Tourist office in Have

In the village of Have on the Asikuma-Hohoe road a new tourist office recently opened. Very friendly tourguides will show you around the village and you can learn about community life. In a short hike you can go up to a hill where you find some small caves and you can climb up a huge rock to have a nice view over the volta lake. From the money the community earns through tourism they run a farm to fight poverty and hunger. Work on the farm is done by volunteers and everybody living in the village who is in need of food, can take what grows on the farm for free. To get to the office coming from Asikuma, alight from a car shortly after the junction to Kpandu.

Anja

 

Axim Beach Hotel

Axim Beach Hotel Spent the night here in September 2009, and I can’t recommend it enough! The hotel is a group of bungalows on a hill, each with a stunning ocean view. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I paid 40 cedis (about $30) for a room with two twin beds, TV and a fan (no AC needed, with the ocean breezes) that was downstairs. Upstairs rooms are less, but the stairways are very narrow and very steep. The food in the hotel restaurant was very good, and the ocean view from the restaurant was picture postcard perfect. There is an internet cafe, but the equipment is old and the connection slow. And that’s the only minor criticism I have of the place. Axim Beach Hotel is a very good value for the money. My driver says it sometimes gets full during the summer months, so depending on when you come, book ahead. It’s about one kilometer from downtown Axim, but there is a shuttle service. I’d stay here again. It was so beautiful!

Marie Mcc

 

Afia African Villages Beach Hotel, Accra

 I stayed here one night the first week of September 2009. Everything about my stay was excellent. I had expected to have to proactively follow up on my online booking but was happily surprised that the hotel emailed a confirmation. I arrived on a late evening flight, and the hotel’s driver was there to pick me up, as prearranged. The staff was friendly and helpful, the grounds are beautifully landscaped. The bed was very comfortable, and it’s quiet and peaceful, easy to get a good night’s sleep. I don’t think paying extra for a bungalow closer to the beach would be worth the money, as they all have quite a lot of palms planted in front of them which blocks the ocean view. The beach isn’t so lovely right there, but it was only one night and I wasn’t there to swim. One thing that might be new, as it isn’t mentioned on their website, is they have an onsite internet cafe, featuring new computers and a fast internet connection. It was as good as I have at home. I would definitely stay here again, especially if they put in a pool.

mariemcc

 

Follow Bradt update on twitter

Kim Wildman is currently in Ghana researching the next edition of the Bradt Guide – you can follow her tweets at Kim_Wildman - also check out her blog wildaboutwriting.blogspot.com

 

Photo Exposition in Belgium

Tanga Tours in Belgium is doing a photo exposition about Upper East Region, Ghana on 5 and 6 September 2009 in my village Merksplas. For more info check my (Dutch) website www.tangatoursvzw.org

Tom Verstraeten

 

Asantewaa Premier Guesthouse, Kumasi

Hi Philip, I recently travelled to kumasi from the UK. Your guide, it’s simply brilliant, I came across it in WH smith shop in London while doing my research. I have a few updates when it comes to guesthouse in Kumasi (Bed&Breakfast) Asantewaa Premier Guesthouse next to Noda hotel in fumesua, the rooms are clean and spacious, staff is very helpful. I stayed in a single room for 35 GHC incl breakfast and have all the facilities of 3 star hotels. I learnt from the staff that the owners are from Britain. thanks, Kofi (Essex)

 

Accra & Kumasi updates

Ghana guide 2007 ed:

p.114 KLM map is out-dated; newer, better tourist map is available in bookshops and tourist shops

p.125 Restaurant La Pergola is no longer in existence (for some years now)

Shopping: new shopping mall: Accra Mall, near airport and Tetteh Quarshie Circle, on Spintex Road (shops and food court)

p.137 The arts and crafts gallery (Omanya house) has moved from Teshie/Nungua to the coastal road closer to Accra centre (Osu)

Kumasi hotels: The Stadium hotel is really a run-down place. A bit further on the same road (Asokwa junction) is the new Joy Flux hotel with nice AC rooms at 40-90 cedis (20-45€), tel. 051.45082/3/4 

Marion Veltenaar

 

Not strictly speaking an update, but…

I couldn’t resist posting this pic, taken in Ghana and emailed to me by readers Laura Jones and Jessamy Hayes!

 

Hilands Court Hotel, Elmina

The following has ben forwarded to us by this new hotel’s owner Hiram Laud-Anderson:

Hilands Court Hotel is located in a serene environment which boasts lush countryside and fascinating local heritage.

Hilands Court offers guests an idyllic getaway in the beautiful surroundings of Elmina, Ghana. A family run hotel Hilands Court offers guests a first class, efficient service in a friendly, relaxed environment.

With 10 luxurious (more being developed) fully equipped with the latest mod-cons including WI-FI Internet facility Hilands Court fuses the contemporary and traditional. Creating an environment that is ideal for a perfect break as well as stopover from a hectic business schedule.

The openness and beautiful gardens of Hilands Court makes it ideal place for wedding receptions and office parties.

Hilands Court Hotel is your Elmina Home from Home.

 

Restaurant and Bar Info

At Hilands Court we have both indoor and outdoor restaurants which serve all kinds of Ghanaian cuisines and international array of gourmet foods. As a policy we try as much as possible to avoid usage of chemical-based food additives and cubes found in the market in our food preparation. We always ensure to be natural as possible in preparing our foods.

Our bars stock and serve all kinds of alcoholic beverages and lagers. And your breakfast is always free on the house after a night stay with us.

 

 

 

Tourist Info

Hilands Court Hotel is within the reach of a fascinating local heritage and popular tourist attractions.

v The Elmina Castle (First European building in Sub-Saharan Africa)

v The Ancient Elmina township and its Fishing community

v The Cape Coast Castle and Cape Coast town – Ghana’s first Capital and First football match played in sub-saharan Africa)

v Kakum National Park – (A challenging canopy walk over tall and huge tropical trees)

v Assin Manso’s popular original slave route to the Atlantic Ocean.

v Within easy reach of University of Cape Coast.

v An Ostrich Farm is about 10-15 minutes drive.

v Easy access to popular beaches of Elmina, Cape Coast, Biriwa, Anomabu, Abandze, Koromantse and Saltpond (first Tarmac road in Ghana)

v Hans Cottage Botel (Crocodile Pond)

v Surrounded by many villages and townships which have their own individual and unique history.

 

Reservation Info

Our rooms are for single, double occupancy. Also we have rooms which can cater for more than two persons at any one time; this would attract an extra charge.

• All our rooms are very comfortable and clean
• Air-Conditioned
• Satellite TV
• Mini-Bar
• Internal Telephone communication
• Wi-Fi internet facility in rooms and outdoor
• Value for money rates at all times and seasons
• Free breakfast for all overnight stay
• A 24 hour security

 

To Reserve or book a room please use one the following procedures.

Phone Landline call: – (00) (233) (0)42 40150

   (00) (233) (0)42 40351

Mobile Phone call:   -  (00) (233) (0)20 9222388

Email:                            info@hilandscourt.com

 

Takoradi updates

We have just been to Ghana again (we go regularly to support Ghanaian colleagues who are running a western style music school)

 

Here are some possible thoughts for inclusion in your next edition. Incidentally, the Bradt guide is our bible while we are there!!  Though we do disagree with some of the comments about Takoradi. It’s a really chilled, unhassled place with a great atmosphere.

 

For info / editing 

Planters Lodge no longer allows non residents to swim there.  Great shame, it was the best swim in Takoradi!

YOU84 has closed down

 

For inclusion re things to do inTakoradi

Learn dancing and drumming:

Any one hanging around in Takoradi and  wanting to learning drumming and dancing should head out to the suburb of Kwesiminstim. (on the Accra road)  There is a superb drummer called Edwin Tetteh, who teaches a group made up from teenagers and young adults. Many of these are either homeless or orphaned, and all are underprivileged.  They perform to try to cover schooling costs for some of the students.  If you go to learn they would be grateful for a small contribution towards their schooling fund.

The group are to be found every weekday between 4 – 6pm at the old cinema. Some of the taxi drivers know of the drumming, otherwise ask for Kwesimintsim  lorry park.  If you want to contact Edwin beforehand his phone number is 0271208887

 

Yours

 Jenny Brown