Situated in the Western part of Africa, Ghana is the picture of a magical destination full of history, culture, scenic locations, wildlife, and some of the friendliest people on earth. So, we recommend that if you plan to visit this beautiful country for very first time, you should visit the official website of the Ghana Tourism Authority for more information. However, here are a few insights to help you navigate the maze of exciting tourist sites in Ghana which will leave you totally mesmerized.
The gigantic Mole National Park covers over 4500 square kilometers in savannah woodland and incorporates many idyllic waterways and forests. A visit to Mole can be accomplished in style, with many quality hotel lodgings such as the Mole Hotel and Mole Motel offering first-class accommodation options.
The area is pristine, and the Mole and Lovi rivers pass through the park charmingly. The area receives around 1000 millimeters of rainfall a year, which helps to sustain many diverse species of animal, including hippos, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, and numerous plant varieties. Hiking routes are popular. One can also, take a walk or drive through for a unique perspective of this magnificent park.
Elmina Castle was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so it is the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa. Elmina is also a picturesque fishing town along Ghana’s coast, not far from Cape Coast. It is home to one of Ghana’s biggest tourist attractions, St George’s Castle. Built by the Portuguese in 1482, it was captured by the Dutch 150 years later and became the headquarters of their West Indies Company for the following 250 years.
Slaves soon replaced gold exports, and the tours through the dungeons offer a good idea of how gruesome a trade it was. The Castle houses a small museum, and guided tours are available. The stark beauty of the white-washed Castle walls contrasts deeply with the dark history of this place. Fort St. Jago lies across the lagoon from the castle and is worth visiting for the views it offers of the town and Castle.
Lake Bosumtwe is the only natural lake in Ashanti and Ghana. It is located about 30km from Kumasi. The lake is considered sacred by the Ashanti people, who believe that people’s spirits visit the lake after death to say goodbye to the God Twi.
Other than being a pilgrimage site, Lake Bosumtwe is a great spot for adventure. Almost 90 meters deep, the lake makes for an excellent destination for relaxing, hiking, trekking, picnicking, horseback riding, biking, and water sports.
Nzulezu is a village built on stilts in the marshy Amansuri Lagoon. Similar in look and atmosphere to Genvie in Benin, this is a unique little fishing community, far removed from the hustle and bustle of daily Ghanaian life. You can only reach it by renting a canoe, available from the village of Beyin (about two hours drive from Axim). It takes about an hour to reach the village. Simple accommodation is available in a stilt house.
The Kintampo waterfalls, located on the Kumasi-Kintampo highway provide a panoramic scene and breathtaking display of nature’s beauty. It is about 4km away from the Kintampo Township, on the Kumasi-Tamale road. This is where the Pumpu River falls some seventy (70) meters to continue its journey towards the Black Volta at Buipe. The cascading waters of the Kintampo Falls take on the shape of a beautiful staircase.
This superb Falls mysteriously disappears and resurfaces 200 meters away from its original location. Its great scenery makes it a favorite attraction for tourists who visit the region (Bono Region, formerly Brong Ahafo Region). One can never miss the Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in the Brong Ahafo region as well.
In the Hohoe Municipality in the Volta Region of the Republic of Ghana, one of nature’s wonders stands tall and impressive inside a semi-deciduous forest. I am referring to WLI WATERFALL, the tallest waterfall in West Africa, measuring about 143 meters from the upper fall to the plunge pool below it. Its sheer grandeur, height, beauty, and cool environment beat every imagination. It is a natural attraction every tourist will desire to visit.
Mount Afadja is one of the highest mountains in Ghana, standing at 885 meters (2,904 ft). The mountain is located in the Agumatsa Range near the villages of Gbledi and Liati Wote, in the Volta Region of Ghana at the border with Togo. ‘Afadja’ is the mountain’s name, whereas “To” in the Ewe dialect, means “mountain”.
Therefore, it is called “Afadjato” by the indigenes. The correct name thus, is “Mount Afadja”. Mount Afadja is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Volta Region of Ghana for thousands of visitors from around the globe annually.About a kilometer (less than a mile) to the east is the nearby peak of Aduadu, which is higher than Afadjato, standing at over 900 meters.
Legend has it that when the indigenes migrated to the area and saw the mountain, it looked like the mound in which water yam is planted. Water yam is called “Avadze” in Ewe. Moreover, some creeping plants on the mountain resembled the water yam plant. They therefore, named it “Avadze-to.” Today, the word has been palatalized into “Afadjato.”
Lake Volta is an artificially created lake, like a large reservoir behind the Akosombo Dam. The lake is located completely within Ghana. The surface area is about 8,502 km². Lake Volta lies along the Greenwich Meridian and just six degrees of latitude north of the Equator. The lake’s northernmost point is close to the town of Yapei, where you find the northernmost ferry port of Ghana and on the southernmost, the Akosombo Dam and Akosombo port.
A harbor to some Lake Volta ferries and other vessels. The port lies 520 kilometers downstream from Yapei. Akosombo Dam holds back both the White Volta River and the Black Volta River, which formerly converged where the middle of the human-made lake now lies, to form the single Volta River.
Located in downtown Accra, Ghana, is the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum. The Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ghana’s first President and Africanist. The Park hosts rare artifacts relating to Ghana’s independence, and tourists are sure to be given an in-depth history of the Sub-Saharan struggle for independence.
The mausoleum designed by Don Arthur houses the mortal remains of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah. It is shaped as an upside-down sword, which in the Akan culture is a symbol of peace. The mausoleum is clad from top to bottom with Italian marble, with a black star at its apex to symbolize unity.
The interior of the Mausoleum boasts marble flooring and a mini mastaba-like marble grave marker surrounded by river washed rocks.With these few interesting places and many more exciting sights and sounds beckoning, we say “Come and Let us tour Ghana, eat Ghana, drink Ghana, Wear Ghana and Play Ghana.”
With these few interesting places mentioned above, there are more exciting places you can have a good memorable time in Ghana. Come and Let us tour Ghana, eat Ghana, drink Ghana, Wear Ghana and Play Ghana.
source: Wikipedia
