Labadi Beach, formally known as La Pleasure Beach, is the most popular stretch of sand on Accra’s coastline. Lined with coconut palm trees and beachfront bars, people flock to Labadi Beach to swim, play football and ride horses along the seafront. The Accra coastline is dotted with many public beaches, castles, and forts.
All these beautiful public spaces offer access to the beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean crashing agains
t t
he shore. Labadi Beach, however, is unique among these for its range of dynamic beachside activities. It offers a great urban beach experience, with a clean beachfront, good food and music, and new friends just around the corner.
With the last activity proving popular, resident “horse boys” have become a permanent fixture during the holiday season on the beach. These young boys spend their days offering rides for 10 GHC (£1.40), as well as demonstrating their equestrian skills by performing tricks and stunts on their horses.
Because the beach is so popular among citizens of Accra, it is usually filled on Fridays and Saturdays, however, on weekdays you can enjoy a quiet environment perfect for reading or reflection. You can also go on horseback rides along the water for a very small fee.
An entrance fee to those not staying in the hotels is charged. On holidays and weekends, there are often performances of reggae, hiplife, playback, and cultural drumming and dan
cing.
As of 2014, the beach is still under intense scrutiny from the community to alleviate the ongoing issue of open defecation present on the beach.
Proposals to build additional designated sanitation facilities to accommodate the issue have been brought to the attention of the local council and hotels near the beach. Aside from visiting the beach to have fun, people visit the place early mornings to work out, mostly on weekends.
There are dozens of bars littered across the place, where you can enjoy cool beers or try out locally-brewed gin and spirits like Akpeteshi or Shocker.
These very potent drinks, consumed in moderation, are the drink of choice for many local beachgoers. There are al
so hookah bars in smoking areas, for those who enjoy tobacco.
Food is also a treat although it is mainly street food. Local favorites like charcoal-grilled tilapia, spicy kebabs, and jollof rice are sold for very cheap. There are also stalls where you can buy continental dishes like french fries, burgers, and salads.
When the waters become too dark and dangerous to swim in, visitors abandon the waves to party until very late in the night. Live bands and reggae artists, as well as disco and pop DJs, play for all-night raves around bonfires.
You can certainly have a great time
there any day of the week. Because of the presence of the many ex-pats who visit, there are art stores where you can purchase various artifacts like Krobo beads, rings, trinkets, wooden masks, etc.
