Leisure and Tourist Attraction in Ghana

Ghana has a wide range of both natural and manmade tourist attractions. From National Parks and Tropic Rainforests on Galleries, Forts and Cattles, Museums, as well as a range of short activities.

There are thousands of attractions listed on Ourghana.com, with hundreds more experiences and tours listed within their own separate categories.

Tourism Options

We’ve got several good reasons for you to visit Ghana. No matter where you go in our small country, there’s a smile waiting for you. The biggest problem you face is making decisions for what you want to see and do.

Eco-tourism options form the backbone of our growing tourist industry. We invite you to explore the many choices awaiting you when you arrive. Eco-tourism is much more than animals and landscapes. It’s an overlapping blend of culture, history, traditions, wildlife, scenery and above all: the people!

Eco-tourism is a word that you hear a lot these days. It is the fastest growing segment of the global tourism market and quite probably the most beneficial for underdeveloped economies. Simply put, it’s defined as: “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people”. There is no question that eco-tourism is having a positive impact of Ghana and the economy.

Listed here are many of the possibilities for quality tourism experiences awaiting you in Ghana. We invite you to explore our member’s individual websites to see what kinds of itineraries and offering might interest you.

Tourism Options

Thousands of African Americans have made a personal pilgrimage to Ghana to discover their culture and heritage. In the beginning, this phenomenon was largely due to the popularity of “Roots” the Alex Haley novel that traces the story of Kunta Kinte, a slave boy.

Haley determined that his own ancestors probably came from the small village of Juffure in Gambia. Most of the slaves that were exiled to America and the Caribbean came from the West Coast of Africa. Ghana was part of that “Slave Route”.

The preservation of forts and castles used in the Slave Trade provide visitors with meaningful insights into one of humanity’s saddest chapters, while at the same time serving as memorials to all those who suffered.

Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism in Ghana has limitless possibilities. There are four major religions, five major ethnic groups, and at least nine languages-plus numerous regional dialects. The people of Ghana belong to both the larger African family and to many smaller ethnic groups.

It is estimated, based on language, that there are at least 75 different ethnic groups in Ghana. The largest are: Akan, Dagomba, Ga, Gurma, and Ewe. Ghana is also a land of festivals, music, and traditional dances. There is virtually no community that does not have its own regional festival to celebrate annually.

There are also many traditional musical styles around the country. In the south, music is usually drum-based, and in the far north, fiddles and other string instruments are more common.

Visitors are always invited to participate in dancing and drumming, and the mere presence of tourists is often an event in and of itself. And to this, traditional architecture, colourful costumes and dress, and a broad spectrum of arts and crafts available at bargain prices – and you have one of the richest cultural environments in Africa.

Nature Tourism

Ghana consists of two major ecological zones –the closed forest (high forest or closed canopy) zone and the savannah zone. The closed forest zone occupies the southern third of the country and is home to almost two thirds of Ghana’s population.

The savannah zone has open three canopies, shrubs, and distinctive grasses and occupies much of the interior region covering the northern two-thirds of the country. Ghana has devoted much time and effort to preserve the country’s natural resources in the form of national parks and reserves.

There are a number of distinct Nature Lover’s paradise. The coastal area features many beautiful beaches lined with coconut palms, ideal for swimming and relaxing. The wetlands and marshes are home to many migratory water fowl and are best seen by canoe. The dry savannah in the north and in parts of the south harbours its own unique plant and animal species.

The mountains of the Volta feature awesome waterfalls and rain forests. These diverse habitats are home to over 500 species of birds, 600 types of butterflies, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, reptiles, exotic animals such as forest elephants and primates, and many species of vegetation found nowhere else in the world.

Our national parks are repositories of Ghana’s rich natural wonders and are the best places to experience Equatorial Africa at its best.

Adventure Tourism

Adventure tourism is not for everyone. Much of it requires being reactively fit and a willingness to endure some discomforts, but Ghana serves up adventures that even a lazy tourist will want to try.

The Canopy Walkway in Kakum National Park lets visitors view the heights of the rain forest. Thousands of visitors each year test their courage by venturing across its seven spans, each of which is connected to sturdy giant trees. A canoe trip to Nzulezo, a famous stilt village in the Western Region, is the only way to reach this isolated human enclave.

You can paddle yourself or let the locals do it for you. The hardier may want to climb Mount Afadjato in the Volta. At 2,905 feet above sea level, it’s the highest peak in Ghana and an easy day climb. Elsewhere there are ample opportunities for day hikes or longer –along trails in rain forests.

Visit the villages of Boabeng or Tafi, where villagers have cultivated a special relationship with monkeys. Try your hand at fishing with the locals by spending a morning at sea helping to lay nets and drag for lobster. Diehard adventure-seekers will want to venture into the remote areas of Ghana’s national parks where overnight bivouacs are a necessity.

Take a “bush taxi” and journey into the far north to explore isolated villages and experience a rural way of life. Whether it’s an hour’s visit to an ostrich farm, or an extended trek into a wilderness area, Ghana has adventures for everyone.

Recreational Tourism

Some people prefer to do absolutely noting on a holiday. Their idea of a vacation is laying on a beach, playing some tennis or shooting a round of golf.

Ghana is blessed with a year-round tropical climate and miles of unspoiled scenic beaches, making it a haven for sum-seekers. Our country has several fine gold courses and a range of seaside resorts to suit any budget.

Many of them have tennis courts and fitness centres. If your idea of a holiday is doing absolutely nothing, then Ghana has the perfect place for you to pull up a beach chair, slap on some suntan lotion, grab your favourite novel, and slurp on a fresh coconut or chow down on lobster.

Ghana is also the ideal spot to put some spark back in your marriage- a great place for a Romantic Getaway, and the perfect locale for a honeymoon. Some hotels offer special packages to newlyweds and couples.

Education Tours

Some of our travel agents/tour operators offer Study Programmes in Ghana, designed specifically for students who are interested in experiencing life in Africa and with budget considerations in mind.

Many universities throughout the world are affiliated with Ghana student travel organizations, offering chances to experience the unique features of West African culture. Courses are typically two weeks to a month, but can be longer.

The focus is usually on volunteer work and cultural issues, with field trips, discussions, and guest lecturers related to various aspects of Ghanaian culture and contemporary development. Other programmes are offered for community volunteer work, rural teaching experience, health awareness, crafts and performing arts workshops and community service.

Travel agents/tour companies can also arrange tours and programmes for visiting academics who wish to further enrich their time spent in Ghana.

Special Interest Tourism

Our tourism industry in Ghana is also flexible. Tour operators /travel agents are experts at designing special itineraries for groups with special interests. These might include family reunions, special tours for fraternities and sororities, tours for women, tours for those seeking spiritual enlightenment, or specially designed tours for groups with interests in bird watching, butterfly hunting or other activities that can be conducted in Ghana’s rich ‘ecosphere’.

Did you know that Ghana has also become a popular venue for Conferences and Seminars? There are superior conference facilities in Accra, the capital that can handle venues of up to 8000 delegates. And there are capable conference facilities in the Ashanti Region, the Western Region, the Volta Region and the Central Region which cater to smaller groups.

The United Nations, Organization of African Unity, the African-African American Summit, the World Bank, Africa Travel Association and NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) are just a few of the international organizations who have had their conventions and meetings hosted in Ghana.

If you are with an academic or professional organization, consider holding your next function in Ghana. Experienced Event Organization Companies will assist you in making all the arrangements, providing “pre-during-post” conference tours and activities, and we can arrange activities such as fashion shows and cultural performances to enhance your function.

We can also negotiate special group air fare discounts with Ghana Airways, our national airline.

Business Tourism

Coming to Ghana on business? Chances are, you will find yourself with some free time and you might like to explore a part of the country. Tour operators/ travel agents all offer simple day trips and weekend excursions that can be arranged to suit any business schedule.

Businessman can take advantage of a break in their meetings to see more of the country than just the walls of a hotel room. Tour operators/travel agents can also arrange appointments with high ranking officials for those who wish to make business contacts in any given field.

Tour arrangements can also be made for special visits to sawmills, mines, power plants, textiles mills, cocoa processing facilities and other industries- for a firsthand look at Ghana’s investment climate. For those who are involved with import and export, tour operators /travel agents can arrange visits to our two major ports at Tema and Takoradi.