Places to visit

park· Aburi

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Historic botanical gardens founded in 1890 in the cool Akuapem hills above Accra, with century-old palms and panoramic views.

beach· Ada Foah

Ada Estuary

Where the Volta River meets the Atlantic — beach resorts, island trips and water sports at the estuary.

waterfall· Koforidua

Boti Falls

Twin waterfall near Koforidua regarded as male and female; at high flow the two streams merge. Nearby are the Umbrella Rock and a three-headed palm tree.

park· Suhum

Bunso Arboretum

Forest reserve and canopy walkway in the Eastern Region with butterfly garden and herbal trails.

castle· Cape Coast

Cape Coast Castle

UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important stops on the transatlantic slave trade route. The castle museum and the Door of No Return draw visitors from across the world.

castle· Elmina

Elmina Castle

Built by the Portuguese in 1482, St. George's Castle in Elmina is the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

castle· Axim

Fort Metal Cross

English trading fort built in 1683 at Dixcove, overlooking a busy fishing harbour on the western coast.

monument· Accra

Independence Square

Black Star Square — the vast parade ground where Ghana's independence celebrations are held, crowned by the Independence Arch.

park· Cape Coast

Kakum National Park

Rainforest national park famous for its canopy walkway suspended 30 m above the forest floor — one of only three canopy walkways in Africa. Home to forest elephants, monkeys and over 250 bird species.

market· Kumasi

Kejetia Market

One of the largest open markets in West Africa with over 10,000 stalls — the beating heart of Kumasi.

monument· Accra

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Mausoleum and memorial park dedicated to Ghana's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, on the old polo grounds where independence was declared in 1957.

beach· Accra

Labadi Beach

Accra's most popular beach, with weekend live music, horse rides and beach bars. Officially La Pleasure Beach.

lake· Kumasi

Lake Bosomtwe

Ghana's only natural lake, formed in an ancient meteorite crater and sacred to the Ashanti. A popular weekend escape ringed by villages and hills.

monument· Damongo

Larabanga Mosque

Sudanese-style adobe mosque dating to the 15th century, often called the 'Mecca of West Africa' — the oldest mosque in Ghana.

museum· Kumasi

Manhyia Palace Museum

Seat of the Asantehene, king of the Ashanti. The museum tells the history of the Ashanti Kingdom with regalia and life-size effigies.

park· Damongo

Mole National Park

Ghana's largest wildlife park, home to elephants, antelopes, baboons and warthogs. Walking and driving safaris start from Mole Motel with views over the waterholes.

mountain· Hohoe

Mount Afadja (Afadjato)

At 885 m the highest peak in Ghana, on the border ridge with Togo. The hike from Liati Wote takes about 2 hours return.

monument· Axim

Nzulezo Stilt Village

Village built entirely on stilts over Lake Tadane, reached by canoe — a UNESCO tentative-list site and one of Ghana's most unusual communities.

castle· Osu

Osu Castle

17th-century Danish fort (Christiansborg) on the Osu coast, long the seat of Ghana's government.

park· Paga

Paga Crocodile Pond

Sacred ponds where crocodiles live peacefully alongside people; visitors can sit with the crocodiles guided by local caretakers.

park· Dodowa

Shai Hills Resource Reserve

Savannah reserve under an hour from Accra with baboons, antelopes, ancient caves and inselberg hikes.

park· Hohoe

Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

Community-run sanctuary where sacred mona monkeys roam free around the village; guided visits support local development.

monument· Koforidua

Umbrella Rock

Natural rock formation shaped like an umbrella near Boti Falls, with sweeping views of the Yilo Krobo hills.

waterfall· Hohoe

Wli Waterfalls

The highest waterfall in West Africa (about 80 m), set in the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary near Hohoe. A scenic hike through the forest leads to the lower falls, with thousands of fruit bats on the cliffs.