Ghana has a lot of national eco-parks, perfect for silence and relaxing as well as a bit of exercising and adventuring through the firsthand view of the country’s rich vegetation and vast animal species. These Eco parks have onsite residential quarters or lodges, if you like nature and getting out of the crowdy city, these’re places to be:
- Mole National Park
Mole is rich in biodiversity and home to some 742 vascular plant species, over 90 mammal species including 5 primate species, of which species of conservation and tourist interest include Elephant, Buffalo, Kob, Western Hartebeest, Roan Antelope, Defassa Waterbuck, Oribi, Bohor Reedbuck and Red-flanked Duiker. Rare and endangered species include the Yellow-backed Duiker, Black and White Colobus Monkey, Leopard and Lion. The Park is also home to 334 bird species, 33 reptiles, 9 amphibian species, and some 120 butterfly species.
The Park is managed mainly for its outstanding natural, physical, historical and cultural values and covers an area of 4,577 km2 of fairly undisturbed Guinea savannah in the northern part of Ghana. Inside the park you can choose to accommodate at Mole Motel or Zaina Lodge, and at both places you will experience the calm vibe that Mole brings. Both have a terrace looking over the trees, water poles and if you are lucky elephants.
2. Kakum National Park
Kakum is located close to Cape Coast. You can easily take a taxi or trotro from there to Kakum. here you will experience such a calmness you can barely get in the cities. The most popular activity at Kakum is walking over the canopy, it makes you walk over the rain forest. Hopefully you are not afraid of heights, because this is something you don’t want to miss. You can also spend the night in Kakum at their treehouse, or do a longer hike through the forest. We have been told there were recently elephants in Kakum, but they (obviously) never come to the bridges side so it is hard to believe.
3. Bunso Eco Park
Bunso is just two hours from Accra to the Eastern Region, the park offers visitors a combination of semi-deciduous native forest and species introduced to Ghana by the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of Bunso, which uses the facility for research. The site contains over 110 species of birds, 30 species of butterflies and an herb garden with over 40 species. Tour the arboretum with a guide to learn about the native and exotic plants, including their medicinal properties for traditional healing, or go on an indigenous foods tour to learn the many ways in which local people harvest food from local plants. Guests can also experience village life and cocoa farming on a tour of the nearby village.
4. Shai Hills
Shai Hills is based north of Accra, near Dodowa and right on the left to Kordiabe. It is a perfect place for your getaway outside of Accra, or pay it a visit on your way to Akosombo or Hohoe and Wli Waterfalls. Early in the morning you can go for wild viewing and see baboons, birds, antelopes and bushbucks. The monkeys in this park are not friendly like the monkeys in Boabeng Fiema or Tafi Atome, so don’t feed them and be careful with your belongings. You can also take a hike at some of the Ancestral homes like the Sayu Cave, Hieowayo and the Mogo Hills.
