Travel detail to get to Walewale - not for the faint-hearted!
on Charlotte in Ghana (Ghana), 14/Nov/2009 22:21, 34 days ago
OK, here's anupdatedentry for travel detail - one or two people have thought of coming out toWalewaleto visit, but skip this if that's unlikely for you! Here’s roughly what’s involved.HOW TO GET HERE.1. FLIGHTYou would need to get to Accra (in Ghana) or Ouagadougou (inBurkinaFaso). Ouagadougou is actually nearer to here, but see details below re visa. There are direct flights LondonHeathrowto Accra (BA 078 and BA081– leavingHeathrowearly afternoon and arriving in the evening, leaving Accra late at night and arrivingHeathrowearly morning). You may get cheaper deals on Internet by changing e.g. Amsterdam, Casablanca, even Dubai!– but these will all take longer. Search online for flights London Accra..2. VISAYou would need visitor visa for Ghana which you arrange in UK. We considered the Ouagadougou route but were slightly put off by the need to contact someone in Surrey who acts as theBurkinaFasoconsulate in UK (and was on holiday at the crucial time) but everyone here seems to say that a 24-hour transit visa throughBurkinais easy and costs£10 or so on arrival.3. FROM AIRPORT TOWALEWALEThis would probably be the day after your flight, so you would need a hotel in the city you fly to. We ahve been recommended Queen Vic Guest house in Accra and can provide contact details.From Ouagadougou, it’s an approx 6-hour coach trip, including an hour or so at Ghanaian border. The coach will go throughBolgatangaheading south forWalewale(beyondWalewaleit goes on to Tamale) and hence will pass within 5 minutes of our front door. Careful co-ordination would be sensible to make sure bus drops you at the right place -“MoonliteSpot” on right (by the LIGHTHOUSE CHAPEL,WALEWALEsign on the left) afterSSNIToffice on right (Social Security National Insurance Trust) about one mile beforeWalewale– “spot” means “bar” -& call us - but the worst case is that you go to centre ofWalewale, are met, and then get here in a taxi.But if you fly to Accra, you have two choices.a. There is anAntrakflight Accra to tamale leaving Accra at 6.00 am and arriving Tamale about 7.15 am. There is a website but you can’t book online -someone (e.g. we could do this given enough notice) has to take cash into the Antrak office in Tamale or Accra.You won’t find flights to Tamale airport (TML) via any travel search site, e.g.expedia,tripadvisor. Delays are frequent apparently. Tamale is about two hours by coach from here (though the airport is in the right direction, i.e. north of Tamale). Confer nearer the time to see if meeting you is possible. Otherwise you would need to find the coach going North which we can investigate. Seewww.antrakair.com/schedules.htmlfor the air times (and fares on the same website).There are also now some afternoon flights on Fridays and Sundays (leaving Accra 3.45 pm, leaving Tamale 5.30pm).b. The alternative is an approx 14-15 hour coach trip from Accra. Air-conditioned coach, and the air-con might even be working, probably packed, some pot-holed roads, stops every 2-3 hours but toilet facilities basic or basic minus. Ours left Accra about 2.30 pm and so we arrived not long before dawn. Again coaches toBolgatangaand points further (Navrongo,Zebilla) pass within 5 minutes of here - you ask to be dropped at“MoonliteSpot” on the left afterGESWestMamprusiDistrict Education Office is on right, one mile afterWalewale– “spot” means “bar (by the LIGHTHOUSE CHAPEL,WALEWALEsign on the right),& call us. The coaches go throughKumasiand Tamale before heading north forBolgatangaand passing here.Coach travel is very inexpensive.However it's advisable to book in person in advance . I think this can be done at either end - e.g. we could book tickets in Bolga and they should then be reserved for you to collect.More info:http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Africa/Ghana/Greater_Accra_Region/Accra-2039506/Transportation-Accra-BR-1.htmlWHILE HERETourist attractions– that’s another whole story, depends on how long anyone was coming for and how ambitious. Mole National park,Pagacrocodiles& slave camp,Sirigupottery and basket-weaving,Wechiauhippo sanctuary,TongoHills. And of courseWalewalemarket day every 3 days.There are plenty of spare rooms in the house– empty rooms with concrete floors!, and sofas with sofa cushions – the living room has a ceiling fan. Alternatively an air-conditioned double room atMasagriguest house (the top place to stay inWalewaleaccording to the GhanaBradtGuide) is less than 5 minutes walk away& was about£8 per night when we were first here in October.HOW TO GO HOMESame thing in reverse. You might do it quicker if you got the 7.45 am from Tamale to Accra and then a day-time overseas flight– but theHeathrowflight leaves late at night so that’s not ideal in terms of keeping total journey time down though it could give you a day in Accra!Or you could get the afternoon flights on Fridays and Sundays (leaving Tamale 5.30pm) and by this means travel Walewale-home inside 24 hours.If this has all put you off the whole idea, fair enough! If you’re still interested, we can discuss. It’s not expensive to phoneukfrom Ghana mobiles (but more costly to phone from UK. However I’d strongly recommend bringing aUkmobile phone that can make calls in Ghana (you can bring an unlocked phone and then buy and insert a local SIM card, which would be cheaper calling in Ghana if you have or can get an unlocked phone).