Traveling to Ghana for Afro Nation on a Budget

14 November 2019

Ghana - The small but mighty country of Africa

Traveling to Ghana — The busy city of Accra, Ghana

Ghana is one of the popular tourist destinations in Africa. For starters, they make good Jollof rice (Nigerians do not agree to this!) and they are very friendly people with an entertaining manner of speaking English.

The country may be smaller than many of its neighbors, but it still remains the golden child of Africa. With over 500 kilometers of glistening Atlantic coastline, national parks, rainforest and waterfalls, Ghana is a nature lover?s paradise.

Ghana is nestled along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean in the sub-region of West Africa. You?ll find Accra, its capital city, a beautiful place and one of the fastest-growing cities in West Africa. Accra (where Afro Nation is taking place) is an energetic hub of culture. The city offers a wide range of entertainment, music, art and food.

This article has all you need to know about travelling to Ghana as a tourist.

There is plenty to do in Accra, ranging from visiting the spectacular beaches and relishing the excellent nightlife, colorful markets, and inspirational art galleries. In Oxford Street, a busy upmarket area of Osu, visitors can find the best restaurants, bars and shops too. Even, Afro Nation aside, Accra is a great place to visit on its own!

About Afro Nation Ghana

Maybe you are familiar with music festivals, maybe you are not, but Afro Nation is not just your regular music festival. The music is the main reason people go to music festivals. Afro Nation stands out for two major things: the artists and the venue. Imagine bobbing to your favorite artiste with your feet meshed into the white beach sand while the cool breeze fans over your face and the soft sounds of the water makes its way across the shore. That is the essence of leisure that is embedded in the spirit of relaxation and vibrancy. This is what Afro Nation Ghana is about.

Just like it happens in Europe, Afro Nation Ghana is bringing the celebration of good music to Africa. The festival offers the best of Afro music, replete with all the traditional elements.

This is the most vibrant festival featuring two favorites: beach and music. In December, Ghana?s average temperature is 30 degrees. There is no better place for a music festival to hold at this time than the beach. Laboma Beach, one of the top beaches in Ghana, offers the best conditions for this event. And it?s proximate, barely five miles south of Accra?s Kotoka International Airport. Kotoka International airport is one of the most used airports in Ghana. It only takes about twenty minutes to drive from the airport to Laboma Beach.

The 4-day festival will kick off from December 27, 2019 ? Mon December 30, 2019. The festival will begin in the afternoon of each day and run until the early hours of the next day. Each attendee is expected to have purchased an entry ticket. Official ticket vendors for the show are Ticket Arena, Festicket, Skiddle, Shoobs and Ticketweb. Even with a ticket, you have to be 16 plus or above to gain entry, but to purchase alcoholic beverages at the festival you must be over 18.

Physical tickets for Afro Nation Ghana would only be available in Accra via one of these First National Bank branches:

1. Achimota Mall

2. Junction Mall

3. Accra Mall

4. Accra Financial Center

5. West Hills Mall

6. Tema Comm 11 (GIAAN Towers)

7. Makola Shopping Mall

How to go to Ghana for Afro Nation without ending up broke

Traveling to Ghana is an exciting adventure to take but there?s no need to overspend when you visit. Being shrewd about your expenses involves sticking to a budget from where you stay and what you eat. Travel shouldn?t be a waste of money, and here?s how to successfully travel to Ghana for Afro Nation on a budget.

Budget Accommodations

You don?t have to stay in a very fancy hotel during your trip. Luxury hotels are overly pricey and you don?t expect to get one on a shoe-string budget. There are budget rooms throughout Ghana, something you can afford and is not so dreadful. With a budget of $25 to $50 per night, you can get a considerably good room to stay in. Before you plan to travel, have you considered scrolling down your contact list to see if there is someone you know in the city. You will save more on accommodation costs when you stay with a friend. Or you can budget for a bed-and-breakfast type of accommodation which is usually cheap. Another option is a homestay arrangement that offers a non-hotel environment.

Here is LINK to a comprehensive guide to finding cheap hotels in Ghana.

Eat at local chop bars

Eating from roadside food vendors or local chop bars won?t burn a hole in your pocket. In fact, Ghanaian local cuisine is a delight and has a taste that?s close to home. Why don?t you treat yourself to a native cuisine, instead of lunch or dinner at a fancy restaurant? You can let the locals show you good local chop bars. Explore areas where you can find the most authentic flavors at a fraction of the price

Visit Ghana in Group

This is one of the cheaper options to consider when travelling to Ghana for Afro Nation. Traveling in group allows you to share the cost of the travel. There are companies that will give discount on their flight tickets when you travel in groups. Also, you can share accommodation when travelling with family or friends. For instance, it?s cheaper to book a family room and split it between three people rather than each person booking their own single room.

Traveling in Public Transit

Traveling to Ghana with Trotro — Trotro in Ghana

The use of buses, taxis, hurry cars and trotros to travel to and around Ghana is more economical. Public transit can involve some long days of travel, long waits at stations, vehicles not running on schedule, and even possibly vehicle breakdowns, but there is no better cost-effective way to travel to Ghana this December than in public transit.

Concerned about travelling to Ghana in a bus? Visit this LINK for all the info you need.

Booking a Cheap Flight to Ghana

Popular airlines flying from Lagos to Ghana include Africa World Airlines, Asky Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Burkina, British Airways, EgyptAir and South African Airways.

Arik Air has the best rates (80 - 90K naira) and could even go lower if you booked online and in advance (preferably on a Tuesday).

What to expect at Afro Nation

We are used to not having so many expectations. It is sometimes okay to know, for instance, what you tend to have for breakfast for the next day, or what to expect from a partner in a relationship. Even before you plan a vacation, it is cool to know what you are spending for.

There are many activities going down at the festival, but music is first and foremost -- created by artists from the global African Diaspora. Expect genres spanning from Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, pop, rap and more. Expect world-class programming of live performances and DJ sets of over four days.

Of course, there would be dance; no music exists without rhythmic body moves. When the beat drops, the party begins. The side experience includes a lesson in Afrobeats beat-making, dining on a mat with a Fulani chef or making things with traditional fabric. Maybe for two hours or more, you can have an immersive, authentic moment. This experience would be organized by local creative entrepreneurs.

Burna Boy in Afro Nation Ghana

Music is why the festival exists. There is no Afro Nation without the music. Afrobeat star, Burna Boy, has been announced as one of the headliners of the show. Fans are set to enjoy many of Burna's popular hits like "Ye", "Dangote", "Kili Dem" and "On The Low".

Other headliners include:

6lack
Alkaline
Davido
Olamide
Shatta Wale
Stonebwoy
Wizkid
Dbanj
Rzbees