The older traditional names of the city are Oguaa and Kotokuraba (meaning “River of Crabs” or “Village of Crabs”). The Portuguese navigators João de Santarém and Pedro Escobar who sailed past Oguaa in 1471 designated the place Cabo Corso (meaning “short cape”), from which the name Cape Coast derives.
Cape coast, the capital of the central region of Ghana was founded by the people of Oguaa in the central region. It was controlled by various colonial administrations from the 16th Century. It was the seat of the British colonial government in the then Gold Coast until it was moved to Accra in 1877. The land area of Cape Coast is mostly sloppy with hills and valleys. The temperature is humid with the sea breeze providing a cool ambiance. The locals are chiefly involved in fishing and related activities.
Today, Cape Coast is a very popular fishing town with an artsy vibe, fanned by salty sea breezes and kissed by peeling waves. Crumbling colonial buildings line the streets, seabirds prowl the beaches and fishermen cast nets where slave ships once sailed. Many travelers visit Cape Coast to experience the slavery stories. So if you are planning a trip to Cape Coast in Ghana, here are some places you must definitely visit.
Cape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle is one of about forty “slave castles”, or large commercial forts, built on the Gold Coast of West Africa by European traders. It was originally a Portuguese “feitoria” or trading post, established in 1555. However, in 1653 the Swedish Africa Company constructed a timber fort there. It originally was a center for the trade-in timber and gold. It was later used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Most tourists around the world visit the castle to witness the history of great black slavery in west Africa.
Kakum National Park.
This park is built and covers an area of 375 square kilometers (145 sq mi). it was established in the year 1931 as a reserve forest before later in 1992 convicted to a part for tourists. Kakum part is one of the 3 African’s canopy walkway which is 350 metres (1,150 ft) long and connects seven tree tops which provides access to the forest.