Ghana Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

• Make the most of Accra; see a large collection of Ghanaian art in the National Museum and Independence Square, dominated by the Independence Arch and the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier.

• Admire some coffins. The carpentry workshops of the world famous Fantasy Coffins are at Nungua. Among the Ga people it is fashionable to be laid to rest in a coffin that bears a relationship to what the deceased did in life.

• Indulge in some history. All Ghana’s castles and forts are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. In particular, do not miss Cape Coast Castle and Fort St Jago. Cultural shows are often performed at the castles and guided tours are available.

• Examine the ruins of the Manhyia Palace and the Royal Mausoleum, burnt down by Lord Baden-Powell, in Kumasi, the historic capital of the Ashanti civilization.

• Visit the Larabanga Mosque, situated 8km (5 miles) north of Mole National Park. Built in the style of former Western Sudanese Empires, it houses a holy Koran and is believed by locals to be a ‘God-built mosque’.

• Pay a visit to the Witches’ settlements, located at Ngani in the Yendi district, Gamaga in the east Mamprusi district and Kpatinga in the Fushegu district. These are sanctuaries for people, mostly women, accused of witchcraft.

• Bird enthusiasts should go to the Owabi Forest Reserve and Bird Sanctuary, located close to Kumasi. Further to the northeast is the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary, containing the spectacular Bomfobiri Falls. The salt marshes of the Songow Lagoon are also essential.

• Check out the wildlife in Ghana’s national parks. The Kakum Nature Reserve is a protected conservation area with monkeys, antelopes and water buffalo. Visitors can view wildlife at tree canopy level from the 333m (1,093ft) tree-top walkway and stay in a tree house.

Top Things to Do

• Shop till you drop. Crafts, kente and other traditional cloths are for sale at the Center for National Culture. The Makola Market is a large and busy open-air market attended by traders from surrounding villages. The Osu Night Market is illuminated by hundreds of lanterns and candles.

• Watch a musical show, play or dance at Accra’s National Theater, which is a Chinese architectural showpiece.

• Attend a Ghanaian festival and enjoy drumming, dancing and feasting. Each region has its own annual festivals for the affirmation of tribal values, the remembrance of ancestors and past leaders, and the purification of the state in preparation for another year.

• Go on safari. Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, Bia National Park, Bui National Park, Mole Game Reserve and Kakum Nature Reserve are also all good options for hiking and exploring the savannah and rainforest. The Shai Hills Game Reserve can be explored on horseback.

• Explore Mole National Park, the largest and one of the best-equipped nature reserves. Visitors can explore either on foot or 4-wheel drive vehicle, but must always be accompanied by a guide. Camp and discover the area at will.

• Relax on the beaches of the Atlantic coast. Between them, Labadi Pleasure beach, Kokrobite beach, Coco Beach Resort, Dixcove, Busua and Ada offer tropical palms, spectacular Atlantic breakers and swimming (but beware of the strong currents and tides).

• Enjoy a round trip on the car ferry to Kete-Krachi on Lake Volta, the largest manmade lake on earth; alternatively, take the three-day trip to the northern capital of New Tamale at the head of the lake. There are facilities for watersports.

• Get active on Lake Bosomtwi. It is great for diving, swimming and mountaineering. Take a multi-day canoe trip through the mangrove jungle of the Ankobra River.

• Go fishing in a local fishing boat. Sport fishing is especially popular. At the mouth of the Volta, anglers have the chance to catch barracuda and Nile perch.

• Set out on a hike. Aduklu Mountain hike tours are available through the Ministry of Tourism, and Afadjato Mountain in the Volta region attracts climbers of all ages. Mount Afadjato and Togbo Falls at Liati Wote are excellent for hiking.