Last year I embarked on a trip to explore some part of the Volta Region. I spent Four days, 3 nights, Ghc 2,202, and visited over 5 destinations.
Do you also want to explore Keta on a budget but are stressed about planning it? Especially without an itinerary and a budget? Then join me on another episode of 'Explore Ghana on a budget.' Let my experience serve as guide for your next trip.
The Volta region of Ghana is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Ghana. It is located in the eastern part of Ghana and is a top location with a unique blend of culture, nature, and history. It is about a 3.5-hour drive from Accra, Ghana’s capital. Notable landmarks include Wli Waterfalls (tallest waterfall in West Africa), Mount Afadjato (highest peak in Ghana), and pristine beaches in Keta and its environs.
After my last visit to Keta in 2021, I vowed to return someday because of its beautiful beaches, and guess what? I was able to keep my promise. On 20th December 2023, I embarked on a trip that had taken about a week to plan.
Transportation:
For this trip, I was lucky there was a car heading directly to my destination, so I didn’t have to take more than 2 cars like the Ashanti region trip. I took a car (trotro) from Madina station, which was Keta-bound. The ticket cost Ghc 60. Since it’s a loading trotro and I left on a weekday, I had to wait for about 2 hours for the car to be filled with passengers before departure. The bus left Accra at about 11:00 am, and we got to Keta around 3:30 pm. The driver made many stops causing the delay.
The journey to Keta usually takes about 3.5 hours. Oh, did I forget to mention there was so much traffic on the Tema road? We spent about an hour in traffic. I alighted at the last stop, which was Keta Secondary School (KETASCO), and from there I used Google maps to walk to my hotel (Agblor Lodge).
On the day of departure from Keta to Accra, I walked to KETASCO, waited by the roadside for about 5 minutes before I got a sprinter heading for Accra, also at Ghc 60. If you’re driving a private car and haven’t been to Keta, Google maps should be your best friend.
The most common modes of transportation within Keta are Taxis and Trotros (Sprinters). The transportation experience for this trip was probably the smoothest for me, well aside from the heat since there was no air conditioning in the trotro (Sprinter). The road from Accra to KETASCO is tarred with few potholes. However, from the KETASCO junction to my Agblor, it’s a bit dusty.
Accommodation:
During this trip, I had planned to stay only two nights but extended it for another night after discovering a budget-friendly place.
Agblor Lodge: I stayed at Agblor Lodge for two nights in a Double Deluxe Room which went for Ghc 500 a night. Agblor Lodge is located in Keta, about a 3.5-hour drive from Accra. It is a beachfront lodge that shares a wall with Aborigines Beach Resort. Room rates range from Ghc 450 to Ghc 1000.
I wouldn’t really recommend Agblor Lodge because of my personal experience. For starters, paying Ghc 500 for a room that wasn’t cleaned on the first day, the window wouldn’t close, mosquitoes at night, dirty bucket, stained toilet bowl, and sink was definitely not value for money.
The moment I entered the room I regretted it, but it got worse at night when the mosquitoes couldn’t stop singing. The other rooms may be better, but for my room, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It was as though no one had stayed in that room for over two months.
Their food was, however, affordable starting from Ghc 40. The environment itself is calming, and you can take a walk at the beach. You can call 050 821 1992 for more information or bookings.
Villa Amore: This was the budget-friendly hidden gem that did it for me. From the outside, you wouldn’t really think it’s worth it until you go inside. Villa Amore is on the same road as Aborigines but it’s before Aborigines if you’re coming from the roadside. I extended my stay in Keta after I found Villa Amore.
Their room prices range from Ghc 350 to Ghc 1000. Honestly, I wish I had found out about Villa Amore earlier because the Ghc 500 I paid at Agblor would have been better off being used at Villa Amore.
Anyway, so the Ghc 350 room was really standard, came with a writing table, AC, ceiling fan, bathroom, television, and a small bathroom with a heater.
If you’re traveling solo and on a budget, I’d recommend this for you. I didn’t have any meals there aside from breakfast which was inclusive of the rate. Breakfast was also standard, but their bread was fresh as compared to Agblor Lodge.
You can call 024 505 4218 for more information or bookings.
Itinerary:
During the trip, I had a couple of places I wanted to visit after doing my research. Although I couldn't visit all the places on my list, I made the most out of my trip.
Keta Emancipation Beach: This is about a 10 minutes drive from Agblor Lodge. There is no entry fee, and they serve local drinks including palm wine, lamugee, asana, sobolo, etc. They also have food, but most of the items on the menu were not available.
Aborigines Beach Resort: I had lunch and dinner here during the trip but also booked some of their activities including Quad biking (Ghc 125 for 15 minutes per person) and Kayaking (Ghc 75 for 30 minutes per person).
Eli Beach Resort: I only had lunch and a drink here. Afterward, I just walked around the beach. There’s horse riding available at the resort as well.
Keta Lagoon: This was a walking distance from Keta Emancipation beach; you can request a canoe ride from the fishermen at a cost. However, I just sat around and appreciated nature.
Fort Prizenstein: This is a fort in Keta with a poignant reminder of the region's connection to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. I was charged Ghc 10 for the tour. Note that part of the fort has been washed away by the sea.
Bonus tip, you can take walks at the beach at no cost. You can also wake up early to watch the fishermen pull the fish to shore. You can also go swimming at Aborigines.
Food and Dining:
During my stay, the food and drinks I had included banku with okro soup (Agblor Lodge), Chicken Pizza, Noodles, and Red Red (Aborigines. The jollof at Eli Beach Resort. Drinks were just Don Simon, Palm wine, and Lamugee. Breakfast was inclusive of my accommodation.
Travel Tips:
Keta is predominantly an Ewe-speaking town, but most people speak English. For transport, it’s mostly shared taxis to any destination for less than Ghc 10. Motorbikes were available as well at some point but not very common.
you can only travel to Keta by road, no flights available.
Photos and Visuals:
Watch the budget breakdown video [here].
Watch the vlog [here]
Conclusion:
I would rate my overall experience for this trip a 7 out of 10. I loved my experience, and as a water baby, it was refreshing to see clean and pristine beaches. I also love the fact that it’s a quiet town. My overall budget (accommodation, transport, meals for this trip) was about Ghc 2202 ($200). If you have any questions, kindly let me know in the comments section.
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Disclaimer:
This content is self-funded and reflects my personal views. While I haven't received monetary compensation, others are entitled to their personal experiences, and perspectives may differ. I invite readers to form their own opinions based on their unique encounters.
I enjoyed this review article. I hope you made the Ablor Lodge guys aware of your experience. They must ensure their rooms are clean!