Ada Foah

Ada Foah stands where the Volta reaches the sea after its long course from the north, and the geography is the attraction: a narrow sandspit runs between the wide brown river and the open Atlantic, so that a short walk crosses from calm water to surf. Boats run from the town out to the estuary islands and up the river, past mangroves and fishing villages, and turtles nest on the ocean side between roughly November and March. Lodges sit along the spit, some reachable only by boat. The town itself has faded colonial-era buildings from its trading days. Ada is also the site of the annual Asafotufiami festival, when the traditional militia companies parade.

What you actually see

• The estuary - the Volta meeting the sea at the sandspit.
• The spit lodges - accommodation between river and ocean.
• Boat trips - the runs to the estuary islands and upriver.
• Turtle nesting - the ocean beach in the nesting months.

When to go

November to March for the dry season, which is also the turtle nesting period. The Asafotufiami festival falls in late July or early August. Weekends bring visitors from Accra and fill the lodges.

Honest expectations

The ocean side has strong currents and is not safe for casual swimming. Boat fares are negotiated and vary considerably. Some lodges are reachable only by boat, which complicates arrivals. Erosion has taken parts of the spit.

Nearby

Keta and its lagoon lie east; Accra is west.