Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire Cultural Journey

PASSPORT DETAILS: • Submit your passport details in order to complete your travel arrangements • Please ensure that the names on your passport are the same as what we have on your completed tour reservation forms • A passport valid for at least 6 months after scheduled departure date from your destination is required. VISAS: • Most of our Africa destinations require an entry visa for all international travelers. Get more information here: https://ecimsglobal.com/mission.aspx • One of our Africa Travel Expert will be happy to guide you in the right direction with getting the required visas for your trip • Your passport must have at least two blank visa pages for immigration stamps. • Please make at least two copies of your Passport (the bio-data/ photo page only), leave one at home and carry other copies separate from the passport. • It is recommended that you carry extra passport photos with you in case you lose your passport and have to reapply. • U.S. citizens need an entry visa for Ghana. • You must include a self-addressed, prepaid return envelope with your Visa application. • We suggest you apply for your visa 10-12 weeks before your travel date. You will be required to arrive in Ghana within 90 days after the visa is stamped in your passport. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS • Medical Conditions: Please advise the travel team of any medical conditions and requirements, such as medical devices, food allergies (fish, nuts, etc.), diabetes, wheelchair, dietary restrictions, CPAP machine, handicap, accessible rooms, etc. • Yellow Fever Vaccination is required: Visit your family physician for advice on any other required medication you may need on your individual medical needs. It is highly recommended that you get a prescription for malaria prophylactics, which your health care provider will advise you how to take. • Evidence of yellow fever inoculation administered within the last 10 years is required by Ghana immigration. In cases where you do not have proof of inoculation, the Ghana Health Department will administer the inoculation at the airport and will charge you the fee which averages approximately US$25.00. • Proof of Yellow Fever is not required for the granting of the visa in the U.S. but the proof may be demanded by Ghana Immigration on arrival at Ghana Airport. • The Centers for Disease Control or your personal health care provider may recommend other preventative actions that are not requirements for entry but only their recommendation. o Use of insect repellant is recommended • Drinking bottled water only is recommended. COVID-19 vaccination is now required: All persons 18 years old and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine. All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside of the country and intend to return within 14 days from midnight December 12, 2021, are exempted. However, they will be vaccinated on arrival at the airport in Ghana.

Quarantine Information • Individuals who test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival in Ghana will not be required to quarantine. • Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Ghana, asymptomatic or not, will be required to undergo mandatory quarantine and treatment at a designated health facility or isolation center, for seven (7) days at traveler’s expense. All passengers who are in quarantine will undergo a repeat COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival, also at traveler’s expense. • AVERAGE TEMPERATURE The climate of Ghana is tropical, but temperatures vary with season and elevation. Except in the north two rainy seasons occur: from April to July and from September to November. August is a “winter” month in Ghana. You can find average weather information at http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/geography/climate.php For Accra, here are some averages: • In August, the average low is 73° F; the average high is 81° F: https://www.accuweather.com/en/gh/accra/178551/daily-weather-forecast/178551 https://www.weather2visit.com/africa/ghana/accra-october.htm • MONEY & CURRENCY • $1 US dollar = 6.08 GHC (Ghana Cedis) (approximate): https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=GHS • Most hotels have a forex (foreign exchange) bureau which offers competitive exchange rates. • Do not change more than you will need in local currency or you might have to change your Ghanaian cedi back to US$ and this will cost you twice. • Pocket calculators or an offline Currency Convertor App on your phone may be helpful when exchanging money. • Always keep receipts for your currency exchange. Credit Cards: • American Express and Visa are the most widely accepted. • Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. • Always notify your credit card company in advance that you’ll be traveling. Also get a PIN number in case the overseas merchant requires a PIN. • Only the larger hotels and most exclusive restaurants take credit cards. • In Ghana, most transactions are conducted with cash. Market vendors do not accept credit cards or travelers’ checks. • It’s better to not plan to use a credit card at all, and only carry one for emergency purposes. Do not use a debit card, only a credit card. ATM: • Bring your ATM card so you can get local currency where ATMs are available, such as at the airport upon arrival. • Check to see if your bank has international ATM locations to avoid high fees • Be sure to let your bank know you’ll be traveling internationally so they honour your ATM being used. Keeping your Money Safe: • Always have a small amount of local currency money available in a pocket or close at hand - you do not want to dig into your pocket or bag to pull out a whole wedge of cash when paying for a small purchase. If you use a money belt make sure that it is small and inconspicuous. There can be pickpockets in the markets.