10 Fasinating Facts About Ghana, Africa

There are many factor to consider when visiting Africa while there are some fascinating facts about Ghana in Africa.   Ghana is one of the famous countries in Africa in terms economy, culture and other activities. It was established in 1957 and became the very first sub-Saharan country in the colonial Africa to get its independence. Ghana has come a long way in terms of politics, culture, and economics. In this regard, the following are the best top ten interesting facts about this great Ghana in Africa. 

1. Freedom of Worship

Freedom of worship is a fascinating fact in Ghana since it is a constitutional right and there is no dispute among the Muslims, Christians, the traditionalists and other several minority religions. Ghanians have developed habits of respecting different religions. 

2. The Magic Behind the Name "John" 

It was believed that if your name is not John, it is better to forget about being a president or even running for presidency. Since 1992, Ghanians have habits of electing presidents with their names including John. For example, Jerry John Rawlings ruled from 1992 to 2000, John Agyekum Kufuor from 2000 to 2008 and John Evans Atta Mills took over after Kufuor. This is really amazing and interesting history. 

Oil Discovery Ghana

3. Oil Discovery

In 2007, the Kosmos Energy of US and the Tullow Oil of UK discovered oil in the coastal region of Ghana. This was a great sign of economical growth hence improving the living standards of many people living in the country. 

4. Peace Maintenance

Ghana is believed to be number one in Africa in terms of peace maintenance and this is according to the Global Peace Index. It is also ranked position 40 internationally. Peace is something that contributes to most of developments of a country in all aspects. 

5. Cocoa Production

In the whole world, Ghana produces about 17 percent of cocoa. It comes second in the whole world after Ivory Coast, which produces over 40 percent of the world's total production.

6. Strength of a Woman 

Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo is the first female to become the speaker of parliament in Ghana and Ms Georgia Theodora Wood became the first Chief Justice in Ghana as well. 

7. Corruption

In terms of corruption, Ghana has for several years been fighting against it and this being the main reason why it is in number 67 in terms of corruption worldwide. Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International did the ranking in 2008. 

8. Languages

In Ghana, there are over 40 languages spoken all over its ten regions. However, English is a recommended official language despite most people speaking different languages. 

9. The Cedi- The Official Ghana Currency

The Cedi is the official currency of Ghana where 1 GC equals to 0.80 US dollars, but it varies with stability of the dollar value. Even though the re-denomination of this currency happened in mid 2007, many of the street traders are still talking in terms of the previous Cedi, where they are needed to quote prices in thousands. This means that they equate 1 GC to ten thousands. 

10. Mahamas For Vice Presidents

As the name of Ghanians presidents has always remained the same (John), vice presidents are not exceptional. It has also been their culture to have their vice presidents called Mahama too. This has been happening since 2001 where Mr. Aliu Maham was the vice president up to 2008 and then Mr. John Dramani Mahama succeeded him.

Besides the above-discussed interesting facts about Ghana, there are also other several things about culture and the habits of Ghanaian people.

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7 Way to Ensure an Amazing Safari Experience

There are many factor to consider when you travel to Africa. For most individuals, an African safari is a once-in-a lifetime trip. The range of experiences may vary and this depends on many factors including personal preferences and budget. African safari destinations include Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, etc., among others. This article aims to detail seven ways to ensure that you have an amazing safari experience. 

1. Timing the Safari

It is important to time the safari trip so that you make the most out it in terms of watching wildlife or the scenery or taking photographs. If you are keen on watching wildlife in South Africa, it is best recommended to arrange the safari during the winter (between June and September). This is the time when most of the animals come out into the open to graze or drink from waterholes. Summertime (December to February) is when the vegetation is thick and most animals are lost in the shadows.

2. Choosing the Destination

It is important to decide the safari destination well ahead, whether you want to visit Eastern Africa or Southern Africa. The Kruger National Park in South Africa, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya, among others, are home to most African animals. These safari parks offer exceptional game viewing facilities that are bound to give you unforgettable memories. You can also choose to visit private game reserves such as Sabi Sand, Samara Game Reserve, etc.

3. Choosing the Right Safari Operator

Right Safari Operator

Hiring the right safari tour operator may be the best way to make it a worthwhile experience. Experienced tour operators provide comprehensive and flexible packages and you can pick from either budgeted trips or luxury trips. The overall cost of the safari depends on factors such as the number of participants, duration of the trip, mode of transport, etc. Many operators also customize the safari tour according to the needs of the traveler. Personalized luxury safari trips are more expensive than group safari packages. Pre-planned group safaris operate on fixed timings and cover specific destinations. It is recommended to choose a package that offers about 8 hours of driving time and 4 hours of camping time in a day.

4. Using a Guide

It is a good idea to use an experienced guide while on a safari tour. Wandering aimlessly on your own may cause you to miss animal sightings. An experienced guide would know to read animal tracks and lead you to them. Guides are usually a part of the safari package when visiting a private reserve. If not, you may have to hire one separately.

5. Looking Out for All Kinds of Animals

All Kinds of Animals

 Though most safari advertisements talk about the big game such as lions, buffaloes, rhinos and the elephants, make a list of all the animals that you would like to see and try to spot them. Zebras, giraffes, warthogs, impalas are all there for you to see and enjoy. This can make the safari tour more interesting and memorable.

6. Accessories are Important

Ensure that you bring along the right type of clothing. Arm yourself with appropriate boots, hats, gloves, sweaters, clothing, cameras and other accessories according to when you travel. Ensure that you carry a pair of binoculars when on the safari. The reserve lodge or accompanying guides do not provide them. It is also a good idea to carry a map or book that provides details about the local culture and habits.

7. Other Activities on Offer

Choose a safari package that has a variety of activities on offer. As an example, some private reserves have camel rides, off-road driving, night drives, bush walks, etc. Some of them offer specialized programs for keeping the children engaged.

As a final note, the safari is most enjoyable when you pick a comfort level that suits you as well as your pocket.

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Great Travel Tips for Sharm el-Sheik

Sharm el-Sheik is famous for its snorkeling and beautiful beaches and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Arab world which is located at African continent. Located at the bottom of the Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea, this beautiful region is definitely worth a visit. The weather is mostly always good, although it can be humid in summer, and there are the odd cold snaps. There are many hotels and hostels to suit every budget.

There's a lot to see and do in the region. The number one reason people have for visiting the area is the snorkeling and diving and with beautiful blue seas and the incredible sea life on show at Ras Mohamed National Park, you can see why. There are a huge number of tropical fish, exotic corals and even sharks in this part of the Red Sea. You can relax on the beach or got out on a boat to see the sights of the water, and if you want to learn to dive, then you can also do that here too. There is not just the national park, but also Tiran Island to explore.


Want to try a real Egyptian experience? You can go on a camel safari to truly experience Egypt. After all, you can't visit Sharm el-Sheik without a camel ride, or your friends might not believe you were in Egypt! The camels you will be riding are single humped Dromedary camels, perfectly adapted to the harsh climate of the desert. Following your trek, you can also sit down and have a genuine Bedouin tea or full dinner. There's so much to see and do, therefore it is a must to book some cheap flights to Sharm el-Sheik in order to begin your adventure.

If you want to explore the history of the region, then you should consider a day out for a visit to St Catherine's Monastery, built around 530 A. D. and supposedly built on the site of Moses' burning bush. You can explore the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. While it is a trek from Sharm el-Sheik at 100 miles or so, it is definitely someone to consider for a day out.

If you get bored of the water, you can always go off and explore the desert on a trip out on quad bikes for a more modern look at Egypt than the one you'll see from the back of a camel. Or try some of the wonderful local cuisine and go shopping in one of the many bazaars.

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The Most Dangerous Countries For Family Travel

There are many countries in the world where most local people and mostly tourists feel completely uncomfortable. These countries have high rates of crimes such as robbery around the streets, murder, terrorism, hostage taking, corruption, among other bad incidents. However, tourists attracted by the local beauty tend not to think about the danger involved in these countries. Currently the majorities of the most dangerous countries are from Africa. Moreover, on the contrary the safest countries are from Europe where everyone is assured of maximum safety. No one should think of visiting these unsafe countries with kids maybe for vacation or any other reason. Keep in mind that contacting other peoples, your embassy, or the authorities is crucial in a case of dangerous situations and having a cell phone handy is a great advise. Also, if you are carrying any android device, you may want to consider great WiFi calling app for android or any other app that offer you cheap or free option.

The following are some of the most dangerous countries for family traveling should consider before thinking of having a vacation there.

Somalia

Somali

Currently, the Somalia is a leading country in Africa in terms of crime. It comprises a gang of pirates who work in the coastal areas with a mission of attacking foreign ships, kidnapping people, as well as demanding huge amounts of money as ransom for their release. In addition to pirates on the coastal waters, most of its clans have been on a war for more than two decades. In short, the list of crimes in Somalia is actually an endless list. Army militants are also not left out in periodical crime incidents where they rob and kidnap kids and adults to ask for ransom from their families. Many of the most wanted terrorists come from Somalia. This country is not safe for family vacations or business trips. Therefore, it is not good to plan a trip to this region with the kids since the situation here is always chaotic. This country is located in the eastern part of Africa. Here are 10 things to consider when visiting Africa.

Pakistan

In this country, hostilities are still going on between the government troops and the rebels from north-west part of it.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan

For many years now, the general situation in Afghanistan has been chaotic with high level of insecurity and crimes all the streets. Even if there are still coalition forces in this country, the danger crime is still smelled all over the streets. Civilians both foreigners and locals are frequently killed and injured by the attacks that are caused by terrorists from "Taliban" movement. No safety is assured in this country by anyone since the situation is continuously deteriorating with the incidents of drug trafficking reported from time to time. It is among the middle-east countries in Africa continent. The country is not safe, particularly with kids because of the high number of drug trafficking incidents.

Jamaica

Besides being a main tourism player, Jamaica has been associated with incidents of murder and crime for several years. The danger of this country starts from the streets Kingston that is its capital city.

Honduras

Honduras is a Central American country with high rates of murder in the whole world. Surprisingly, at least one person is killed at every 74 minutes. In the last five years, murder cases have been dramatically on the rise. Both local and foreign journalists as well as public officials are the most targeted victims of murder. Therefore, safety for people here is not guaranteed to make it unsuitable place for kids or family vacation.

Other countries that are believed to be the most dangerous for family travel are Yemen, Zimbabwe, and Algeria among others. Surprisingly, most of these countries are from Africa continent and most of them were colonized by the European colonies. I strongly advise to do your research before planning and cross info as sometimes some sources will manipulate the information for various reasons.  This would be your responsibility to get the correct information to keep you and your family safe and sound.

If you had been in a dangerous situation while traveling, please share with us your story right here... cheers.

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10 Things to Consider When Visiting Africa

Africa is popularly known as Dark Continent for its most unexploited nature. People often mistakenly treat Africa as a country but it is a continent with approximately 54 countries. Africa became the tourist destination for the people of America and Europe because of its variety in tourism when compared with other places.

Southern part of the Africa is somewhat developed when compared with the upper and middle parts of Africa. This part is attracting more number of travelers to Africa from several other parts of the world because of its traditional assets like Boulders Beach, Hike Wild Coast, Golf Courses, Cape peninsula and Cape Town, special tree houses in places like Teniqua Treetops etc. But there are some things one must consider before traveling or planning to travel to Africa.

Hill Resort in Africa

Africa is a vast continent and you must fix the countries and places you want to visit. It has all the geographical varieties like mountains, volcanoes, beaches, hill resorts, deserts etc. so one must have to decide in advance about the route-map of his/her journey.

One must consider a suitable season to visit a particular place. If you opted to visit deserts i.e. Namibia June - July is best. If you want to go for safari, avoid the rainy as well as winter seasons. 

As general travel preparation, book your rooms, lodges, hotels in advance. Read the reviews and compare facilities, amenities as well as prices before booking a hotel. Food is the most important thing and the quality as well as type of food available in different places of Africa is not quite good to eat. So specially concentrate on food as well as water facilities.

Flight to Africa

Booking a flight ticket at cheaper cost to Africa is not an easy task. You must book tickets in advance to get the flight tickets at reasonable price.

Africa is prone to diseases. Keep medicines for diseases like malaria, yellow fever etc. Though conditions are not like decades ago in Africa (people must take vaccine to enter Africa), but anyway it is a better practice to keep updated medicines and vaccinations for common diseases in Africa.

The visa rules of the African countries differ from country to country. If you want to visit multiple countries, know the visa rules of countries you want to visit and take permission (visa) from them, which is usually very easy.

Credit Card Abroad

One must keep another factor in mind while visiting Africa is money. Not all currencies are readily exchangeable in Africa and Credit cards are accepted in high end shops which are rare to find.

One must have considerable knowledge on Africa before traveling to it, just read books on people of Africa, their culture, dangerous places to visit etc.

Never go for gambling in the countries of Africa. They can easily know the new faces i.e. foreigners and you will get easily cheated by locals.

These are some of the tips one must follow while visiting Africa. As African countries are under developed and mostly developing in nature, you can't expect high standards of living at these places.

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Morocco Culture - What to Expect When Arriving

Strategically located between Africa and Europe, bounded in the West by the North Atlantic Ocean, Morocco's culture is definitely a conglomeration of the good things that Europe and Africa have to offer. Its people's diversified culture offers the most exciting surprise for tourists and travelers, especially for first-timers. Here are the 5 things to expect when you first visit Morocco:

Dades Valley

Festivals - Morocco may probably the country that celebrates the most number of festivals all year round. From celebrating a 3-day feast of delicious dates in the Erfoud Region to the religious observation of the Muslim Ramadan, and from the world-renown Music Festival in the Essaouira Town to the Rose Festival in the Dades Valley, Moroccan feasts have proven to be the best events for the tourists to witness.

Moroccan Hospitality - its people's welcoming hospitality definitely attracts you to see the streets of the urban Morocco where life may be relatively slower than how Westerners are used to. It is evidence to how they value the mixture of living and enjoying life. Here, people share what they have, listen to what others say, and enjoy every bit of the present time.

Language Diversity - One will be surprised with how most people know two or three languages from French and Spanish of Europe, to Arabic and Japanese of the East. This illustrates how tourism is very active in this melting pot and how the local people try hard to adapt to this growing industry.

Food - Natural and healthy may best describe how Moroccans prepare their food. Their cuisine is a mixture of the best of the Arab, African, and Mediterranean. Most are grown without hormones and antibiotics. Serving and eating from a communal plate while sitting on the floor may surprise some. But definitely eating with only your right hand will surprise most, as it is customary to Moroccans. But all households have their spoons and forks for visitors who are not used to eating with their hands. But trying the street food may be one's best bet to have a taste of the real Moroccan cuisine.

Sahara Desert Morocco

Sahara Desert - Do not go to Morocco without going to the Sahara Desert. It is definitely the highlight of anyone's trip. Whether you like to experience traveling like a nomad with a camel trek or spending the night under the stars in the middle of the desert, the Sahara Desert can offer you this and so much more.

Looking for snow, beach or desert? Or maybe trying to witness ancient religious structures in the rural towns or modern buildings in the urban cities? They are all here. Some of your usual destinations are different from another. But Morocco is different from within. Morocco is the home of differences. Diversity spells the name of this country.

Moroccan culture is a fascination for curious first-timers, a spectacle to experienced travelers and a wonder to seasoned tourists. But far above and beyond these, it is a place where outsiders can learn a lot about the value of life, the importance of people, and the wonders of living life with people important to you.

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