Ada & the Volta estuary

Ada is the closest thing Accra has to a true weekend escape: a wide estuary, sandbars, boat trips and birdlife where the river meets the Atlantic. It suits groups, families and anyone who wants water and quiet within a couple of hours of the city.

Drive or take a tro-tro from Accra's Tudu station toward Ada Foah; the trip is 2-2.5 hours via Tema and the Aflao road. A taxi from Accra costs more but saves the changes. Most places to stay sit along the estuary or out on the spit, so confirm your final transfer when you book.

Once you're on the estuary, boats are the main transport: to sandbars, islands and across to the spit. Between resorts taxis are limited, so arrange pick-ups in advance or stay within walking distance of what you want to do.

• Take a boat trip at sunset when the estuary is calm and the birds are moving; settle the price and duration before boarding.
• The estuary is tidal and the sandbars shift, so go with a local boatman who knows the channels rather than a borrowed canoe.
• Weekends and public holidays fill up fast; book accommodation early and expect higher prices.
• Bring mosquito repellent. The wetlands are beautiful and so is the mosquito population at dusk.