Kintampo Waterfalls
Kintampo waterfalls is one of the highest waterfalls in Ghana, located on the Pumpum river, a tributary of the Black Volta, about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) north of Kintampo municipality, on the Kumasi–Tamale road. The waterfalls, one of the main natural attractions in the area, is formed by three (3) main drops where the longest drop measures 25 meters (82 ft) in height and after a number of steps, and cascades, the river falls about 70 meters (230 ft). It takes its source at a village called Pumpumatifi, which is about 10 kilometers away from the waterfalls. The attraction has seen several facelifts since its renovation. A canopy walkway as has been added across the river overlooking the waterfall. A biplane construction aid also underway to add to the visitor experience.
Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary
For generations, the village people of Boabeng and Fiema have believed that the local monkeys are sacred and have prohibited harm to them. The two adjacent communities have created a forest sanctuary to protect the black silky colobus and brown mona monkeys, both of which are an enchanting sight. A visit to the Monkey Sanctuary at Fiema, 22 km north of Nkoranza, makes a great day out. The monkeys have access to all parts of the village and local people plant fruit trees for them. When a monkey dies, it is buried in a coffin and special funeral rites are performed.
Other Ecotourism Attractions
Legon Botanical Gardens
Located in the heart of Accra in the University of Ghana is the Legon Botanical Gardens, a beautiful, dynamic outdoor play space for all ages where nature and fun collide. This dynamic Garden provides several recreational activities for the public and constantly adding new ones. The managers always give you reason to visit again and again. The facility has a colorful first class playground for children and a rope walk session for them also with genial staff. An intriguing series of platforms connected by cable, wood, and rope creating a different challenges at each platform is on offer for you to challenge yourself to. It includes 4 routes of 64 games on two levels with each route having a ziplane. Activities include walking on suspended planks, climbing along rope mesh, swinging from one suspenders log to another and many more. All participants must be properly geared with sneakers /full closed shoes, trousers/shorts and hand gloves before being allowed up the ropes. Other activities are children’s play at the playground, bird watching and canoeing.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/legon-botanical-gardens/
ATV Quad Biking
Start your next adventure with atv aburi quad biking in the mountains. ATV Quad Biking was founded in 2019 as an alternative to existing adventure tourism opportunities. If you want that escape from the hustle of city life for that “cool-feeling” experience then you are in for an adventure of a lifetime. Activities include the ATV/Quad Bike Riding. From beginners to experts – ATV Aburi delivers you a once in a lifetime guided quad biking experience around the Aburi mountains, through local villages, pineapple farms, pawpaw farms and even to local waterfalls. With regard to Paintballing & Air Rifle shooting, try your hand at some target practice and let’s see who the real sharpshooters are. Archery & Combat Archery is an action-packed combat archery experience that is fun for ages 16 and up. The game allows 2 teams to battle it out with bows and foam-tipped arrows in the Archery Games arena.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/aburi-atv-quad-biking/
Bunso Arboretum
Bunso Arboretum is a botanical garden located at Bunso in the East Akim District of the Eastern Region in Ghana. The CSIR-Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute in diversifying the attraction at its arboretum, engaged a Ghanaian private investor to build the second canopy walkway ever in Ghana after that of the Kakum National Park in Ghana. Other features of the edifice are the six platforms and fence where tourist can rest whiles on tour of the walkway. The arboretum is situated 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) off the Bunso junction on the Accra–Kumasi highway. At Bunso junction on the main Accra-Kumasi highway near Linda D’or Rest Stop one needs to turn right towards Koforidua. With just about 3km drive, the arboretum can be located on the right hand side of the road. The arboretum contains different species of flowers and trees. It has a butterfly sanctuary and a canopy walkway, the second to be built in Ghana. The forty (40) acres arboretum is home to in-situ and ex-situ plant species with over 600 timber trees, 110 species of birds and 300 species of butterflies.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/bunso-arboretum/
Bia National Park
Bia National Park is part of the Bia conservancy area which is a designated biosphere reserve covering nearly 306sq km. The park is only a third of the entire conservancy area 77.7 sq km. The remaining chunck of the land in the south is under the Bia resource reserve. The reserve’s are situated in the transition between the moist evergreen and semi-deciduous tropical forest and cover much of the drainage for the Bia river. Bia became a protected area in 1935 and an official national park in 1974. There are 62 species of mammals known to exist in the park including 10 primate species. Some of the animals in the park include colobus, buffalo, the forest elephant, bongo, bushbuck, mangabey, chimpanzees, and others.Over 160 species of birds including hawks, eagles, bulbuls, flycatchers, the black-collared lovebird and the threatened white-breasted guinea fowl live in this habitat. The park is the only known home of Agama sylvanus, a newly discovered species of lizard. The Bia National Park can be found in the newly created Western North Region, west of Takoradi. Access to the park is by road from Kumasi via Bibiani and from Tarkwa-Sefwi via Wiawso road.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/bia-national-park
Cape Coast Castle
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. ‘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.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/cape-coast-castle/
Elmina/St George’s Castle
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.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/elmina-castle/
Odwira
The Odwira Festival is celebrated by the people of Akropong-Akuapim, Aburi, Larteh and Mamfi in the Eastern Region. This festival is celebrated in most Akwapim towns during the months of September and October. The Akuapem Odwira festival was initiated by the 19th Okuapimhene of Akropong, Nana Addo Dankwa I (1811-1835) and was first celebrated in October 1826. It’s significance is to celebrate their victory over the invincible Ashanti army during the historic battle of Katamansu near Dodowa in 1826 and also to cleanse themselves and ask for protection from their gods. Odwira is a time of spiritual cleansing, when the peoples Okuapeman, and all who celebrate, present themselves anew and pray for protection. Traditionally, the timing of the festival also coincides with the harvest season when there is abundant food; during which time the people give thanks to the Ancestors. Being a Yam Festival, gratitude for the harvest is especially expressed in the “feeding the ancestors”. During the Festival, bowls of mashed yam (some mixed with palm oil and others left white) which have been specially prepared by the Okuapehene and other stool occupants are carried in procession from the Ahemfi to feed the ancestors at Nsorem. A little-known fact is, the Odwira Festival is also celebrated by the Ga people of Jamestown in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana as a result of their long association with the Akans through intermarriages.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/odwira-festival/
Homowo
The word Homowo (Homo – hunger, wo – hoot) can mean “to hoot (or jeer) at hunger” in the Ga language. The tradition of Homowo started with a period of hunger leading to famine due to failure of the seasonal rains needed by crops in the Greater Accra Region, where the Ga people predominantly dwell. When the rains returned to normal, the Ga people celebrated by creating the Homowo festival, hence its name and meaning. Homowo is greatly celebrated in all the towns in the Ga state with celebrations climaxing in Gamashie. The celebration begins with the planting of maize, which will be used in preparing the food for the festival named Kpokpoi or Kpekple. During this period, noise making is prohibited or banned since it is believed that it disturbs the gods. The meal is eaten with Palm Nut Soup and it is also sprinkled within the town. This is normally done by traditional leaders and family heads. Celebration includes marching down roads and streets beating drums, chanting, face painting, singing and traditional dances. Even though the celebration of Homowo is a Ga tradition, many other ethnic groups are welcomed to also join in the celebration. The homowo festival of the Ga tribe is believed to have a lineage from the Jewish tribe and its ancestral tradition of the Jewish Passover feast.
For details please go to https://visitghana.com/attractions/homowo-festival/