Ghana - West Africa
Surfing
The swells that hit the coastline of this diverse and colourful nation are thanks to the sheer distance they have travelled. They are some of the cleanest and most orderly swells on the planet. Though Ghana is a year round surf destination, it is throughout the southern hemisphere winter (European summer) that things really heat up, with barely a day going by without some kind of wave. We have picked September as the prime month in which to run this tour, as the swells are still highly consistent but the rains and light onshores that plague the months of June and July are abating and there are many more offshore days. On average, you can expect one to one and a half metre (2-4ft) waves with morning offshores, turning light onshore in the afternoons. Temperatures are near perfect at this time of year averaging a daytime high of around 27 degrees. Most days will see an hour or so of heavy rain in the afternoon (which often turns the surf glassy again), but otherwise you can expect plenty of hot sunshine. The water is a pleasant 24 degrees, thus meaning board shorts and rash vests are the go!
Ghana is crammed full of unridden beach breaks and a smattering of hollow reefs, but it is the point-breaks that are the real draw. Scattered right along the Ghanaian coast are a series of old forts built by the European colonial powers as holding pens for the thousands of slaves who were taken from Ghana and sent to the ‘new world’ to work. Most of these forts were built on strategic headlands and the vast majority just happen to have beautiful right point breaks wrapping around them and into picture perfect bays. This tour has to be the worlds only surf tour that gives you the opportunity of waking in the dungeons of a slave fort. Don’t worry our accommodation standards have improved somewhat since the slave days!
Ghana is often described as an ideal, first time, African surf destination. The country is immensely friendly, very beautiful and what’s more, it offers a whole range of African experiences. One of the best forest national parks in Africa can be found just a few short kilometres inland from the waves, whilst in the north of the country is a national park full of elephants, antelopes and other African favourites. If its adventure you are looking for then any surf trip to Africa is suffice, and the chances of stumbling down a jungle track and into new waves is high. For some African culture, there is everything from the string of slave forts (one of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to boisterous local markets and the gold coated Kings of the Ashanti Kingdom.
