Discover the wild side of Ghana: 8 must-visit National Parks and Reserves for your holiday adventure

Discover the wild side of Ghana: 8 must-visit National Parks and Reserves for your holiday adventure

By: Nii Ammui Fio | 5 mins read

Looking for the perfect holiday escape? Ghana's breathtaking national parks and reserves offer the ultimate blend of adventure, serenity, and natural beauty.

From lush rainforests teeming with wildlife to savannahs brimming with iconic species, these protected areas are a treasure trove for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike.

Whether you're looking to reconnect with nature, snap stunning photos, or simply unwind in the heart of the wild, Ghana’s diverse landscapes have something for everyone.

Let’s take you on a journey through eight incredible destinations you can’t afford to miss this holiday season!

Mole National Park

Located in the Savannah region of Ghana, Mole National Park spans 4,840 km² of Guinea savanna and riparian ecosystems at an elevation of 150m. Established in 1958 and re-designated in 1971, it is bordered by a steep escarpment to the south.

The park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including 94 mammal species (notably elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards), over 300 bird species, 9 amphibians, 33 reptiles, and 742 plant species. Two unique waterfalls, Polzen and Kparia, enhance the park's appeal.

Mole experiences a tropical climate, with annual rainfall averaging 1,100mm.

The park also holds cultural and historical significance, with ancient caravan routes for trade and slavery passing through its heart.

Activities: Bird watching, wildlife observation, and canopy walks.Facilities: Visitor accommodation is available at the park headquarters.

Kakum National Park & Assin

The Kakum Conservation Area, spanning 350 km² of rainforest, includes the Kakum National Park and Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve. Known for its rich biodiversity, it is home to over 40 mammal species (including elephants, bongos, and red river hogs), 200 bird species, 400 butterfly species, and diverse plant life.

The park's towering hardwood trees, reaching up to 65 meters, form a stunning canopy that hosts Kakum's main attraction—the Canopy Walkway. This 500-meter-long swinging bridge offers visitors a thrilling walk among the treetops and draws over 120,000 visitors annually.

Gazetted in 1991, Kakum also features guided forest trails, where visitors learn about the cultural, economic, and ecological significance of the flora and fauna.

Activities: Canopy walks, guided forest trails, and wildlife observation.Facilities: A visitor center is available to enhance the experience.

Shai Hills Resource Reserve

The Shai Hills Resource Reserve, located just east of Accra en route to Akosombo's Lake Volta, offers a blend of scenic beauty and cultural heritage.

Spanning open grass plains and scattered vegetation, the reserve is home to diverse wildlife, including kobs, green monkeys, spot-nose monkeys, and olive baboons.

The reserve features spectacular caves such as Hieowayo, Manya, Adwuku, and Sayou, which served as the Shai people's dwellings from the late Stone Age until their displacement by the British colonial army in 1892.

Visitors can explore cultural and historical sites, enjoy picnics, campgrounds, hiking trails, and climbing routes, making it a versatile destination for adventure and relaxation.

Digya National Park

Located in Ghana's transition zone, Digya National Park spans 3,478 km² of diverse landscapes, including savanna woodland, forested areas, perennial streams, and sandstone inselbergs.

Established in 1900 and designated as a national park in 1971, it lies along the western shores of the Volta Lake, the world’s largest man-made lake, with the Sene and Obosom rivers creating a near-peninsular formation.

The park is home to rich biodiversity, supporting 34 mammal species, 214 bird species, and six primate species, including black-and-white colobus monkeys and elephants.

Additionally, antelopes, manatees, and clawless otters are present, along with 26 herptile and 92 vascular plant species, making it a vital ecological haven in Ghana.

Bui National Park

Located across the Savanna and Bono regions of Ghana, the 1,821 km² Bui National Park is renowned for its rich biodiversity and scenic beauty. As Ghana’s third-largest wildlife protected area, it is bisected by the Black Volta River, offering a mix of woodland savanna, gallery forests, and riverine landscapes.

The park is home to Ghana's largest population of hippos and diverse wildlife, including elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, baboons, patas monkeys, and green monkeys. Bird enthusiasts can spot over 250 bird species, including the rare white-necked rockfowl (Picathartes).

Visitors can explore caves hosting bat colonies, lush mountains, and water cascades. The recently constructed Bui Hydroelectric Dam has reshaped the park, creating new riverine areas and islands, enhancing its appeal for birdwatching, game viewing, and hiking adventures.

Bui National Park offers a unique opportunity to experience Ghana's natural beauty and wildlife, making it a must-visit destination for nature and adventure lovers.

Bia National Park

Located in the Western North region of Ghana, the Bia Conservation Area spans 306 km², comprising Bia National Park (77.7 km²) in the north and Bia Resource Reserve (227.9 km²) in the south. It is situated in the transition zone between moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forests.

Bia National Park is home to a wide range of species, including African forest elephants, chimpanzees, white-nosed sooty mangabeys, olive colobus, and bongo antelopes. The park also hosts 130 bird species and 404 butterfly species. It is Ghana’s first UNESCO-recognized Biosphere Reserve. A total of 62 mammal species have been recorded, including 10 primate species like the black and white colobus and red colobus monkeys.

The Bia Conservation Area is renowned for its biodiversity and offers opportunities for walking trails where tourists can explore the lush forest and spot wildlife, including elephants and rare birds. While the area is valuable for scientific research, it currently lacks infrastructure for tourism. The nearest accommodation is in Sefwi Wiawso, about 100 km away from the park headquarters.

Kyabobo National Park

Located in the Nkwanta district of the Northern Volta Region, Kyabobo National Park spans 359.8 km² in the Dry semi-deciduous forest zone.

The park is a unique blend of forest and savanna ecosystems, home to both forest and savanna species. It is notable for housing the nationally endangered endemic tree Talbotiella gendtii.

The park’s wildlife includes common species such as buffalo, kob, warthog, aardvark, and baboon. Threatened species like lions, elephants, bongo, reedbuck, and hartebeest are also present and could potentially recolonize the park from the nearby Fazao National Park in Togo, if provided with adequate protection.

Tourism infrastructure is under development in both Fazao and Kyabobo, making the park a promising attraction in the region.

Kalakpa Resource Reserve

Located in the Ho district, the Abutia-Kloe Resource Reserve covers 325 km² and features a blend of riverine gallery forests, savannah grasslands, and hills. Originally a popular hunting area for expatriates, the reserve is now home to a variety of wildlife.

It houses lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, baboons, and smaller mammals.

The reserve also boasts an impressive bird population and numerous butterfly species, making it a rich and diverse ecological site.

Credit: Forestry Commission