Coastal West Africa Books

Ghana, 4th (Bradt Travel Guide)

Philip Briggs

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Helpful if you were going to Ghana 5 years ago 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book is very detailed and helpful, the only problem is that much of the information has not been updated for quite some time. There are many places listed that are no longer in existance (restaurants, banks, etc) and many new places that are nowhere to be found in the book. It says it was updated in 2007 but I was in Ghana in early 2008 and most of these things I am referring to have been around (or not been around) for quite some time. Also, the prices mentioned in the book are about 50% lower than what can be expected when you go to Ghana, and perhaps even more given the rapid rate of inflation there; the prices of almost everything went up at least some amount during my 4-month stay there, from beach fares down to avocados at the fruit stands.

A few nitpicky details:
The book recommends against taking public busses without air conditioning (and therefore does not give schedules for them). However, on a tight schedule or budget (or even not) the non-air-conditioned busses are more than comfortable.
Also, the book says that a taxi ride to Mole National Park from Tamale should take about 2 hours (or 2.5, I can't remember). This is WRONG, it takes about 5 hours.
The fee to get into Labadi Beach was 2c on weekdays, 4c on weekends and holidays, not the .50c that the book cites. (This discrepancy is probably due to the general unreliability of prices/rapid inflation mentioned earlier.)
The book mentions Macumba nightclub as a popular place in Accra. I lived across the street from Macumba, and the only people for whom it is popular are hookers and the creepy men looking for hookers. To be fair, the book does allude to this. Other popular nightspots that aren't mentioned in the book include Cinderella's, The Office, Tantra, and Aphrodesiac.

Overall, the book is certainly the best on the market as far as Ghana travel goes, if not solely for the reason that it is the only book that I am aware of dedicated to Ghana and not just West Africa with a tiny section on Ghana. It provides reliable enough information to be able to get around the country, as well as valuable background information on Ghanaian culture and history. Travellers should simply be forwarned that not everything in this book can be taken at face value, and travel plans (and budgets) need to be flexible enough to accomodate for this fact.

Editorial Review:

Bradt’s Ghana has remained the bestselling guide to the country since it was first published in 1998, being used by almost every English-speaking visitor there. Visitors will discover a country steeped in a rich cultural tradition and little-visited attractions.
Ghana is an uncrowded place to go for game-viewing with Mole National Park and Baobeng Monkey Sanctuary among the highlights.

Journey Without Maps (Penguin Classics)

Graham Greene

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

In the heart of darkness, a ray of light 4 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Graham Greene is a famous 20th C novelist ("The Orient Express") who also wrote a few travel accounts. This is his first, when he was 31 years old and left Europe for the first time in his life to experience the uncivilized "dark heart of Africa" by traveling through the back country of Liberia in 1935. It was a 4-week, 350-mile walk, mostly through an unchanging tunnel forest path, ending each day in a primitive village. He had about a dozen black porters who would carry him in a sling, although he walked much of the way.

It's written with a very "old school" perspective, with one foot in the 19th (or 18th) century of romantic colonial imperialism, and one foot in the pre-war 1930s perspective of deterioration, rot and things falling apart. Heavy whiskey drinking, descriptions of the festering diseases of the natives, and plethora of bothersome insects, the run down European outposts and a motley cast of white rejects fill many descriptive pages.

It reminds me a lot of Samuel Johnson's "Journals of the Western Isles" (1770s) when Johnson, who had never left England in his life, decided to go to Scotland to see what uncivilized people were like. Just as Johnson brought Boswell who would go on to write his own version of the trip, Greene brought his female cousin Barbara Greene (who remains unnamed in the book and largely unmentioned), who went on to write her own version of the trip in the 1970s called "Too Late to Turn Back", which mostly contradicts Grahams version.

I can't say I totally enjoyed this book, I found Greene's attitude irritating - but therein lies its value, as a snapshot of prewar European zeitgeist. It is reminiscent of "Kabloona" (1940), another prewar travel account to an uncivilized place (Arctic Eskimos) by a young European aristocrat, who also is deeply inward looking and finds a new perspective and appreciation for the "cave man" people he meets. It's very much a transition period between prewar and post-war attitudes and the fluctuation's back and forth, the sense of things falling apart, but also new-found perspective, make it a challenging but interesting work.

Editorial Review:

His mind crowded with vivid images of Africa, Graham Greene set off in 1935 to discover Liberia, a remote and unfamiliar republic founded for released slaves. Now with a new introduction by Paul Theroux, Journey Without Maps is the spellbinding record of Greene’s journey. Crossing the red-clay terrain from Sierra Leone to the coast of Grand Bassa with a chain of porters, he came to know one of the few areas of Africa untouched by colonization. Western civilization had not yet impinged on either the human psyche or the social structure, and neither poverty, disease, nor hunger seemed able to quell the native spirit. BACKCOVER: “One of the best travel books [of the twentieth] century.”
—Norman Sherry

“Journey Without Maps and The Lawless Roads reveal Greene’s ravening spiritual hunger, a desperate need to touch rock bottom within the self and in the humanly created world.”
—The Times Higher Education Supplement

The Village of Waiting

George Packer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A book of little inherent value. 1 out of 5 stars.
17 of 37 people found this review helpful.

I have to disagree with every review written about this book thusfar. It is not well written, for one. The style is amateurish, and it has little substance.
But that's not what really bothers me about this book. What really bothers me is that he writes about soliciting a prostitute that he describes as having a "twelve-year-old's body." Another thing that bothered me was that George Packer dropped out of the Peace Corps without even telling his so-called friends in the village that he was leaving. He wasted the opportunity that was given to him, wrote a mediocre book about it, and yet reviewers come on Amazon.com and laud it.
Want some free advice? Read any other book about Africa, Togo, or the Peace Corps instead. This one is not very good.

Editorial Review:

Now restored to print with a new Foreword by Philip Gourevitch and an Afterword by the author, this book is a frank, moving, and vivid account of contemporary life in West Africa. Stationed as a Peace Corps instructor in the village of Lavié (the name means "wait a little more") in tiny and underdeveloped Togo, Packer reveals his own schooling at the hands of an unforgettable array of townspeople--peasants, chiefs, charlatans, children, market women, cripples, crazies, and those who, having lost or given up much of their traditional identity and fastened their hopes on "development," find themselves trapped between the familiar repetitions of rural life and the chafing monotony of waiting for change.

An African in Greenland (New York Review Books Classics)

Tete-Michel Kpomassie, A. Alvarez

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very unusual travel book 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

One of the most unusual travel books ever written, covering two exotic societies in the eyes of the west: animist West Africa and the eskimos of Greenland. Written originally in french about 25 years ago, and covering events happening in the 50s and 60s, the book starts as Tete-Michel Kpomassie, a teenager in his native Togo, nearly dies in a fall from a tree. After that, his father sends him to a local python cult in the jungle to cure him. In gratitude, the father decides Tete is destined to become a priest in the cult. But Tete has another ideas. While recovering from his injuries, he finds by chance a book about Greenland and became obsessed with the idea of going there. By a sustained effort of will, Kpomassie worked his way through Africa and Europe before arriving in Greenland after several years. Being possibly the first African to visit Greenland, and the first black person most of the Greenlanders had ever seen, he becomes a minor celebrity. He travels up north through the coast of west Greenland, stopping in several villages, where he was invariably taken into someone's home as a guest. He candidly writes about his shock about what he saw as a lack of personal hygiene on the part of the greenlanders as well as their sexual promiscuity. Kpomassie is an excellent observer. The first chapters are wonderful, as he let us see an animist society from the inside. And his travels in Greenland are fascinating too.

Editorial Review:

A chance encounter with a picture book about Greenland inspires the young Tete-Michel Kpomassie to embark on a life-changing journey that would last ten years. Leaving his native Togo, he travels to the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mauritania, Paris, and Copenhagen before reaching his ultimate destination. The author's distinctly African voice and perspective create a narrative that is refreshingly free of Western assumptions and prejudices. Readers witness innumerable culture clashes between the African and Inuit cultures, as well as occasional surprising similarities. A New York Times Notable Book.

Tropical Gangsters: One Man's Experience With Development And Decadence In Deepest Africa

Robert Klitgaard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A highly informative and unique book 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

It is not very common to find a World Bank economist who writes with a touch of humor, humility and eloquence, but that is exactly what you will discover in this unique book. The author was a World Bank advisor assigned to the tiny African nation of Equatorial Guinea in the late 1980's, a time when many African nations were beginning to flirt with market reforms and economic liberalization. This book is kind of like a personal diary of the time he spent there. It is written in an easygoing, informal style. He alternates between discussing his job- trying to develop an economic strategy that will enable E. Guinea to qualify for a World Bank loan- and discussing his recreational activities, which range from surfboarding to hanging out with African rock stars. He introduces us to many people- government officials, "experts" from the UN and other international organizations, and ordinary Equatoguineans. He seems to be particularly critical of the so-called "experts," many of whom are in this remote backwater merely because "they couldn't find jobs in their own countries." Many economists and other academics seeking a rigorous, theoretical analysis of African political economy might be frustrated by this informal style, but I think it adds an extra dimension to the story of economic reform in the third world. It helps remind us that these structural adjustment policies thought up in Washington D.C. are implement by real people facing real constraints in recipient countries. Klitgaard does an excellent job of relating the pressures faced by well-intentioned (and some not so well-intentioned) government ministers, as they must deal with corruption, apathetic bureaucrats, nasty military officers, and the poor infrastructure found in every developing country. All in all, this is a great read for anybody interested in the troubles facing third-world countries, for anyone curious about why these countries can't seem to get out of their economic malaise. Although it was written in 1991, it seems just as relevant today as it did when it was written.

Editorial Review:

A gripping adventure story and an insightful look at why foreign aid so often fails.

Ghana Map by ITMB (International Travel Maps)

International Travel Maps and Books

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Nice map, with a couple of shortcomings 4 out of 5 stars.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Easily readable large-scale map of Ghana. One side depicts the southern half of the country, the other side the north. I can't vouch for the entire map, but the areas I've visited appear to be accurately depicted. It could be improved on two points: First the ancient historic mosques (e.g.; the famous one in Larabanga) are not marked, either as historic sites or as mosques. Furthermore, this the first map I've ever seen that lacks any mileage information, either using a scale of miles, or by noting distances between points. But since it's marked as 1:500000 scale, the math works out to 1cm = 5km. Handy to know that.

Editorial Review:

Folded road and travel map in color. Scale 1:500,000. Distinguishes roads ranging from motorways to other roads. Legend includes tracks, railroads, ferry routes, international airports, national airports, aerodromes/small aircrafts, gasoline/petrol stations, bus stations, hospitals/medical facilities, castles/forts, points of interest, ruins or archaeological sites, campsites and huts, museums, lodges, churches, mosques. Includes inset map of Cape Coast, Accra and Kumasi. Extensive index.

Gabon, Sao Tome & Principe: The Bradt Travel Guide

Sophie Warne

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A must have for visitors to Gabon! 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

I reside in Libreville, Gabon and have not, until now, been able to find much literature about this place in English ... or French for that matter. Then this little gem was published! I take this little book with me everywhere I go, I make a point of consulting it before I plan a trip, ... where to eat in Cocobeach, where to stay in Nyonie, where to shop in Libreville ... it's all in there. I found a couple of phone numbers misprinted, but aside from that, the information on each of the places I have been to is up to date, useful and correct. This book tells it like it is, the good, the bad and the ugly! I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting or living in Gabon.

Editorial Review:

Gabon is the ideal destination for naturalists, boasting easily accessible rain forests and reserves where an astonishing range of wildlife can be found and environmental conservation and research is being carried out. The country is particularly prized by birders. Excellent history, geography, and culture introductions underpin a practical guide that covers all the hard facts a visitor needs to know, including activities such as fishing, watersports, and whale and dolphin watching. The volcanic islands of São Tomé and Prìncipe lie to the west of Gabon. With a strong Portuguese influence, they are ripe for exploring by independent travelers who will discover an archipelago of sugarloaf peaks, idyllic beaches, and fertile rain forests hosting a range of endemic species. This is the first English travel guide to Gabon and the independent islands of São Tomé and Prìncipe.

Ghana (Countries of the World)

Lucile Davis

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Editorial Review:

No camera or fanny pack needed for this trip! We're traveling to faraway lands with the turn of a page! Children will discover similarities and differences of each country's culture, landscape, geography, economics, and more!

Benin: The Bradt Travel Guide

Stuart Butler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

You can Rely on Stuart Butler 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Thank you Stuart Butler for your candor, insights, and helpful information for traveling in Benin. It is a beautiful country with warm, wonderful people. Your book helped prepare me for what to expect, what to avoid, and how to enjoy Benin to its fullest. I also appreciate the folk lore stories and actual historic events you described. I would highly recommend this travel guide as it contains dependable and realistic information. I will definitely look forward to you sharing more of your travel adventures in future travel guides.

Editorial Review:

This new guide to Benin expands the Bradt range of West African guides further, exploring this small but varied country which is gaining popularity with adventure and exotic travel enthusiasts. National parks, game viewing, markets, pristine tropical beaches, and surfing are just some of the highlights of Benin that are readily available with aid of this guide, which caters to cultural and historical visitors, those tracing their roots in Benin's slave trade, overland adventurers, and wildlife enthusiasts.

Features include:
>Where to find the best music, dance, and food in Benin
>Wildlife in depth--with an exploration of the Parc National du W and Parc National de la Pendjari
>Detailed focus on the slave kingdom of Dahomey
>Wide-ranging historical background information including the history and culture of voodoo

Three Worlds Gone Mad: Dangerous Journeys through the War Zones of Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific

Robert Young Pelton

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

As the author of The World's Most Dangerous Places, Robert Young Pelton has come to know some of the most unusual and dangerous individuals in the world. In THE HUNTER, THE HAMMER, AND HEAVEN, he introduces an extraordinary cast of characters from three of the most war-ravaged countries on earth - the West African country of Sierra Leone, the breakaway republic of Chechnya, and a mysterious island in the South Pacific called Bougainville.

In war-torn Sierra Leone, as he wanders through the world's most expensive peacekeeping mission, he meets an ex-mercenary who hunts pirates, a ragtag militia whose members believe they have supernatural powers, and white men with "diamond fever."

In Chechnya, Pelton enters the jihad with three traveling companions - an American muhjadin who wants to die, a young woman seeing her first war as a journalist, and a grumpy cameraman. Pelton brings this motley crew down the secret muj trail from Georgia and into terrorist-filled bunkers, suicide squad-manned front lines, and SCUD missile attacks.

Finally, Pelton chronicles his two-year odyssey to meet one of the most elusive rebel leaders in the world - Francis Ona - who has survived numerous assassination attempts and who threatens to kill any white man who sets foot on his tiny island, Bougainville.

Filled with tension and intrigue, THE HUNTER, THE HAMMER, AND HEAVEN offers a dramatic vision of war and humanity.