Over time, I have collated several questions people have asked about a Nigeria Ghana road trip. Articles in my Ghana Archives already answer most of these questions but I guess it’s not a bad idea to have them all on one single page. Therefore, without further ado, let’s jump right to the FAQs.
Thinking about taking a road trip to Ghana from Lagos, Nigeria? Here's everything you need to know! Click To TweetWhat's Covered in this Post
Nigeria Ghana Road Trip: How do I travel from Lagos to Accra?
There are several options available to you. One option is to go with standard transport services. Most of the buses that ply this route have bus parks in Ajah, Yaba, Festac, etc. Another is to rent a car and a driver to take you down. You can find cars driving to Accra at Mile 2.
The last option is to rough it up and travel with regular public transport. I have a detailed breakdown of how to do that in this article.
Which bus service should I use to travel from Nigeria to Ghana?
This is entirely up to you. I’m not recommending anyone who isn’t paying me. hehe… Just kidding. I have tried out ABC and wrote a review about them here. I also attempted to travel with GUO transport but it did not end well. So I can’t recommend them in good faith. You just have to choose the lesser of two evils and pray for luck!
Nigeria Ghana Road Trip: Can I travel to Ghana in my personal vehicle?
Technically, yes. I reached out to the good people on Twitter for more information on how to do this and got several responses. I have collated them in this post.
Nigeria Ghana Road Trip: What documents do I need to travel from Nigeria to Ghana?
You need a valid International Passport and a Yellow Card to travel from Nigeria to Ghana. On rare occasions, immigration officers may ask for your accommodation details. It’s good to have that handy as well. Lastly, based on my personal experience, an extra ID may be useful. This could include your work or student ID or something that has your company credential on it (like a business card).
Can I travel to Ghana with an ECOWAS passport?
Yes, you can either travel with an ECOWAS passport or your international passport. This can be gotten from the immigration office closest to you.
Can I travel from Nigeria to Ghana without my International Passport?
You shouldn’t but I have seen people who constantly travel without one. I don’t think it’s worth the hassle. It’s just better to have the right documents. Also, getting stamps on your passport is a good way to start building your travel history.
Where can I get a Yellow Card in Nigeria?
Yellow Fever Cards can be gotten from the Port Health office close to the International Airport. At the time of this writing, this costs N2,000. This card is as important as your International Passport and like the latter, you can travel without it. But is it worth it? No. Sometimes, you end up paying even more than what this card costs apart from other extortion charges at the borders.
You can find out to get the new Yellow Card required for travel in this post.
How much does a Nigeria Ghana Road Trip Cost?
I have written a comprehensive breakdown of what it would cost you to travel from Lagos to Ghana in this article. A few things may differ and since this trip was taken in 2017, there are bound to be some changes. The article would give you a general idea of what to budget for and what to expect when crossing different borders.
Should I do a Nigeria Ghana Road Trip with Naira or USD?
Travelling with USD is always a good idea. It is universally accepted and you can easily find a BDC to get local currency. Some hotels would also accept payments in USD. Most won’t accept Naira. However, if you choose to travel with Naira, you can change money at the Aflao border. (Border between Togo and Ghana)
Will my Nigerian Naira Card work in Ghana?
Sadly, this isn’t guaranteed. If you must travel with your cards alone, make sure you have a dollar MasterCard as well. Card policies in Nigeria change like the weather. You could even get caught up in a policy change while abroad.
Road Trip to Ghana: Where can I change my money?
You can change Naira at any of the borders between Seme and Aflao.
How long is the journey from Lagos to Accra?
Prepare for an entire day’s trip. Most buses make stops in the Benin Republic and Togo. If you’re lucky, these stops will be short and won’t prolong your trip. My return journey from Accra to Lagos took about 17 hours. I broke down my onward journey, so the trip was bearable. I would recommend that you do the same if you have a bit more time. It’s just less stressful that way.
PS: Aflao border to Accra is another 4 hours – just thought to add this because I was so excited about getting into Ghana and I thought Accra would be 30 minutes away. Imagine my disappointment! If you’re travelling on your own, there’s an STC park close to the border gate. You can get a bus to Accra from there.
Nigeria Ghana Road Trip: What should I expect?
Expect to see gazillion checkpoints from Badagry to Seme. Expect the worst from the Seme border. You might be lucky (or skilled) to get a stress-free pass but prepare mentally, physically and financially for the worst. (Read about my latest border crossing experience here.)
At the time of this writing, roads are not optimal. The border crossing seems better with the opening of the new border control office. There isn’t much to write home about regarding views. Therefore, if you plan to travel by road solely because you want to enjoy the views, you might as well just fly. You won’t be missing anything.
I hope this article answers all the questions you might have regarding taking a Nigeria Ghana road trip. If you have any more questions for me, please leave them in the comment section below. You can also search through my Ghana Archives. You’ll probably find answers there as well.
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Thanks so much for the information,I intend travelling to Ghana this December and was kind of skeptical either to go through road or flight but reading through your writeup had me change my mind to want to have the road experience. Keep up the good work,thump up.
Hi, Amarachi
Nice article it’s very informative.
What transport company would you suggest? Would really love of having a comfortable ride.
Thanks Sola. Unfortunately, there’s no transport company that I fully recommend, as they tend to fall short in many areas. However, the regular services run by ABC and Cross Country seem to be better than most.
Please can you use Nigeria number in Ghana
Technically, you can. But roaming your Nigerian line can be extremely expensive. It is better to get a local sim card while you’re there.
Where can I get the yellow card and how is it going to be stamp
Hi Osigwe, I have written the process of getting one and where to do so in the post above. The card gets ‘stamped’ at the various borders
Hi I’m Abel from Ghana
I want to know the exact amount of money I may need to travel by car to Nigeria
Thanks
Hi Abel, if you’re referring to the costs of taking a personal vehicle, I am not entirely sure. However, you can have a look at this article for the rates we paid using the ABC transport service. https://www.travelwithapen.com/2017/04/22/travel-cost-breakdown-nigeria-ghana-road-trip/
Rates may be slightly higher now, so be sure to confirm with the bus company.
Just want to know if you have finish your finding about using your own personal car to travel to Ghana and what are the possible challenges one might face along the way.
Yes, I got some information about this. I’ll put it together and write about it later this month.
Hi Yemi, if you decide to travel with your own car in the long run, let me tag along…
Hi I’m Ibrahim and I want to travel to Ghana .can I use only my national identity card to do that?..please I need feedback
I’ve heard you can. I haven’t done it before, don’t know anyone (personally) who has. It’s best to ask the transport company you intend to travel with.
When I went to Ghana last year tru cross country it was a very wonderful experience although like 16hour’s but it worth it will be going soon
Good to know your experience was good. Mine wasn’t. Won’t be patronizing them anytime soon.
Wow, that was very impact full. I was contemplating traveling without valid travel documents, but with your professional advice? I will spare my self the story for the gods. Thanks.
If you can get those documents, just do so. Especially if you plan to visit other places. Good travel history makes for easier visa applications.
Hello, Amarachi I’m planning on going to Ghana on this Friday 24th of August 2018, please if I’m to get a bus from Mile 2 straight to Accra with my passport and Extra ID card with me, how much will it cost me. I’m not sleeping in any hotel because I have friends and family that I want to go and meet.
I want to know the amount it’s likely I can pay the driver without any disturb from anyone. The driver will do all the payment and stamping. Thank you for your help.
Hello Tee, if you want to avoid the border drama, best to go with a standard bus service. I’ve written all about my experience and estimated costs in this post and others in the archive. I’m not sure what a personal driver from Mile 2 would cost.
I recently gained admission to study in Ghana. From my research I was told some beverages in Nigeria can’t be found there. My question is if I can buy my provisions from Nigeria to Ghana without being sent back.
Thank you
Hi Evelyn, yes, you should be fine if you’re travelling with what customs deems as a reasonable amount for one person. Basically, if you have sufficient proof that you’re not going to sell these items, then you would be fine. PS: You may or may not encounter them at all..just responding generally…
Good day, my name Kingsley, please I’m planing to travel to Ghana ,which transport company is better to travel with and how much will it cost me to travel to Ghana
Hello Kingsley, I’ve answered these questions in the post.
Amarachi please I need your advice. I’m saddled to take my students (University) to Ghana in a month time from Ondo state. I need a dose of advise on how to get documents and the trip itself. Can lesse passe replace passport Because many of them do not have passports? Pls I need your help. Thanks
The officials at the borders are more lenient when relating with students and Youth Corps members and I have seen many of them having no documents go through without any issues. However, I would advise that you contact the transport company you choose to go with to get confirmation that this wouldn’t be a problem.
Thank you for the information here, they are really helpful. I am just comparing options with my wife and I found almost information. But how safe is Ghana or is there a suburb that is more safe to spend a holiday?
I never felt unsafe walking around (even at night in Accra – Osu Area), which is unlike how I feel doing the same thing in Lagos. So, yes, I guess I can say that it is relatively safe. Apply the same level of caution as you do in Nigeria, keep a low profile and you should be fine.
I want to travel to Ghana, is it possible to go without any of the documents
My response to this question is in this very same post.