Scenic Attractions of Ghana

BEACHES
Ghana faces the Atlantic Ocean and is blessed with some of the world's most untouched beaches. Some are nicely maintained and are certainly among the most beautiful you will ever see. Most are places of work for fishermen who are happy to share the surf and sand with visitors.

Hillside locations along the coast can provide some stunning views of villages and beach below. Apam and Moree are a couple especially scenic hilltops.

More about Ghana beaches

WATERFALLS
There are scenic waterfalls to be found all around Ghana. Some are well known and visited by many. Others are known only to local villagers and may have been visited by very few outsiders.

The hikes to many of the waterfalls can be as exciting as the destination itself. There can be forests to walk through, hills to climb or perhaps treacherous trails at some remote waterfalls.

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VOLTA HIGHLANDS
The highlands of the Volta region are remote, lush and cooler because of the altitude. The people see fewer visitors, so the interactions are more authentic.

At 885m, Mount Afadjato is the highest peak in Ghana. It forms part of the Agumatsa range which runs along the Ghana-Togo border. The difficult hike to the top is rewarded with magnificent panoramic views of surrounding communities, forests, and in the distance, Volta Lake.

Amedzofe, Biakpa and Logba Tota are three Volta villages that are nestled in the mountains that have a good infrastructure for visitors. The village of Likpe Togome, just north of Wli Falls, offers hiking to ancestral caves.

More about the Volta Region

SCENIC LOOKOUTS
There are so many scenic vistas that it is impossible to describe them all. Certainly you will find your own spaces, but here are a couple we recommend.

Umbrella Rock, a rock formation that provides a natural umbrella, is between Boti and Akaa Falls. You can choose to do either a short hike from near Akaa Falls, or a more strenuous 45 hike from Boti Falls.

At Tanoboase in the Brong-Ahafo region, about 15km north of Techiman is a sacred forest and rock formations. Hike along the trails to see a variety of plants, trees, birds and butterfly species. A climb up to the amazing sandstone rocks leads to a panoramic overlook that was used during the Ashanti-Bono wars.

Also of note is the Kwahu Plateau which is east of the Accra-Kumasi road above Nkawkaw. A diversion up to some of these hilltop is extraordinary, and includes one of the highest inhabited places in Ghana, as well as a paragliding launch pad.

LAKES, RIVERS, LAGOONS
Ghana is drained by a large number of streams and rivers. The country's major feature is Volta Lake, the largest man-made lake on earth (by surface area). The lake begins in the center of the country at the confluence of the Black Volta and the White Volta rivers. Two other major tributaries of Volta Lake are the Oti and Afram rivers.

Other important rivers are, from west to east, the Tano, Ankobra, Pra, Birim and Densu rivers, which all flow into the Gulf of Guinea. All are scenic and cultural destinations where a canoe ride would be easy to obtain, but only the Pra River has a developed tourism infrastructure, offering rafting and whitewater excursions.

There are also a number of coastal lagoons, which are home to many Ramsar birding sites, including the extensive Keta lagoon formed by a long coastal sandbar. South of Kumasi is Ghana's only natural lake, the unique Lake Bosumtwi, Africa's largest meteorite impact lake.

FORESTS
Southern Ghana is lushly covered by evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. The southwest corner of Ghana receives the most rainfall and is thusly home to the greatest rainforests, including the Ankasa Protected Area. Also in this corner of Ghana is the Amansuri wetlands, home to our largest swamp forest which may be visited by boat for bird watching, wildlife, scenery or cultural interactions along the Asumari River.

Moving north and east from the rainforest corner, forests become drier. There are great forests that can be visited along the way to from Accra to Kumasi, in the Volta Region, and closer to Accra, at Dodowa.

One of the most remote forests is at Bia National Park, about 250 km west of Kumasi and home to one of our last stands of virgin forest. Some of the tallest trees in West Africa are located at this park. Not accessible during the rains.

More about forests near Accra

SAHELIAN SAVANNA
The northern two-thirds of the country is covered by savanna, a grassland with scattered trees, which becomes increasingly dry and sparse the farther north one travels. The Sahel is a transitional region between the savanna and the Sahara desert. It is a place that is home of haunting landscapes, remote destinations and unique living compounds.

More about the northern regions of Ghana

GAMBAGA ESCARPMENT
The Gambaga Escarpment is a geologic feature in northern Ghana that rises hundreds of meters out of the White Volta river basin. This is a place that was home to one of Ghana's oldest ancient kingdoms and is the home to numerous remote villages.

A loop of about 6 hours from Bolgatanga to Walewale via Navrongo allows exploring this rarely visited area. Relics of the slave raider days as well as a kukoa, or "witches camp" that is a refuge for outcast women can also be visited here. For those fit for a hike, there are ancient abandoned cliffside settlements and rock paintings that few people have ever seen.