Category: Tourism

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC), Professor Kobby Mensah, has outlined some initiatives his office has proposed for the growth of the tourism industry.

Speaking to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, he said he and his team have developed about twelve tourism products and services.

One of these products, Night Tours, he believes, aligns with the NDC’s 24-hour Economy concept.

“I have focused my attention on building products and services and also costing them—that is, making projections for the next five years. That is what my team has been doing. So far, we have created almost twelve products.

“We are going to do Night Tours (Accra by Night), a Science Park Tour, and the Ghana Tourist Market Place. You have to create products to generate resources, which can then be reinvested into the projects,” he noted.

According to him, the Night Tours will allow Ghanaians to visit tourist attractions even after working hours.

“I don’t see why we cannot have Night Tours. The days are so choked in Accra, and I still do not understand why people rush home around 4 or 5 o’clock after work.

“We cannot force people to spend two hours after work, but we can encourage them because you can’t legislate for people to stay out. However, you can instigate them with well-planned programs,” he explained. He further disclosed plans to introduce a Tourist Incentive Voucher (TIV), which will reward high-performing employees with vouchers to visit various tourist sites.

He added that his office is working on several initiatives not only for the 24-hour Economy but also for the Black Star Experience.

GTDC is one of the 13 agencies under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts. It was established as a Private Limited Liability Company in 1972 under the Companies Code 1963 (Act 176) to promote tourism development in Ghana.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, has praised Channel One TV’s annual Heritage Month celebration, describing it as a significant boost for Ghana’s tourism industry and a vital initiative for preserving the nation’s cultural heritage.

Speaking at the grand launch of the 2025 Heritage Month on Friday, February 28, 2025, Madam Gomashie underscored the importance of the celebration in keeping Ghana’s cultural traditions alive.

“I see this [Channel One TV’s Heritage Month] as a great boost for tourism as well as an opportunity to facilitate learning and living Ghana’s history while celebrating our vibrant cultural heritage and diversity,” she stated.

Heritage Month: A Platform for Cultural Preservation

Heritage Month, organized by Channel One TV, is an annual event dedicated to celebrating Ghanaian culture and traditions. The initiative has grown into a premier platform for cultural education, appreciation, and national unity.

The Tourism Minister lauded Channel One TV for spearheading the initiative, emphasizing its role in educating the public about Ghana’s history and showcasing the country’s cultural wealth.

“The Heritage Month is an innovative celebration of our rich cultural heritage and the contributions our forebearers made to the development of our great nation,” she added.
A Call for More Cultural Promotion

Madam Gomashie encouraged other media organizations to take inspiration from Channel One TV and Citi FM and contribute to promoting Ghana’s cultural identity.

“Congratulations to Channel One for this amazing and exemplary activity that you do every year. You have set this pace, and I hope all media houses will follow. Congratulations to Citi FM and Channel One for this beautiful experience you give us every year,” she said.

This year’s event stands as a testament to the significance of preserving and passing on the stories, rituals, and legacies that define Ghana’s vibrant identity.

Stay tuned to Channel One TV and Citi 97.3 FM for exclusive coverage, engaging programs, and live updates throughout the month-long celebration.

An Eco Tourism site and an ideal place for adventure, picnics and relaxation located in the Abuakwa south municipality of the Eastern region of Ghana. The site has over 600 species of trees used for used for various medicinal purposes.

About

Bunso, just two hours from Accra, offers visitors a combination of semi-deciduous native forest and species introduced to Ghana by the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of Bunso, which uses the facility for research. The site contains over 110 species of birds, 30 species of butterflies and a herb garden with over 40 species. Tour the arboretum with a guide to learn about the native and exotic plants, including their medicinal properties for traditional healing, or go on an indigenous foods tour to learn the many ways in which local people harvest food from local plants. Guests can also experience village life and cocoa farming on a tour of the nearby village.

What to See & Do

Beyond being an eco park where you can embark on first adventure hike or visit the bamboo cathedral, the park has a;

1. Tree-top canopy walkway

Experience the walk on ropes suspending high in this forest area and get a good view of the several tree species from up high. This is the second highest canopy walkway built after Kakum.

2. Children’s playground/walkway

This child-friendly park has purpose-built canopy walkway to bring out the adventure in children. Do not leave the children out of your trip to this park.

3. Butterfly/Bird Sanctuary

With a wide variety of butterflies, a walk through the park forest offers one the opportunity to discover several species of butterflies and at times birds. (Best time to see butterflies is before. 8am)

4. Horse-riding

One of the latest additions to the park is two horses that offer patrons the opportunity to ride through the park.

5. Zipline

Pump up some adrenaline by riding down the 50-metre long newly constructed Zipline. The unique thing about the zipline is that entry to and from the Zipline is via a suspended ropes walkway.

About the Village

Near the coast at the far western side of Ghana, near the border with Cote d’Ivoire, is a unique village in all of Ghana. The spectacular scenery of the 400-year old stilt propped water settlement of Nzulezu, is a unique village built on stilts in Lake Tadane, home to hundreds of people in the Western Region.

Nzulezu is an Nzema word meaning ‘surface of the water’. The inhabitants are said to have migrated from Walata, a city in the ancient Ghana Empire, the earliest of the Western Sudanese States. According to tradition, ancestors of the village were brought to their present place by a snail.

The serene ambiance of the surrounding landscape, coupled with the general activities of life on stilts points to a dynamic relationship between man and nature. It is essentially one long pier, called Main Street by the locals, with buildings constructed on both sides. One side of the ‘street’ is living quarters while the other side has businesses, a school, a community center, and other commercial ventures.

Village life is adapted to the unique environmental conditions, and all activities such as the pounding of fufu (a traditional meal), schooling, worship, baptisms and burials are carried out on the lake. It is said that the lake averts possible disasters such as fire outbreaks.

The people of Nzulezu still adhere to traditional norms and taboos. For instance, Thursday is a sacred day on the lake where the villagers do not engage in strenuous activity.

Today the village subsists on fishing, farming on nearby land, and tourism. The village has a small guest house for visitors who would like to spend the night.

The Nzulezu stilt village is not connected to electricity, but there are a significant number of television poles attached to almost every home in the village. These are powered by car batteries. Inhabitants use lanterns, flashlights, or rechargeable lamps to move about at night. To the amazement of visitors, villagers carry on daily life as if they don’t live on stilts.

The one-hour dugout canoe trip from the Beyin visitor center to Nzulezu passes through a pristine series of marshes, swamp forest (the largest strand left in Ghana), and open pools rich with wildlife, including crocodiles, egrets, herons, and kingfishers. This natural area has been designated as an Important Bird Area based on criteria from Birdlife International.

In addition, the beach adjacent to the visitor centre is the site of a sea turtle conservation project in cooperation with the Ghana Wildlife Society. The project seeks to protect three endangered turtle species that nest on the beach. Evening tours are offered to see the massive turtles laying eggs and their tiny hatchlings making their way to the sea.

One of the highlights of a visit to Nzulezu is certainly the journey to get there. Nzulezu is one part of the Amasuri Wetland, a Ramsar site and the largest inland swamp forest in Ghana. After driving as far as the unpaved road will allow for the current conditions, there will be a short walk to get to your canoe. A canoe ride of 45 minutes to an hour passes narrow, lush channels, open plains, and finally the wide expanse of Amansuri Lake. The ride is safe and lifejackets are available.

Things to Do

• Stop at the visitor centre in Beyin to arrange a guided tour of the stilt village. You will travel 5 km by dugout canoe for one hour through a succession of lush water habitats that finally open to Lake Tadane. Time: 3 hours.
• Take a guided evening tour of the beach from October through August to see endangered sea turtle nesting or hatchlings emerging. Time: variable.
• Enjoy evening drumming and dancing by a local cultural group by special arrangement. Time: variable
• Visit Fort Apollonia in Beyin, one of the smaller of Ghana’s many historic coastal forts. The interior isn’t open to tourists, but you can view the exterior and its picturesque setting on the beach. Time: 30 minutes.
• Stay in one of the new facilities being developed.

When to Visit

More birds and monkeys are seen on the canoe trip to Nzulezu during the rainy season (May 15 through August) and you can canoe the entire way, versus walking the first 1 km during the dry season. Guided sea turtle walks are offered from October through August.

Accommodation, Food, and Refreshments

Nzulezu has a guesthouse called the Homestay Bar and Rest house that is part of the stilt village. The small window in each of the rooms looks out onto the lake and each has two single beds (sheet and flush toilet, but no mosquito net or towel). Meals and liquid refreshments are available. Camping is also available at the visitor centre in Beyin.

Hours

8 am to 4 pm daily.

Directions

From Takoradi, travel 90 km west to the visitor centre in Beyin. Nzulezu is 5 km north of Beyin by canoe.

Getting there

The village of Nzulezu is about a 7 hour drive west of Accra.

Contact

0553488755

About

The only true inland lake in the country located in the Ashanti region. It is an awesome place to relax and enjoy nature. The lake has no surface outlet and was formed in a meteorite impact crater with an area of 19 square miles (49 square km) and a depth of 230–240 feet (70–73 metres), The lake is surrounded by lush mountains and fed by small streams that tumble down the crater’s steep sides (500–1,400 feet [150–425 metres] above water level).

Situated in the Ashanti region of Ghana, Lake Bosomtwe is one of six UNESCO designated biosphere reserve sites. It is one of three of such internationally recognized sites in the country – Bia in the Western, and Songhor in Greater Accra Region.

The southernmost section of the site overlaps the northern section of the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve creating a combination of forest, wetland and mountain ecosystems. The biosphere reserve sustains 35 tree species, including some used for timber. The site is also home to a great diversity of wildlife and a human population of over 50,000 inhabitants whose main economic activities are farming, fishing and tourism, as the lake is a major national tourist destination. The area is widely used for research, especially on climate change, as well as environmental education for schools and universities.

Location
Latitude: 6°24’35”N – 6°35’33”N
Longitude: 1°19’22”W – 1°29’30”W
Midpoint: 6°30’16”N – 1°24’31”W

History

 Bosomtwe is a circular lake, caused by a meteor impact a million years ago. The sides rise steeply, covered with trees and bush. There are various settlements around, mainly fishing and farming villages but also some places to stay. Lake Bosumtwi also sometimes spelled Bosomtwe, is a lake formed by an ancient meteorite strike in the Ashanti Region.

Oral tradition has it that the lake was formed in 1648 when a hunter pursuing and antelope shot and injured the antelope “Otwe” – in the Twi dialect. The antelope however continued its run until it disappeared in a small pond ahead. The said hunter by name Akora Bompe in shock decided to stay beside the pond and never returned to his town of Asamang. He then named the place “Bosomtwe” which in English translates “antelope god.” He believed that the water was a god and saved the life of the antelope.

Each village in the lake area has its own shrine or fetish grove. With the arrival of Christianity, some of the people lost their belief in those traditions, but nonetheless, many still worship these gods for help in bad times or against diseases.

Currently, there are about 23,000 people living in the 27 lake communities. Each village around the lake area has its own shrine with many visiting to look for spiritual help.

There is a stone at the lake side called Abrodwum Stone and believed to be the spiritual centre of the lake. Usually, whenever there is poor yield, it is considered a bad omen, thus sacrifices would have to be made.

This deed is undertaken in the presence of the Asantehene. In the ceremony, the cow’s innards are offered to the stone and the rest thrown into the water. It is a spectacular sight to see the crowd rush into the water with cutlasses and axes to take their share of the meat.

Considering the above belief, Lake Bosomtwi is held sacred by Ashanti traditionalists, though the finer details of its exalted status are rather elusive. Some claim that Bosomtwi is where a deity called “Twi” resides.

Others believe that it is visited by the souls of the departed on their passage to eternity. It is also the sacred water body of the Bosomtwi; one of five divisions in the matrilineal Nton system which the Asante and other Akans believe passes a father’s attributes to his children.

In former times, it was a taboo to touch the water with iron things, so the people never used conventional boats. Till date they move on the lake using the “padua”, a wooden plank that needs a lot of skill to be handled in the right way.

It must be admitted that it is not clear whether the crater in which Bosomtwi lies is volcanic in origin, was formed by a meteorite or a small pond. Either way, the lake is a beautiful spot, encircled by mountainous, thickly vegetated crater walls rising several altitudes. This presents ample opportunities for walking, birding, fishing, hiking and canoeing.

What to do

 There is an information centre, where you can find out about the lake and conservation efforts, and also arrange for a boat trip on the lake. If you are lucky someone will open a coconut or two for you for a few cedis.

It is possible to take boat rides on the lake, swim, and hike around. The various communities around the lake are very welcoming. There are also some great hikes up into the hills, and the sacred areas around villages.

Getting there

There is a tarred road that gives access to the lake from the direction of Kumasi, it rises in elevation over the rim around the lake and down into the lake ending at the first village Abono. There is a small fee to be paid at a community mounted entry point.

It is seen as taboo to use a regular dugout canoe or for metal or iron to touch the lake surface (i.e. modern boats, even though there are a couple that traverse the lake), because of this a very different type of boat is used by the fisherman in the lake, it is a large plank of wood that they sit on top of and use their hands, or plates in their hands to propel themselves.

The lake level continues to rise, and because of this the villages have had to keep moving up the hillside. You will notice that the villages often times have a number after the name which indicates how many versions of the village there have been. You will see tree trunks coming out of the water because of this also.

History

In 1957, the Ghanaian politician and revolutionary leader Kwame Nkrumah led the Gold Coast, now Ghana, to its independence from Britain. Nkrumah became the first prime minister and president of Ghana, and to celebrate his nation’s newfound autonomy, he commissioned the construction of a huge public square.  Black Star Square, also known as Independence Square, is located in Accra, Ghana and is now the site for all the major military and civic parades in the Ghanaian capital. It was completed in 1961 to coincide with the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II.  From the first parades in honor of the Queen’s visit all the way up to the present day, Black Star Square has hosted all of the country’s major national public gatherings, national festivals, military parades, and concerts.  The most important parade held in the square each year on March 6 is the Independence Day parades.

About

The Independence Arch in Accra, Ghana is part of the Independence Square which contains monuments to Ghana’s independence struggle.  In Independence Square are large stands with a total seating capacity of 30,000 surrounding the edges of the square. The square boasts three monuments which encapsulate the fight for Independent and liberation. These monuments include the Independence Arch to the south of the square, backdropped by the Gulf of Guinea. On the opposite side of the square but facing the arch is the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier, which honors the Ghanaian soldiers who fell fighting for their country. Just to the north of the main square is a roundabout, in the center of which stands the Black Star Gate, an imposing monument topped by the Black Star of Africa, the five-pointed star that symbolizes Africa in general and Ghana in particular. The monument bears the large inscription “AD 1957” and “Freedom and Justice” and the Liberation Day Monument. The Independence Square is one of the largest city square in the world.

Independence Arch

The Independence Arch is guarded by several soldiers who prohibit people of taking close up pictures of the Arch with the exception of those with official permission, but every tourist or visitor is at liberty to take pictures of the area.

Liberation Day monument

Liberation Day monument is a monument in Accra, Ghana. It stands in honor of several veterans of the Burma campaign conducted during the Second World War  by commonwealth forces in which the veterans fought for the British Empire. After returning to Ghana, some of the veterans began a peaceful protest and marched towards Christiansborg Castle, then the seat of the Ghanaian colonial government. The protesters were fired upon, and seven of the veterans were killed.

Black Star Square

Black Star Square is a site for Ghana’s Independence Day parade, which falls on the 6th of March every year.

Getting There

Black Star Square is located between 28th February Road and Accra’s southern coastline

About

St George’s Castle, a Unesco heritage site, was built as a trading post by the Portuguese in 1482, and captured by the Dutch in 1637. It was expanded when slaves replaced gold as the major object of commerce, with storerooms converted into dungeons. The informative tour (included in the entry fee) takes you to the grim dungeons, punishment cells, Door of No Return and the turret room where the British imprisoned the Ashanti king, Prempeh I, for four years.

Elmina Castle was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence in suib-Saharan Africa. Elmina is also a picturesque fishing town along Ghana’s coast, not far from Cape Coast. It is home to one of Ghana’s biggest attractions, St George’s Castle. Built by the Portuguese in 1482, it was captured by the Dutch 150 years later and became the headquarters of their West Indies Company for the following 250 years.

Gold exports were soon replaced by slaves and the tours through the dungeons will give you a good idea of how gruesome a trade it was. The Castle houses a small museum and guided tours are available. The stark beauty of the white-washed Castle walls contrast deeply with the dark history of this place.

Fort St Jago lies across the lagoon from the castle, and is worth visiting for the views it offers of the town and Castle.

History

Renowned as the first major European construction in tropical Africa, St. George’s Castle, in the town of Elmina in the Central Region of Ghana, was founded by the Portuguese in 1482. The site of the Castle was selected by Portuguese navigators, as it was advantageously located at the end of a narrow promontory, a stone’s throw away from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Benya River. The lee of the low headland provided an excellent natural harbour.

St George’s Castle or ‘Sao Jorge da Mina’, after the patron-saint of Portugal, as the castle was known to the Portuguese, afforded the Portuguese a trade monopoly in the area, with unrivalled access to the region’s gold.

The sheer magnitude of trade volumes resulted in labour challenges, as navies were unable to convey the large quantities of European goods to all markets. The importation of slaves from Benin in exchange for gold and ivory in the early 16th century was the identified solution. However, not long after, the influx of superior gold from Mexico into Europe caused gold prices to plummet rapidly. The economically distraught Portuguese were easily ousted from Elmina in 1637 by the Dutch.

The main Dutch trades were gold and slaves; they reconstructed the castle between 1770 and 1775. Until 1872, the castle served as the focal coordinating point for Dutch Gold Coast activities. In 1682, the author Jean Barbot described St. George’s Castle as having ‘no equal on all the coast of Guinea, with respect to beauty and strength.

On 6th April, 1872, the castle was ceded to the British. In recent years, it has served as Police Recruit Training Centre, a secondary school, and it is presently a historical museum.  St. George’s Castle is featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Next to the castle is a picturesque fishing harbour, and within walking distance are sites such as Fort Coenraadsburg (St. Jago), the Dutch cemetery, and the ‘Posuban’ buildings of Elmina.

Destination of enslaved Africans(1519–1867)
(Destination and Percentage)

• Portuguese America 38.5%
• British America (minus North America) 18.4%
• Spanish Empire 17.5%
• French Americas 13.6%
• British North America 6.5%
• English Americas 3.3%
• Dutch West Indies 2.0%
• Danish West Indies 0.3%

Enslaved people imported to those regions that are part of present-day USA
(Date and “official” Numbers). Not counted the many, many people, who died before!

• 1620–1650  * 824
• 1651–1675  * 0
• 1676–1700  * 3,327
• 1701–1725  * 3,277
• 1726–1750  * 34,004
• 1751–1775  * 84,580
• 1776–1800  * 67,443
• 1801–1825  * 109,545
• 1826–1850  * 1,850
• 1851–1866  * 476

Total 305,326

What to do

Visit the St. George’s Castle Museum is located within St. George’s Castle (often called ‘Elmina Castle’), a fortress in the Central Region. This museum was established in 1996 through the joint efforts of GMMB, the United States Agency for International Development and the Mid-West Universities Consortium for International Activities.  The purpose of the museum is to educate the public on the history of St. George’s Castle, as well as to preserve the cultural heritage of the Central Region. Exhibits include: photographs representing the images of St. George’s Castle across the centuries; displays on the Asantes of Elmina, and on local trading activities with the Europeans; gold weights; shackles; murals; local textiles, stools, stone implements, ceramics, bottles, clay, glass and beads. The museum provides tours of St. George’s Castle.

Visitors may absorb the sights of the former storehouses and slave dungeons, chapels and governor’s chamber. Another scene of interest is the cell where a King of Asante was once held prisoner.

Visitors will also be afforded the opportunity to capture some bird’s eye photographs of the surrounding harbours, fishing boats, and the nearby Fort St Jago, all from the battlements of the four-storey St. George’s Castle.

After a tour of the castle, a chance to rejuvenate is on hand at the museum’s restaurant and bar. A bookstore and a gift shop are also available, and the museum provides visitors with access to a car park.  There is an open courtyard for outdoor activities.

Opening Hours

The castle’s opening hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm daily.

Near By Accommodation

Coconut Grove Bridge House

Elmina Beach Resort

Elmina Bay Resort

Coconut Grove Beach Resort

Cape Coast Castle is the largest of the buildings which contains the legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like most ancient fortifications in Ghana, Cape Coast Castle played a significant role in the gold and slave trades. But also, two significant contributions were made here: the arrival of Christianity, and the establishment of the first formal education system through Castle Schools.

A guided tour of the Cape Coast Castle will acquaint you with its many interesting features including Dalzel Tower, the slave dungeons, and the cannons and mortars used in the Castle’s defense. The West African Historical Museum is located inside Cape Coast Castle and contains a growing collection of art and cultural objects, including ceremonial drums, old muskets, shackles from the slave trade and ancient pottery.

History

The best history tells us that the Dutch lost control of a fortification to Swedish adventurers in 1652, who name it Fort Carolusburg. Ownership changed numerous times, both among local peoples and various European powers, until finally, in 1664, after a four-day battle, the fort was captured by the British and re-named Cape Coast Castle. The Castle served as the seat of the British administration in the then Gold Coast (Ghana) until the administration was moved to Christianborg Castle in Accra on March 19,1877.

‘Cabo Corso,’ meaning ‘short cape’, is the name the Portuguese settled on for the local settlement within which its trade lodge was built in 1555. Its corruption to ‘Cape Coast’ is now the accepted name of the capital of the Central Region of Ghana. The Swedes, led by Krusenstjerna, however, were the initiators of the permanent structure presently known as Cape Coast Castle. They built a fort in 1653 and named it Carlousburg, after King Charles X of Sweden.

Its proximity to St. George’s Castle (Elmina Castle) and its sheltered beach were all forceful ‘pull factors’ for European nations to the Cape Coast. In addition, the immense viability of the area’s trade implied that the ensuing quest for control led to the Swedes having trouble holding on to their fort. It was captured in turn by the Danes and the local Fetu chief.

Dutch occupation commenced in 1660. Finally, the British fleet, led by Captain Holmes, conquered the fort in 1665 and by 1700, had upgraded it into a castle.

Colonial rivalry between England and France peaked in 1757 during the Seven Years’ War. A French naval squadron bombarded Cape Coast Castle, leaving it badly damaged, and after 1760, the English reconstructed the castle entirely – with more durable materials and an improved sea defence system.

The English retained control of the Castle into the late 19th century. The slave trade was principal until its ban in 1807 by the British, and it ‘is estimated that around 1700, the Royal African Company was exporting some 70,000 slaves per annum to the New World’ . After 1807, trade centred on precious metals, ivory, corn and pepper. In the eighteenth century, the castle’s role altered, as it became the centre of European education in Ghana.

The Cape Coast Castle has served as the West African headquarters of the president of the Committee of Merchants; the seat of the British governor; and a school.

Open to the public, it is currently a historical museum with a Ghanaian arts and crafts gift shop, and it is the regional headquarters of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.

Opening Hours

The castle’s opening hours are 9:00am to 4:30pm daily.

Mole National Park is the largest and most prestigious protected area in Ghana, in the north-west of the country, is Ghana’s largest wildlife refuge, measuring 4,849 sq km. The park has very rich flora and fauna. It is best known for its elephants (a population of about 600) as well as many other primates.

Wildlife

Some 94 mammal species, over 300 bird species, 9 amphibian species and 33 reptile species have been recorded in Mole. The large and commonly seen mammals include elephant, kob, roan antelope, hartebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthog, buffalo, several duikers, baboon, roan, kob, hartebeest, waterbuck. Predators include lion, leopard, spotted hyena, caracal, aardvark, genet, civet and mongoose. Occasionally, buffalo overrun the park headquarters and the lodge area.

Birds

The large bird life includes kites and Bateleur eagles, rollers, kingfishers, Egyptian geese, egrets, pelicans and storks.  Ground hornbills, flycatchers, malachite kingfishers, guinea fowls and rock partridges occur in large numbers at Mole. There are also more than 300 bird species and 33 identified reptile species within the national park. The park is located on grassland savannah and its entrance is near the town of Larabanga. The ephemeral rivers Lovi and Mole flow through the park, leaving behind drinking holes in the long dry season.

History

The Mole national park was established in 1958 and re-designated a National Park in 1971. It covers an area of 4,840sq km of undulating terrain with steep scarps. The vegetation is pristine Guinea savanna with gallery forests along the rivers and streams.

Mole National Park was the first Wildlife Protected Area to be established in Ghana. The Park lies within two physiographic regions – 65% lies within the Voltaian sandstones basin and 35% within the savannah high plains. The topography is generally undulating with flat topped hills which is dominated by the Konkori scarp that runs north-south through the park and reaches up to 250m. The Park forms part of the Volta River catchment and numerous rivers cross or originate in it to drain into the White Volta River. Mole National Park represents a fairly undisturbed guinea Savannah ecosystem dominated by open savannah woodland.

Accommodation

The park is also Ghana’s most developed tourism site in terms of tourist amenities. The reserve has West Africa’s first luxury safari lodge nestled in the heart of the Mole forest. Zaina the country’s premier ecolodge provides world class hospitality service with a unique touch.

With 25 rooms are individual luxury tented chalets, complete with private balconies and indoor and outdoor showers for those who like to bathe under the stars. Zaina is experience you have been waiting for. Maraba!!! an eco-lodge with 25 chalets, a 33-room motel with a restaurant and swimming pool and a small museum.

Getting there

It is 24 km from Damongo, the district capital, 146km south east of Tamale, the Regional capital. The park is 700km from Accra and 430km from Kumasi.

One could get to Mole from Accra by air to Tamale and then by road between Tamale and Mole National Park is now paved, greatly reducing journey times.

If coming by public transport from Tamale, you could get a tro-tro (minibus) headed for Wa, and ask to be dropped at Damongo or Larabanga, from where you can get a taxi or motorbike to the park. From Larabanga you could even hike or bike, if there’s enough daylight (one to two hours walking, depending on your level of fitness).

Fringe Communities and Nearby Attractions

There are 33 communities on the immediate fringes of Mole with a total population of about 40,000 people. One of these communities is Mognori, where visitors to Mole are conducted to have a feel of the African Village life of farming and animal husbandry. Visitors may go out on the Mole River in native canoes and stay with local families to participate in everyday activities like going to the farm with your host and helping with household chores. Another interesting community visited from the Mole National Park is Larabanga, reached on foot or by bicycle where visitors may stay at a traditional lodge run by the Salia Brothers.  The Larabanga village is famous for its 500 year-old mosque, reported to be the oldest in West Africa with a very interesting history on its origins.  One kilometre from Larabanga is the revered sacred stone of the community. It is worth hearing the story behind this stone.

Other attractions:

1. Waterfall: The spectacular Konkori waterfalls is located about 100km north-east of the park headquarters. However, access to it is challenging and currently reserved for those out for adventure.
2. Slave Caves: A number of caves located in the park are said to have served as hiding places for indigenes who fled the raid of the two notorious slave raiders; Samori and Babatu who used the current park headquarters location as their base during the of slave trade.
3. Mole Airstrip

Contact

Tel: 0244316777

About

Welcome to one of Ghana’s most visited attractions, the Kakum National Park. Tucked away in the Assin Attandanso Reserve is the Kakum National Park and Canopy Walkway that offers visitors spectacular scenery and a fascinating wildlife experience along with modern camping facilities. The park’s best-known feature is undoubtedly its 7 suspension bridges which form a 333-meter long canopy walkway, suspended up to 27 meters above the forest floor from trees that are over 300 years old.

The canopy walk is only one of Kakum’s many delights. There are a variety of trails and guided walks that allow visitors to experience the solitude of the rainforest. It’s also a premier site for bird watchers, with over 300 species including eight species of global conservation concern. Mammals include forest elephant, leopard, bongo, bushbuck and many primates, but game viewing is difficult. Also, more than 600 butterfly species have been recorded.

The forest has wild life which can be seen in the night and professional guides are always available to take you on a guided night tour.

The park is child-friendly so don’t forget to take the kids along to the newly added children’s park with a super mini and safe canopy walkway swings and play area.

Things to do/Tips

• Explore all walkway levels to enjoy spectacular view
• Go on a guided forest walk and learn about the medicinal uses of forest plants
• Go on a night hike with a park guide to experience the sights and sounds of the forest during the transition from day to night
• Experience evening drumming and dancing by a local cultural group
• Listen to an evening concert by the local Nyamebekyere Kukyekukyeku or Orchestra, which performs with bamboo wind instruments
• Remember, this is a rain forest and it can rain at any time, go with your rain coat and your trainer.
• It is best not to carry any heavy thing in your hands since you will be needing your hands to hold the ropes on both sides as you walk along.
• Carry a small backpack or a waist bag where you may keep your camera or phone on top of the walkway.
• There is a brief hike before reaching the Bridges. Make sure you wear good shoes.
• If you make it across the first walkway and change your mind, there is a short cut to exit so give it a try…

Getting There

Kakum is about 4hours drive from Accra. Its advisable you go by your own pre-arranged transport means. You may also go by public transport and connect from Cape Coast.

Accommodation

There is a treehouse for you if wish to stay the night for bird and wildlife watching. The treehouse is fitted with mattresses, bedding, and mosquito nets and comfortable for anyone who is accustomed to camping. There is also an outhouse. tree top accommodation for anyone who wish to stay the night for the love of animals.

Feeding

There are two cafes at the visitor centre serving basic food, snacks and fresh juices. You can also get from around the car park fresh coconuts, “sobolo” –bisap (purple drink made from water and hibiscus leaves) and bottled water. Ask from the forest restaurant for the local meal, ‘fufu’ and goat light soup to be prepared as you go for the walk so that by time you return, your meal will be ready and waiting for you. You may enjoy other such as Jollof rice.

The visitor center has all kinds of exhibits, plus an open-air restaurant and a gift shop operated by Aid to Artisans Ghana.