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When I first visited Ghana in 2006 most of my friends thought I was crazy. What they didn’t know was the vast array of attractions that (I hoped) awaited me. Added to that was the country’s reputation as a great destination for a first visit to Africa. Unlike elsewhere on the continent, you can pack your days with exciting things to see and do. But these are what I think are the best 9 things to do in Ghana. Miss them at your peril!
1. Cape Coast Castle
Ghana’s Atlantic coast has a string of more than 40 castles dating to the years of European exploration in West Africa. One of the most important is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cape Coast Castle.
Positioned on rocks and splashed by the froth of the incoming Atlantic waves, its whitewashed walls have stood for almost 500 years. This makes it one of the earliest European structures south of the Sahara.
First constructed by the Portuguese, it was taken over by the Swedish and then the British. Integral to the British control of the transatlantic slave trade, it contains a number of dank cells.
Here newly captured slaves were held by the hundreds before they were forced through the door of no return onto waiting ships.
Both cells and the door of no return are often marked with bouquets of flowers, bringing home the reality of this trade.
2. Mole National Park
Stretching towards Ghana’s far north, a visit to Mole National Park is the best chance you’ll have of seeing elephants and other iconic species in the country.
Pronounced ‘Moh-ley’, the park crosses the boundary between savannah grassland and forest. Its simple but effective accommodation makes it one of the cheapest places to safari anywhere on the continent.
What’s more, there are many ways to explore. Elephants routinely visit the waterholes visible from the viewing points at the park headquarters and accommodation, especially in the early mornings.
Four-wheel drive tours take in the wooden landscapes that protect populations of leopard and hippo. Even more excitingly, armed rangers also take visitors on walking tours.
Stay quiet, and you’ll get within adrenaline-inducing distance of elephant, antelope, baboon and all manner of other species.
3. Makola Market
On paper, Accra’s Makola Market is a modern indoor trade centre not all that different from a European or north American wholesalers.
Get anywhere near its streets and you’ll soon discover that the market is much more than that!
One of the largest marketplaces in west Africa, it has existed since at least 1924. Roughly split into different ‘departments,’ it’s a great place to pick up more unusual souvenirs.
You certainly won’t find any true souvenir stalls, but there are plenty of places to pick up some traditional kente cloth.
The market is also a wonderful place to sample Ghana’s cuisine. Hawkers and stallholders are to be found right across the area peddling everything from freshly-baked crisps to salt-dried fish.
4. Mosques of northern Ghana
The north of Ghana, where the majority of the country’s Muslim residents live, is home to several historically important mosques.
Made from mud packed around a permanent wooden scaffold, their design and floor plans conform to the architectural norms of the Sahel region.
The mosque at the village of Larabanga (near to Mole National Park) is the most famous. It is also said (without a great deal of evidence to back it up) to be the oldest.
But head to nearby Bole, and you’ll have a far more authentic experience, and the chance to explore the inside of the mosque too.
5. Kakum canopy walkway
Believed to be one of only three in Africa, the canopy walkway in Kakum National Park takes visitors on a journey through the forest canopy.
It’s set 40 meters above the ground, and consists of seven linked and bouncing bridges that together total 330 meters.
Passing through one of Ghana’s largest areas of tropical rainforest, it’s particularly well known for its birdlife. However, you also have a good chance of seeing primates including Diana monkeys.
If you’re particularly lucky, you might even catch sight of shy bongo and the forest’s resident elephant population.
6. Manhyia Palace
Modern Ghana is a conglomeration of more than 100 individual tribes. The most powerful are the Ashanti, whose historic powerbase is the city of Kumasi.
Here you will find the Manhyia Palace, a museum dedicated to preserving the history of the tribe for future generations.
A guided tour is one of the best things you can do in Kumasi. Guides will regale you with stories from the past, including that of Queen Mother Yaa Asantewaa.
In 1900 she led her people in the War of the Golden Stool against the British, the result of which was the annexation of Ashanti territory. The Queen Mother was exiled to the Seychelles, where she died in 1921.
You’ll also find intriguing objects from more recent times, such as the Japanese flag captured by Ghanaian soldiers fighting for Britain during the Second World War.
7. Lake Volta ferry
While not the fastest way of travelling between any two points, the Lake Volta ferry is a captivating way to experience the country.
There are a couple of first-class cabins with bunks, otherwise you’ll be spending the overnight portion of the voyage on its inner or outer deck. The latter isn’t such a bad idea given the heat that can build up inside.
Travelling between Akosombo in the south and Yeji in the north, it’s one of the few ways of heading between the south and north of the country in any case.
Along the way you’re sure to encounter everyday life on the lake’s fringes, with intermediate stops often marked by the loading or offloading of crops such as yams.
During the dry season, when water levels are low, you might also see tree stumps in the lake. It’s a reminder that the lake is a manmade one created with the construction of the Akosombo dam.
8. Bolgatanga
Close to the country’s northern border with Burkina Faso is Bolgatanga. It lies at the southern end of an ancient trans-Saharan trade route and takes much of its influence from the Sahel rather than the Atlantic coast.
Just about as far as you can go in Ghana, the town has become an important centre of handicrafts. So, if you’re looking for authentic locally-made gifts, this is probably the place to head.
Among the various items available are large-brimmed ‘Bolga hats’, traditional-style metal jewellery work, and leather goods.
Nearby, you’ll also find the sacred crocodile pools of Paga, whose residents are said to be possessed by deceased members of the Dagbon royal family.
9. Atlantic Beaches
There are many places to enjoy Ghana’s position on the Atlantic Ocean. In the west, you can do much worse that Half Assini, while Apam and Winneba are good choices in the central region.
But for me, the best of Ghana’s Atlantic beaches are among the lagoons of Ada Foah. Tucked onto the pinnacle of land between the Atlantic and the mouth of the Volta, it has the sort of white sand beaches that sell holidays right around the world.
You shouldn’t expect cocktails by the pool, unless you’re staying at one of the big resorts. But all the same the beaches still make a great finale to any amount of time in the country.
What are the best 9 things to do in Ghana?
Ghana has a range of attractions that would make a country twice its size jealous. So when it comes to the best 9 things to do in Ghana, they’ve got to be good. Combining history, wildlife and beach stays, I’ve highlighted the places I’d have no hesitation in visiting the next time I’m back in Ghana.
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