Ghana doesn't advertise itself as a safari country the way Kenya or Tanzania does, and that's part of what makes it worth the trip — the wildlife encounters here are quieter, often community-run, and rarely shared with more than a handful of other visitors. Starting near Kumasi and working north to the savannah of the Upper East and Upper West regions, Ghana strings together sanctuaries built on traditions of coexistence between people and animals: sacred monkey groves protected by local taboo, ponds where crocodiles are considered ancestors rather than threats, and one proper national park where elephants and antelope roam free. This guide follows that trail from the forested south to the dry Sahelian north.
Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary — Birdwatching Near Kumasi
Just outside Kumasi, Owabi is a small wildlife sanctuary built around a reservoir that supplies the city's water. It was originally protected to safeguard the watershed, and the side effect is a genuinely good birding site — over 150 species have been recorded here, including migratory waders that stop over on the reservoir's mudflats. It's an easy half-day trip for travelers based in Kumasi who want a nature break without a long drive.
Getting there: Around 30 minutes by taxi from central Kumasi.
Best time to visit: Early morning for bird activity; the dry season (November-March) draws the largest number of migratory species.
Good to know: Bring binoculars if you have them — the sanctuary itself doesn't rent equipment.
Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary — Sacred Monkeys of Bono East
Boabeng-Fiema protects two species of monkey, the black-and-white colobus and the mona monkey, both considered sacred by the two neighboring villages that share the sanctuary's name. Local belief holds that the monkeys are messengers of the gods, and when one dies of natural causes it's given a funeral and buried in the sanctuary's own monkey cemetery. Guided walks bring visitors close enough to watch troops move through the canopy at eye level, since generations of protection have made the monkeys unusually unafraid of people.
Getting there: Roughly 20 minutes from Nkoranza in the Bono East Region, reachable by shared taxi from Techiman or Kumasi.
Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon, when the monkeys are most active and feeding.
Good to know: A small community-run visitor center funds sanctuary upkeep and local schools — entry fees go directly back into the villages.
Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary — Volta Region's Mona Monkey Haven
Tafi Atome, in the Volta Region, protects another population of sacred mona monkeys under a similar traditional taboo system — locals here have never hunted the monkeys, believing them to be linked to the spirits of the forest. Guided forest walks let visitors get close enough to hand-feed bananas to the more confident troop members, and the surrounding forest reserve doubles as a pleasant short hike even without a single monkey sighting.
Getting there: About an hour from Hohoe, accessible by shared taxi via the town of Logba Tota.
Best time to visit: Early morning walks give the best chance of a close encounter before the heat of the day sends the monkeys deeper into the canopy.
Good to know: Buy bananas from the sanctuary's own stall rather than bringing outside food — it keeps feeding consistent and monkeys healthy.
Bui National Park — Ghana's Hidden Hippo Country
Bui National Park straddles the Black Volta River in the Bono Region and is one of Ghana's least-visited parks, which is exactly why it rewards the effort. The river supports a resident hippo population, along with buffalo, antelope, and the occasional elephant crossing over from Cote d'Ivoire's forest reserves. The Bui Dam has changed some of the park's hydrology in recent years, but river cruises still offer a good chance of spotting hippos basking in the shallows.
Getting there: Bui is remote — most visitors arrange a vehicle from Wenchi or Sunyani, with the final stretch on unpaved roads.
Best time to visit: Dry season (November-March) when water levels concentrate wildlife along the riverbanks and roads are more passable.
Good to know: Facilities are basic; this is a park for travelers comfortable with a more rugged, self-sufficient visit.
Wechiau Hippo Sanctuary — Community-Run Conservation on the Black Volta
Wechiau, further north in the Upper West Region, is one of Ghana's best examples of community-based conservation. Local villages along a stretch of the Black Volta agreed to protect the river's hippo population and manage tourism revenue collectively, and the result is one of the most reliable places in West Africa to see hippos in the wild from a simple wooden canoe. Guides pole visitors quietly along the riverbank at dawn or dusk, when hippos are most active.
Getting there: About an hour from Wa, the Upper West regional capital, by hired car or shared taxi.
Best time to visit: Early morning canoe trips offer calmer water and more active hippos; the dry season concentrates hippos in fewer, deeper pools.
Good to know: Overnight stays in the community guesthouse support the sanctuary directly and let you catch both a dawn and dusk canoe trip.
Mole National Park — Ghana's Premier Safari Destination
Mole is Ghana's largest and most established national park, a stretch of Guinea savannah in the Northern Region home to elephants, antelope, warthogs, baboons, and over 300 recorded bird species. It's the closest thing Ghana has to a classic East African-style safari — guided walking safaris let visitors approach elephants on foot with an armed ranger, while jeep safaris cover more ground for spotting antelope and birds. The park's overlook lodge sits above a waterhole where elephants often come to drink in the dry season, sometimes visible right from the lodge's pool deck.
Getting there: Buses run from Tamale to Larabanga, the village nearest the park gate, taking around 3-4 hours; a private vehicle cuts that time and offers more flexibility.
Best time to visit: Late in the dry season (February-April), when vegetation thins and animals cluster around the remaining waterholes — elephant sightings are far more reliable then.
Good to know: Book a walking safari for sunrise or late afternoon, when animals are most active and the heat is easier to handle.
Paga Crocodile Pond — Sacred Crocodiles of the Upper East
Paga, right on the border with Burkina Faso, is home to a pond where Nile crocodiles live alongside the community under a centuries-old taboo protecting them as ancestral spirits. Visitors can sit beside — and even touch — crocodiles that have been coaxed onto the bank with live chickens by local handlers, a level of close contact that would be unthinkable with wild crocodiles almost anywhere else.
Getting there: Paga sits about 45 minutes north of Bolgatanga by shared taxi or bus, right on the main road to the border crossing.
Best time to visit: Any time of year, though mornings tend to see calmer, more cooperative crocodiles.
Good to know: Handlers set the safety rules — follow their instructions exactly and never approach a crocodile without a handler present.
Zuarungu Crocodile Pond — A Quieter Crocodile Encounter
Not far from Bolgatanga, the crocodile pond at Zuarungu offers a similar sacred-crocodile tradition to Paga but with a fraction of the visitors, making it a good option for travelers who want the experience without a queue. The pond is smaller and more intimate, tended by a local family who have protected the site for generations.
Getting there: A short taxi ride from Bolgatanga town.
Best time to visit: Late morning, when the crocodiles are more likely to be sunning on the bank.
Good to know: A modest donation to the caretaker family is customary and appreciated.
Plan Your Trip
A wildlife-focused route works best traveling south to north over 7-10 days: start near Kumasi with Owabi and Boabeng-Fiema, cut east to Tafi Atome in the Volta Region if time allows, then head north through Bui, Wechiau, Mole, and finish at Paga and Zuarungu near the Burkina Faso border. Distances between northern sites are long, so a hired driver or the STC bus network between Kumasi, Tamale, and Bolgatanga is worth the investment. Bring neutral-colored clothing for walking safaris at Mole, cash for community sanctuary fees (most don't take cards), and patience — the best sightings, as with any wildlife trip, go to travelers willing to wait quietly.
References
Kofi Mensah
