Mid-November to April is the dry season, and the easiest to travel in. Wildlife is easier to spot as it will be clustered around the waterholes, particularly as the waterholes dry up towards the end of the dry season.

The centre and south of Ghana are wetter and rains usually fall in April, May and June, with a brief respite from July to August. There is then a shorter rainy season in September to October. The north has more desert and the rains which arrive from March to September can cause flooding due to the arid earth.

The harmattan wind blows down from the Sahara from November or early Decemberthrough to March. It can cool temperatures a bit, but be prepared for extreme dryness – bring moisturiser and lip balm (or stock up on local shea butter!), and expect a tickly throat. Contact lens wearers may want to bring glasses or eye drops in case of discomfort, and photographers should prepare for hazy pics, and avoid changing lenses outdoors. On occasions, flights can be cancelled due to poor visibility, particularly in Tamale.

There are a number of festivals and events throughout Ghana, some have fixed dates and others happen frequently, such as the Ashanti Akwasidae celebrations. These take place every six weeks, on Sundays. The Ashanti king is present, along with his chiefs, and before meeting with them he takes part in an impressive parade, with drumming, dancing, horns and singing. The king’s Golden Stool also plays a key role – as the festival commemorates the day it was brought down from heaven.