Ghana is gradually becoming one of the popular destinations for tourists. The West African country is laden with much beautiful scenery and captivating cultural heritage. From the vast Savannah lands in the north to the beautiful beaches in the south, Ghana has a lot to offer the avid traveler.
Apart from its deeply intriguing history, the country is fast becoming one of the hotspots in Africa. This can be attributed to the peaceful coexistence between the people. A visit to Ghana will give you the utmost satisfaction and relaxation you need. Many first-time visitors to the country can’t seem to get enough of the tasty local food and the beautiful people.
In this piece, Mrpocu.xyz would be listing places that are a must-see when you visit Ghana.
1.Wli Waterfalls
The Wli waterfalls are the highest waterfall in both Ghana and West Africa, teaching a height of 80meters. It is located in Hohoe a town in the Volta region of Ghana. It has a lower fall and upper falls. The falls are located in the Agumatsa wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to a large colony of fruit bats. Other wildlife found in the sanctuary include baboons, butterflies, monkeys, and birds. The Wli waterfalls is a beautiful work of nature and it attracts several tourists each year. The sereneness of the environment is refreshing and relaxing to people who visit the waterfall.
2.Lake Volta
The Volta Lake is the largest man-made lake in the world. It has a surface area of 8,502 square kilometers. It was created as a result of the construction of the Akosombo Dam. It extends from the town of Akosombo in the south to the northern parts of the country. The Lake serves as a source of livelihood for many people living around the lake. Many indigenes fish in the Lake and it also serves as a means of transport. Several beautiful resorts are built along its banks. There are also boat cruises that take tourists to Dodi an island located on Lake Volta.
3.Nzulezu Village
The captivating Nzulezu Village is a village situated on Lake Tadano. It is located in the Western region of Ghana. It is a village completely built on stilts and platforms. The village is one of a few stilts village located in Africa. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage site and has since received thousands of tourists annually. The journey to the village is an adventurous one. It can only be reached by canoe which takes about an hour to arrive at the village. The village is isolated and has a school and a church. The main livelihood of the people is agriculture and fishing. Visitors are curious about how the people live and how the people survive in such a place.
4.Aburi Botanical Gardens
The Aburi Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden that had some exotic and endangered plant species. It was established by Governor Griffith and Dt. John Farrell Easmon in 1890. It was once the site for a sanatorium. The garden is 64.8 hectares and has some beautiful and important plant species like the kigelia, spine palm, and cocoa trees.
5.Shai Hills Reserve
The Shai Hills reserve is a protected site that holds dozens of wildlife and game. It is located in Doryoumu in the Shai Osudoku District. The reserve is the closest to the capital city Accra by just 17miles. It has several beautiful hills and people come to view the vast plain and beautiful hills. The fauna here include monkeys, baboons, African python, royal python, monitor lizards, guinea fowls, and several bird species. The Shai Hills reserve is open all year round but the rough road gets muddy during the rainy season.
6.Mountain Afadjato
Mount Afadjato is the highest peak in the country riding 885 meters above sea level. It is located in the Volta Region of Ghana along the Ghana-Togo border. The mountain forms part of the Agumatsa range. It is one of the most visited tourist sites in the country. Many visitors love to hike to the mountain’s summit. The mountain is surrounded by lush vegetation. There are other tourist attractions located around the area, namely, the Tagbo falls and Wli falls.
7.Kakum National Park
The Kakum National Park is an extraordinary work of nature that is home to several species of plants and animals. It is one of the most important hotspots in Ghana. It was also named a World Heritage Site. It is home to some endangered species. Some of the endangered species of fauna in the park are Diana monkey, giant bongo antelope, yellow-backed duiker, and African elephant. It is also an Important Bird Area with over 266 bird species. It is very rich in butterflies as well, and a new species was discovered in 1993. The park also has the densest population of forest African elephants. It is also one of three locations in Africa with a canopy walk.
8.Cape Coast Castle
The Cape Coast castle is a monumental edifice that captures the ills of the slave trade that saw millions of Africans subjected to some of the harshest treatment. The castle is located in Cape Coast a town in the Central Region of Ghana. Its whitewashed walls and the castle itself send an aura of pain and suffering. When you first enter the castle and walk the halls and paths slaves passed centuries ago you can almost feel the pain and torture they experienced. The castle receives thousands of visitors annually and it is also a World Heritage Site.
9.Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum is one of Ghana’s trademark sites that holds the remains of the first president of the country. He was a champion for independence and freedom of not just Ghana, but all African countries that were being held captive by colonial rule. Kwame Nkrumah was a charismatic leader who fought for the freedom of the African people. His ideas were what pushed several large developmental projects in the country. Some of which include the hydroelectric power through the Akosombo Dam, the creation of a well-planned city (Tema) that stands till date. The Mausoleum also features artwork from various artists in the country and photos of the good old days of Ghana.
10.Jamestown Lighthouse
The Jamestown lighthouse is a lighthouse that was first built in 1871 and reconstructed in 1930. It is located in the small fishing town of Jamestown. It consists of a stone tower with a lantern and gallery, attached to a keeper’s house. Lighthouse and keeper’s house are painted in red and white horizontal bands. The lighthouse is 92ft tall. Jamestown lighthouse was built by the British to warn ships of the rocky coast.
11.Mountain Krobo
The Krobo mountain is a mountain that has a significant cultural and historic significance. The mountain is located in the Eastern region of Ghana. It is an 1108 feet high mountain with a gorge dividing it into two unequal sections. It was the first settlement of the Krobo people when they first migrated to Ghana. They made their home here because of its strategic position and its ability to ward off invaders. During the 17th century, there were many wars between the tribes in the area but the Krobos always won by throwing boulders at invaders climbing the mountain. The Krobo were finally evicted from the mountain in 1892 by Governor Griffith under the Natural Ordinance Act. They later moved to the surrounding plains and have lived there till date. But the mountain is considered as their ancestral home and this is where they perform many rituals.
12.Salaga Slave Market
The Salaga slave market was an important Trans Atlantic slave market where slaves were sold and transported to the coast to be exported. In the 18th century, it was also an outpost for the movement of slaves along the Trans Saharan routes.
Before it became a slave market, the town of Salaga was an important trading center in West Africa during the 26th century. Goods sold were kola, gold, beads, ostrich feathers, and animal hides.
13.Paga Crocodile Pond
The Paga Crocodile Pond is the sacred home of crocodiles. There is a myth behind this, it revolves around the story of how a crocodile brought a dying man to the pond to drink water, the man later declared the pond sacred. This is said to have happened 600years ago. Since then the indigenes of Paga do not kill or eat crocodile meat. The pond is a huge tourist attraction, it attracts hundreds of visitors annually. The crocodiles in the pond are friendly and even allow tourists to touch and hold them after being fed a chicken.
14.Mole National Park
The Mole National Park is a reservation located in the Northern region of Ghana. It is the largest wildlife reserve in Ghana. It is located near the town of Larabanga. It has several plants and animal species. The park is home to African bush elephants, hippos, buffalo, different species of monkeys, different species of antelope, 344 list bird species, and 33 known species of reptiles. The park has several plant species that include baobab, she’s trees, and tall grass.
15.Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary
The Tafi-Atome Monkey Sanctuary is a preserved monkey sanctuary located in the Volta region of Ghana. It is located 230km from the capital Accra. It is considered a sacred area, the monkeys have lived in the forest surrounding the village of Tafi-Atome for over two centuries and they are believed to be messengers from the gods. The two main species of monkeys found here are the Patas and Mona monkeys. The preservation of the sanctuary was realized through the joint effort of the villagers, public institutions, and an NGO.