Ghana

An English-speaking country with a developed tourism infrastructure, Ghana is deservedly popular as an introduction to West Africa. The capital city of Accra is one of the largest cities in Africa, and contains sights such as The National Museum of Ghana, which has a large collection of Ghanaian and African art and artifacts. Castles are not something that are immediately associated with African countries, but there are 29 still standing European forts and castles in Ghana that were built between 1482 and 1756. These were built to protect trading interests in ivory, gold, slaves and are a reminder of a darker past. Visit Kumasi for a number of excellent museums and the palace of the Asante king, where you may be able to shake hands with the king himself. For nature lovers, there are opportunities to see elephants and take a walk through the rainforest canopy via an aerial walkway in Kakum National Park. For even more adventure, go to Mole National Park and watch the lions or do a walking safari to get up close and personal with the elephants (but not too close!).