s attention by hissing. To the Western ear it sounds rude but really it isn;t. You’ll spend all night tryign to catch a waitresses eye.. or you can hiss and get their attention instantly. No contest really.

Ali

 

Ghana is an incredibly welcoming and friendly country. Enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

New tourist development at Leklebi

 

A site you should know about is Leklebi, which is 15 km north of Wli falls. A peace corps volunteer developed and improved the trail to the waterfall, which can link up with Wli or Mountain Paradise Lodge.

I worked with the PCV, and we trained staff from Leklebi as tourist guides.

The PCV developed 3-4 days mountain bike circuits around Leklebi, MTBs are for rent in Hohoe and at Mountain Paradise (has also a new website: www.mountainparadise-biakpa.com).

Theo van der Sluis

 

 

New campsite outside Hohoe

I would like to get news of the new Hohoe Scout Campsite in Hohoe, Volta Region, onto your website. This is a new site constructed last year by UK and Hohoe Scouts. It is on the main tarmac road from Hohoe to Wli Waterfalls about 3 km from the Post Office in Hohoe. It covers about 1.5 acres and has electricity, water, flush toilets and a hall. Tents and cooking equipment are available for hire. Harrison Asiamoaso is the young scout leader in charge of the site. His mobile is 00233 (Ghana) 245721675 and 209160146. Edith Ekpedzor can also make bookings 00233 243852645.

Costs of camping are 5 Cedis for Foreign Scouts, 6 Cedis for Foreign Youths and 7 Cedis for Foreign Adults. 

Other costs are:

Conferences/Workshops/Seminars etc..               35 Ghana Cedis daily rate

Hire of Tent                                                          2 Ghana Cedis 50 pesewas per night.

Cooking equipment hire                                        1 Ghana Cedi per day or part of

 

Thanks

 

Jo Busby

 

Paloma Gutierrez’s updates

New:

 

I recommend adding “Elimax Spot” (on the road to Elmina Castle, across from the Almond Tree Guest House) to your book. The owner, Eli, cooks for the volunteers that work with an organization (Women in Progress) and she is incredible. She is used to Western tastes, has a wide vegetarian selection, and might just be the friendliest person in Ghana.  She does a “menu of the day” each night, that always includes a salad for 3.50 cedi.

 

Negative:

 

The Matvin hotel in Hohoe should NOT be recommended! The place was literally crawling with bugs, we had to beg for top sheets, and the restaurant served up the worst food (not even close to what we ordered) that I have experienced in a month of being in Ghana!

 

Recommendation:

I think the Bradt Guide should warn readers to be very proactive about getting STC bus tickets in advance, if they really want to take that bus for long trips instead  of Tro-tros. In many weekend trips to different parts of the country, the STC tickets are always sold out, seemingly days in advance.

 

Paloma Gutierrez

Updates from all over

Cassie Lo has just sent these detailed updates based on a long trip around Ghana (she travelled in Oct 07 but it still looks very useful stuff).  

-STC bus from Accra to Kumasi was 8 ghana cedi instead of 7.5

-There is no such hotel or guest house any longer called Golden Gate hotel in Donkorkrum.  They say it hasn’t been there for some time.  There is however a guesthouse called St. Michaels at a different location.  The rooms were very very nice, clean, with friendly staff and great food (we had an omelette, toast and tea for 3.5 Ghana Cedi).  There were wardrobes, desks and a self contained working bathroom all for 12 ghana cedi.

-The STC bus from Tamale to Mole left at 2:00.  The guide states sooner.  You must buy your tickets 2-4 hours in advance for 2.5 ghana cedi.  We bought our ticket at 9 am for the 2 pm departure and we were already passenger number 40 out of about 60.

-Mole to Larabanga will cost 2.5 ghana cedi for a hired car.  Larabanga to Damongo 1-5 ghana cedi depending on the source of the ride.  May have to wait one or two hours for a taxi or tro.  We hitched a ride with a motorbike…two of us with the driver for 10 ghana cedi from Larabanga to Damongo.

-Damongo to Damongo Junction 2 ghana cedi for a tro tro.  Be sure to arrive by 11 am otherwise the availability QUICKLY diminishes or even disappears of rides after that.

-Damongo Junction to Tamale, 1.5 hours, 1 ghana cedi

-Dankorkrum to Agordeke, 30 minute ride.  Roads mostly dirt but sufficiently ok compared to other dirt roads.  Guide book says they can be nearly impassable and maybe with rain…but they were some of the better dirt roads I’d seen.  Maybe they’ve worked on them?  some of the roads are partially paved as well.  I don’t see them being impassable even with the rain…maybe slower going, but definitely not impassable. 

-Ekye to Donkorkrum, mostly paved the whole way…1.5-2 hour ride, 1.5 ghana cedi

-Ho Hoe-Galaxy Hotel.  Double bed is really the size of 2.5 king size beds.  Single the size of king size bed.  Save the money and go for a single.  Double 30 ghana cedi, single 20 ghana cedi.  They have hot water here and EXCELLENT BREAKFAST!

-Akosombo-Zito Guesthouse.  15 ghana cedi for a double.  Again, huge beds, 2 put together.  If just two people, opt for the single.

-Kokrobite-Big Millies.  Single 9 cedi, Loft (open platform with a roof…mattresses on the floor, mosquito net…about ten of these) 3.5 cedi.  Bring your own lock if you intend on sleeping on the platform or no valuables at all.  They will and can get stolen.  They do offer a safe in the office of the place with the man who runs it.  He acts like your father and seems VERY trustworthy.  He will warn you all about the safety precautions before allowing you to pay for anything.  it’s like a father daughter talk.  LOVED big Millies.  Drumming/Dancing on Friday nights, Live reggae on Saturdays.  I believe a massage can be arranged as well for 10 cedi?

-Cape Coast-Savoy Hotel. 12 cedi for a double (normal size double) but they have REAL mattresses not foam!  Great price for a decent room.

-Akwada-Green Turtle. 12 double hut, provides mozzy nets

-Kumasi-Presbyterian Guest House-14 cedi for a double. 

-Tamale-Central Guesthouse-double 12 cedi, crap room.  no running water at all, bucket showers, doors wouldn’t lock or even shut some of them.  STAY SOMEWHERE ELSE

-Mole National Park-Mole Hotel, 22 cedi for a double.

-Bolgatanga- Sands Garden, 9 double.  Simple with no real amenities but clean!

-Kintampo-Midway. 5.5 cedi-felt like a whorehouse.  Only place available.  Mattress was so thin we could feel the wood beams so we put it on the floor…used condoms under the bed, rotting oranges, bugs.  Dirties place by far.  Bring your own sheet!  Sheet was DISGUSTING.  Best shower in Ghana though!  the pressure was amazing even though the drainage sucked.  Very friendly staff.  You’ll awake to a loudspeaker yelling the tro stops for hours nonstop

-Donkorkrum-Saint Michaels, 12 cedi double.  Nice rooms, bucket showers, self contained bath.

-Kpando-Blue of Ur Meditation Center.  Closed and moved to the main road out of Kpando (distance unknown).  Old site is overgrown and REALLY creepy like an old cemetary.

-Wli Falls to Ho Hoe.  Transporation scarce (waited one hour and not one vehicle passed by).  Worth hiring a taxi to wait for you and picking people up on the way back.  About 10-15 people were waiting and we all hitched a ride with a work truck full of cement.

-Currency-Don’t carry a bill larger than 5 cedi!  People can’t make change.  If you get money out of an ATM, take it into the bank for change.

-Mole National Park-2.5 cedi per person for approximately 2.5 hours of walking safari.  elephants at watering holes generally between 9 and 11 am.

-Larabanga-See the mosque, see the Salia Brothers.  If you see the mosque through the visitors center its 2 cedi with an additional request for donation (don’t give in unless you’d like).  Fridays are best with the exception of obstructed views of canopies.  All the doors are open so you can actually kind of see inside.  They slaughter a cow and disperse it amongst the community (sad!).  Approximately around 11 am is when they do the traditions at the mosque and the cow sacrifice if you care to see it.

-Restaurants-Expect at least half of the menu to be unavailable no matter where you go

-Takoradi-Ebase Internet no longer exists

-Green Turtle Lodge-Please note that the road there is a rough long road.  If you want to leave on Sundays it’s nearly impossible due to religious efforts and location.  For 18 cedi you can arrange a Green Turtle Lodge vehicle (if available) to take you to Agona.  Try to arrange asap for this as most travellers don’t find out until Sunday they are likely stuck there for one more night.  You can also have the bartender call a taxi but it’s very expensive (30-40 cedi just to Agona) and Agona is also small so another 60-70 cedi to Takoradi.