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DETAILED ITINERARY >>
DATES AND PRICES >>
PRACTICAL INFORMATION >>
PHOTO GALLERY >>
COUNTRY FACTS
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Tropical Paradises between Mountains and Ocean - a Tour to Benin - Togo - Ghana
Accommodation
On our trip through Benin, Togo and Ghana we stay in clean thoroughly selected 2-3-stars-hotels. The rooms have en suite facilities, electricity and water supply and air condition or fan. The hotels at Cotonou, Ouidah, Grand Popo, Lomé, Keta and Elmina have clean swimming pools.
Here is a selection of the hotels used on our tour:
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| Big Foot Safari Lodge, Wli | |
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| Hotel Jardin Brésilien, Ouidah | |
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Airlines
Airlines with scheduled flights to Cotonou include Brussels Airlines offering two flights per week to Benin via Brussels (Tuesday and Saturday) and three flights per week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) from Accra to Brussels. Air France has five scheduled flights per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) to Cotonou via Paris and daily return flights from Accra to Paris.
For further information regarding flights schedules, reservation, connection flights please consult the airlines’ websites: www.brusselsairlines.com and www.airfrance.net.
The itinerary of our group guided tours with fixed departure dates matches the Brussels Airlines flight schedule. If you choose another airline there may be modifications to the itinerary and/or additional cost due to extra overnight accommodation and extra transfer expenses. If you book a tailor-made trip with us you can fly the airline of your choice. We will be pleased to provide you with a regarding your reservation.
Climate
Benin
There are two climatic zones in Benin. The south has a typically equatorial climate with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons a year. The rainy seasons occur from April/May to July and from October to November. In August and September the rains are interrupted by a short dry season. There is a long dry season between December and April. The annual temperature averages 30°C (day temperature) and 23°C (night temperature). The relative humidity is high, it reaches up to 90%. A dry wind from the Sahara called the harmattan blows from December to April. The area receives an annual rainfall of about 2,000mm.
Northern Benin has only one wet season from June to September, with most rain in August and a dry season from October to May in which the harmattan blows for three or four months, bringing cooler temperatures and less humidity.During this period there is a lot of dust in the air and the sun often becomes completely obscured. Temperatures range between 29°C – 38°C at day and drop at night to 16°C to 26°C. This part of the country has an annual rainfall of 1,000 to 1,200mm and relative humidity is between 30 and 70 %.
Togo
The climate in Togo is tropical and wet all year round with an average temperature of 30°C in the north and 27°C along the coast. The hottest temperatures occur in February and March. In December and January the harmattan blows from the northeast.
In the north of the country there is one rainy season from May to October with most rain in August. This is also the coolest month of the year. The driest month is January, that’s when the relative humidity is roughly over 20%.
In the south two rainy seasons occur, the principal one from April to June and a shorter one in October and November. The wettest months are June and October, when the relative humidity reaches 80 %. The driest month is December and the hottest month is March when temperature averages about 32°C. The coolest month is August with an average temperature of about 27°C.
Ghana
In the south of Ghana the climate is tropical and wet all year round. Two rainy seasons occur in the south, the principal one from April to June and a shorter one in October and November. In July, August and September the rains are interrupted by a short dry season. There is a long dry season between December and end of March. The annual temperatures average 28 to 32°C. The coolest months of the year are July and August. Ghana’s rainforest area in the southwest of the country receives an annual rainfall of about 2,000mm. The relative humidity is high in the southern areas, it reaches up to 90%. A dry wind from the Sahara called the harmattan blows from January to March, and a veil of dust hangs over the country. In this time of the year temperatures can drop to 15°C at night.
Generally speaking, the north of Ghana is drier than the south. It has only one rainy season that runs from April/May to October. In the northern areas savannah is the predominant vegetation zone. The average temperature at day is higher in the north than in the south, but at night temperature can drop considerably. The harmattan winds start blowing already in November.
Clothing
Light short-sleeved cotton clothing is recommended for the days and a long-sleeved shirt and trousers for the evenings which will help you to fend off mosquitoes. In the rainy season you need a waterproof jacket and/or an umbrella. (see chapter “climate”). In many hotels there is a laundry service on offer, so you can get your washing done. As for footwear, you should carry with you a good pair of walking shoes for our hiking tours and a pair of sandals. Thongs are useful in shower and pool areas. Don’t forget your swimwear! You will have the opportunity to swim in the sea, and some of our hotels have clean swimming pools.
Communications
Benin
International and national calls can be made from post offices and hotels. The prefix for UK is 0044, for USA and Canada 001, for Benin 00229. As in many other African countries, the mobile industry in Benin is booming, and coverage is excellent across the country. For detailed information please contact your provider prior to departure. If you have a GSM phone and it has been „unlocked“, it is possible to buy a local SIM card for about 7$ and buy top-ups. The coverage of all national providers is constantly increasing. For cheap phone calls to Europe and USA you also can buy prepaid phone cards (for example Nasuba).
Internet access is widely available in all big cities and prices not expensive, although connections are often slow. The best connections are found in Cotonou.
Togo
International and national calls can be made from post offices and hotels. The prefix for UK is 0044, for USA and Canada 001, for Togo 00228. As in many other African countries, the mobile industry in Togo is booming, and coverage is excellent across the country. For detailed information please contact your provider prior to departure.
Internet access is widely available in all big cities and prices not expensive, although connections are often slow. The best connections are found in Lomé.
Ghana
In major towns cheapest is to use a telephone booth that takes phone cards available from post offices, gas stations, street vendors or small stalls. There are 25, 50, 100 or 150-unit cards. One minute to Europe costs around 1 US dollar. The booths offer International Direct Dialling. The prefix for UK is 0044, for USA and Canada 001, for Ghana 00233. There are also small stalls in the streets offering phone service. You can also make phone calls at upmarket hotels but this option is quite expensive. As in many other African countries, the mobile industry in Burkina Faso is booming, and coverage is excellent across the country. For detailed information please contact your provider prior to departure.
Internet access is widely available in major towns and prices not expensive, although connections are often slow.
Electric Supply & Plugs
220 volts alternating current. Generally, you can recharge your batteries in your hotel room without a problem. Benin and Togo use two-pin continental-style plugs, so you will probably need an adapter. In Ghana they use sockets of type D and G, old British BS-546 5 amp "small" and British BS-1363. In case if you need an adapter it can be purchased from street vendors or supermarkets for about 3 GHC. US citizens may also need a voltage converter. Please note that power cuts are frequent.
Food and drinks
In the itinerary we state which meals are included on each day.
Food included in the breakfast varies according to hotel standard. Most hotels serve bread, butter, jam, sometimes honey and processed cheese or omelette for breakfast. It also includes tea or coffee. Upmarket hotels usually serve buffet breakfast. Dinner we usually take in the restaurants of our hotels or in clean, thoroughly selected restaurants in town. In many places international cuisine is served.
Benin
Benin is renowned throughout West Africa for having the best food in the region. The secret of its cuisine lies in the delicious spicy sauces the dishes are served with. The Beninese sauces often include meat and vegetables, other ingredients are ladies’ fingers and groundnut. They are served with rice or couscous or other popular staples like akassa which is made of fermented maize; amiowo cooked with maize and palm-oil which gives it the red colour; piron made of yam or atieke, a typical dish made of mashed cassava. Agouti, a kind of rat-like rodent also known as grasscutter or cane rat, is very likely to be found on the menus as it is Benin’s most popular bush-meat.
The coast is great for delicious fish and seafood dishes.
Tap water should be boiled or filtered before you drink it In all bigger cities you can buy mineral water in bottles. There is a huge variety of exotic fruits in Benin which are used to make delicious juices.
Togo
One of Togo’s most popular dishes is Fufu made of mashed yam served with a spicy sauce made with red palm oil or groundnut oil. Some yam tubers that are used weigh over 5kg. A porridge called pate which is made of maize is very popular and usually combined with a sauce made of okra or dried fish. Meat is an important food in Togo, though very expensive. Therefore most people eat the cheaper goat meat or chicken. Other popular dishes are rice with beans and beans with gari (roasted cassava), chilli and palm kernel oil.
There is a large variety of fruit in Togo, including pineapple, papaya, mango, banana and coconut.
Tap water should be boiled or filtered before you drink it In all bigger cities you can buy mineral water in bottles. A typical thirst-quenching drink is bissap, a tea-like drink made of hibiscus petals which is usually served cold. Soft drinks like Coca cola and Fanta are available throughout the country. Togo is a renowned beer producer offering a variety of different brands. Along the coast and in the hinterland there are a lot of illicit distilleries where the popular sodabe, a clear-coloured moonshine distilled from palm wine is made.
Ghana
Ghanaian main staple food is made of yams, cassava, sweet potatoes, millet, maize and rice. Plantains are very popular, too. The traditional dishes are served with vegetables such as tomato, onion, egg-plant, okra or beans as well as tasty sauces and soups. Food is generally very spicy; ten different kinds of pepper and chilli occur in the country and are used abundantly. However, there is a number of hotels and restaurants serving European-style food.
Ghanaians love meat, they particularly appreciate bush-meat. Grasscutter also known as cane rat, a large rodent, is also very popular. But you will also find beef, mutton, chicken and goat meat on the menus. Pork meat is rarely served but it is eaten in areas with a Christian population.
The coast is great for delicious fish and seafood dishes. But not only the sea provides the Ghanaians with fish, Lake Volta is also very rich in fish.
There is a large variety of fruit in Togo. Along with pineapple, citrus fruits, papaya, mango, banana and melon, there is cherimoya, star fruit and guava on offer. Vendors walk around the cities with carts piled high with young, green coconuts.. They open the coconut so that you can drink the clear refreshing water. If you’d like to eat the flesh they also split it open for you.
Ghana’s national dish is fufu, made of cassava, plantain or yams, mashed until the starch breaks down and it becomes a gooey ball. Usually it is served with a tasty soup. Joloff rice is found throughout West Africa, it is served with beef, mutton or chicken. Dumplings made of cassava or maize are found throughout the country. The dishes are called banku, obenku, kokonte or akpie depending on the region. The most popular soups in Ghana are abenkwan, made of palm kernel, ntaketwan made of groundnut or nkrakra, a clear soup.
Tap water should be boiled or filtered before you drink it. In all bigger cities you can buy mineral water in bottles. Although there are many species of fruit grown in the country fresh exotic fruit juice is difficult to find. Soft drinks including Coca cola, Fanta and Sprite are widely available. Ghanaians are known for being enthusiastic beer drinkers, and there are several local and international brands to buy, the most popular being Star, Gulder and Club. In the south homemade palm wine is very popular; in the north people prefer millet beer.
Health
A Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate is a compulsory requirement for entry into Benin, Togo and Ghana (see visa requirements). You should always carry the certificate with you while being in Africa.
Immunisations against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A are recommended by the World Health Organization, regardless of your destination. For other vaccinations and prophylactic measures please consult your doctor, travel clinic or tropical medical bureau before departure.
Travel clinics and health information:
UK
- Berkeley Travel Clinic, 32 Berkeley St., London WIJ 8EL, Tel.: 020 7629 6233
- Cambridge Travel Clinic, 41 Hills Rd, Cambridge CB2 1NT, Tel.: 01223 367362
- Edinburgh Travel Health Clinic, 14 East Preston St., Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9QA, Tel. 0131 667 1030, www.edinburghtravelhealthclinic..co.uk
- Fleet Street Travel Clinic, 29 Fleet St., London EC4Y 1AA, Tel.: 020 7353 5678, www.fleetstreetclinic.com
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic, Mortimer Market, Capper St. off Tottenham Court Road, London WC1E 6JB, Tel. 020 7388 9600, www.thehtd.org
- InterHealth Travel Clinic, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7HR, Tel.: 020 7902 9000, www.interhealth.org.uk
- Trailfinders Immunisation Centre, 194 Kensington High St., London W8 7RG, Tel.: 020 7938 3999, www.trailfinders.com/travelessentials/travelclinic.htm
USA:
- Centres for Diesease Control, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30333, Tel.:(800) 232 4636 or (800) 232 6348
- IAMAT, International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers, 1623 Military Rd., 279 Niagara Falls, NY14304-1745, www.iamat.org
Canada:
- IAMAT, Suite 1, 1287 St. Clair Av W, Toronto, Ontario, M6E 1B8, Tel.: 416 652 0137, www.iamat.org
- TMVC, Suite 314, 1030 W Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3, Tel.:888 288 8682, www.tmvc.com
For further health information visit following websites:
www.masta-travel-health.com
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
www.iamat.org
To prevent traveller’s diarrhoea, peel fresh fruits before eating them and avoid fresh salads and ice cubes in basic restaurants. Be careful and very selective when eating or drinking in street stalls and make sure that meat is always well cooked and plates and serving utensils are clean. Don’t drink hastily ice-cold drinks. Consult your doctor before departure for appropriate medication and rehydration mixtures.
The best prevention of malaria is to avoid being bitten. The evening wear clothes covering your entire body and use mosquito repellent. Sleep under a mosquito net and/or turn AC or fan on. For further prophylactic measures consult a specialist for tropical diseases.
Keep away from street dogs, monkeys and other mammals that could carry rabies. Avoid bathing in standing bodies of water because they are high-risk areas for bilharzia. Be careful while bathing in the sea because undercurrents and breaking waves are very dangerous even for strong swimmers the seas off Benin, Togo and Ghana being particularly risky.
Literature
Travel guides:
West Africa, Lonely Planet, 7th edition, published Oct 2009
Benin, Bradt Travel Guide, first published February 2006
Ghana, Bradt Travel Guide, 5th edition, published July 2010
The Rough Guide to West Africa, 5th edition, published June 2009
Novels and biographies:
Bruce Chatwin, The Viceroy of Ouidah, Vintage, 1998
Money
The CFA franc (Communauté Financière Africaine) represented on international banking systems by XOF, is the common currency of Benin and Togo. Exchange rates are $1 = 521 CFA (July 2012), £1 = 817 CFA (July 2012), €1 = 655.95 CFA. The CFA franc is pegged directly to the Euro. Notes are in denominations of CFA 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000, and since November 2012 there is a note of CFA 500. Coins come in CFA500, 250, 200, 100, 50 and 25. Coins of CFA 10 or 5 exist, but they are extremely rare. Ghana’s currency is the Cedi (GHC). Exchange rates are 1 € = 2,42 GHC, 1 $ = 1,95 GHC and 1£ = 3,01 GHC (as of July 2012).
Please note that finding change can be very difficult at times, particularly in small shops, restaurants, taxis and street stalls, so you should always have a good supply of cash money in small denominations or coins.
Benin
You can change cash money in banks and some bigger hotels. Normal banking hours are from 09.00 to 12.30 and 15.00 to 17.00, Mondays through Fridays. The easiest way to change money is to change cash in euros. Some banks also give you cash advance on your Visa card (SGBBE at Cotonou). Changing euros in foreign exchange bureaus (Bureau de change) is less time consuming and cheaper than in banks. In Cotonou and Parakou there are banks equipped with ATM machines, allowing you can withdraw money using your Visa card. The banks in other towns, however, do usually not accept foreign credit cards. Cashpoints are often not working or malfunctioning, so do not count on them. Please note, that most banks and cashpoints only accept Visa card. Mastercard, American Express or other credit cards are generally not accepted. In Benin it is practically impossible to use the credit card as a means of payment EC Maestro card is an absolute no-go everywhere in Benin. While travellers’ cheques offer a greater security, changing them can be time consuming and commission is very high. You will be asked to produce both your passport and the receipt you get from your bank when purchasing them.Travellers’ cheques can only be reliably changed in Cotonou.
Togo
You can change cash money in banks, some hotels and foreign exchange bureaus (Bureau de change) in Lomé and other bigger cities. Normal banking hours are from 07.30 to 12.00 Uhr and from 14.30 to 17.00, Mondays through Fridays The easiest way to change money is to change cash in euros. Changing euros in foreign exchange bureaus (Bureau de change) is less time consuming and cheaper than in banks. Some banks in Lomé are equipped with ATM machines, allowing you can withdraw money using your Visa card. But with cashpoints being often malfunctioning, you should not count on them. Please note, that most banks and cashpoints only accept Visa card. Mastercard, American Express or other credit cards are generally not accepted. In Togo it’s practically impossible to use your credit card as a means of payment. EC Maestro card is an absolute no-go everywhere in Togo. Some banks in the larger cities offer travellers’ cheques services. While travellers’ cheques offer a greater security, changing them can be time consuming and commission is very high. You will be asked to produce both your passport and the receipt you get from your bank when purchasing them.
Ghana
You can change cash money in banks, some hotels and foreign exchange bureaus (Forex bureau) in Accra and major cities. Normal banking hours are from 08.30 to 14.00 Monday to Thursday and 8.30 to 15.00 on Friday. The best banks to exchange money are Barclay’s and Standard Chartered Bank. However, the exchange rates in banks are often lower than in the foreign exchange bureaus. All widely usedcurrencies like euro, US dollar, Swiss franc, British Pound Sterling are easy to be exchanged. The CFA franc from the neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo can also be changed without a problem. North of Kumasi there may be problems to exchange hard currency cash. In Accra and all major cities banks are equipped with ATM machines, allowing you can withdraw money using your Visa card. Cashpoints are sometimes not working or malfunctioning, so do not count on them. Please note, that most banks and cashpoints only accept Visa card. Mastercard, American Express or other credit cards are rarely accepted. Only very few big hotels, restaurants or supermarkets accept payment with credit card. EC Maestro card you can only use with the Ghana Commercial Bank on High Street in Accra. It is not accepted as a means of payment. While travellers’ cheques offer a greater security, changing them can be time consuming, and commission is very high and you will get a low exchange rate. You will be asked to produce both your passport and the receipt you get from your bank when purchasing them. Standard Chartered Bank has the best exchange rate for travellers’ cheques. Forex Bureaus rarely change travellers’ cheques.
Photography
All three countries are real treasure troves for passionate photographers. Whether the picturesque stilt village of Ganvié, the impressive slave castles on the Gold Coast or the animals in the sanctuaries and national parks, there are countless photographic subjects.
Before you snap people please ask permission. A small friendly conversation can help you to break the ice and win your subject’s sympathy. Particularly in the animistic parts of the countries there are sacred places where photography is not allowed. Please follow your local guide’s instructions. Some places charge a photo fee (e.g. the Python temple and Sacred Forest in Ouidah, the fetish market in Lomé and the castles of Cape Coast and Elmina). Taking pictures is not allowed inside the museums. It is strictly forbidden to take pictures of military buildings and people wearing uniforms, airports, dams, bridges, power plants, police stations, control posts along the roads and border posts!
Safety
The danger most likely to affect a tourist is pick-pocketing, particularly in busy markets, bus stations, in crowds in the streets or in shared taxis. Bag snatchers are few, but can occasionally strike, speeding past on mopeds.Do not wear expensive jewellery or carry large amounts of cash or expensive items such as cameras. You should keep belongings close when walking down streets. We recommend you to keep your documents, cash money, credit card and cheques in a skin-hugging hidden money-belt or a button-up chest pocket. Always travel with photocopies of your documents and keep them in a separate bag.
Avoid walking around the streets at night, especially alone.During late evening or around/after midnight, we recommend you to use a taxi.
For up-to-date information and safety and security advice about your destination please check your government’s travel advisory: www.fco.gov.uk, www.travel.state.gov, www.voyage.gc.ca
Benin
Benin is a rather safe country. There is very little crime.
In case of emergency you can contact your embassy or representation in Benin:
For UK:
There is no formal British representation in Togo. In case of an emergency British Nationals should contact the British High Commission in Accra
Address:
British High Commission in Accra
Osu Link
Off Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue
P.O. Box 296
Tel.: +233 302 213 250; fax: +233 302 213 200
There is a Community Liaison Officer in Benin, but this should be used for consular emergencies only.
Address:
Mr Simon Collins
The British School of Cotonou
Haie Vive, 08 BP 0352
Cotonou, Benin
Tel: +229 2130 1274
Fax: +229 30 61 95
Mobile phone +229 95301951
E-mail : simoncollins@gmail.com
For USA:
American Embassy
01 BP 2012 Cotonou
Benin
Tel. (229) 21 30 06 50
Fax: (229)21 30 03 84
Office hours: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00, Friday from 8:00 am to 13:30. The Embassy is closed for all official American and Beninese holidays.
For Canada:
There is no Embassy of Canada in Benin. In case of emergency Canadian citizens should contact their embassy in Abidjan.
Address:
Canada Embassy in Abidjan
Immeuble Trade Centre, 6th and 7th Floors,
23, Avenue Nogues
Le Plateau, Abidjan
Tel. +225 20 300 700
Fax: +225 20 300 720
E-mail: abdjn@international.gc.ca
www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/abidjan
Togo
Unfortunately the crime rate has increased in the past few years, particularly in the area of Lomé, so travellers should be vigilant.
In case of emergency you can contact your embassy or representation in Togo:
For UK:
There is no formal British representation in Togo. In case of an emergency British Nationals should contact the British High Commission in Accra
Address:
British High Commission in Accra
Osu Link
Off Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue
P.O. Box 296
Tel.: +233 302 213 250; fax: +233 302 213 200
There is an Honorary Consul in Togo, but he can only offer limited consular assistance.
His address:
Honorary Consul – Mr Rodney Wade
Rue de Canaris
Be Chateau,
Lomé BP 13956
Togo
Tel.: +228 2222714
E-mail:Rodney129@yahoo.co.uk
For USA:
Embassy of the United States of America in Togo
Boulevard Eyadéma
Neighborhood Cité OUA, Lomé
B.P. 852
Tel.: +228 22 61 54 70
Fax : +228 22 61 54 99
web: www.togo.usembassy.gov
Office hours: from 8.00 to 17.00 from Monday to Thursday; from 8.00 to 12.30 on Friday
For Canada:
Canadian Consulate in Lomé
191 Rue Ecole Kouvahey
Quartier Avenou
P.O. Box 3827
Tel. +228 22 51 87 30
Fax: +228 22 51 87 30
E-mail: consulatecanadalome@gmail.com
Ghana
Ghana is a rather safe country. There is very little crime. Please follow the above mentioned general security advice.
In case of emergency please contact your embassy or representation in Ghana:
Address:
British High Commission in Accra
Osu Link
Off Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue
P.O. Box 296
Tel.: +233 302 213 250; fax: +233 302 213 200
Office hours: Monday - Thursday: 07.30 to 15.30, Friday: 07.30 to 13.00
For USA:
Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy
No. 24, Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra
P.O. Box GP 2288
Accra, Ghana
Tel. +233 030-2741-150
Fax: +233 030-2741-692/741-763
pressaccra@state.gov
www.ghana.usembassy.gov
For Canada:
High Commission of Canada
42 Independence Avenue
P.O. Box 1639
Accra, Ghana
Telephone: 011 (233) 30 2211 521
Facsimile: 011 (233) 30 2211 523 / 2773 792 / 2211 524 (visas)
Email: accra@international.gc.ca
www.canadainternational.gc.ca
Office hours: Monday to Thursday: ´07:30 - 16:00, Friday: 07:30 - 13:00
Time zone difference
Ghana’s and Togo’s time zone is UTC/GMT + 0. As they do not observe daylight saving time they are one hour behind in summertime. Benin’s time zone is UTC/GMT + 1. As Benin observes UTC Standard year round in summertime there is no time difference.
Tipping
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognized part of life in Africa. In the more well-to-do restaurants you can tip 5 – 10% if you were satisfied. For hotel tipping guidelines are as follows: for porters 100 CFA for one piece in Benin and Togo, about 1 GHC for one piece in Ghana, for housekeeping 200 CFA per person per night, in Ghana about 1 GHC per person per night. At your discretion you might also consider tipping your driver, tour guide and local guides in appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
Visa requirements
You may choose to use a visa service or send your application to the representations listed below.
Please note, that for this trip you need to have 6 empty pages in your passport.
Please note that a Yellow Fever vaccination and certificate is a compulsory requirement for entry into all three countries (see chapter “Health”). The certificate is often checked upon arrival.
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant embassy or consulate prior to departure.
Benin
Visas are required by all nationalities. Passports valid for a minimum of six months beyond date of departure are required by all. Visas are issued in countries with Beninese representation.
The addresses are as follows:
For UK residents:
Embassy of the Republic of Benin in France
87 Av. Victor Hugo
75116 Paris
Tel. +33 1 45 00 98 82, fax: +33 1 45 01 82 02
ambassade@ambassade-benin.org
www.ambassade-benin.org
or
Republic of Benin UK Consulate
Millennium Business Centre
Humber Road
London NW2 6DW
Tel.: +44 (0)20 88 30 86 12
Fax: +44 (0)20 88 30 89 25
beninconsulate@hotmail.co.uk
www.beninconsulate.co.uk
Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 10.30 am to 4.00 pm
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
• Valid passport.
• One completed application form
• One passport-size photo
• Relevant fee of £50 (15-day single entry visa) or £60 (30-day single entry visa) or £70 (30-day double entry visa) Single entry 3 months: £30, multiple entry 3 months: £40
• Registered, stamped, self-addressed envelope for postal applications.
Visas may be applied by post or in person.
For applications from the Republic of Ireland you must ass £8 to cover the cost of return postage.
For USA citizens:
2124 Kalorama Road NW
20008 Washington DC
Tel. +1 202 232 66 56; fax: +1 202 265 1996
Consular Section:
Tel/fax.: +1 202 232 26 11
info@beninembassy.us
www.beninembassy.us
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- One completed application form
- One passport-size photo
- Valid passport
- Photocopy of International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow fever)
- Visa fee of $ 140.00 payable by Money order or certified check only
- A letter of guarantee from employer or travel Agency or photocopy of air ticket (round trip) or a Bank letter of guarantee.
- Registered, stamped, self-addressed envelope for postal applications.
The visa is valid for 36 months (single or multiple entry visa)
The visa is normally issued within 3 working days.
For Canada:
Embassy of the Republic of Benin in Canada
58 Glebe Av
Ottawa
Ontario K1S 2C3
Tel. +1 613 233 4429; fax: +1 613 233 8952
amba.benin@yahoo.ca
www.benin.ca
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- Two visa application forms
- Valid passport (original and one photocopy)
- Two passport-size photos
- Visa fee: 3-month visa (single entry) 100 CAN $, 3-month visa (multiple entry) 120 CAN $.
- Photocopy of International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow fever)
- photocopy of air ticket (round trip)
- Registered, stamped, self-addressed envelope for postal applications.
Visas are issued within 72 hours if applying by post. If you turn up in person you will obtain it the same day.
Togo
Visas are required by all nationalities. Passports valid for a minimum of six months beyond date of departure are required by all. Visas are issued in countries with Togolese representation.
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant embassy or consulate prior to departure.
The addresses are as follows:
For UK residents:
There is no Togolese Embassy in the UK. British passport holders are required to contact the Togolese Embassy in Paris.
The address is as follows:
Ambassade de la République du Togo
8 Rue Alfred-Roll
75017 Paris
Tel.: +33 1 43 80 12 13, fax +33 1 43 80 06 05
For USA:
Embassy of the Republic of Togo
2208 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington DC, 20008
Tel.: +1 202 234 42 12, fax: +1 202 232 31 90
info@togoembassy.us
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.togoembassy.us
For Canada:
Embassy of the Republic of Togo
12 Range Road
Ottawa
Ontario K1N 8J3
Tel.: +1 613 238 5916 or 5917, fax: +1 613 235 6425
E-Mail
Or
Consulate of the Republic of Togo
150, boul. René-Lévesque Est, suite 1850 (18e étage)
Québec (Québec) G1R 5B1
Tel.: +1 418 529 5508, fax: +1 418 529 4094
info@togoquebec.ca
www.togoquebec.ca
Office hours: Monday to Friday: 9h00am to 12h30pm & 1h30pm to 5h00pm (Eastern time)
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- A valid passport
- One passport-size photo
- One application form
- Registered, stamped, self-addressed envelope for postal applications.
- Visa fee: 1-month single entry: 75 CAN $,1-month multiple entry: 85 CAN $, payable by certified cheque or money order to: Consulat Rép.togolaise Qc
The visa will be issued within 48 to 96 hours
Ghana
Visas are required by all nationalities. Passports valid for a minimum of six months beyond date of departure are required by all. Visas are issued in countries with Ghana representation.
The addresses are as follows:
For UK residents:
Ghanaian Embassy in London
13 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PN
Tel.: 020 7201 5900, Fax: 020 7245 9552
www.ghana.embassyhomepage.com
For visa application:
Ghanaian Consulate in London
104 Highgate Hill
London N6 5HE
Tel.: 020 8342 7500
www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com
The High Commission operates two office sites in London and Honorary Consulates in Glasgow and Dublin.
Ghana Consulate, Dublin
Republic of Ghana
74 Haddington Road
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1667 3849
Fax: +353 1 6677 622
info@ghanaconsulateireland.com
The Honorary Consulate-General
Republic of Ghana
Swalaba
17 Bellevue Road
Ayr
KA7 2SA
Tel.: Visa Section: 08453 133 399
Hcgscotland@ghc-uk.org
Office hours: Mondays - 5pm to 7pm, Saturdays & Sundays - 1pm to 3pm
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- A valid passport and one copy
- Four completed application forms (available on the website)
- Four passport-sized photos
- Visa fees: standard fees are. £50.00 for a 3-month single entry visa (Ireland: 70€) and £70.00 (Ireland: 95€) for a 6-month multiple entry visa, payable by postal order or Bank draft issued to Ghana High Commission or the respective consulate.
- Your current bank statement and one copy
- Confirmation letter from your travel health insurance stating the coverage and one copy
- Reference letter from your employer or education establishment
- Proof of group travel (hotel reservation, return airline reservation)
Standard Applications takes a minimum of 7 working days. 24hr and 72hr processing services are also available at an additional fee.
For USA:
Embassy of Ghana in USA
3512 International Dr., N.W.
Washington D.C., 20008
Tel: +1 202 686 4520, fax: +1 202 686 4527
Consular@ghanaembassy.org
www.ghanaembassy.org
Office hours of Consular Affairs department: Monday to Thursday 9.30 – 15.00 (EST)
Consular services are also available at:
Ghana Permanent Mission to the UN
19 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel.: +1 212 832 1300, fax: +1 212 751 6743
Or
The Honorary Consulate of Ghana
Jack M. Webb (Honorary Consul of Ghana)
3434 Locke Lane
Houston, Texas 77027
Tel. and fax: +1 713 960 8833
Office hours: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 2pm – 4pm (by appointment only)
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- A valid passport
- Completed application form (available on the website)
- Two passport-size photos (taken not more than three (3) months from the date of submitting the application) affixed with glue on the top right comer of the application form
- Visa fee: single entry visa 60$ or multiple entry visa 100$ payable by money order, cashier's check or certified bank check issued to the Embassy of Ghana.
- Proof of financial support or letter of invitation from host in Ghana
- Applications submitted by mail must be accompanied by prepaid self-addressed overnight, trackable envelope (FEDEX) for return of passports. Only requests accompanied by certified prepaid return envelopes will be processed.
You should have a return air ticket which has to be submitted upon request.
The visa shall be issued within seven working days.
For Canada:
Consular Section of the Ghana High Commission
1 Glemow Avenue (The Glebe)
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 2A9, Canada
Tel.: +1 613 236 0871, fax: +1 613 236 0874
ghanacom@ghc-ca.com
www.ghc-ca.com
Office hours: 9.00 – 14.00 Monday to Friday (closed on all national holidays in Canada and in Ghana)
Or
Consulate in Toronto
4665 Yonge Street
Suite 205/206
North York, Ontario, M2N 0B4
Tel: (416) 848-1014, fax: (416) 848-1017
Or
Consulate in Vancouver, BC
Mr. George Addei-Piprah (Honorary Consul-General)
6741 Cariboo Road
Suite 108
Burnaby, British Columbia
V3N 4A3
Tel.: (604) 715 6624, fax: (604) 931 6164
gpiprah@aol.com
All applications must be accompanied by the following:
- A valid passport
- Four completed application forms (available on the website)
- Four passport-size photos
- Visa fee: Single entry visa 65 CAN $, multiple entry visa 150 CAN $ Payment should be made by Bank draft or postal money order to Ghana High Commission, Ottawa
- Photocopy of Yellow fever certificate
- Proof of return ticket or flight confirmation from a travel agency
- Two addresses of two references, a confirmed booking is required.
The visa shall be issued within three working days.
What to take
-
Passport
-
Air ticket
-
International yellow vaccination card
-
Photocopies of your documents (it’s good to keep them in a separate bag)
-
Cash money, credit card
-
Hard top suitcase or tear resistant travel bag + day bag
-
Protective cover for your suitcase
-
Swimwear
-
A pair of flip flops (for shower and pool etc.)
-
A pair of sandals
-
Comfortable footwear, non-slip hiking boots
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Long lightweight trousers, shorts, long-sleeved shirt for the evening, light thin cotton clothing
-
Sunhat and sunglasses
-
Suncream
-
Umbrella and/or waterproof jacket
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Towel
-
Toilet paper, tissues, wet wipes
-
Torch with spare bulb and batteries
-
Swiss knife
-
Personal first-aid kit
-
Insect repellent
-
Photographic equipment, memory cards/film rolls, batteries
-
Binoculars
What you should know before you go
… Benin, Togo and Ghana are wonderful countries to visit, but remember that Africans have a different perception of time. A trip through West Africa requires a high degree of flexibility, patience and tolerance, western standards regarding service, punctuality, comfort and hygiene cannot be applied here. Although we thoroughly choose our vehicles and use only vehicles in good condition, flat tires or other car breakdowns can happen. The road conditions in African countries can change unexpectedly due to heavy rainfalls requiring a detour or bridges can suddenly become impassable. We do our utmost best to ensure a smooth journey but please understand that delays may occur. Technical defects or service inconveniences in the hotels such as the lack of towels can often be rectified within a few minutes. In case of any inconvenience please contact your tour guide!
Tropical Paradises between Mountains and Ocean - back to the itinerary |
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