Planning Your Year of Return Trip: Transport and Tours

What Year of Return means for your trip

The Year of Return was launched in 2019 to invite members of the African diaspora to come home and reconnect with Ghana, its people and its history. The Beyond the Return programme carried that invitation forward in the years that followed, and many travellers still plan their visits around it. For most families, the trip is less a single holiday than a rich, full journey through heritage, family and celebration, sometimes over several weeks. That is why transport deserves early attention. A trip that looks simple on a map can include an airport arrival, several days of touring in different regions, family visits across Accra and beyond, and quiet days when you simply want to rest. Each of those moments needs a reliable vehicle and a driver who knows the roads and arrives on time. Settling the transport before you fly lets you spend your energy on what matters most. Decide which places are must-sees, roughly how many days you have, and whether you are travelling alone, as a couple, or as a larger group. Those three answers shape almost everything else, from the vehicle you choose to how you pay.

A warm welcome at the airport

Your Ghana story often begins at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. After a long flight, the last thing anyone wants is to queue for a taxi, haggle over a fare or wonder who is waiting outside. An airport transfer arranged in advance removes that uncertainty. Your professional driver will be there to greet you, help with your luggage and take you straight to where you are staying. Airport transfers from Kotoka start from GH₵450. When you book, share your flight number and arrival time so your driver can plan around your landing. If your flight changes, tell us and we will do our best to adjust. Booking is simple. Message us on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503, or email info@carrentalgh.com with your arrival details, and we will confirm the transfer and the price. You can pay by Mobile Money, bank transfer or cash, including foreign currency, so there is no need to look for a card machine or change money in the arrivals hall.

Heritage tours worth planning

Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle stand on the coast a few hours west of Accra, and both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Cape Coast Castle is also home to the Door of No Return, the passage through which many enslaved Africans were taken to waiting ships bound across the Atlantic. Visiting the two castles together gives a fuller picture of that history, and most visitors find the day deeply moving. Allow time afterwards to sit quietly with what you have seen. Assin Manso is a quieter stop, but no less important. The ancestral river site there, often called the Slave River, is where enslaved Africans were bathed in the river before being moved onward towards the coast. It is a place for reflection and remembrance, and many families prefer to visit with a driver who can give them the time they need. In Accra, the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre honours the American scholar and pan-Africanist who spent his final years in Ghana. It is a good place to learn about the wider story of the African diaspora. Jamestown, the historic fishing neighbourhood near the coast, has its own story too, with its lighthouse and the old Ussher Fort. Both can be combined into a single day in the city. Tell us which sites matter most to you, and we will plan the route, the timings and the vehicle around them. Message us on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503 or email info@carrentalgh.com to start planning your route.

December: events and getting around

December is one of the busiest and most joyful times to be in Accra. Detty December, the festive season of concerts, parties, reunions and events, draws visitors from across the world, and the city comes alive. That energy is wonderful, but it also means busy roads, full venues and plenty of people trying to get somewhere at the same time. Plan your movements around the season rather than against it. Build in extra time for journeys between neighbourhoods, and avoid stacking several long trips into one afternoon. If you are going out in the evening, arrange a driver for the return journey in advance, so you are not searching for a ride when the event ends. Booking early matters. December is a peak period, so the sooner you share your dates and vehicle needs, the better we can plan around them. Pay in the way that suits you best: Mobile Money, bank transfer or cash, including foreign currency.

A car and driver for your whole stay

Many visitors find that the most relaxed way to travel is a vehicle with a professional driver for the whole stay, booked by the day, the week or the month. Every hire with CarRentalGH includes a professional driver, so you never need to take the wheel. You can look out of the window, make calls, take photographs and simply enjoy the journey. Our vehicles suit different kinds of trips: - Toyota Corolla, from GH₵800 per day, for couples and smaller parties who want an efficient, comfortable ride around the city. - Toyota RAV4, from GH₵1,200 per day, for families who want more space and a higher seat for longer days on the road. - Toyota Prado with driver, from GH₵1,600 per day, for families and groups who want a sturdy, comfortable SUV for visits across the country. - 30-seat Coaster, from GH₵2,200 per day, for reunions, family groups and organised tours. Weekly and monthly rates are lower than the daily figures above, which makes a longer homecoming far more affordable. Ask us for a quote based on your dates. Booking one car and one driver for the whole stay means you build a working relationship with someone who knows your plans. Your driver can take you from the airport to Cape Coast, on to Assin Manso and back to Accra, without you having to rebook at every stop. For many returning visitors, that continuity is what turns a busy itinerary into a relaxed homecoming. If you are travelling as a family of four or more, or with elders who need extra room and comfort, the RAV4 or Prado may suit you best. For reunions and larger groups, the 30-seat Coaster keeps everyone together. Tell us your arrival date, how many days you are staying and who is travelling with you, and we will recommend the right vehicle and send a quote. WhatsApp +233 24 915 1503 or email info@carrentalgh.com to book.

Planning it all with us

A good homecoming is planned in layers: the airport welcome, the heritage days, the December events, the family visits and the quiet afternoons in between. We help you bring those layers together into one clear plan, with a vehicle and driver who stay with you from the moment you land. Here is how to get started: 1. Message us on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503, or email info@carrentalgh.com. 2. Tell us your arrival and departure dates, the places you want to visit and who is travelling with you. 3. Choose your vehicle: Corolla, RAV4, Prado with driver, or 30-seat Coaster. We will confirm the daily, weekly or monthly rate. 4. Pay by Mobile Money, bank transfer or cash, including foreign currency. We do not accept credit cards. Every booking includes a professional driver, so you can give your full attention to the reason you came home. Book with us today and let us take care of the road while you take care of the homecoming.

Frequently asked questions