Wildlife of Ghana

ELEPHANTS
A two-day drive from Accra, Mole National Park is Ghana's largest, oldest and best game viewing park. While elephants live in many remote places in Ghana, it is only at Mole National Park where you can expect to see elephants in Ghana.

The elephants near the Mole Lodge are accustomed to humans, allowing a close encounter on foot. This is something rare in Africa. Depending on the weather, you can also see antelope, bushbucks, monkeys, warthogs, baboons and other smaller wildlife. Mid-December through mid-April is best because lack of water concentrates the animals at known water sources.

More about Mole National Park

MONKEY SANCTUARIES
Boabeng-Fiema has a good number of habituated Mona monkeys, and less habituated Black and White Colobus monkeys. The monkeys are revered by the community and therefore they are neither hunted nor killed. The sanctuary has a cemetery where these monkeys are buried with special funerals.
Tafi Atome, located in the Volta Region is a traditional conservation area, home to Mona and Patas monkeys. These monkeys are also quite habituated as they are regarded as gods and are protected by tradition.

Monkeys at any location are best seen in morning or late afternoon. They may be seen at other locations in Ghana, but unlike these two sanctuaries, they would certainly want nothing to do with you.

BIRDING IN GHANA
Ghana has a number of excellent locations for bird watching. This is truly the most abundant form of wildlife to be seen. The newly released Helm Field Guide to the Birds of Ghana (2010) covers over 750 species. The options are so great that we have a separate page for serious twitchers.

More about Birding in Ghana

BUTTERFLIES
Ghana has an estimated 1,000 species of butterflies - as many species as North America and Europe combined. It is impossible to select specific places because butterflies are everywhere, but the Bobiri Forest Butterfly Sanctuary is a beautiful forest reserves with ancient trees that makes this amazing creature a specific attraction. Also of merit are the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bunso Arboretum and the Atewa Forest Reserve.

HIPPOS
Hippos can be seen only at the remote Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary. Correct timing is important, since hippos stay well hidden when water is abundant. Because of this, you will have the best sightings during the dry season (Dec-Mar).

Located in the far reaches of the Upper West Region you can enjoy a river safari viewing the hippos protected along the Black Volta River. When visiting the Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary, be certain to visit a traditional Sudanese style mud-and-stick mosque, the chief's palace or the local Lobi community.

CROCODILES
There are numerous sacred crocodile ponds scattered throughout Ghana, however the most famous ponds are in the far north at Paga, on the border with Burkina Faso.

Many ponds will have a fetish priest who can provide a blessing and entice a crocodile from the water with incantations and the protests of a live fowl.

At most ponds the crocodile and chicken quickly disappear, but at Paga the crocodiles and much more habituated and will frequently pose for photographs after being satiated.

Some other locations do not require the long travel time:
* Minutes from Kakum National Park at Hans Botel are crocs that pose
* Akatekyi Lagoon, about 30km west of Takoradi
* Egyamba, about 5km west of Princes Town

BABOONS
These are fascinating creatures to watch, as they live in large troops and have complex social structures. Without a doubt the two best places in Ghana to see baboons are at Mole National Park and Shai Hills.

Be careful of the baboons, as they are master thieves and will quickly take unattended items, even from your vehicle.

ANTELOPE, BUFFALO, WARTHOGS
MOLE NATIONAL PARK
As with most larger mammals in Ghana, Mole is an excellent place for viewing roan, Kob, waterbuck and bushbuck antelope, as well as the only place to likely see warthogs or the African buffalo.

GBELE RESERVE
In the Upper West region is a rarely visited reserve that is a prime location for our hoofed friends, especially roan antelope.

SHAI HILLS
This small sanctuary is rather close to Accra. It is a good place for morning sightings of antelope, especially bushbuck.

More about Shai Hills

MARINE TURTLES
Although becoming more rare due to poaching, it is possible to arrange an expedition to search for nesting turtles. Nesting season is from August-March, with October through December are the best months to find nesting turtles. The remote beaches at the far east or the far west are the locations where active turtle conservation projects are protecting the turtles.

BATS
Do not worry! Our fruit bats are harmless. The cliffs near Wli Falls have hundreds of bats. There are also bat caves around Ghana, most notable at Shai Hills, near Accra, and Buoyem Caves just outside of Techiman.

The trees in front of 37 Hospital in Accra and in front of the now closed zoo in Kumasi are easy locations for viewing bats as well. Especially near dusk, when they depart on their night flights, or in the mornings when they return.

WHALE WATCHING
Expensive humpback whale watching cruises can be chartered off the coast of Takoradi between the months of July and December. To be honest, we have never been on such an expedition, so we cannot provide any details about the success of such excursions.

Similarly, one can supposedly sometimes see whales from atop the lighthouse at Cape Three Points, but we have not had a first-hand sighting except this unfortunate specimen pictured here.