THE ULTIMATE GHANA PACKING LIST

The Ultimate Ghana Packing List

Planning a trip to Ghana? Time to start getting ready!  One of the most important things is to determine what you'll be taking with you for your journey. We've put together a clear and comprehensive packing list for you. This way, you'll be well-prepared and won't forget anything.

Climate and Travel Seasons

The climate in Ghana consists of two climate types. Most of Ghana has a tropical climate, while the southwestern coast experiences a tropical monsoon climate. The northern part of Ghana, bordering Burkina Faso, has a hot steppe climate.

Ghana experiences high temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) throughout the year. In the north, temperatures can rise higher in February, March, and April, sometimes reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F).

The northern region of Ghana has a rainy season from May to September. The southern region has two rainy seasons. The first runs from April to July, and the second occurs in September and October. During the rainy season, temperatures remain similar to the dry season, but the humidity is higher.

You can also visit Ghana during the rainy season. The rainy season often brings short, heavy downpours, after which the sun shines again. The rain can sometimes provide a welcome cooling effect on hot days.

During a trip to Ghana, you may encounter rain. Therefore, it’s always advisable to bring rain gear along for your journey.

Traveling with a suitcase or backpack

The first choice you have to make when traveling is whether to opt for a suitcase or a backpack. Both have their advantages, and the best choice depends on your travel route, the activities you plan to engage in, but mainly on your personal preference.

The main advantage of a backpack over a suitcase is its portability on your back. In Ghana, where paved roads are not always available, especially when traveling to more remote areas outside major cities, a backpack could be the more practical choice. Conversely, traveling with a suitcase offers more comfort as it's easier to pack and allows you to carry more. On unpaved roads in Ghana, you can almost always find a taxi or Yellow-Yellow (tuk-tuk) to take you to your accommodation. Even if you have to walk a bit, you'll often find someone willing to assist by carrying your suitcase on their head to your accommodation. This assistance is often extended even when the roads are paved, and you could easily roll your suitcase.

A backpack provides greater flexibility, but in most places, traveling with a suitcase is feasible. It might be challenging only in areas where taxis or Yellow-Yellows are unavailable. So, consider your route carefully and choose what suits you best!

We often travel with our Eastpak travel bags. These have all the benefits of a suitcase, but they are essentially wheeled bags. This results in a lower weight than a suitcase, allowing you to bring more.

Tips for Your Packing List

  • Take enough but not too much clothing with you. In Ghana, some accommodations offer laundry services, and if not, you can usually find laundry facilities in the city. Most people don't have washing machines, so clothes are often hand-washed. You can also bring along some handwashing detergent and wash your clothes yourself, which is useful when traveling to more remote areas.
  • Avoid bringing thick sweaters or jackets, but pack clothing that can be layered for higher-altitude places where it can get cooler in the evenings.
  • Think carefully about whether you really need everything. For example, we recommend not bringing expensive watches or jewelry to Ghana.

General

  • Passport + copies
  • Visa
  • Credit card(s) (with sufficient monthly limit)
  • Debit card (worldwide)
  • Cash
  • Driver's license
  • Medical passport
  • Vaccination passport
  • Copies of important documents such as health insurance, travel insurance, emergency numbers, contact information for family/friends
  • Passport photos
  • Boarding pass
  • Backpack/Daypack
  • Rain cover (for backpack/daypack)

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Toiletries

Electronics

Clothing

About the authors

How nice that you are on our website and that you have read this article! We are Mirte and Matthew, two Dutch adventurers with a passion for traveling, discovering cultures, and gaining new experiences. We've translated our love for the world into this website. We hope our articles inspire you to go on adventures! You can learn more about us through the button below.
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