On the road in Ghana with Dave Coles

Written by Bradt Travel Guides

Experience Ghana first-hand with photographer Dave Coles as he takes over our Instagram to share some of his photos and stories from his time in the country.

Morning everyone and welcome to your Instagram tour of Ghana! I’m @davidmcoles, seen on the right here with my friend Dan and I’m taking over the Bradt account today to show you some of my favourite places in Ghana. Expect beaches, animals, sunsets and more! I’ve been visiting Ghana for 11 years and absolutely love the place. I look forward to sharing my photos #bradt #taketheroadlesstravelled #ghana #instatravel #travel #ttot #photography

A post shared by Bradt Guides (@bradtguides) onJul 18, 2017 at 1:26am PDT

Starting a day in Ghana with a healthy breakfast isn’t difficult. You can buy fresh fruit from loads of stalls at any roadside market including banana, pineapple, papaya and mango. Why not grab a boiled egg at the same time?

The green mountains of the Volta Region are one of my favourite places to visit, but only 5% of international tourists make it there. Gems such as Wli Falls, near Hohoe can be found if you do take the time to explore the area. Reportedly it’s the tallest waterfall in West Africa

Ghana has over 500km of coastline, most of it with lined with golden sands and coconut-heavy palm trees. With relatively few tourists it’s isn’t hard to find a secluded spot where it feels like you have a whole beach to yourself

One of my favourite beaches is near Busua at Green Turtle Lodge. It’s really off the beaten path and finding a taxi to take you along the 10km dirt track to get there isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it for these views

This summer I visited a beach resort I hadn’t been to before, @ghanameetmethere. It’s run by a NGO and reinvests its profits in to local toilet projects in Dzita. To get to the beach you grab the canoe and paddle across the lagoon. Great hosts, food and views

Feeling hungry? Hit a chop bar in Ghana and ask for the fufu in light soup with goat, you won’t regret it. No knives and forks here just ‘god’s spoon’

Don’t fancy the goat, grab a chicken salad. It doesn’t come fresher

Cape Coast is a photographer’s dream location but it stands as a monument to unspeakable atrocities committed against humankind. This @unescoworldheritage site is a sombre but essential visit when in Ghana. The Ghanaian coast is dotted with European forts that were headquarters of the slave trade that ended only in the 19th century

Just a few miles from Cape Coast is one of Ghana’s many national parks, Kakum. The highlight is the canopy walkway where you’re up to 40m about the ground. The branches are so thick with leaves that there is no way to see the forest floor. Not the place to visit if you’re scared of heights!

Ghana is football crazy. Watching the national team, the Black Stars, is a real treat but local matches are really fun too. I’ve been watching @hodynamofc for over ten years now and their improvement has been fantastic. I should add that the face paint is optional

Adaklu Mountain sits overlooking Ho, a challenge for any keen climbers. Scrambling up paths and rock faces, using ropes, isn’t the easiest climb but the view over the Volta Region from the top is well worth it

Safari might not spring to mind when you think of Ghana but head north to Mole National Park and you’re in for a treat. Herds of elephants roam and walking tours leave twice a day. Ghana also has monkeys, crocodiles and hundreds of birds that migrate each year

My last beach recommendation of the day is for Ada Foah where the River Volta meets the ocean. Expect warm waters, palms trees and a friendly welcome. The perfect place to chill out after all your travelling

Sunsets in Ghana are special. The perfect time to kick back and relax

Night in Ghana is just as spectacular as the sunsets. Outside of the towns the lack of light pollution gives incredible views of the moon and stars

And that’s the end of my takeover of the Bradt account! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favourite places and I also help you see this sign the next time you travel. You won’t be disappointed, I promise. If you want to see incredible shots of Ghana follow @africashowboy @accraphoto and @julianereissig. Check out @kickstartghana to see some of the work I do in Ghana too. Thanks for all the likes and kind comments!

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