Sandye

We are trying to fly from Canada to Ghana to Morocco and back to Canada. Our TA says we must fly Canada-Ghana (not non-stop, possibly thru Paris or else via USA) and then Ghana to Europe and then Europe to Morocco and then back to Europe and then to Canada. I cannot believe I have to leave Africa to be able to travel around it. Anyone have any ideas for inter-African flights? I thought it would be the perfect time to combine a long awaited visit to Ghana while we were in Morocco. It seems fairly close on the map - at least as world distances go. Anyone have a suggested routing? Thanks!

thit_cho

Check out Travelocity, but that sounds right. There is not a very extensive air traffic network within West Africa. Dakar is a hub, so maybe you can fly Accra - Dakar - Casablanca but you may need to go through London. I don't think there are flights from Paris to Accra since most flight from Paris are to the former colonies, and Ghana was not part of Francophone Africa. I think London will end up being your hub.

But plug it all into Travelocity and see what comes up.

NoFlyZone

There are no direct flights between the two (at least not between Accra and Casablanca, which is all I checked) but there are connecting flights through Milan, Amsterdam/Paris, and Abidjan. You may be able to construct another...

Nylon

Try Air Senegal.

There are others but most agents in the West will not sell tickets on many African airlines - you may well be better off buying once in Ghana or Morocco.

Often though... it is cheaper to fly through Europe!

And it may well be quicker too.

Gardyloo

I burned through umpteen screens on ITA (big airline scheduling service - not an agency) looking for weird and wonderful routings between ACC and CMV - no luck. Basically your TA is right; no all-Africa routings came up except possibly via ABJ; however flights are not daily and the cost was universally breathtaking. West Africa does not yet have enough demand for travel between countries, especially entailing the Mediterranean ones, to justify anything like the price competition one sees in other areas. None of the West African countries' airports serves as a regional "hub;" that role is still played by such places as Heathrow or Amsterdam. Ghana's British colonial heritage also doesn't stand up well with Morocco's French colonial past, meaning there are even fewer reasons for convenient air connections.

You might look at some of the London bucket shops for the Morocco portion of the trip - see www.johnnyjet.com for good links. Full fares between Ghana and Casablanca are breathtaking.

Guenmai

Don't go through Abidjan...as a possibility... suggested from an above post. I was on the internet reading the African news yesterday and the French Army has taken over the airport for security reasons. You probably will have to fly back through Europe to get to Morocco. It wouldn't surprise me. I was just in Ghana last Dec 2003/Jan 2004...for vacation... and will return this December/January for vacation again. Great country...Great people! Happy Travels!

Sandye

Thanks guys for the help. We've decided it's just too much hassle to try to do both so we're just going to concentrate on Ghana this trip. We'll be there in March, with 3 young teens. Would love to hear from anyone with travel advice, where to stay, where to eat, any "must-sees" etc. We are going to Akosombo for sure, the rest of the trip is still open. Has anyone been on the Dodi Princess?

Guenmai - can you please contact me at [email protected] about your recent and upcoming visit?

Guenmai

Sandye-Let me know what you need to know. It's easier to correspond here in the forum. I'll be based in Accra and then get my private driver, from last year, as long as he's still available(US$6.00/hr) to drive me around. As for hotels, I like the Novatel because I don't have to deal with lizards there like at the Royal Palm Beach and the Labadi Beach Hotel and other hotels that have chalet-style rooms where in order to get to the hotel facilities for dining,etc...one has to walk across the property and confront the lizards. Now, if you don't mind that sort of thing, then go for it.The Novatel is a western-style hotel...when you're out of the elevator, then everything is right there in the lobby.The biggest headache I found in Ghana is the transportation situation. Renting a car can be quite expensive...I'm female and travel alone... so I found it best to get a private driver and bargain with him. A worker at one of the hotels I stayed at recommended a man who was not connected to the hotel. He was very nice although his car was raggedy.But, the folks in Ghana are so wonderful, that one just overlooks some of the hassles. As for malaria medication, I took Malarone...hated being on the stuff, but had to. I never felt quite myself the whole time and had stomach problems around the 6th day...as others have reported. So, the only two things that I REALLY don't look forward to is having to deal with the lizards...I have a phobia...and having to be on malaria-prevention medication. I've got to go...I'm very busy. If you have any questions just post them.I'll answer in a few hours.Oh, pick up the Bradt travel book to Ghana. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Oh, Sandye...Check out pilotguides.com. I have their video on Ghana that was only done a few years ago. You can get some ideas from there,too. Happy Travels!

Sandye

Thanks Guenmai appreciate the assistance. Since we're a family of 5, I was thinking the hired driver might be the way to go as well. We will be in Ghana from March 12-26th.
The plans are still in the making, however we must go to Akosombo to visit the hydro dam. Expect we'll stay at the Volta Hotel. Then planning to return to Accra for a day or two and then head along the coast then northward. Ultimately I would like some time in Mole Nat'l park, however if we run out of time so be it. Want to visit the Ashanti and go to Kumasi etc. Any restaurant/hotel recommendations are greatly appreciated. Lizards don't bother us - snakes and I on the other hand are a different story!

Gardyloo

Read this link on Flyertalk from a traveler bouncing around West Africa recently. May or may not be relevant to your circumstances, but an interesting read nevertheless.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=365566

Guenmai

Sandye...I like the Novatel in Accra. However, don't pay the internet rate. I checked the internet last week and $175. came up on several websites. I paid $74. last year, so I called Ghana last week and the hotel is giving me the same rate as last year. Now, if you want wide open space and a resort type of place and LOTS of lizards, but no snakes then there's the Royal Palm Beach. It's expensive. I had to pay $170. and next door is the Labadi Beach Hotel...the five-star hotel which was less actually than the Royal Palm Beach at $155. But, at the Novatel it will be easier to get a private driver though.And it's in the heart of town. All of this is for Accra that I'm recommending. Got to go. I'll write more tomorrow morning. Happy Travels!

Guenmai

Sandye...I forgot to mention that a Ghanaian aquaintance of mine is part owner in a guesthouse in Accra. Go on Ghanaweb.com and click on guesthouses and it's called J2N Guesthouse. The guesthouse has gotten very nice reviews and there is a driver on the premises. Plus he and his partners have just opened an internet cafe nearby that is doing very well. The guesthouse is not far from the airport in a residential neighborhood. Maybe this would suit your family quite well.And the price is great. If you need to post to me, you can post me over on the Asia forum since that's where I usually am. I don't check the African forum a lot since a lot of people, in this forum, don't seem to travel to West Africa very much. Happy Travels!