Nowhere in Africa is necessarily easy for the Western traveler, not when compared to European or North American travel, but Ghana is among the easier places to navigate in Africa. According to the Lonely Planet, Ghana is one of the most stable and prosperous of the West African nations and garners the label "Africa for Beginners." Tourists to Ghana have plenty to do during their visit.

Beaches Ghana has hundreds of miles of coastline and nearly as many miles of beaches. The Lonely Planet describes the vibe on Ghana's resort beaches, like Axim or Busua, as "Rasta," implying a kind of Jamaican, pot-fueled hazy, but the Ghana Official Tourism site isn't so descriptive and prefers to state the bare facts: palm-lined, warmed by African sunshine and surfable. The beach region is simply known as "The Coast," and you'll find beaches anywhere along it. Basing your Ghana vacation along the coast, especially close to the capital Accra, is sensible: there's lots more to see and do when you get sick of the beach, including the National Museum, the Lighthouse at James Fort, the Timber Market and some fair-trade shopping like the Fair Trade Center and Aid to Artisans.

Castles and Forts Ghana was first settled in the late 15th century by both Africans and Europeans. Elmina, along the coast, is home to St. George's Castle, the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa. The fort dates to 1482 and was home to Dutch and Portuguese settlers before the British took over in the 19th century. St. George's is one of hundreds of semi-ruined Europeans buildings throughout Ghana. Most of these are along the coast. Guided tours of the ruins are available from Accra or from tourist booths in Cape Coast or Elmina, or you can just walk a few miles in any direction from a beach and stumble upon the ruins yourself.

Wildlife and National Parks You can't take a trip to Africa and not see the wildest of wildlife. Ghana has plenty to offer between its reserves and national parks. You'll find elephants, crocodiles, monkeys and marine turtles as well as brightly colored jungle birds. Kakum National Park, Nini-Suhien National Park and Bia National Park are all in the south of Ghana, but the country's largest park, Mole National Park, is in the northwest, close to the borders or Burkina Faso and Cote D'Ivoire. According to the Official Tourism Board, lions, leopards and hyena have been spotted within the park's borders, although elephants, buffalo and waterbuck are more common.

Traditional Crafts Although traditional crafts can be found in all regions of Ghana, Kumasi is the undisputed center of the artsy side of Ghana. Both the Lonely Planet and two Ghanaian tourist sites recommend Kumasi for its traditional markets, open daily, and its cultural uniqueness. Kumasi's artists produce pottery, brightly colored kente cloth and beads. While in Accra, be sure to take a stroll through the Teshie and Nungua suburbs, which are home to novelty coffin design shops that build outrageously detailed burial containers that highlight the passions of the deceased; running shoes, animals and luxury cars are a few choice examples of the thousands of models available.

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