Kakum National Park

Located just 30km north of Cape Coast, Kakum National Park is one of Ghana's most famous parks. This 357km² national park consists of undisturbed coastal forest and is home to Ghana's highest rainforest canopy walkway. This canopy walkway is one of the most visited destinations in Ghana.

Walking tours through the park offer the opportunity to spot much of Ghana's indigenous plant life, as well as many types of birds and butterflies. However, due to the number of visitors at the main entrance and the canopy walkway, game sightings are rare and can only occur when well into the park. This is certainly possible, and the park will allow early and overnight guests for such visits, but realize that a casual visit to Kakum National Park will result in a wildlife experience consisting only of birds, butterflies, insects and lizards.

Highlights of this major destination

Forest walks

The vegetation type is moist evergreen rainforest with tall hardwood trees up 65m in height.

Rainforest canopy walkway

40m high canopy walkway suspended between trees from which different species of birds and butterflies can be observed.

Bird watching tours

The Sun Bird Trail has been developed to incorporate three ecosystems: the rainforest, the secondary forest and a pond environment for visitor to watch birds.

Medicinal plant tours

Park gamekeepers are specially trained in the medical and cultural significance of the local foliage.

The Main Attraction

The rain forest canopy walkway connects 6 enormous trees and is in seven sections which total to a length of 330 m (1,080 ft). It reaches the height of 40 meters (130 ft) above the forest floor and is secured by a series of nets and wires for safety purposes.

This is definitely an exciting experience. From the treetops, you have a unique and spectacular view of the rainforest fauna which cannot be seen from the ground.

Details

The park opens at 8:00 AM and we strongly recommend visiting early in the morning before the crowds arrive and queues form at the walkway. Earlier ground excursions can be arranged into the forest for birding.

The park welcome center contains a restaurant, a Rainforest Lodge, a picnic area, a camping area, and a wildlife education center.