The top national parks and reserves in Ghana

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Ghana is a great introduction to west Africa. English speaking, culturally-rich, packed with history – and though you might not believe it, a great place for wildlife spotting too. Sure, you won’t encounter huge herds on never-ending savannah. And the Big Five are nowhere to be seen (not all of them anyway). But Ghana’s crowd-free protected areas still have a hell of a lot to offer. Here’s to the top national parks in Ghana!

1. Mole National Park

Pronounced Moley, this is Ghana’s largest national park. At 4,800 square kilometres, I think it’s Ghana’s best national park too.

Situated in the country’s drier northwest, beyond the reach of Lake Volta, it’s as close as you’ll get to the safari experiences of east and southern Africa.

These includes guide-led walking safaris in the south of the park close to the Mole Hotel. And that’s in addition to vehicle-based safaris into territory occupied by both hippos and leopards.

All the same, you can do far worse than hang around the hotel grounds. I think it’s probably the cheapest place to stay on safari in Africa.

Positioned on a low cliffside, its viewing platforms overlook waterholes frequented by elephants (especially in the early morning). The hotels grounds are also home to warthogs and baboons.

Access to Mole National Park is usually via the village of Larabanga a few kilometres south. The village provides alternative accommodation, and has one of the easiest mud-brick mosques of west Africa to visit. The hassle from kids can be a bit much at times though.

2. Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park is conveniently located 30 km north of Cape Coast, where there’s one of the most important historic sites linked to the slave trade.

Tiny in comparison to Mole National Park at 145 square km, it nonetheless protects an important area of remaining forest.

Although elephant and bongo exist within Kakum National Park’s boundaries, you’re far more likely to spot Diana monkey and birds. Not least because bongo are largely nocturnal.

More than 250 different bird species have been recorded within Kakum, including African grey parrots and nine species of hornbill.

Getting up close to them despite tree heights of 40-plus metres is simple thanks to the park’s canopy walkway.

One of the only walkways of its type in Africa, it’s made from aluminium ladders covered by wooden boarding strung among the trees by climbing ropes. It stretches for over 300 metres and connected by seven bridges.

3. Digya National Park

There’s no doubting that exploring Digya National Park is a much tougher proposition than visiting either Mole or Kakum National Parks.

Sitting close to the western shores of Lake Volta, it encapsulates forest and savannah, as well as significant wetland zones.

Ghana’s second-largest national park at approximately 3,700 square kilometres, the draw for tourists is the chance to encounter primates. There are no less than six primate species at Digya, including baboons and endangered black and white colobus monkeys.

The park also manages to provide habitat for Ghana’s second-largest elephant population, and a small population of manatees. Both can be sought out on walking safaris and canoeing on the Sene River.

To get to Digya National Park, head to Atebubu via Kumasi.

4. Aburi Botanical Gardens

A short tro-tro (minibus) ride from central Accra, I can’t resist the charms of Aburi Botanical Gardens.

First unveiled in 1890, it was the brainchild of the British governor of Gold Coast and a prominent doctor born and raised in Sierra Leone. This makes it one of Ghana’s oldest protected spaces.

There are no animals here, aside from the birds, squirrels, and invertebrates which have made it their home. Instead, Aburi is all about its flora.

There’s a wonderful avenue of tall palms, alongside various species of African tree, including the sausage tree. Many are superbly labelled with small information boards.

There’s plenty of lawn and benches should picnics be your thing, while other attractions include a dilapidated helicopter.

The gardens get quite busy on weekends, but are wonderfully tranquil much of the week. A restaurant serves drinks and tasty bites, although you might prefer to bring food with you.

5. Kyabobo National Park

Located in the extreme east of Ghana, on the border with Togo, is little visited Kyabobo National Park.

And I think that’s a real shame. Encompassing Ghana’s second-highest peak, the 876-metre-high Mount Dzebobo, you won’t be surprised that hiking is popular in the park. But so is mountain biking and wildlife spotting.

The most popular hiking route follows a ridge across the south-eastern corner of Kyabobo. From here, there are great views across the arms of Lake Volta on clear days.

When it comes to wildlife, there’s the chance to encounter a range of antelope species, including bushbuck. Predators come in the form of leopards, although they are rarely seen by visitors.

Elephants and monkeys are also in residence. However, rock hyrax (the park’s symbol) are the one animal you’re pretty much guaranteed a sighting of.

Getting to Kyabobo National Park involves following the main highway on the eastern side of Lake Volta north from Ho.

6. Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary

Central Ghana’s Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary looks after around 700 animals. Unlike the country’s zoos in Accra and Kumasi, which I don’t recommend to any animal lover, Boabeng provides natural habitats. That’s because it’s located within ancient sacred forest.

The species protected here range from black and white colobus to mona and green monkeys. They can be encountered along ten kilometres of footpaths. These wind through the sanctuary and the twin villages after which the park is named.

For an extra special experience, I’d suggest staying overnight at the guesthouse. It also saves the need to stay at Techiman, the nearest big city.

Make sure you discover the top national parks in Ghana

For a nation not usually known for its wildlife viewing opportunities, Ghana more than holds its own. And while it can’t rival the safari experience of other African regions, animal lovers will still find plenty to increase their love further. Many of the top national parks in Ghana are also located close to other major attractions, so it’s possible to kill two birds with one stone. Just don’t take me literally on that.