The 8 Top Excursions in Ghana That You Should Definitely Add to Your Bucket List

Ghana is popular for its diverse landscapes and beaches. Visitors can go on a safari, visit historical sites, spend time in lush rainforests and more. However, there are even more things to explore in Ghana that you may not have heard of before. And while there are many exciting excursions in Ghana to choose from, most visitors find themselves drawn to the country’s natural wonders: the tropical forests along the coast, the waterfalls in its highlands and the wildlife reserves dotted about everywhere. In fact, most of these natural sites rank as some of the most important protected areas in West Africa. Whether you’re staying at an all-inclusive hotel or renting a villa during your vacation, here are eight great excursions you should add to your bucket list when visiting Ghana.

Ghana’s largest nature reserve: Shoe-Be-Shoora

As the largest nature reserve in Ghana, Shoe-Be-Shoora is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. It’s a place where you can get up close and personal with nature, but also discover how conservation efforts are helping to protect the natural environment. There are also guided boat trips available, which take you along the Volta River, allowing you to get a good look at the surrounding wetlands. It’s best to visit Shoe-Be-Shoora between August and March, when there’s little risk of flooding. However, between April and July, it’s worth coming back, as it’s peak nesting season for swallows. Shoe-Be-Shoora is best reached by taxi or car, and it’s open every day between 8:00 and 17:00. There’s an entrance fee of GH¢5.00 for adults and GH¢2.50 for students aged between 5 and 18, while children under 5 get in for free.

A walk through Ghana’s rainforests

The Kakum National Park is a particularly good place to get up close and personal with Ghana’s lush rainforests. This is not only the country’s largest forest, but has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. It’s also been named one of the 50 most important protected areas in West Africa. Moreover, Kakum is home to around 600 species of plants, 40 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and more than 100 species of amphibians. The best way to explore Kakum is on a forest walk. You’ll be guided by an expert, who can tell you about the different species of plants and animals you’ll come across, as well as the area’s history. There are two trails to choose from, and a guided walk takes between three and four hours. It’s also possible to stay overnight in the forest at one of the nearby lodges, which is especially recommended during the rainy season (June to October). Kakum is open every day of the year, and there’s an entrance fee of GH¢30.00 for adults and GH¢15.00 for children aged between 5 and 11.

Swim with dolphins at the Tongo Reef

If your idea of an exciting excursion is something a bit different, then you can’t go wrong with swimming with dolphins. Tongo Reef is one of the world’s best places to meet these highly sociable marine mammals, and can be found off the coast of Ghana. Here, you can go on a Dolphin Encounter, where you’ll don a mask and snorkel and swim with the dolphins for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, for the more adventurous, there’s the whole day Dolphin Swim Adventure, which offers an even more immersive experience. Tongo Reef is open every day of the year and the excursion costs GH¢350.00 per person. It’s best to visit during the dry season (November to March), as the water is clearer at this time of year.

Discover the culture of the Fante people

The Fante people are among the largest ethnic groups in Ghana, and live in the southern part of the country. If you’d like to learn more about this vibrant culture, a visit to the Ashanti Traditional Village at Abrew Nkwanta is the perfect excursion. You can discover what life is like for the Fante people through the various interactive experiences available at this site. There are also museum exhibitions and a craft market if you want to learn even more about the local culture. The Fante Traditional Village is open every day between 9:00 and 17:00. There’s an entrance fee of GH¢20.00 for adults and GH¢10.00 for children aged between 5 and 11.

Visit Cape Coast and Elmina for an insight into slavery

Many travelers to Ghana make a detour to visit the former slave-trading capital of Cape Coast. The town has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to two former forts. Here, you can go on a guided tour around the Slave House Museum and learn about the millions of Africans who were forced to work as slaves on plantations across the Americas. Cape Coast is open every day of the year. The guided tour of the slave house costs GH¢100.00 for adults, while children under 12 get in for free. For an even more comprehensive insight into the history of slavery in Ghana, it’s worth visiting the Elmina Castle, which has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can learn all about the role of this important trading fort in the transatlantic slave trade from the friendly guides, who will also take you around the nearby slave house.

Explore a safari park by day and sleep under the stars

The Nane Nane Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a number of different species including elephants, baboons and parrots. It’s also a place where you can go on a guided safari tour to get up close and personal with the local wildlife. Alternatively, if you’d prefer a more relaxed, tranquil experience, you can take part in a Bird Walk. This tour takes you to one of the sanctuary’s lagoons, where birds such as pelicans, kingfishers, ibises and storks can often be spotted. You can also stay overnight at the Nane Nane Wildlife Sanctuary to get an even closer look at the local wildlife. The Sanctuary Lodge is beautifully situated on a lagoon, and offers an enticing mix of relaxation and adventure. During the day, you can explore the sanctuary on the extensive network of trails, and at night, you can sleep under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of nature.

Conclusion

Ghana is a country with a lot going for it. Visitors are likely to find themselves in a tropical paradise, with a wide variety of wildlife and abundant plant life. Accommodation is varied, including beach resorts and wildlife safari parks, while the food is as diverse as the country itself. Whether you want to explore the world-famous Ghanaian landscapes, or you’d rather get up close and personal with the wildlife, there are many exciting excursions in Ghana to choose from. Whether you’re staying at an all-inclusive hotel or renting a villa during your vacation, you can add these eight great excursions to your bucket list when visiting Ghana.