By now, I’m guessing it is no news that I traveled from Lagos to Ghana by road a few months back. If you follow me on Instagram, you should have seen all my posts about my stay there and if you don’t, there’s this post I did on the blog here announcing my road trip to Ghana a few hours before I began my journey.
It was my first time going to Ghana and my first time having to plan a trip with someone who was also a first timer. A lot of the people I knew that went to Ghana from Lagos did so by road and seeing as we didn’t have enough funds to go by air, going by road was the only option.
What nobody told me about going from Lagos to Ghana by road is that it is going to be a long and exhausting journey. If I had known, maybe I would have been better prepared for the journey ahead. So, that’s why I’m writing this post to properly inform someone else.
Related: My Travel Details & Tips to Benin Republic (Cotonou)
This is going to be the first part of my Ghana travel series and in this post, I’ll basically be talking about my experience traveling from Lagos to Ghana by road, choosing a transport company and a bit of a review of the service. I’ll be doing a cost breakdown and list of places to visit a.k.a the exploring we got up to in another post.
Choosing A Transport Company.
My initial idea for our road trip to Ghana was to do it ourselves crossing from border to border and taking a rest for a night at each country we passed through but because money wasn’t exactly on our side, we had to go the direct route instead. Also, we both decided that we really didn’t want to have to go through the stress of crossing the border and having to do it over again at three different borders would have been too much for first timers like us.
I crossed just one border during my trip to Cotonou and I know how annoyed I was during the whole process even though we had a pro travel with us to help us prevent being scammed.
As expected, we made inquiries and ended up with two options – Chisco transport or ABC transport. We did some research on both travel companies and Chisco seemed like the best choice with fewer negative reviews (even though it was honestly like choosing between the devil and the deep dark sea)
Eventually, we decided to go with ABC transport only because Chisco didn’t have a restroom in the bus. Imagine going for such a long journey and having to mentally will your bladder not to need the rest room. I definitely wasn’t about that peeing in the bush life. Nah, miss me with that.
Because procrastination is my last name, I left booking our seats on the bus till last minute (Literally, the night before our trip). Fortunately, ABC transport has an online portal so we could book online right down to the seat number. We went with their executive express bus which is a 52 seater with AC, toilet facility and Tvs.
Cost.
Our departure time was for 7 A.M and we left our rooms thinking we had our seats pat down and all we had to do was pay + get checked in. Wrong! Instead, we got there only to find out that booking online only reserves your seat for a very short time. Meaning that we could have been left without any travel means if the bus was filled up regardless of the fact that we booked online! Thankfully, the bus still had lots of spaces so we were able to secure other seats.
The cost for the executive express from Lagos to Accra was N15, 500 per person although we paid some extra fees. I paid an extra 400Naira or so for my “virgin passport” (First time using the passport on the road to Ghana) and Alex paid an extra 2000 Naira for her yellow card (I came with mine).
Heading Back from Accra to Lagos, we paid N17,280 individually and Alex had to pay extra for her yellow card again because appaz, the first one was just for the “to” journey and not the “fro”. So, I’ll just advise you to get your own yellow card instead.
The Journey + Service
The departure time was meant to be 7 AM but we ended up leaving by close to 9 AM. Honestly, I wasn’t so bothered by this because I was prepared for the wait and a lot of people said it could have been longer so I was happy that it was just a 2-hour wait.
What bothered me the most was the many stops we had to do on the road with no one explaining why and what was happening. We were still in Lagos by 2 pm which was so frustrating! The bus kept stopping on the road side for long hours that I just had to go ask the driver what was happening. Apparently, our luggage was being checked by custom officials. sigh
Going from Lagos to Ghana by Road requires crossing three borders which are
- Lagos – Cotonou Border
- Cotonou – Togo Border
- Togo – Ghana Border
As expected, we didn’t get to Cotonou until about 4pm but crossing that border wasn’t so much stress. There was the long wait for everything to get checked at the border but at least we didn’t have to get down and cross by foot.
The Togo border was real!! We had to all get down from the bus to cross the border between Cotonou and Togo by Foot. Togo seemed like stepping into another time entirely, it was so windy and busy. For a minute there, Alex and I thought we had lost our bus. I lowkey panicked lol.
We also had to get down at the Ghana border for the immigration officials to check our bags. I mentioned that it was going to be a 12hr trip in my announcement post but it lasted almost 24hrs! We left Lagos by 9 am and didn’t get to the park in Ghana until past 12 am! This has to be the longest 24hrs of my life!
On the plus side, we were given food on the bus. Though I didn’t eat mine, I definitely didn’t see that coming so it was a pleasant surprise. And we also got biscuits and juice box to go with it. The long journey was also bearable because of the TVs, they played some really good Nigerian movies on the bus so I was kept a bit entertained.
Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Travelling From Lagos To Ghana By Road! Click To TweetThe road trip in itself wasn’t anything spectacular. We passed through mainly the rural areas of both countries and everywhere seemed to remind me of places in Nigeria – definitely nothing exciting.
Will I go on another road trip from Ghana to Lagos? Heck No! Okay, maybe I should be a bit easy on the No because the determining factor will be if I have flight money. haha. Also, If the journey will be broken down like I initially wanted or if we’ll be chartering a private bus for the journey, then Yes!
Have you been to Ghana? And did you go by Road? How was your experience? What transport company did you use and would you do it again?
Share, comment and let’s connect!
I think I’m slightly obsessed with the idea of traveling through countries by road. Sounds stressful but quite fun.
Wish they’d make the process go smoother but unfortunately, it’s Africa -_-
I’m obsessed with the idea too till I actually start one and want to die from sitting in one place for too long with nothing to do other than sleep and wake up lol
I have travelled from Senegal to Gambia and Senegal to Guinea Bissau I will say this, The roads in Senegal are so smooth! Also they have constant electricity I felt like I was in England. Gambian Road hmmmmmm na wa o they are like Nigerian roads! There is so much ‘galloping’. Roads in Bissau where good but the road into local areas wow probably worse than Nigeria! However, Bissau is problem the most beautiful country I have visited in West Africa! The road thing really depends on the country. 😀
http://www.Raetalks.co.uk
Ooh I enjoyed reading this Cassie. I can’t believe you could have ended up with no seats even though you booked before hand, that’s crazy. I would have been really frustrated too if the bus was still in Lagos at 2 PM, haba. Glad you got there safely though, great post! xx
Coco Bella Blog
Fammmm!Alex and I were shook when we heard that. At some point, I would just sleep and wake up continuously only to find that we were still in Lagos everytime!
Took forever! I know because during my trip to Benin – Cotonou, we got there by like 1pm and left around 10 or so
Great post haven’t been to Ghana But this post has given me an idea of what to expect
Great post.
http://www.giftcollins.com/how-to-let-go-of-clutter-and-breathe-the-konmari-way/
Thanks for reading Gift! I’m glad to read that you found it a bit useful to you
So i do go to ghana with cross country over 3 years now and am going this month again so which transport do u think is better now
Can’t deal with the 24 hours road trip, i’ll just get travel sick, waiting for the cost breakdown tho, probably travelling with friends will make it more bearable.
Will do that soon! Need to sit down and try to remember the posts properly. I kept a note while we were there but unfortunately I can’t even remember if I wrote it on my phone that crashed or in a note book smh
Good post and very useful. I’m planning one myself so I know what to expect. I was hoping to know the cool places you visited in Ghana. And pls your IG handle to check your trip pictures
That will be in another post because adding that here will be too long. I’m @CassieDaves. Scroll through my sidebar and you should see my instagram widget which you click for direct access.
Thanks for reading!!!!!
The instagram in the post is clickable too. All the words in pink are clickable
Thank you for sharing Cassie. Before reading through I sent the link to my frolleague asking if she wanted to try a vacay to Ghana by road but after reading I still would like to try it. So sorry you had to sleep and wake up every time in Lagos 🙁
Been waiting for this and I am not disappointed. I can’t wait for the next post.
I wonder why it took so long to leave Lagos though. E ma worry, God will provide for next time!
Mehn they just kept going round in circles. I think they even went to the 2 different borders we have between Lagos and Cotonou sef. Smh
You know I am biased about ABC, never again with them.
My first time in Ghana went with Efex on the Hiace bus, didn’t feel the need to pee all the time. The second time was with a tour company and we used the Coaster bus. Will I go to Ghana by road again, only of the trip is broken, the straight Lagos to Accra is exhausting and the transport companies waste too much time.
www,molarabrown.com
Too exhausting honestly!!
Is efex good how many hours is the trip
Wow!!!! I’m quite used to this though. I travel from Akwaibom to Lagos by road sometimes when coming back to school. It takes 8-12hrs if I’m lucky. Other unlucky times the whole day.
I can imagine. It’s not as long as this travelling from Lagos to my hometown in anambra state but th3 difference will be knowing there aren’t too many stops and long hours spent just staying at a spot
ha! this sounds like pure torture sha. Hope you made up for it by having a great time though? My brother went a while ago with his friends but they hired an entire bus so I am sure it was not half as stressful. I am looking to go there or Togo before the year ends, and I will be going to with my aunt who should just get a job as border security or something haha! she has been to too many African countries by road and is a top pro. Great post
I’d probably do it again. We broke our trip down in Benin Republic (Grand Popo – which we loved so much) and Togo, so it wasn’t too bad. Don’t think I’ll ever go directly from Lagos to Ghana. For our return trip, we used ABC as well, which was just horrible (although I have to give them credit for good driving).
http://www.travelwithapen.com
I’m a nigeria living in Ghana i want to visit nigeria and I lost my passport does anyone know if I can cross bother to my home country
Nice read. Babe! I went by road but i slept in each country for a night. It was a good experience as i had the joy of meeting up with old friends. But mehn, I flew Arik back to Lagos and then on to Abuja where i live. Unlike you, i couldn’t get anyone to travel with me eventually. But i had people who came from other countries for the retreat i had organised in Ghana. Will i like to go again? Yes! Wish we can plan a trip together sometime. Christmas maybe!. Cheers
Agjkoyxswvjkyw I’ve been waiting for this post since you announced it lol. I have actually never been in a road trip to anywhere outside Lagos and I really hope I break that jinx! I had the opportunity to travel by road to Ghana two years ago but I was busy doing something I can’t even remember and although you’ve said it’s very stressful, I still want to go 😩😩😭! I can’t wait for the other part of the travel series
Ps: your blog is amazeballs!
http://www.adoseoftola.wordpress.com
I’ve never been over our SA borders, but I enjoy travelling by road, long distance. It’s a good thing you went with the TVs and toilet option! Love this detailed post.
Sounds stressful a tad bit, but at least you had a great time there. It really shouldn’t be this bad. That said, if the money is there to fly, by all means and be there in one hour!
http://www.KacheeTee.com
Oops had do this over and over again been doing since 2012 my first time was scared nd missing home but fast forward to 2013 , was eager nd excited nd would be doing it again come november. I love accra it z peaceful.
Thanks for sharing Cassie. Why do I feel you didn’t exhaust the experiences you had on the trip…how were the passengers on the bus? Noisy, no children, no child/adult vomiting? Sorry I just know that as fun as road trips can be, the experience can be unpleasant too from the take off point.
It was a good read.
I’m so glad I came across this post. Funnily enough, my friends and I are planning to travel to Ghana by road next year. Although I have questions. Must you have a green card and all?. I’m asking because mine has expired. And I know this is embarrassing but what is a yellow card and how can I get it. Thanks
Hey B, yes you must have a Nigerian passport to you have to renew yours asap. A yellow card is something that shows you’ve been vaccinated and you can get it at the airport (I hear) but I got mine at the border when I travelled to Cotonou
If I have to renew my passport how long will it take to be renewed for me
GUO Transport has 13 seater Hiace buses which departs on time and is about 11 hours going. You may consider any trip using a smaller and faster vehicle
Nice post. Would have loved to know about your experience in Ghana . Keep it up
Great post,
I am planning to travel from Cameroon/Yaounde to Lagos by plane then from Lagos/Cotonou – Cotonou/Lome -Lome/Accra – Accra/Abidjan by road… then Abidjan/Dakar/Yaounde by plane…
I should start this trip in March, I am very exited and petrified at the same time for the road journeys… so I am reading many blogs to get a feel of what it is going to be like…
Thanks for sharing 🙂 x
Thanks for sharing. I want to travel by road to Ghana from Nigeria my dad said it is a must he thinks by getting a plane you miss out in seeing amazing views.
www,raetalks.co.uk
I am also planning to travel by road too sonn, Dont mind if we could join together to make the journey intresting.
Greetings ADE, have you made the trip already or still planning? I’d love to join cos as they say, ‘the more the merrier’…
@Cassie, great post babe. I’m proud of you, my Anambra sister.
Dear Cassie,
I travelled by road from Lagos to Accra last year June with Chisco Transport and it was quite fun filled. Although I travelled with the minibus which was quite faster, hence I’d recommend one should travel to Accra with an 18seater bus as immigration check is slower for 18folks compared to 52 or more. If you are traveling as a business person with lots of goods then the big coaster is your choice.
Chisco charged me around 35k (no passport then, although it’s around 25k for passport holder) for return trip and I was given a discount for booking online, the trip lasted approximately 12hours for onward trip and about 15hours for return trip (the return driver was quite slow and extra careful…lol).
Conclusively, travelling by road is not a bad idea but if you value time and you have the means, I’d strongly recommend you travel by air for subsequent trips.
I’ll be traveling to Tamale in a few weeks time which is like 12hours from Accra, and I’m not yet sure of the modality for travel. All things be equal, I’ll love to do a return trip to Accra by air and Accra to tamale by road to experience the up north journey in Accra.
Love your Post!
Thanks for the insight! Really planning on a first trip to Ghana, and with this your experience you’ve shared…. I think I’ll have a rethink on my budget. Great post!!!
Hi Chidi I am planning one too
Have you gone, how was it?
What transport company did you go with?
I plan on travelling to Ghana by road very soon. I don’t understand the yellow card stuff. could u enlighten me on the things we need to travel to Ghana because i don’t have a passport
Traveling from Lagos to Ghana is not as stressful as you all think.
I had the same experience traveling from Lagos to Ghana with ABC and that was my first time.
Why travel with coaster buses when you can travel with Hiace bus.. Come on..
You’ll definitely spend 24hours on the road with coaster buses because the bus is filled with almost 50 passengers or more which means the number of passports to be stamped at each border will be more which in turn will take longer time to cover..
If you want to enjoy your trip please go with hummer{Hiace} bus.. You’ll be just fine.
I travel from lagos to Ghana ocassionally and I arrive Ghana at 4pm..
I’m not trying to patronize any transportation company but come on Guo is great.
Just look for hummer buses while traveling.
Thanks
wow. I just came back from my trip to Togo recently in October too. Its not all that bad, basic is to prepare your psyche and determine to enjoy the road trip. The only part i had issues with is the Nigerian end. Aside potholes too many unnecessay stops by F r s c, Immigration , Custom, N D L E A and all manner… Haba no be only us.. lol.
But in ll i sure did enjoy my stay in Lome. at least i was there for 28 days
Nice one,plz can you tell me where to board a bus going to Ghana and what are the necessary things to do before going
I now know what it takes to go to Ghana from Lagos. B4 now I did not know is that stressful. I also know that one needs her yellow card. So l now know what to expect when I want to go to Ghana. Thank u.
Good day. Hope u good. Pls will b going to Ghana in July/ August. Where& how do I get a yellow card& how much does it cost cos I want to explore dis journey travelling by road too
Ghana road trip is soo good with GUO transport. Leave by 5am get there by 5pm quite literally
Thanks for this Cassie
GUO? dON’T THINK i’VE HEARD OF THEM OH BUT WILL DEFINITELY KEEP THIS INFO IN MIND.
Hi CASSIE, your post was very helpful. i am planing a road trip with my fiance that was how i came about your website. have you had another recent trip to Ghana and is there a hotel you can recommend. thank you
Hiii, so sorry I haven’t been there again 🙁
I’ve travelled, I’m planning to travel this forthcoming 2020 Easter holiday. I will need to correct a statement, those who had no yellow card are meant to pay #400 while those with virgin passport or never travel by land before on that route paid #2000. I’m familiar with ABC Transport. I never get bored. Maybe because of the entertainment and new people I met on board.
I’ve travelled, I’m planning to travel this forthcoming 2020 Easter holiday. I will need to correct a statement, those who had no yellow card are meant to pay #400 while those with virgin passport or never travel by land before on that route paid #2000. I’m familiar with ABC Transport. I never get bored. Maybe because of the entertainment and new people I met on board.
Anyone who overstayed in Ghana, meaning stayed in Ghana beyond 3 months without valid Ghana permit will have to pay a sum of #10,000 before ABC transport can allow such person to be on board despite transit fee payment. Kindly avoid overstaying.if u cant afford penalty fee.
Yeeeassss, this was my frequent route some years back mehn. I hate and miss the journey. The food at the border, angry custom officers at accents lol. wonderful mehn.
Hi. I know I come four years late to comment on your report but four years ago Africa was a black hole in my brain data base. And then, four months ago I went to Africa for the first time and spent six weeks in three countries: Ghana, Zambia, and Uganda: I LOVE AFRICA!!! However, my initial plan had been to visit Nigeria as well, but I kept reading frightening stories about securitiy issues (‘never travel overland unless you can secure an armed security team” – more or less original text from the German ministry of foreign affairs), that I didn’t dare. But the wish remained, so I googled today ‘overland from accra to lagos’, and here I am. And I am delighted to know that there are marvellous buses with wc, food, drinks, tv making the trip in only 24 hours, some nice controll breaks giving the opportunity to step out and strecht your legs, or even passing from one country to another by foot, thereby getting the feeling of another time and another place… and that all for just… how much it was? forget it, for affordable money. Who could ask for more..!? Well, I’ll have to make the info update by myself and the exhausting mental work of imagining that if there is a bus Lagos – Accra, there should also be a bus (the same?) Accra – Lagos (I’ll manage). Cassandra, I love you! If you were a ticket office, I would be dumping the info update and just book with you. Lots of greetings!