Hotel Photography | Villa Monticello, Accra Ghana

In November last year, I spent two weeks in Accra, Ghana photographing the prestigious Villa Monticello.

I must admit, I was a little nervous travelling into West Africa after the recent Ebola outbreak, but thankfully Ghana had no confirmed cases, but nonetheless they were still on high alert.

Traveling with about 100kg of camera and lighting equipment is no joke either. I got stopped in customs in Ghana and was questioned intensively. Luckily I got off, must have been my sweet nerdy looks!

West Africa is harsh. It’s hot, dusty, extremely humid, expensive, a malaria area and very third world. There is a constant hum from the generators because the electricity situation is far from stable. It smells bad because there are open sewerage drains on the sides on the roads. Apart from the city centre that is impressively established, poverty is everywhere. Most suburbs have dirt roads and goats and chickens roam freely.

That being said it also is one of the friendliest places I’ve been to. The first week I was there I stayed with friends, Devika and Adrian. They were fantastic hosts, they took me around and spoilt me rotten. During my second week I was based at the hotel, shooting a good 10 hours every day. My client organized a local assistant who was just fantastic. Jeho was so eager to learn and we had such fun working together.

Jeho, on day three

The recently completed Zambezi Room

Also new, Nzulezu Room

The Nelson Mandela suite

Kwame Nkrumah suite

Manhattan room

Marrakesh Room – the room I stayed in

The Terrace – Villa Monticello’s function area

The restaurant in the hotel

Matilda, one of the receptionists at Villa Monticello

The welcoming reception waiting area

Newly completed private meeting room

1A, the poolside bar

The inside bar area

The courtyard from the roof of the hotel

Thank you Ghana, I’ll see you again!