Connect with nature on a holiday to Ghana

A holiday to Ghana: When it comes to holidays in Africa, what do you think of first? Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why people are drawn to the continent is so that they can get up close to exotic plants and animals they have only ever seen on television or in a zoo before. One destination that nature lovers will particularly enjoy is Ghana. Come here, and you’ll get to take in a wide variety of astounding flora and fauna.

As the West Africa country has a warm equatorial climate and contains a range of terrain, it has the ideal conditions to support a diverse assortment of creatures and plants. In coming here, you will soon get to connect with nature and forget about the stress of modern life.

The first step you’ll need to take in order to achieve this, however, is booking a flight to Accra. Once your plane has touched down and you’ve settled into your accommodation, you can soon explore the country’s fascinating natural attractions.

Kakum National Park

Situated some 170 km from Accra, the Kakum National Park feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Ghana’s biggest city. Come to the reserve and you’ll be surrounded by an evergreen rainforest, with some trees growing as tall as 65 m.

As it measures around 350 sq km, there will be plenty of space to roam about and trekking across the terrain offers the ideal chance for you to breathe in the fresh air.

If you’re looking to view the park from a slightly different perspective, head up to the canopy walkway that is located 40 m above head height. Walking along with this network of bridges not only enables you to see the tops of some of Kakum’s trees, but you might also catch glimpse of some of the 200 species of bird that live here.

There are plenty of mammals to look out for back on the ground too, including elephants, leopards, and buffaloes, while you should also keep a watchful eye out for a few of the estimated 400 kinds of butterfly that call the park home.

Mole National Park

With Mole National Park spanning some 4,840 sq km, this is certainly one place where you can be at one with nature. In fact, it’s the largest national reserve in the entire country, so you’re certain to find a tranquil spot here.

Situated in the northern region of Damongo, this park is home to vast expanses of open savannah woodland and a diverse array of creatures. Among the many animals, you’ll have the chance to spot while on tour here are the red-flanked duiker, western hartebeest, and Johor reedbuck. As you’ll have probably guessed from its name, the reserve is also inhabited by moles – 11 different species of them, in fact – so it’s worth spending some time trying to keep an eye out for these creatures.

As well as containing a fascinating array of wildlife, the park has played an important role in the country’s slave trade history. An ancient route winds through Mole from Sala to Wa was used to transport slaves to coastal markets and can still be followed to this day, with the remains of several villages inhabited by slave traders situated nearby.