Road Trippin’ from Lagos to Ghana – III

Our final stop on our Lagos to Ghana road trip was Cape Coast, Ghana. The first was Grand Popo, where we spent the first two days of the tour and the next was Ghana’s capital city, Accra.

Lagos to Ghana by Road - Benin Republic
I love accra

Lagos to Ghana by Road: Getting to Cape Coast

For our journey to Cape Coast, we travelled with STC, one of Ghana’s bus services. The trip, which lasted for about 2.5 hours, was extremely comfortable and pleasant. (Different from our return journey into Nigeria using the ABC bus service. Ghana 1 – Nigeria 0.)

Our departure time was 8:30 am. By 8:34 am, the bus was getting ready to pull out of the park but there were already complaints about the service being late. I thought to myself, this must be nice. In Nigeria, a bus leaving 30 minutes late was considered a punctual bus!

Anyway, we eventually left at 8:37 am and got to Cape Coast at about 11:30 am, just before the rains started.

STC Accra
STC Cape Coast

For most of this trip, we’ve been blessed with sunny weather even though the rainy season has fully kicked off. It rained heavily the night before our trip and during our transit into the Benin Republic and Ghana. The rains somehow managed to stop every time we arrived at our destination and I was hoping for the same luck in Cape Coast.

Upon arrival, we took a taxi to our hotel. After getting checked in, the skies opened up and it began to rain heavily. We decided to take the time to rest and have brunch with the hopes that the rains would stop before it was time to head out. Luckily, by 2 pm, it did and we grabbed a taxi to visit Elmina castle.

Lagos to Ghana Road Trip: Visiting Elmina Castle

We can’t change the past BUT we can learn from it and change the future…

elmina castle

Oh, the history in this place! I’ve followed the slave trade routes in a few African countries (including Nigeria) but there’s just something about the Elmina and Cape Coast castles in Ghana. Our guides didn’t make things any easier for us either as they spared no gruesome details of the inhumane conditions humans were kept and traded.

There were all kinds of emotions during this tour. From sadness to anger and frustration to fear. We felt everything. (I’ll write more about the tour in a separate post)

Elmina Castle Ghana

After our tour, we returned to our hotel and had dinner at a local chop bar. The next day, we set out early to visit Kakum National Park and the Cape Coast castle.

Lagos to Ghana Road Trip: Visiting Kakum National Park

Our first stop was the park – whose main attraction is the canopy walkway. It was some distance away from where we stayed, so we hired a taxi for half the day. He took us to the park and helped us get discounts on the entry fees.

kakum national park
kakum national park cape coast

Next, we visited the Cape Coast Castle. This one was much smaller than Elmina but no less incredible. Again, the tour was quite emotional. We were glad we took all our ‘happy’ pictures before it began…

Lagos to Ghana Road Trip: Visiting Cape Coast Castle

Cape Coast Castle Ghana
cape coast castle
capecoast castle
Cape Coast Ghana

Once we were done, Baba, our taxi driver took us to a park close by where we got tickets for a mini bus (not STC) heading to Accra.

With that, our little West African tour came to an end. We returned to Accra and spent the next day with new friends – Meyiwa & Juliana. It was a great ending to our visit as they hosted us in their lovely hotel apartment and even taught me to swim! Hehe…

We love Accra

We loved our time in Grand Popo and Accra, I hope you enjoyed following our journey too 🙂

PS: Here’s a list of all the articles in this series;

Road Tripping from Lagos to Grand Popo

Grand Popo to Accra

Accra to Cape Coast (The Castles & Kakum National Park)

Travel Cost Breakdown

A Review of Services.

22 comments

    1. I don’t know about towns but we were in the city (of Cape Coast) and visited the places in the article.

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

Close
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
3 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan!

Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below!

Happy Travels!
Your Japan trip planning doesn't have to be so overwhelming! Here's a guide to help spread out the timeline for a stress-free holiday to Japan! Let me know if you found this helpful in the comment section below! Happy Travels!
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
This lodge is the perfect place to start or end your trip to Namibia. It was certainly a highlight of ours! 💙

📍Voigtland Guesthouse 🇳🇦 Would you stay here?
This lodge is the perfect place to start or end your trip to Namibia. It was certainly a highlight of ours! 💙 📍Voigtland Guesthouse 🇳🇦 Would you stay here?
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Dreaming of visiting Hong Kong? 🇭🇰 If so, you're in luck because the visa application is one of the easiest (and cheapest) out there for Nigerian passport holders.⁣
⁣
💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤" for a step-by-step guide, and I'll share all the details with you via DM! 🛫📨⁣
⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠?: I first learned how easy the application process was via @travelletters_ ⁣
⁣
Then I found out that I could save 💸💸💸 if I rerouted my flights to East Asia through HK. Plus, this is a new destination for me anyway, so win-win! 🏆⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Visit the Gov.HK - comment "Hong Kong" and I'll share this directly to your DM 📩⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 4-6 weeks. So apply early!⁣
⁣
𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬: Ordinary visa $230 HKD, which = ~$30 USD. For a transit visa, it's only $120 HKD⁣
⁣
Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below!
Dreaming of visiting Hong Kong? 🇭🇰 If so, you're in luck because the visa application is one of the easiest (and cheapest) out there for Nigerian passport holders.⁣ ⁣ 💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 "𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤" for a step-by-step guide, and I'll share all the details with you via DM! 🛫📨⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝐡𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠?: I first learned how easy the application process was via @travelletters_ ⁣ ⁣ Then I found out that I could save 💸💸💸 if I rerouted my flights to East Asia through HK. Plus, this is a new destination for me anyway, so win-win! 🏆⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲: Visit the Gov.HK - comment "Hong Kong" and I'll share this directly to your DM 📩⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 4-6 weeks. So apply early!⁣ ⁣ 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐬: Ordinary visa $230 HKD, which = ~$30 USD. For a transit visa, it's only $120 HKD⁣ ⁣ Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section below!
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
Latest Posts
  • Lazy Days in Mahé: From Rough Beginnings to Paradise

  • 7 New Romantic Korean Dramas I’m Binging This Spring!

  • A Planning Timeline for a Trip to Japan!

  • DIY: How to Apply for an e-visa to Hong Kong

  • The Premium Class Coach on the SGR – Let’s Talk about it!

Translate
Become an Insider!
Archives
Close

Travel with a Pen

Seek out New Adventures, Travel Differently

Travel with a Pen © Copyright 2025
Close