MY TOP 7 TRAVEL TIPS TO KUMASI, BY BUS

After over 9 years of consistent travel to Kumasi from several locations in Ghana, I have definitely learned a considerable amount of lessons overtime; like being gang-boycotted by station taxi drivers in the middle of the night for playing the "Madam-I-know-it-all" Kumasi girl card; Or being branded a drama queen by fellow passengers for excessively complaining about how high the air condition was! As much as some of these mishaps are part of traveling and are unavoidable, we can prepare towards those we're aware of.

Be Flexible

If you're going to Kumasi from Accra using the ever-popular VIP bus, always plan around delays from unsuspected long queues. Other than public holiday weekends, school reopening weeks and Christmas holidays which are undoubtedly periods of massive travels, bus stations can be choked when you least expected. Working an hour ahead of your planned departure time will help reduce high levels of  anxiety and anger if you're on a tight schedule for business. Understand also that, Ghana works around the "who-you-know" concept, so no vex when the pretty lady you beat to the queue narrowly makes it to the last bus, whilst you have to wait for the one coming from Sefwi.


Remember to Pack your Headphones 

When you purchase a VIP bus ticket, you have unknowingly consented to their terms and conditions of allowing Mr "PreachermanXHerbalist" into your life for part of the trip. When the preacherman says "just 10 minutes of your time", he actually means " Until I Get To My Destination", which could take up to an hour! So relax, grab your headphones and piss the hell outta him with some music and occasional dancing,😬😉. Brace yourself odo, it's a mini-church in there, featuring clapping&singing, praises&worship and collection. Then comes the selling of his 47-herbed-drug which cures at least 23 and half sicknesses.
It can also become a micro-market for fruits, sweets and bread vendors. Just make yourself a fruit sandwich love, and worry not about a running stomach; that's why the cure-it-all drug herbalist /preacher is riding with you!


Never Forget A Cover-up

You might arrive at the bus station sweaty and tired, but make no mistake about what a few minutes of ice-cold air-conditioning can do to your body temperature. Plus you'd think that Ghanaians will be averse to extreme cold since Ghana isn't particularly a cold country, right? Well you're up for the biggest surprise on a bus. Parking a cardigan or pullover comes in handy when you realize the whole bus of travelers happen to be nationals of Iceland making a trip to Kumasi to pay Otumfour a visit. And PS, never fight for your window seat if your seat mate takes it; the air condition regulator might just be faulty, and trust you're going to get frozen like a baby salmon!

Not a Lover of Kumawood Movies?  Make an Exception for the Next 5 to 6 Hours!

There's been just about 1% of the time when Twi movies weren't televised on a trip to Kumasi, irrespective of where you're coming from. More than 90% of VIP bus travelers enjoy our Kumawood movies, so note that the volume level is going to be too high to tune out with your headphones. And you don't want to be an angry man throughout a 5-hour journey; give Kumawood a chance in your life, you might just find love there.


Plan Out Your Rest Stop Routine

You have only 10 minutes at the rest stop. Put together your valuables such as mobile phones, laptops, cash and jewelry and take them with you. I know; it's highly inconvenient especially in the washroom; but what's more convenient than giving a common thief an easy steal! Make a mental note of how you'll successfully navigate through peeing, buying food and possibly saying your salat if you're a Muslim. Buying food can be very tricky; it can be tempting to move towards a vendor with crowds of buyers, don't get too excited, it might just be bread!


The View is Great!

Sitting close to the window presents an awesome view of nature and the different lifestyles of inhabitants of the towns you'll drive through. Don't let the bumpy roads, cry babies and annoying loud phone conversations spoil your trip. Take some time to savor the beautiful dark clouds, smoky mountains and green vegetations. It's refreshing, calming and soothing, after the hustle and bustle of city life.

Exploitation is Inevitable on Arrival

If you arrive in the middle of the night with no personal ride home, trust you'll get exploited by taxi drivers; it's a station thing. Being rude wont change how much you'll be charged, they know it's the middle of the night and your surest bet to safety is going with a station-registered taxi. Never go in a random passing taxi my dear ladies, it's a dangerous distin.
Do have a safe trip and don't allow your numb foot and bum spoil your trip.