Ghana: My Guide to Detty December

I finally joined the Detty December: Ghana club! This was my first time in Ghana so I went solo but opted to go with a fly ass travel group. I went back and forth about this trip for yearssss because honestly this was a big expense but I finally decided that I didn’t want to regret not going once the time came. I knew I would have serious FOMO once December and New Year rolled around. So if you’ve been considering a trip to Ghana, this is me fully encouraging you to go for it (if it’s a financially responsible decision)! I hope this recap of my trip helps!

Ghana Travel Prep

Even before you get to Ghana, there’s quite a bit of prep (and costs) involved. Here’s a breakdown:

• Visa process
• Yellow fever vaccination
• See your doctor for anti-malaria medication
• Book your braid appointment!

What to Pack

I won’t be naming the obvious like clothing because duh but I will say that the best time to shop for your Detty December clothing is the summer! It will be hot in Ghana so you’ll want clothing and shoes  for hot weather.

These items are some that will be helpful to have:

• Handheld fan
• Swimwear- There are nice beach clubs in Accra and your hotel may have a pool
• Health/Medical necessities- anti-malaria pills, immodium, LiquidIV, bug spray
• Travel adaptor/Voltage converter

Traveling to Ghana

Overall the process at the airport was very seamless. I suggest walking off the plane with all your documents in hand (printed copies of everything in one folder is easier and quicker.) You’ll go through the customs line to show your passport and proof of yellow fever vaccine.

Then, you’ll move on to collect your baggage. My bags arrived pretty quickly after my arrival. There were people in the baggage claim who wanted to chat you up and sign up for something but I kindly told them I wasn’t interested and was left alone. In baggage claim, this is where you can do currency exchange. The line did get pretty long once more folks came through baggage claim. I ended up pulling out money at ATMs once I was out of the airport.

Itinerary

I’m usually the itinerary queen but this trip was different. My Ghana experience was provided by Buoyant Travel. A fly ass travel company that curates travel groups to across the globe to connect people across the Diaspora. 

I honestly didn’t do much planning because I traveled with Buoyant! This whole trip was thoughtfully planned by the CEO, Briona Lambeck. She provided detailed instructions for the visa application and process, organized transportation for all group events including the airport, and meals for select events. I loved that as a solo traveler, I also had a solo room! It was great to travel and do things with a group but still come back to my room at the end of the day and recharge alone (because I need that!)

Activities included in this trip were a day trip to Cape Coast, VIP passes to Afrofuture, tickets to PVO New Years Eve party, a day tour of Accra coupled with a visit to the W.E.B Du Bois Museum and a local market. For parties, it was great to travel with a group because most of the time, a section was included in the trip package. You definitely want to have a section or make friends with someone who has one. 

Braids and the Experience

I paid about $50 USD for my boho knotless braids. I did bring my own hair because I have a sensitive scalp and don’t play about rinsing my extensions before they’re installed. I was also in the shop all day, so it wasn’t a quick service but the price is the big plus of this experience.

Getting around in Ghana

Final Thoughts on Ghana

I recommend joining a travel group if it’s your first time to Ghana. With a travel group, you’ll cover a good mix of touristy activities and definitely get the parties covered. I feel like my stay of 9 days was a good amount of time to explore the city. If you want to see what my experience was like in real time, check out my vlog here.