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Ghana – Travel Guide

Facts to assist you when travelling to Ghana

 

Population

  • The Ghanaian population currently stands at 34 million.

 

Capital and Largest City

  • The capital and largest city in Ghana is Accra.

 

Official Language(s)

  • Ghana is a multilingual country, as different languages are spoken by its different ethnicities. However, all formal institutions as well as the government conduct business is English.

 

Currency

  • The Ghanaian Cedi is the official currency of Ghana.

 

Office Hours

  • People in Ghana work an average of 40 hours a week, from 8am until 5pm.

 

Weekend

  • Saturdays and Sundays are weekends in Ghana.

 

Time Zone

  • Greenwich Mean Time.

 

Calling Code

  • +233.

 

Tipping

  • Tipping in Ghana is usually 10%-15% of the total bill.

 

Embassies

  • Ghana hosts 67 embassies and 46 consulates.

 

Government

  • The New Patriotic Party is the ruling party in Ghana.

 

Climate

  • Ghana has a tropical climate. Average daily temperatures range from 30°C (86°F) during the day to 24°C (75°F) at night. The eastern coastal belt is warm and comparatively dry, the south-west corner of Ghana is hot and humid, and the north of Ghana is hot and dry.

 

Transport

  • Transport in Ghana is conducted via road, rail, air and water. Increased transport investment helped to increase the number of new vehicle registrations and transportation alternatives include rail, road, ferry, marine and air.

 

Economy

  • Ghana has a diverse and rich resource base, including the manufacturing and exportation of digital technology goods, automotive and ship construction and exportation, and the exportation of diverse and rich resources such as hydrocarbons and industrial minerals. These have given Ghana one of the highest GDP per capita in West Africa. Owing to a GDP rebasement, in 2011 Ghana became the fastest-growing economy in the world.[18].

 

Hospitality

  • Hospitality in Ghana is generally associated with the generous and friendly reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

 

Greetings

  • Handshakes are the most common means of greeting. It is common and respectful to wait for a woman to extend her hand first. Rushing a greeting is extremely rude. Instead, take time to inquire about people’s health, family and jobs. When addressing strangers or acquittances, use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname, and wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis.

 

Money

  • The Ghana Cedi (GHS), divided into 100 pesewas. The US Dollar (USD) is widely accepted in the main cities and tourist areas. Many international banks are represented in Ghana. ATMs are common in the cities but are harder to find in more rural locations. Hence, Ghana is a predominantly cash-based economy as a result of this as well as the prevalence of credit card fraud.

 

Transportation

  • Ghana’s transportation and communications networks are focused in the southern regions, most specifically in the areas in which some of their natural resource such a gold, cocoa, and timber are produced. The northern and central areas are connected through a major road system.

 

Safety

  • Most visits to Ghana are trouble free, but criminal activity does occur and can range from incidents of petty crime to opportunistic crime, to violent crime such as robbery, burglary and serious assault that can include the use of weapons. Therefore, expats are advised to take necessary precautions.

 

Culture

  • There are over 100 ethnic groups living in Ghana. The largest are Akan, Moshi-Dagbani, Ewe, and Ga. The Ashanti tribe of the Akan are the largest tribe and one of the few societies in West Africa. Once famous for the luxury and wealth of their rulers, they are now more well known for their craftwork such as hand-carved stools, fertility dolls, and ‘kente’ cloth. Kente cloth is made cotton and is woven in bright, narrow strips with complex patterns.

 

Shops

  • The main shopping malls in Accra are Accra Mall, the Junction mall, the Achimota Mall and the WestHills Mall. The biggest is the WestHills Mall but it’s far from the Expat preferred residential areas. The most patronized is the Accra mall which tends to serve the Expat community due to its proximity. The Osu Mall is as good as the Accra mall and also patronized by the Expat community. Marina Mall is located in the Centre of Airport City.

 

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Written by Saudika Hendricks

Edited by Eloise Williams

Lize-Mari Ras
,

Ethiopia – Travel Guide

Facts to assist you when travelling to Ethiopia

 

Population

  • The Ethiopian population currently stands at 123.7 million (2020).

 

Capital and Largest City

  • The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, and it is also the country’s largest city.

 

Official Language(s)

  • Ethiopia has a number of official native language, most of which are spoken by a small number of the population. The most spoken languages are Oromo and Amharic. Some Ethiopians may also speak English, but it is not an official language.

 

Currency

  • The official currency of this country is the Ethiopian Birr.

 

Office Hours

  • According to the Ethiopian Labour proclamation the normal hours of work shall not exceed eight hours (8) a day or forty-eighth (48) hours a week.

 

Weekend

  • The work week in Ethiopia runs from Monday to Friday, while weekends are on Saturdays and Sundays

 

Time Zone

  • UTC+3

 

Calling Code

  • +251

 

Tipping

  • Tipping in Ethiopia is no compulsory, nor is it included in the bill. Rather, tipping is dependent on your interest. There is no specific standard or formula for it, it is depended on your means and level of satisfaction. Most travellers, however, are known to give generous cash tips.

 

Embassies

  • Ethiopia houses a multitude of African and international Embassies.

 

Government

  • The ruling party in Ethiopia is the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)

 

Climate

  • The Climate of Ethiopia is extraordinarily diverse and ranges from equatorial rainforest with high rainfall and humidity in the south and southwest, to Afromontane regions on the summits of Semien and Bale Mountains to desert region in northeast, east and southeast Ethiopia. Ethiopian seasons are classified into three: the driest season is called Bega and lasts from October to January. The Belg season lasts from February to May, and the rainy season, called Kiremt, lasts from June to September.

 

Transport

  • Transport in Ethiopia is managed and regulated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The transport industry has received an influx of funds in recent years to promote the development of the country’s infrastructure and economy.

 

Economy

  • Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The economy of Ethiopia is a mixed and transition economy with a large public sector. The government of Ethiopia is in the process of moving toward a market economy. The country’s main industries are agriculture, forestry, fishing, textiles, and minerals.

 

Hospitality

  • It is considered polite to refer to people by their titles until they have indicated that they are comfortable with being addressed on a first name basis. If you are a guest, be careful not to compliment something (especially children) more than once, or continue to admire it once you have acknowledged it. This may make Ethiopians uncomfortable as they will become wary that the evil eye will be jealous of it. It is also customary to show respect to elders by kissing their hands in some rural areas. However, this may not always be expected in cities.

 

Greetings

  • A common and simple greet that would be understood in most places in the country is ‘’Salam,’’ which is the traditional Arabic greeting. Ethiopians consider greeting to be very important. You are expected to acknowledge people even if you do not speak the same language.

 

Money

  • The Birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia, and it is subdivided into 100 Santim.

 

Safety

  • Ethiopia is said to have an average level of safety. There are no serious threats awaiting and therefore it is a fairly safe country in Africa for you to travel to. However, public transport is generally not safe, and citizens are at risk of unpredictable natural disasters. There are also risks of petty crimes all over the country, so visitors are advised to be vigilant of their surroundings at all times.

 

Culture

  • The culture of Ethiopia is structured along ethnolinguistic lines. Music forms a huge part of Ethiopian culture, and the different ethnicities each have a type of music and musical instruments that is special and unique to them.

 

Shops

  • Ethiopia has some lovely modern shops and shopping centres that resemble the ones in Western countries. However, to truly experience the culture of the country and its people, you might want to visit one of the many vibrant markets. Ethiopia also has a number of safe and reliable online stores.

 

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Written by Saudika Hendricks

Edited by Eloise Williams

Lize-Mari Ras
,

Uganda – Travel Guide

Facts to assist you when travelling to Uganda

 

Population

  • The Ugandan Population currently stands at 48.5 million (2023).

 

Capital and Largest City

  • The capital city of Uganda is Kampala, with a population of 3.8 million (2023).

 

Official Language(s)

  • The most spoken languages in Uganda is Luganda, English, and Swahili.

 

Currency

  • The official currency of Uganda is the Ugandan shilling.

 

Office Hours

  • Uganda adheres to the International Labour Organisation, and thereby allow their employees to work for a maximum of 48 hours per week.

 

Weekends

  • Uganda enjoys their weekends on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Time Zone

  • UTC+3. East African Time.

 

Calling Code

  • +256

 

Tipping

  • Although it is not mandatory to tip, you most certainly should tip. It is advisable to tip between 5000 and 10 000 Ugandan shilling, which is less than $5- $10.

 

Embassies

  • Uganda houses a vast number of embassies, Diplomatic Missions, High Commissions, and Consulates.

 

Government

  • The Presidential Republic is the ruling government of Uganda.

 

Climate

  • Uganda’s climate is pleasantly warm. Uganda lies across the Equator and most of the country is occupied by a plateau, therefore, there is not much range in its temperature and it is fairly warm throughout the year. Warmer periods of the year typically last from December to March, while the cooler period of the year lasts from June to September.

 

Transport

  • Uganda has an extensive network of paved and unpaved roads. Uganda has 47 airports, of which only 5 has paved roads. These 5 include Entebbe Airport, Gulu Airport, Soroti Airport, Nakasongola Airport and Jinja Airport.

 

Economy

  • The economy of Uganda has extraordinary potential and seems to be praised for its rapid growth and development. Uganda’s economy is sustained by its abundance of natural resources, mineral deposits, and fertile land.

 

Hospitality

  • It is customary to shake the hand of the person you are meeting in Uganda. To show deference, you may also lightly grip the person’s forearm with the opposite hand. Ugnada’s are not comfortable with displaying emotions publicly, so even if you are coupled up avoid hugging or any sort of public display of affection.

 

Greetings

  • Ugandans consider greetings and good manners to be the epitome of politeness, and use rather grand gestures when greetings one another. Most locals use the Swahili greeting “Jambo” or Luganda “Oli otya” and deliver it with an enthusiastic smile and a nod of the head.

 

Money

  • The Ugandan shilling (UGS) replaced the East African shilling as the country’s official currency in 1966. The Ugandan shilling is typically fairly stable and is the currency with which most financial transactions in Uganda occurs. The United States dollar is also widely accepted. The Sterling, and increasingly the Euro, are also used.

 

Transportation

  • Ugandans drive on the left-hand side of the road. Main roads in and around the cities of Uganda are typically in a decent condition. However, in and around the main cities is also where most of the traffic occurs. Drivers are also advised to be vigilant of potholes, roundabouts, and drunk drivers.

 

Safety

  • Unfortunately, Uganda is not the safest country in Africa due to elements of crime and terrorism. However, the country is moderately safe for tourists, and foreigners are advised to be protect their valuables and be aware of their surroundings. The main cities Uganda such as Kampala and Entebbe may experience violent crimes of armed robbery and home invasion.

 

Culture

  • Uganda is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary for the Bantu-speaking people, who dominate much of Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. The Baganda are the largest single ethnic group in Uganda, while other tribes include the Lango, Acholi, Iteso, Karamojong, and the Gishu tribe. Each of these ethnic identities dominate a different region in the country.

 

Shops

  • While Uganda has one of the strongest economies in sub-Saharan Africa, and has been steadily developing, it still might not be as developed as some Western countries. However, the country does have numerous urban malls and shopping centres, that sport both local and international brands and stores. Running errands or shopping for fun will therefore pose no trouble, especially in the regions closer to the main cities.

 

To read more exciting blogs, please click on the link below:

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Written by Saudika Hendricks

Edited by Eloise Williams

Lize-Mari Ras
,

Nigeria – Travel Guide

Facts to assist you when travelling to Nigeria

 

Population

  • The current population of Nigeria stands at 218.5 million (2022).

 

Capital and Largest City

  • Nigeria’s capital city is Lagos, with nearly 16 million citizens.

 

Official Language(s)

  • There are over 525 native languages in Nigeria, but the most commonly spoken language is English. Other more prominent languages in the county are Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

 

Currency

  • The Naira is the official currency for Nigeria.

 

Office Hours

  • Nigeria adheres to the regulations of the International Labour Organisation, so employees are required to work for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

 

Weekend

  • People in Nigeria enjoy their weekends on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Time Zone

  • Nigeria lies within the UTC+1 time zone, West African Time.

 

Calling Code

  • Nigeria’s calling code is +234.

 

Tipping

  • While tipping in Nigeria is customary, service charges may be added to your bill. Gratuity is usually calculated as 10% of the total bill in Nigeria.

 

Embassies

  • Nigeria has a combined total of 97 Embassies and High Commissions abroad, in addition to another 12 Consulates.

 

Government

  • The All Progressives Congress (APC) currently holds the most seats in Nigerian Parliament.

 

Climate

  • Climate in Nigeria is primarily Tropical. The country has three climatic regions, namely the Tropical Monsoon Climate, Tropical Savannah Climate, Sehelian hot and semi-arid climates. Nigeria’s dry seasons typically extend from October to April every year, while their wet seasons last from April to September.

 

Transport

  • Nigeria boasts a total of 31 international airports distributed across 36 states. The main international airports are Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

 

Economy

  • Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa and the 31st largest economy in the world based on nominal GDP. Nigeria’s economy consists of a middle-income, mixed economy and emerging market. Industries such as manufacturing, financial, service, communications, and technology are the most stable and ever-growing.

 

Hospitality

  • Nigeria’s society is hierarchical. People who are older or in a higher societal position is often more respected. Wisdom is believed to come with age, so older people are granted respect. When greeting someone older, it is a sign of respect to bow the head. The most common greeting in Nigeria is the handshake, however, Muslim Nigerians will not shake the hand of the opposite sex.

 

Greetings

  • When greeting a group of people, it is customary to greet the eldest of the groups first. Address people by their professional, academic, or honorific title and their surname, and wait for them to invite you to use their first names. It is also polite to ask about the person’s health, the health of their family, or other social niceties. Rushing the greeting process is considered rude.

 

Money

  • The Nigerian Naira is divided into 100 kobo. In order to ensure monetary and price stability in the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria is the only distributer of legal tender money in the entire country, and it also controls the volume of money supplied to Nigeria’s economy.

 

Transportation

  • Nigeria’s transportation industry is constantly developing to accommodate for their growing population. Infrastructure for Nigeria’s transport industry comprises of the Federal Highway System of Nigeria, which is a collection of national roads that connects the economic and political centres within the country to one another. The Federal Highway System of Nigeria also connects it to other neighbouring countries. Nigerians drive on the right-hand side of the road.

 

Safety

  • Crime levels in Nigeria is made up mostly of crimes such as scams, kidnappings, robberies, and terrorism. While many will say that Nigeria is not the safest place to travel to and live in, natives of the country might disagree as they consider their people to amongst the friendliest in Africa. However, safety is a concern for expats, tourists and foreigners, so it is best to take precaution.

 

Culture

  • Nigeria consists of over 1150 ethnic groups and dialects, in addition to over 520 native languages. The largest ethnic groups by population is the Hausas, Yoruba, and Igbo. The rest of the ethnic groups in the country is considered as ‘’minorities.’’ Nigerians love food, art, music, and literature.

 

Shops

  • Shopping malls in the larger cities of the country are modern and boasts luxurious scenes and stores. There are plenty of shopping malls, theatres, supermarkets, and other entertainment options throughout the country.

 

To read more exciting blogs, please click on the link below:

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Written by Saudika Hendricks

Edited by Eloise Williams