Ghana African Home from Home Lodge
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Basic information
Country: Dzita Village, Eastern Coast of Ghana
Price: £350 per person (1 week) based on 2 sharing a double room. Includes airport pickup and drop off, accommodation and all meals, a local guide and all tour activities. Excluding flights.
Associated activities: A wide range of activities aimed at getting to know the local community, African life and culture. Including swimming, canoeing, trekking, visiting local markets, taking part in local goings on (shamanic rituals, wedding, initiation), having your own clothes made, touring the local cultural and historical sites, and much much more. Scroll down to learn more.
Country: Dzita Village, Eastern Coast of Ghana
Price: £350 per person (1 week) based on 2 sharing a double room. Includes airport pickup and drop off, accommodation and all meals, a local guide and all tour activities. Excluding flights.
Associated activities: A wide range of activities aimed at getting to know the local community, African life and culture. Including swimming, canoeing, trekking, visiting local markets, taking part in local goings on (shamanic rituals, wedding, initiation), having your own clothes made, touring the local cultural and historical sites, and much much more. Scroll down to learn more.
What is it?
In the West we lead fast, crammed complex lives. We have so much to do, and to get done, and there is little time to stop and do nothing much. In Africa life is much slower, and the days stretch long, hot and unhurried. This is a great place to rest, relax and reflect. There is lots going on, but you can choose your level of participation and be as busy or as quiet as you like.
In the West we lead fast, crammed complex lives. We have so much to do, and to get done, and there is little time to stop and do nothing much. In Africa life is much slower, and the days stretch long, hot and unhurried. This is a great place to rest, relax and reflect. There is lots going on, but you can choose your level of participation and be as busy or as quiet as you like.
1. Local Activities
When you arrive you will be given a local orientation by our guides. They will give you a lesson on the history of the local people (which is known from the very first people who came to the area onwards). You will also be given a Ewe language lesson aimed at giving you the basic language skills to exchange greetings with local people. People here have set greetings which they use each time they meet, and being able to exchange pleasantries with the locals is much appreciated. |  |
2. Meet, enjoy and partake in rural African life.
The lodge is a part of the Dzita and the Dzita Abledomi communities. We are deeply embedded in these communities, and our aim is to introduce you to life in rural Africa and to enable you to take part in daily life and in special events. You will be with one of our local guides for all these activities.
The lodge is a part of the Dzita and the Dzita Abledomi communities. We are deeply embedded in these communities, and our aim is to introduce you to life in rural Africa and to enable you to take part in daily life and in special events. You will be with one of our local guides for all these activities.
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3. Visits to the Local Schools
We work closely with three local schools. These schools are very happy to show you around so you can meet the teachers and the children and get an idea of how a rural Ghanaian school runs. Be prepared for a shock though. Compared to our schools these schools have no resources or equipment.
We work closely with three local schools. These schools are very happy to show you around so you can meet the teachers and the children and get an idea of how a rural Ghanaian school runs. Be prepared for a shock though. Compared to our schools these schools have no resources or equipment.
4. Meet Me There Activities
There is an impressive range of material available in Ghana. We have an onsite seamstress, and an offsite tailor, and many of our visitors love to buy material at the markets and have some clothes made up for themselves.
There is an impressive range of material available in Ghana. We have an onsite seamstress, and an offsite tailor, and many of our visitors love to buy material at the markets and have some clothes made up for themselves.
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5. Trips Around Our Local Area
There are slave forts along the coast of Ghana, and the fort in Keta is the closest to us. This is a difficult and sad trip, but it is a chance for us to show our respect and remember those who were taken from Africa as slaves not so long ago.
Perhaps everyone's favourite outing, this boat trip down to Volta river to the sea is really good fun. Most of us, plus all our drums and a couple of cool boxes of drinks head for the boat on the Volta River. We drum and sing our way down the river to the sea, where we hop off the boat and look around the spit of land where the river and the sea meet. From there we cruise around the lagoon behind Ada, and then continue back up the river.
There are slave forts along the coast of Ghana, and the fort in Keta is the closest to us. This is a difficult and sad trip, but it is a chance for us to show our respect and remember those who were taken from Africa as slaves not so long ago.
Perhaps everyone's favourite outing, this boat trip down to Volta river to the sea is really good fun. Most of us, plus all our drums and a couple of cool boxes of drinks head for the boat on the Volta River. We drum and sing our way down the river to the sea, where we hop off the boat and look around the spit of land where the river and the sea meet. From there we cruise around the lagoon behind Ada, and then continue back up the river.
6. Trips further into Ghana
You can take a trip out with our driver and a guide or two and go for a couple of days into the mountains. The journey will take you through some amazing scenery. It is half a day’s drive to get there and you stay for two nights in the lovely Mountain Paradise Guest House. When there you can book onto an organised hike along the mountain trails to the waterfalls, and to see cocoa trees. Walking boots are necessary.
You can take a trip out with our driver and a guide or two and go for a couple of days into the mountains. The journey will take you through some amazing scenery. It is half a day’s drive to get there and you stay for two nights in the lovely Mountain Paradise Guest House. When there you can book onto an organised hike along the mountain trails to the waterfalls, and to see cocoa trees. Walking boots are necessary.
7. Special Events
At Easter each year the local community holds it’s annual Easter Homecoming Festival or Deba. All Dzita citizens, who may have spread all over the country or all over the world, return to their home town to celebrate their history, their community and their families. The festivities cover about five days and there is quite a program. If you want to see how communities get together and celebrate themselves then this is a great time to visit. It is the most important community event for the whole year and a great example of a very lively intense African festival.
At Easter each year the local community holds it’s annual Easter Homecoming Festival or Deba. All Dzita citizens, who may have spread all over the country or all over the world, return to their home town to celebrate their history, their community and their families. The festivities cover about five days and there is quite a program. If you want to see how communities get together and celebrate themselves then this is a great time to visit. It is the most important community event for the whole year and a great example of a very lively intense African festival.
We arrange a program of events for our visitors, and for all of us running our home lodge. These include a talent show, a beauty contest, canoe races, swimming races, an early morning run ( with singing and dancing ), the Christmas feast, numerous parties over this period with reggae nights, dj's , etc. So, if you would like a really different Christmas, why not meet us there.
How do I get there?
We will pick you up from the airport in Accra, and drop you back there at the end of your stay. We are on the Eastern Coast of Ghana two and a half hours from Accra.
We will pick you up from the airport in Accra, and drop you back there at the end of your stay. We are on the Eastern Coast of Ghana two and a half hours from Accra.
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What facilities can I expect?
The bedrooms and veranda's are completely screened off so they are safe from mosquitos. All have a shower, toilet and wash basin. All the bedrooms have a fan. Each veranda has a couple of comfortable chairs and a table.
We have 2 great chefs. Ghanaian food is delicious and healthy. We use mostly fresh local ingredients which we buy in the surrounding markets. We also have our own vegetable garden, and we raise chicken and fish. Ghanaian cuisine is traditionally pretty hot so we have a lot of dishes that have been attuned to a more Western pallet ( much milder ).
The bedrooms and veranda's are completely screened off so they are safe from mosquitos. All have a shower, toilet and wash basin. All the bedrooms have a fan. Each veranda has a couple of comfortable chairs and a table.
We have 2 great chefs. Ghanaian food is delicious and healthy. We use mostly fresh local ingredients which we buy in the surrounding markets. We also have our own vegetable garden, and we raise chicken and fish. Ghanaian cuisine is traditionally pretty hot so we have a lot of dishes that have been attuned to a more Western pallet ( much milder ).
Why does this accommodation make a difference?
Your visit will directly support the local community and a lot of your holiday payment will reach this community.. As well as this we have many projects on the go which directly benefit the local people.
Environment
We are trying to protect the local remaining wildlife. We have implemented turtle patrols on the beaches for the last 3 years, and pay to release captured turtles. We also protect any other captured wild animals we find and either protect the animals permanently or re-release them into the wild.
We inform our guests as to our wildlife efforts and encourage them to participate in and support our projects.
Wildlife education. We work with the local chiefs and opinion leaders to persuade local people to protect and conserve local wildlife.
We are planting trees in the area.
We are working with the Development Groups in each of the villages to provide public toilets and clean water points for the community.
In our second phase of building we are incorporating rainwater collection and a grey water recycling system. We will move to solar and wind generated electricity when we can afford the capital investment.
All the accommodation is build out of mud blocks bought from local families. They are cooled by the sea breeze and fans rather than air conditioning.
Our gardens are organic and we encourage a wide range of wildlife (as our most effective method of insect control).
We compost all organic matter from the kitchens and from the gardens.We recycle all glass and plastic bottles.
We have started a scheme to offset carbon by planting trees. This also provides local employment and protects the environment. In time the trees become a source of wealth for the community. If you wish to offset the carbon from your flight we can plant trees for you at a cost of £1 a tree. This will pay for the planting, manure, watering and protection for the first 2 years of the trees life until it is established.
Community
The lodge has been specifically built to enable people to get to know Africa, and to help improve life in the local community. We do this by:
Providing employment. All the staff are from Ghana. We employ 32 people at the moment. All of them receive extensive training.
We make a contribution to the local people for all our trips into the community. We ensure that half the cost of the tours is paid to the local participants.
For the last 5 years we have been raising money to help raise standards in the 3 local schools by improving the school facilities. We have raised and donated £3000 to the local schools over the last 5 years.
We are working with the chiefs to provide school clothes and equipment for children whose families cannot afford it. We have donated £750 to this fund over the last 3 years.
We have been asked to build a clinic by the local community. So far we have bought the land and have started making blocks to build with. We have donated £2000 to this project over the last 2 years.
We source everything possible locally in an effort to contribute into the local economy. All the services, such as electricians, builders, etc, are provided by local people.
Where is it?
Your visit will directly support the local community and a lot of your holiday payment will reach this community.. As well as this we have many projects on the go which directly benefit the local people.
Environment
We are trying to protect the local remaining wildlife. We have implemented turtle patrols on the beaches for the last 3 years, and pay to release captured turtles. We also protect any other captured wild animals we find and either protect the animals permanently or re-release them into the wild.
We inform our guests as to our wildlife efforts and encourage them to participate in and support our projects.
Wildlife education. We work with the local chiefs and opinion leaders to persuade local people to protect and conserve local wildlife.
We are planting trees in the area.
We are working with the Development Groups in each of the villages to provide public toilets and clean water points for the community.
In our second phase of building we are incorporating rainwater collection and a grey water recycling system. We will move to solar and wind generated electricity when we can afford the capital investment.
All the accommodation is build out of mud blocks bought from local families. They are cooled by the sea breeze and fans rather than air conditioning.
Our gardens are organic and we encourage a wide range of wildlife (as our most effective method of insect control).
We compost all organic matter from the kitchens and from the gardens.We recycle all glass and plastic bottles.
We have started a scheme to offset carbon by planting trees. This also provides local employment and protects the environment. In time the trees become a source of wealth for the community. If you wish to offset the carbon from your flight we can plant trees for you at a cost of £1 a tree. This will pay for the planting, manure, watering and protection for the first 2 years of the trees life until it is established.
Community
The lodge has been specifically built to enable people to get to know Africa, and to help improve life in the local community. We do this by:
Providing employment. All the staff are from Ghana. We employ 32 people at the moment. All of them receive extensive training.
We make a contribution to the local people for all our trips into the community. We ensure that half the cost of the tours is paid to the local participants.
For the last 5 years we have been raising money to help raise standards in the 3 local schools by improving the school facilities. We have raised and donated £3000 to the local schools over the last 5 years.
We are working with the chiefs to provide school clothes and equipment for children whose families cannot afford it. We have donated £750 to this fund over the last 3 years.
We have been asked to build a clinic by the local community. So far we have bought the land and have started making blocks to build with. We have donated £2000 to this project over the last 2 years.
We source everything possible locally in an effort to contribute into the local economy. All the services, such as electricians, builders, etc, are provided by local people.
Where is it?
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