The Gbelle Game Reserve and bird sanctuary, 17 Km south of Tumu in the Upper West region, is an important sanctuary for endangered species of wildlife within Ghana.
The reserve is also home to buffalo, hippo, elephant, buck, and the country’s largest herds of roan antelope. Birdwatchers consider this as an important habitat for indigenous and migratory species of birds.
Stretching along 40 km of the eastern bank of the Black Volta River, the Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary is a protected area for hippos and associated species. It is home to one of only two remaining groups of hippopotamus in Ghana. Bird life is also spectacular, with over 200 species on record.
The river has had marked success in providing tourists with a unique and unusual eco – travel experience. Experience a river safari in a dugout canoe and see the residents hippo group, birds and mammals as well as fishermen plying their nets.
The rock formations, caves and sweeping landscape of the Tongo Hills at Tengzug in the Upper East region are reason enough to visit, but the village is home multiple shrines. The shrines draw people from Ghana and neighbouring countries for sacred power provide guidance and resolution of problems.
Tengzug’s combination of natural beauty and cultural richness had resulted in it being shortlisted for future consideration as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Village of Sirigu is a fascinating example of local women taking action to preserve their art and culture. It is home to beautiful pottery and basketry, interesting architecture and decorative wall paintings.
The area of Paga gives tourists an opportunity to see a remarkably well – preserved outdoor slave camp, as well as a sacred pool where protected crocodiles can be seen, touched and fed.
Visitors can also enjoy a village tour and an evening of drumming and dancing by a local cultural troop.
Daboya in the northern region is the most famous of Ghana’s fugu (smock) weaving communities. Like Kente, the fabric is hand – woven but the strips are narrower and have strips, in contrast to the geometric patterns found in Kente.
The community also offers boat tours and cruises on the White Volta River, which flows beside the village. See some of the area’s bird life, enjoy a fishing demonstration with a hand thrown net and visit a beach where salt is harvested, all from a hand – made boat, paddled by villagers.
Mole National Park, located in the Savannah region of the country, is Ghana’s largest wildlife refuge, measuring 4.849 sq km. It is best known for its elephants (a population of about 600), as well as Buffalo, antelope, lion, leopard, hippo and five species of primates.
There are also more than 300 bird species and 33 identified reptile species within the national park, located on grassland savannah and its entrance is near the town of Larabanga.
Ephemeral rivers Lovi and Mole flow through the park, leaving behind drinking holes in the dry season. The reserve has an eco lodge with 25 chalets, a 33 room motel with a restaurant and swimming pool and a small museum.
Tanoboase Sacred Grove and Rock Formations, located near Kintampo in the Bono East region, is strikingly beautiful sandstone rock formations within the Tano sacred groove. Taakora, the highest of the Akan gods on earth, is believed to dwell at the source of the Tano river within the groove, making it a sacred place.
Take a guided tour of this very enjoyable site, learn its interesting history and culture and be rewarded with an unforgettable panoramic view.
In the Ahafo region of Ghana, is the White – Necked Rock Fowl Sanctuary in Asumura. The Asumura area is home to one of Ghana’s last remaining populations of the white – necked rock fowl.
The white – necked rock fowl is considered an endangered and threatened species but can be seen in the Asumura sanctuary, 45 minutes drive from Goaso, the regional capital.
Stop at the visitor center to find more about the bird, enjoy a beverage in the open – air summer house, see the rock fowl for yourself on a guided forest walk, and challenge yourself to the Bonsam Bepo (Devil’s Hill) climb.
For generations, the village people of Buabeng and Fiema near Nkoranza in the Bono East region have believed that the local monkeys conserved at the forests 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 appealing site. A visit to the Monkey Sanctuary at Fiema, makes a day out.
The monkeys have access to all parts of the village and local people plant fruit trees for them. Shockingly, when a monkey dies, it is buried in a coffin and a special funeral rites are performed.
As one enters Liati Wote in the Volta region, one’s view of the village is dominated by the mass of Mount Afadjato, Ghana’s highest free – standing mounting. The community also features the beautiful Tagbo Falls.
It can be reached by a rewarding hike that showcases an abundance of over 300 recorded species of butterflies, coffee and cocoa farms, and a beautiful semi – deciduous forest.
Most tourists make the easy walk to the lower falls, exciting by the presence of thousands of fruit bats nesting on the nearby cliffs.
The more isolated upper falls are a special treat for those with stamina for a challenging hike. Both routes take visitors through the Agumatse Wildlife Sanctuary with over 200 bird and butterfly species.
There are inviting pools at the base of the falls where the brave can take a chilly dip.
The 360 sq km Kakum National Park in the Central region, offers visitors exciting rainforest experience complimented by modern camping facilities, all kinds of exhibits, an open – air restaurant and a gift shop.
Its best known feature is the 333 metre long canopy walkway, suspended up to 27 metres above the forest floor from trees that are over 300 years old. The park is heavily patronized by many domestic and international revellers due to its authentic rainforest view experience.
It is a premier site for birdwatchers, with 269 confirmed species including eight species of global conservation concern, Mammals including forest elephant, leopard, bongo, bushbuck and many primates.
Ntonso, in the Ashanti region, is the only place in Ghana where traditional adinkra, a cloth famed for its symbols and proverbial wisdom, is made locally from scratch.
The cloth was originally worn only for funerals in the Ashanti region and produced mainly in black, brown and red. Now, it is made in all colours and used throughout Ghana.
Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary spans 54 sq km area of semi – deciduous tropical rainforest.
Visitors can enjoy close – up views of Bobiri’s huge trees, its variety of birds, landscaped butterfly garden (showcasing the sanctuary’s over 400 species) and its arboretum.
Bonwire, in the Ashanti region, is the home for the iconic Kente cloth which has become the symbolic African textile piece which resonates loudly with all people of African descent.
Visitors to Bonwire can get a firsthand experience of the weaving process and also has a wide selection of intricate designs for the souvenir items of their choice.
At Adjeikrom Farm tour in the Eastern region, visitors can tour rural cocoa farms and learn how cocoa is grown, maintained, harvested, fermented and dried.
Akyeamehene Cocoa plantations at Ohwirem, near Asamankese, tourists gets refreshing hike under the forest canopy and learn about all the agro processes of cocoa cultivation, from planting to harvesting.
Located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, the Bunsu Arboretum contains over 110 species of birds, 30 species of butterflies and a herb garden with over 40 species.
Visit the arboretum with a guide to learn about the native and exotic plants, including their medicinal properties for traditional healing. You could also go on an indigenous foods tour to learn the many ways in which local people harvest food from local plants.
A ‘must see’ for visitors to the Western region is the ancient village of Nzulezu, which uniquely rests entirely on stilts and platforms.
It was founded over 500 years ago and overlooks the jungle – bound lake Tadane.
Located 90 km west of Takoradi, the vilkage is home to hundreds of people and includes a school, churches, and main street.
According to a reliable oral tradition, the community – based wetland reserve was created by a group from Oualata, a city of the ancient Ghana Empire, after a snail led them to the area. Nzulezu is one of the few ancient settlements on stilts left in the world, and it was in 2000 declared a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO.
Visitors can go on a dugout canoe trip, passing through a series of marshes, swamp forest and open pools rich with wildlife including crocodile, egret, heron and kingfisher.
Tourists can also take a guided evening tour of the local beach, which has become a conservation area for sea turtles, to see this endangered nesting or its hatchings emerging and making their way to the sea.
Ankasa Conservation Area in the Western regions, is an extraordinary bio – reserve. The 500 sq km area includes the Nini Suhien National Park and Ankasa Resource Reserve.
This is the only wet evergreen high forest ecosystem remaining in Ghana with the highest plant diversity (600 plant species recorded in a single hectare), as well as the nation’s highest rainfall (1,700 to 2,000 mm per year).
Mammals including forest elephant, forest Buffalo, Leonard, bongo and nine species of primates are found at the conservation. More than 600 butterfly species have been identified, as well as over 190 bird species.
Take a walking tour or guided birdwatching hike.
The Shai Hills Resource Reserve covers an area of 51 sq km, an hour’s drive from Accra and home to 31 species of mammal including western kob, grey duiker, bushbuck, olive baboon, green monkey and the spot – noised monkey , 175 species of birds and hundreds of butterfly species.
Close to the reserve are the Se Yo and Obonu Tem caves, located in a range of rockey hills, where water harbour crocodiles and tomb bats inhibit some of the caves. The conservation area also offers a baboon trail, a waterhole and the Adwuku Hill hike.
SOURCE: asempadawuro