Ecotourism in Ghana
| country: | Ghana |
| departures: | This trip operates all year round and can be tailormade to suit your requirements. Contact us for set departure dates |
| price: | From US $1800 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a unique holiday experience in one of the most exciting and welcoming countries in Africa. This is your opportunity to experience the warmth, friendship and excitement of Ghana. In addition to meeting people, experiencing the culture and family life the emphasis of this tour is to see the efforts Ghana has made to encourage ecotourism.
You will visit the famous Kakum National Park and walk across the rope bridge in the trees of the rainforest canopy. At Mole National Park you can overlook the watering hole as a variety of animals come to drink, see herds of elephants stroll past and take a walking safari with a local guide. Visits to Owabi Bird Sanctuary, Lake Bosomptwi and Aburi Botanical Gardens give you plenty of opportunity to see the local wildlife, flora and fauna as well as interact and gain insights into the nearby village communities.
In addition, this tour around the country has opportunities to experience the bustling markets of Accra and Kumasi, as well as the site of the oldest mosque at Larabanga.
You will visit the famous Kakum National Park and walk across the rope bridge in the trees of the rainforest canopy. At Mole National Park you can overlook the watering hole as a variety of animals come to drink, see herds of elephants stroll past and take a walking safari with a local guide. Visits to Owabi Bird Sanctuary, Lake Bosomptwi and Aburi Botanical Gardens give you plenty of opportunity to see the local wildlife, flora and fauna as well as interact and gain insights into the nearby village communities.
In addition, this tour around the country has opportunities to experience the bustling markets of Accra and Kumasi, as well as the site of the oldest mosque at Larabanga.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | On your arrival in Ghana, we check you into your hotel or into one of our unique family life based accommodation in Accra, Kumasi, etc. |
| Day 2: | Visit Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum, Makola Market and to the Nungua coffin making center, Labadi Beach welcomes you in the afternoon. Overnight Accra. |
| Day 3: | After a morning tour of Accra, we drive you to through the villages north east of Accra to the 100 year old Aburi Botanical Gardens. Here, you will discover more of the indigenous flora of Ghana, and you are welcome to see some of the research facilities as well. On your return, you explore Legon, home of the university of Ghana, with its small botanical garden. Overnight Accra. |
| Day 4: | Leaving Accra, we drive you along the coast, through several fishing villages to Cape Coast the regional capital of the Central region. This is the site of one the most famous 16th century castles in Ghana. North of Cape Coast is Kakum National Park, 360km2 of natural rainforest and home to varieties of birds, butterflies and mammals mostly seen in the early mornings and the late evenings. Overnight Cape Coast. |
| Day 5: | The tour goes on to Kumasi the capital city of the Ashanti region, popularly known as the Garden City. It is the center of the Ashanti culture, so we could let's suggest the cultural center, the Asantehene's palace (Manhyia palace), the Kumasi Fort and the Kejetia Market, the largest in West Africa as some of the places to visit. Overnight Kumasi. |
| Day 6: | An hour's drive outside Kumasi is Owabi Bird Sanctuary. The forest surrounds an artificial lake and abounds with birds and butterflies. The trails through the forest and along the water's edge, give you the opportunity of seeing some of the best of the migratory and indigenous birds found there. The afternoon, we take you through some of the villages where traditional craftsmen still work producing fine kente, Adinkra and the famous Asante stools. Overnight Kumasi. |
| Day 7: | South of Kumasi is the Lake Bosomptwi, a quiet Crater Lake surrounded by forest-clad hills. The hillside is rich in animal and bird life, you can take a local trail around the lake visiting some of the small fishing villages that ring the waters. Overnight Kumasi. |
| Day 8: | The road north of Kumasi to Mole takes us through Brong Ahafo, the agricultural basket of Ghana. A stop over for a break is at Kintampo Falls where the attractive cascades are hidden inside the forest. Overnight Mole Park Motel. |
| Day 9: | Mole National Park is the largest in Ghana and has significant numbers of monkeys, antelopes and elephants. The best time to see the game is in the early mornings and in the late afternoons. During the day, we take you to Larabanga, the site of the oldest mosque in Ghana. Overnight Mole Motel. |
| Day 10: | We take you to see Tamale for a day. See the smock and basket markets and interact with the people. A trip to Paga to See the Crocodiles is possible on request. Overnight Tamale. |
| Day 11: | We move southwards back to Kumasi today. Overnight Kumasi. |
| Day 12: | Kumasi, we drive you through the rolling hills of the Eastern region to Akosombo. This is where Lake Volta and the only suspended dam in Ghana (Akosombo Dam) which supplies electricity to much of the regions is. Overnight Akosombo. |
| Day 13: | Today is a rest day but enjoy the River Volta. The river is one of the world's largest man-made rivers. On Sundays, it is popular to cruise to the Dodi Islands on the Dodi Princess. Enjoy this relaxing trip.Overnight Akosombo. |
| Day 14: | Akwapim Mampong is the site of Tetteh Quarshie's farm, the first cocoa farm in West Africa. It has today been restored to its original form. At Mampong, is a famous herbal center for research into plant medicine. Overnight is in Accra |
| Day 15: | Back in Accra, you catch up on your memories of the natural attractions of Ghana. Before returning to the airport and your flight home, just take some time for last minute shopping at the arts center and at the Makola market. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our trips to Ghana have always been people centred. The idea is for tourists we call guests, to interact with the local community where ever they will be in Ghana. We place tourists in Ghanaian homes, they eat local food, use local transport, buy local souvenirs and make friendships for life. Money stays within the community through us and it goes directly to the one offering a service.
Mostly teachers who have visited through us and have requested, have had the opportunity of being in the classroom where possible to teach and serve as teachers assistants. Some children in certain communities have had their tuition fees paid for them by some of these tourists. Sister school relationships have been formed and periodically books and toys get to children in mostly deprived schools. We are at the moment working on a relationship with school aid Ghana a new charity in the U.K. to send volunteers to Ghana to help build and manage schools for deprived communities in Ghana. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |