My Easter 2024 was spent out of Accra. I was drained, heat exhausted, tired of the constant dumsor and needed a break from the cacophony of funerals and clubs from nearby neighborhoods in Osu. Accra is currently going through a heatwave and i desperately needed to go out if even for a weekend.

I had earlier remembered a similar trip by my Mom to a resort owned by her friend and from their description, it was a worthwhile trip filled with good food and ocean vibes. Perfect. Maybe we could go to the Elmina Castle on one of the free days. Bookmarked. We packed up early but chose a 1pm STC bus ready to take the bus to Brenu. I hadn't been to the STC station in years! And boy it hadn't changed structurally but at least ticketing was now computerized and they actually had working toilets with flushing water! See, there's nothing more I dread than using a public-owned institutions bathroom.

Since Brenu is on the way to Takoradi we paid a fare of GHC 85 per person (same price for small children). Why we have to pay same price for small children beats my mind. Unbelievably, we were told we had an option to put my daughter on my laps if we didn't want to pay for her seat. What kind of unsafe behavior is that? Reduce the price so most parents can afford to give their children a more safe and comfortable bus ride.

Anyway, we left Accra at 1:10pm which wasn't too bad until we got to the horrendous traffic at Kasoa and Budumbura. I must have dozed off but woke up to see a major road construction ongoing around Kasoa or so. We sat in that for an hour and some minutes! According to Google maps, it should take only 3 hours from Accra to Elmina but this traffic extended that time to almost 4 and half hours. We reached Brenu junction at 5ish. Ei! So traveller's to Takoradi would get to their destinations by 7pm?

A huge signboard to the resort is hard to miss at the Brenu Nkyinnim junction. Several fruit sellers throng the roadside close to the signboard making it hard to miss. If you are driving to the resort just turn at the signboard, if not then you'll need to pick a "dropping" to the seaside. Just tell them you're heading to Brenu NkyinKyim where the resort is. Honestly, that road to the resort needs serious reconstruction and I'm not even talking grading. The taxi driver was a maniac with a jalopy which was ready to fall apart at the least pressure. He flew over gullies, potholes and craters with very little regard for our comfort or safety! I was hanging on to the rusty door with my life as we swayed and shook about in the excuse of a car. His petrol gauge was on red throughout to the resort which was 10minutes away from the main road.

We finally got to Brenu Beach lodge in one piece but scarred forever of the nightmarish drive. I couldn't wait to shower and eat. I was famished! I've always made it a rule not to eat streetfood during road trips to avoid any emergency upset tummy.

Brenu Beach Lodge lies to the left of the Brenu NkyinKyim salt mining and fishing town. It's a simple yet serene beach lodge with uphill chalets overlooking the sometimes boisterous bluish green ocean. It was quite a sight seeing that many coconut trees lining the walkway and majority of the outdoor space. The rooms were clean with modern fittings and fixtures my absolute favorite being the heater and excellent showers!

On our first night's stay, there was dumsor which must have followed us stealthily from Accra to this haven. Thankfully the genset kicked in so we had a comfortable night's sleep.

This beach lodge is ideal for anyone looking for a picturesque clean beach, quiet environment, good food and drinks. I was quite surprised to see the number of European tourists, a few Ghanaians and some Americans who came by during that weekend. It really tells you how much people want to escape the city as well.

The food was surprisingly tasty! The massive kitchen churned out flavourful Jollof with lobster, the most perfect sautéed potatoes I've had in awhile and that grilled cassava fish! My word! It was almost like homey food but with a deeper respect for seasoning and presentation. The portions were marvelous! With all the coconut trees dotting the landscape, having a fresh coconut after meals was a major blessing!. You'd literally step out of your room and there lies a dropped coconut full of God's own tap water. 🤭 Whew!

And after meals, a lazy read in a hammock had to be had. A read and a nap with the ocean waves lulling me to dreamless spaces is super ideal! I couldn't have enough.

I made new friends with a Swiss family whose 5year old befriended my daughter (actually they became friends before we did 😂) And lo and behold! I met my carpenter friend's Mom who happened to be from the town! That for me was wild! I posted on Instagram one of photos and he saw the location tag and immediately whatsapped me that I was in his hometown! That was simply uncanny! See, Moses has been such a great Carpenter turned friend and meeting his Mom was truly humbling!

The community is small but has a great potential of becoming an ecotourist site especially with the incredible lagoon near the resort. That lagoon has such a a high salinity that anyone can float in it unperturbed! Unfortunately, sand winners are destroying the sand beaches around it which has driven away Tilapia and crabs which frequent the shores and shallow areas. I was crushed! Why are humans insensitive to the destruction of their own land and natural resources! What will happen to the flora and fauna in that environment in the next 5 to 10 years?

If this lagoon was carefully managed and maintained, the community would be stand to benefit greatly! Where's the EPA representative for that district assembly? It was truly disappointing the level of sandwinning near the lagoon.

Due to the poor nature of the road to the resort we stayed in and couldn't get to explore the Elmina Castle. 😭 When I had chat with the locals, they mentioned how the roads were neglected because ‘it was an NDC” area. Its actually unfortunate that in 2024 we can’t get politicians to commit to community development outside of politics.

But overall this was a good time away from the sweltering heat and chaos of Accra if even for only two days.

If you'd like to visit them soon with your travel buddies then you need to pack some board games like Oware, Ludo, volleyball (there’s a volleyball court right outside the chalets)

Take along your camera and capture crazy breathtaking sunsets !

The Lodge is clean, budget friendly and the service was there when you needed it. The washrooms were hygienically clean with flowing tap water and tissues.

I was simply sated by the time we had to leave. The drive back to the Cape Coast STC station was another wahala as the driver chose to use a short cut through someone's pineapple farm 😭😆 .

Brenu Beach Lodge is worth a visit for real relaxation and rest. They make do with what they have and give you a worthwhile visit. Auntie Esther the owner is a fresh breath of air! She reminded me of myself as she shared her journey with me. What a truly blessed woman of grace!

The beach is scenic for your #beachgram photos and quiet enough for your mind restoration.