When is the Cheapest Time to Fly to Accra?
Cheap flights to Accra are available in March, April, September and October. Although these months fall within the monsoon season, rain showers tend to be short and sharp. Airfares see a significant hike upwards in July and August; in some cases, they can be twice as high as prices in the low season. Departures on a Sunday, Monday or Friday usually cost less than other days of the week.
When is the Best Time to Book your Flight to Accra?
To save the most money on your flights to Accra, it is best to book your trip two to three months in advance of when you’d like to fly. Deals on last-minute flights are hard to come by (but not unheard of), and if booked far enough in advance, you can even find great deals on Accra flights that leave in July and August.
Flying to Kotoka International Airport ACC
Flights to Accra are possible from airports around the UK. London Heathrow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham all have options for travellers wishing to fly to Ghana. Apart from Heathrow, however, there are no direct flights available from these airports. Most flights will therefore require a transfer somewhere in Europe or Africa. While choosing an indirect route can save you a lot of money, they can sometimes more than double your travel time. As mentioned earlier, the only airport offering direct flights is London Heathrow with British Airways. This option is slightly more expensive, but travel time averages between five and seven hours. Carriers operating return flights include TAP Portugal, KLM, Kenyan Airways, Royal Maroc Air, Air France and SN Brussels Airlines.
On Arrival and Getting Around the Airport
Accra Airport (ACC), also known as Kotoka International Airport, is Ghana’s largest airport and is considered a main hub for West African air travel. It features two passenger terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Terminal 1 is used mostly for domestic and regional services, while Terminal 2 is for international and long-haul services. They are connected by an internal walkway. Construction on a third terminal is due to finish in May 2018, opening Ghana up for even more international air travel.
Getting to the City from Kotoka International Airport ACC
Accra Airport is located just a few kilometres outside of the city. The easiest method of travelling from the airport to the city of Accra itself is either by arranging an airport pickup through your hotel or by taxi. Taxis are not metered, and drivers will try to charge you more as a tourist. Haggling your price down will ensure that you don’t pay too much for your journey. The average cost of a taxi from the airport should not cost more than 50 cedis (£8) – expect it to cost around 30. Uber also operates in Accra, so it may be worth checking their prices as well as the price being offered by the drivers at the airport.
Why visit Accra?
Much of what draws people to Ghana is undoubtedly the wildlife, and for many, Accra is the very first stop in their safari adventures. Ghana boasts several national parks. Closest to the capital is Kakum National Park. Here, you can see the world from a totally new perspective as you traverse the canopy 30 metres above the ground. Those with a keen eye may spot the African grey parrot as well as many different, exotic birds and over 266 species of butterfly.
For something more on the wild side, you’ll need to head north to Mole National Park. This area is great for spotting elephants, warthogs, hyenas, monkeys and leopards. Lions are a rare sighting for adventurers, but if you’re very lucky, you might just spot the ‘King of the Cats’. Mole National Park offers four types of safari: on foot, driving, night drives and a tree hide. Night safaris offer the best chance of seeing predators.
Ghana visa requirements for British citizens
British citizens must obtain a visa to visit Ghana. Applications for visas have to go through the Ghana High Commission. It can be done online, with costs starting at approximately £20 for a single Transit Visa. A three-month Single Entry Visa costs around £60 and standard processing time takes 7-10 days. All visitors to Ghana must be vaccinated for yellow fever at least ten days before the date of entry. The Ghanaian cedi is the currency. It is advisable to take money with you to exchange upon arrival. For the best rates, it may be worth changing your sterling into dollars first.
