Bunso Aboretum - Bunso canopy walkway
Bunso Arboretum Forest Reserve
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Bunso Aboretum tourist site in the Eastern region, Ghana - Bunso canopy walkway.
Ghana’s second canopy walkway can be found here.
Started in 2014 as part of the Bunso Arboretum Ecotourism Centre it is situated about 165km from Accra and about 3km from the Bonsu junction from the Accra-Kumasi road. It takes a 30 minutes’ drive from the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, and is sited close to the Seed Production Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board.
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Until recently, the centre was managed by the Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (PGRRI) of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and has been the habitat of over 300 butterfly species, 600 tropical trees and over 110 birds, some which are rare according to its handlers.
The Canopy Walkway at Bunso is owned by businessman, Kenneth Akuffo Asare, who was also involved with the Kakum canopy walkway in the Central Region.
The Canopy Walkway at Bunso is owned by businessman, Kenneth Akuffo Asare, who was also involved with the Kakum canopy walkway in the Central Region.
The 320-metre walkway has five bridges and six platforms.
The 40-acre forest reserve that hosts the facility belongs to the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council who leased it to a mining firm in the twentieth century.
It was however given to another local company known as African Products Department for rubber and cocoa plantations in 1917.
It’s management was subsequently overtaken by two British nationals David Gillet and Frank Thompson who built a guest house in 1935. The guesthouse now serves as the official residence for the Vice Chancellor of the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies.
The 40-acre forest reserve that hosts the facility belongs to the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council who leased it to a mining firm in the twentieth century.
It was however given to another local company known as African Products Department for rubber and cocoa plantations in 1917.
It’s management was subsequently overtaken by two British nationals David Gillet and Frank Thompson who built a guest house in 1935. The guesthouse now serves as the official residence for the Vice Chancellor of the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies.
Entrance fees
The canopy walkway has 5 bridges (Kakum National Park = 7), but there are plans for 4 more bridges.
Fees: $10 (or eq. in Ghana Cedis) for foreign visitors to do the canopy walk,
$1.50 (or eq. Ghana Cedi) charge for the nature walk.
Tour included for both, the nature walk and canopy walk.
Ghanaian visitors pay about 80% less.
Fees: $10 (or eq. in Ghana Cedis) for foreign visitors to do the canopy walk,
$1.50 (or eq. Ghana Cedi) charge for the nature walk.
Tour included for both, the nature walk and canopy walk.
Ghanaian visitors pay about 80% less.
Additionally, the Bunso Arboretum Ecotourism Site is offering organized group tours to other major attractions like the
Boti Waterfalls and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana in the Eastern Region.
Boti Waterfalls and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana in the Eastern Region.
See also below location map of Bunso Arboretum, Ghana
The Bunso Arboretum is a protected forest reserve, spanning 16.5 hectares. Half of this area is semi-deciduous forest while the other half is made up of indigenous trees, along with fruits, nuts and timber tree species which have been introduced to Ghana by the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of Bunso.
The facility was acquired by the Plant Genetic Resource and Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1946. They are current managers of the Bunso canopy walkway.
The Arboretum is home to over 110 species of birds, some of which are very rare. The protected Arboretum offers them a peaceful place to call home.
The herb garden which is located in the Arboretum contains 100 different species of herbs with a wide range of uses, from food to medicinal to aromatic. |
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Visitors can stroll through the many kilometres of nature trails in the arboretum. Guests can identify the local trees and plants along the way and learn about all the local uses for diverse tree and plant life in the arboretum.
Trees and plants play a very big role in life in Ghana, both for food and medicinal purposes. Come see all the arboretum has to offer and learn why it is so important to conserve this precious resource.
Trees and plants play a very big role in life in Ghana, both for food and medicinal purposes. Come see all the arboretum has to offer and learn why it is so important to conserve this precious resource.
A popular tourist attraction, it records close to 6000 visitors on a good day. Ghana is the only country in Africa to have two of such facilities.
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Bunso canopy walkway to be reopened after rehabilitation work by experts 29/10/2015
Bunso Canopy Walk - The Bunso Canopy Walkway in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region is to bounce back to help promote domestic tourism in the country. According to the report from a team of experts made up of officials from the Ghana Institute of Engineers and Ghana Tourism Authority who visited the site two weeks ago, the rehabilitation work has been executed in consonance with the recommendations. - Read More - |
Bunso canopy walkway closed down
7/3/2015
The Eastern Regional Minister, Antwi Boasiako Sekyere has ordered the immediate closure of the Bunso Aboretum tourist site in the Eastern region.
Twenty people sustained severe injuries when the canopy walkway at the site collapsed yesterday.
The managers of the facility claimed that the revellers accessed the walkway without
their knowledge. They said access to the facility was closed at 5pm and the incident happened at 6pm.
But Mr. Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere is unconvinced. He tells Joy News the explanation offered by management was “unsatisfactory”. The victims were having tickets that granted them access to the walkway, the Minister observed, noting that the temporary closure of the facility is to pave way for safety audits to be conducted on the canopy.
7/3/2015
The Eastern Regional Minister, Antwi Boasiako Sekyere has ordered the immediate closure of the Bunso Aboretum tourist site in the Eastern region.
Twenty people sustained severe injuries when the canopy walkway at the site collapsed yesterday.
The managers of the facility claimed that the revellers accessed the walkway without
their knowledge. They said access to the facility was closed at 5pm and the incident happened at 6pm.
But Mr. Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere is unconvinced. He tells Joy News the explanation offered by management was “unsatisfactory”. The victims were having tickets that granted them access to the walkway, the Minister observed, noting that the temporary closure of the facility is to pave way for safety audits to be conducted on the canopy.
“When I went and met the management of the place, from their explanation I saw that there was a security lapse, and also some safety standards which were not up to standard,” Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere said.
Baffoe Peprah, the facility’s site manager, told Joy News they will work around the clock to get the canopy fixed within one week.
“We will then notify him (minister) of the completion and then he will give us the green light to start operation,” he said.
He conceded that some of the victims had valid tickets and were being supervised by two of his tour guides even after they had closed the walkway for the day.
However, he explained, whilst the revellers were at the recreational centre, some unauthorised persons climbed the canopy on the blind side of the security.
Mr. Baffoe said attempts by a tour guide to stop the people were ignored so their presence brought undue pressure on the canopy which finally gave in.
Baffoe Peprah, the facility’s site manager, told Joy News they will work around the clock to get the canopy fixed within one week.
“We will then notify him (minister) of the completion and then he will give us the green light to start operation,” he said.
He conceded that some of the victims had valid tickets and were being supervised by two of his tour guides even after they had closed the walkway for the day.
However, he explained, whilst the revellers were at the recreational centre, some unauthorised persons climbed the canopy on the blind side of the security.
Mr. Baffoe said attempts by a tour guide to stop the people were ignored so their presence brought undue pressure on the canopy which finally gave in.
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