Disclaimer: This review is purely my own review and experience there was no payment or sponsored visit in exchange for this review.
For my birthday this May, I went to Aqua Safari with my family in the Volta region. The drive is about 2½ to 3 hours from Accra. This resort is a luxury destination in Ghana and was a nice getaway for my family and me. This trip was special because it was our first time visiting this resort. In this article, I provide a thorough background and review of my experience at Aqua Safari.
This resort is special for many reasons, one of which is that it is owned by Samuel Afari Dartey, an environmentally conscious Ghanaian. This resort had beautifully carved wood elements throughout the resort which had a closer connection with the surrounding nature. Most products were locally made in Ghana. The staffing service offered pristine customer service, making it a great location for couples or families.
Getting There
As mentioned above, Aqua Safari is about 2½ to 3 hours from Accra. You can get to Big Ada by bus and then take a taxi to the resort. Alternatively, you can hire a driver for the day or weekend or rent a car. However, I had the added luxury of family and my brother drove us to the resort.
Cost
There are two options a guest can choose from at the resort:
- Day Pass: Currently costs 400 Ghana cedis per adult ($26) or 200 Ghana cedis per child ($13).
- Nightly Stay: Ranges from 2,000 to 10,000 cedis ($129-645).
Check-in
A hotel attendant meets you at the door to help you carry your bags into the hotel and walks you to the check-in desk. You must have IDs for all adult guests, either digital or physical, and a phone number (a Ghanaian number would be ideal).
The check-in process was very smooth. I had already paid online, so there was no need for payment. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, which in Ghana is always a pleasant surprise. Before your arrival, they send out an email to ask for your estimated arrival time to ensure your room is prepared or any added features are ready, such as flowers or in my case a happy birthday message on the bed with balloons.
Lobby
They were doing some construction during our visit; however, their lobby area is spacious with a small sitting area in the corner near the front desk.
Day Pass
What’s included in the Day Pass:
- A lunch meal
- Access to all complimentary activities
- 2 bottles of water
- 2 cups of juice
Rooms
This resort has six room options:
- Standard Room (Sleeps 2)
- Superior (Sleeps 2)
- Deluxe (Sleeps 2)
- Junior Suite (Sleeps 2)
- Waterfront Cabin (Sleeps 2, with a couch)
- Two-bedroom Chalet (Sleeps 4)
I chose two Superior rooms for three adults and two children.
Superior Room includes:
- 1 full-sized bed
- 1 private bathroom
- 1 patio/balcony
- A/C split
- A butler for your entire stay (which I found unnecessary as the resort is small and easy to navigate)
- A minibar with water, soda, and local beer
- Breakfast
- Desk and chair
- TV & WiFi
- Robes
- Wardrobe and hangers with a full-length mirror
- Patio table and chairs (made from wood)
A few things it doesn’t include are an ice machine, washcloths, extra pull-out beds or cots, and no ironing board or iron. However, they will iron and press two outfits for you a day if you let your butler know.
The bed was very comfortable. I loved the slate rock-styled bathroom; it was definitely the best bathroom I had been in. They also didn’t have any imported products; they use black soap and shea butter creams for everything. I also appreciated the US voltage plugs in the room.
Dining Area and Food Cost
The dining area is next to the pool. They have tables for two, as well as tables that seat four to six people. Lunch is buffet-style and costs 300 cedis per adult. The lunch menu includes a mix of international and Ghanaian food options, but it’s mostly Ghanaian food such as rice and stew, kenkey, banku, pepper soup, and more. Dessert and fruit are also served.
TIP: It is better to order everything from one server. They don’t have assigned tables to servers, so if you order with another server, you need to pay that server and not another person. This became a little confusing for us towards the end. Stick to one server and just call their attention if you need or want anything. Try to remember their names; they do wear name tags.
Dinner has white cloth tables set up on the beach area overlooking the Volta River. It’s beautiful, and you can choose to have a buffet-style dinner or order from the menu (à la carte).
TIP: Try to get to dinner early to make sure they have the dish you want. We ordered late, and they didn’t have any more fried rice or mashed potatoes.
Complimentary Activities
All rooms have complimentary activities such as canoeing, volleyball, tennis, board games, pool access, bird and fish feeding, beach soccer, bike riding, archery, and more.
We enjoyed swimming in the pool, bike riding, and playing tennis during our stay. They have tennis rackets for kids and adults and also provided a ball for us.
For bike riding, I believe this could be greatly improved by having more kids’ bikes and adding a two-person bike. Also, allowing guests to ride outside of the grassy area would be better as it’s much easier to ride a bike on a smooth surface. Unfortunately, the segways were being repaired the weekend we visited, so we didn’t get to try that option.
Fish feeding is at 11 am once a day. This was a nice family activity that only lasted about 15 minutes.
Paid Excursions
Paid excursions include massages, horseback riding on the beach, jet skis, flyboarding, ocean fishing, nighttime cruises, and more. These were all a bit pricey in my opinion; however, it is a resort, so it’s to be expected. The starting price was 300 cedis ($20) and went up to 2,000 cedis ($130).
Summary
I would give this resort a 4-star rating for service, style, and resort features. We did experience very temporary electricity issues; however, these were no more than 2 to 5 minutes of power outages. Everything was very clean, which can be a hit or miss when staying in hotels or resorts internationally. My family enjoyed our stay. This resort is secluded, and there are no nearby attractions or restaurants. However, you can also book business meetings, conferences, or events at this location. The WiFi was very good for anyone who is working and traveling around Ghana. There are also no tours or tour agencies outside this resort.
Aqua Safari is a very eco-friendly resort, and I see why it has created a reputation for itself. They also have another location about an hour from Accra called Safari Valley. I hope to stay at Aqua Safari again and experience Safari Valley the next time I’m in Ghana.
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