Discover the Hidden Gems: Best Places To Visit in Ghana

If you are looking for the best places to visit, there are a few choices, like Ghana. Whenever you’re visiting a new country or area, it can be fun to check out its biggest tourist attractions.

Ghana has the best tourist sites; some great choices for day trips include the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum, Kakum National Park, Aburi Botanical Gardens, Cape Coast Castle, and Boti Falls

 Here are the best places to visit in Ghana

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

The new Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Mausoleum Park in Accra, Ghana, honors the memory of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. This special park celebrates his important role in Ghana’s fight for independence and pan-African unity.

At the park, visitors can see maps, timelines, and old videos that tell the story of Ghana’s journey to freedom. They learn about the different groups and events that led to Ghana becoming its own nation.

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Mausoleum Park is more than just a monument. It’s a place where people can think, learn, and feel inspired by Dr. Nkrumah’s leadership. It reminds us of the importance of coming together, believing in ourselves, and fighting for what’s right, even when times are tough.

Elmina Castle 

Elmina Castle is the oldest castle in sub-Saharan Africa and was built by Europeans way back in the 1400s. Originally, it was used for trading gold and ivory. Later on, the Dutch took control of the castle and renamed it Elmina Castle. They made it bigger and used it for trading slaves too, until they stopped in 1814.

It’s said that around 30,000 slaves were traded through Elmina every year. After the Dutch, the British took over the castle, but they didn’t use it for trade anymore. Instead, they used it for other things, like schools and police centers.

Kakum National Park 

Kakum National Park sits in the southern part of Ghana, close to the coast. It serves as one of the best places to visit , drawing in lots of visitors each day . Inside the park, you’ll find different kinds of forests, like moist ones, swampy areas, riversides, and grasslands.

And there’s no shortage of animals either, including buffalo, elephants, monkeys, hogs, pangolins, crocodiles, and porcupines. You can explore the park with a guide on the ground or take a walk high up in the trees on the canopy walkway to see these creatures.

The dense rainforest is great for adventures, and from up in the canopy, you get a great view to spot animals. With 266 kinds of birds in the park, plus a big group of forest elephants, it’s a hotspot for wildlife, especially elephants. In fact, it’s home to the largest group of forest elephants in the country!

Aburi Botanical Gardens

Aburi is located on the Akwapim-Togo Range in Ghana, just a short 45-minute drive from the capital city, Accra. It’s known for its cooler mountain weather, which attracts people who like mild temperatures. As you drive into the garden, you’ll see beautiful royal palm trees lining the road leading to the parking area.

Although not all the plants are original, there are still some authentic ones, like the silk cotton tree. This tree is one of the largest in West Africa, reaching about 5-7 meters wide and 48 meters tall. Tour guides often gather visitors around it to admire its impressive size. Many people in the area consider the silk cotton tree sacred and hold it in high regard.

Cape Coast Castle

Cape Coast Castle is one of the best places to visit in Ghana . It is the biggest building and holds the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, played a pivotal role in both the gold and slave trades in Ghana, as well as in introducing Christianity and establishing the first formal schools, known as Castle Schools.

Mole National Park 

Mole National Park is a protected area in northern Ghana with both savannah and forest landscapes. It’s home to elephants, leopards, and rare birds like the white-backed vulture.

In the park’s western part, the Konkori Escarpment offers beautiful views and overlooks waterholes where animals gather. You can also find waterfalls along the Kparia and Polzen rivers. Nearby, Larabanga village boasts a historic Sudanese-style mosque that’s been around for centuries.

Mole is one of seven national parks in Ghana, along with six resource reserves, two wildlife sanctuaries, one strict nature reserve, and five Ramsar sites.

The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana manages these areas. The park’s main goals are to manage wildlife resources sustainably, increase revenue, and support local economic development.

Wli Waterfalls 

The Wli Waterfalls is the tallest waterfall in Ghana and the highest in West Africa. It has both a lower and upper part. Located about 20 kilometers from Hohoe in the Volta Region of Ghana, it’s in an area rich in Ewe culture.

The waterfall is around 280 kilometers away from the capital, Accra. Legend has it that it was discovered by hunters who mistook the sound of the falls for a talking drum and followed the noise to find the waterfall.

Taking a walk through the forest of the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary nearby offers a chance to see lots of fruit bats, butterflies, birds, monkeys, and baboons.

The Wli Waterfall is a big draw for tourists from all around the world.

Legon Botanical Gardens 

In the center of Accra, at the University of Ghana, you’ll find the Legon Botanical Gardens. It’s a wonderful outdoor area where people of all ages can enjoy nature and have fun together. It is one of the best places to visit whenever you find yourself in Ghana

Their garden offers lots of different activities for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or coming back again, there’s always something exciting to do. There is a colorful kids playground and rope walk with friendly staff that will make your family vacation enjoyable

Okomfo Ankoye Sword Site 

The Okomfo Anokye Sword Site, one of the 12 best places to visit in Kumasi, is located on the grounds of the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. It houses a 300-year-old sword firmly embedded in a rockface, a central artifact in the rich history of the Asante nation.

A knowledgeable young curator passionately narrates the history of the Asante people, and if you’re lucky, you might even encounter the Asante king, who frequently visits to honor this sacred site.

The Manhyia Palace

The Manhyia Palace is very important because it’s where the Ashanti kings used to live. It’s one of the top places to visit in Kumasi. The palace is a big, impressive building that represents the history and culture of the Ashanti people. It was built in 1925 by King Nana Agyeman Prempeh I and turned into a museum in 1995.

Today, it’s a really interesting place for people to learn about the Ashanti kingdom and see how the kings used to live.

Inside the museum, there are lots of old things to see, like artifacts and objects from the 17th century, when the Ashanti kingdom started. Visitors can see royal items, traditional clothes, special chairs, and pictures that show how powerful and rich the Ashanti kings were. It’s a great way to learn about the Ashanti people’s culture and history.

Boti Falls 

Boti Falls is a pair of waterfalls found in Boti, in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Local stories say these waterfalls, coming from two different rivers, are like a male and female. People believe that when these two falls meet, a rainbow appears.

Boti Falls changes with the seasons. When the water is high, it becomes a big double waterfall, and you can see it at the bottom of 250 steps made of concrete. When the water is flowing fully, it feels like being in a canyon of falling water.

Boti Falls is located in the Huhunya forest. The bigger waterfall is thought to be the male, and the smaller one is seen as the female.