Ghana is home to a diverse range of national parks and protected areas that showcase the country’s rich natural heritage, biodiversity, and unique ecosystems.
From lush tropical rainforests to savannah grasslands and coastal wetlands, these conservation areas play a vital role in protecting wildlife, supporting ecotourism, and preserving Ghana’s ecological balance.
There are currently seven official national parks in Ghana, along with several wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves, and Ramsar (wetland) sites. Together, these protected areas form an essential part of Ghana’s environmental and tourism landscape, offering visitors the chance to experience everything from elephants and antelope to rare bird species and ancient trees. See below full list of National Parks and Protected areas.
- Densu Delta (near West of Accra)
Densu Delta Ramsar Site (Greater Accra region of Ghana) - There are about 20 farming and fishing communities/settlements within the Ramsar site.
- Mole National Park
Mole Park, the largest eco-tourism site in the country, is located 170 kilometres west of Tamale in the West Gonja District. It is home to 93 mammalian species, 33 reptiles, nine amphibians and an estimated 300 birds species.
The mammals include some 600 elephants, 2,000 roam antelopes, 3,000 hartebeests, 4,000 waterbucks, 5,000 buffalo and some 6,000 warthogs. Uncounted lions, leopards, hyenas and various primates can also be seen in Mole.
A total of 600km of game protection and viewing roads have been developed within the Park.
- Ashanti Region
Lake Bosomtwi - Lake Bosumtwi (also spelled Bosomtwe), situated within an ancient meteorite impact crater. The lake is a popular resort area with local people for swimming, fishing and boat trips.
- Central Region
Kakum National Park - (acclaimed tropical rain forest with canopy walkway)
Eastern Region
Boti Waterfalls - The Boti waterfalls passing through the Huhunya forest reserve. Situated in a village called Boti in the Manya Krobo district in the Eastern Region. Boti is a beautiful waterfall, just a few miles North-East of Koforidua. Few metres to the waterfalls visitors assemble before descending the valley to have a glimpse of the beauty of the falls.
- Northern Ghana
Larabanga Mosque - The mosque in Larabanga , is the eldest mosque in (today) Ghana. The mosque was built in 1421. Larabanga is located within Mole National Park
- Upper West
Mole National Park - Mole National Park is Ghana's largest wildlife refuge. The park was established one year, after Ghana gained independence, from British colonial rule.
- Upper East Region
Paga Crocodile Ponds - Paga is known for its sacred crocodile ponds, where most visitors are surprised that they can touch a life crocodile.
- Volta Region
Wli waterfalls - The Wli Waterfalls are the highest falls in West Africa falling from a height of 60-80 meters over the cliffs.
Mount Afadjato in the Volta region - The highest mountain in Ghana
Tafi Atome - Monkey Village (Volta Region of Ghana) - In this forest, one could find the endangered, playful and rather sacred True Mona Monkeys.
Mount Adaklu - (Volta region of Ghana) - Three kilometers from the foot of the mountain is Kalakpa Resource Reserve, with populations of antelope, buffalo, bushbuck, baboons and other species of birds and mammals.
- Brong regions
Digya National Park
The second largest national park and the oldest protected area in Ghana. It is located in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Digya National Park was created in 1900 and given national park status in 1971.
The park is the only wildlife territory in Ghana to have Lake Volta at its borders.
Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve -
The Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve is a natural preservation area set up to protect the ecology, check the downward drift of the savanna grassland and to promote scientific research, particularly on how nature revitalizes itself after major disasters.
- Keta Lagoon Complex Ramser Site (Volta region of Ghana)
The surface area of the principal lagoon and the seasonal mud flats is over 300km2. The lagoon supports some of the largest inland fisheries within the coastal zone of Ghana.
Fuller Waterfalls - Kintampo (Brong-Ahafo) -
- Brong regions
Tourist attractions in the district include the Kintampo Waterfalls along the Kintampo-Tamale road, the Fulla Falls at Yabraso
- Volta Oti regions
Kalakpa Resource Reserve - Can be reached through Juapong on a branch off the main Accra to Ho road. The Ho to Abutia Kloe road through Sokode can access the reserve.
It has a spectacular combination of forests on the hills found in the middle of the reserve and along drivers and grass on the plains of the reserve.
The Kyabobo National Park - is a 360-square-kilometre (140 sq mi) national park in Ghana.
Kyabobo is located in the Volta region on the border with Togo.
- Central region
From your vantage point on the canopy walkway, you see a brilliant flash of red on the wings of this magnificent bird as it lands a few feet away to settle on a Kuntan tree, one of the tallest trees in the forest canopy.
This is something you'd never see from the forest floor. Kakum National Park - Website
- Eastern region
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.
- Western region
Rather you being "upset" of their "unfriendly" welcome forward to you as visitor, fill your pockets with some gifts for children. Small toys, and school material especialy. Buy a drink for the local chief, if you see him. But the best is to ask of him and to introduce yourself. (This would be the right way to do.
Don`t forget, Nzulezo is not a museum, but a village with real people living there!
Nzulezu is a village built entirely on stilts on Lake Amansuri. It is constructed out of wood and raffia with one central walkway and about two dozen houses on either side. Presently the village has a population between 500 and 600 people. Why these people chose to built their village in this way is not known as they are not primarily fishermen but farmers. The only way to get there is to travel 5km on the lake in a local dugout canoe. It takes you through areas of marsh and open pools fringed with palm thickets and opens out into the fast expanse of the lake. The trip on the water is very rewarding as one sees many different birds emerging from the reeds or sitting on the low hanging branches of the surrounding jungle.
- Ashanti region
Lake Bosomtwe - Lake Bosomtwe was (apparently) formed by a falling Meteorite about 1.3 million years ago. However, there is no evidence of that!
Rock area analysis, discovered fossils of many animals including Lions, Elephants, Tigers, Black Cobras, Pythons, Alligators and many more were also found along the rivers banks indicating that these animals once inhabited the area around the lake.
The Lake is 90 meters deep and has a diameter of 10.5 Km. Two rivers and especially ground water keeps the water volume of the lake constant. The lake is surrounded by a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
- Western region
Ankansa / Ankasa Conservation Area / Nini Suhien National Park (Western Region, Ghana) -
The park is approximately 500 square kilometers, and consists largely of tropical evergreen rain-forest. The Ankasa, Nini, and Suhien Rivers all pass through the park, and are known for their rapids and waterfalls.
- Greater Accra
Songor Lagoon Ramsar Site (Greater Accra region of Ghana, near Ada Foah) - Expatriates and Ghanaians go there for speed boating, recreational fishing and bird watching during week-ends and public holidays.
- Volta region
Leklebi Agbesia Caves, Volta region of Ghana - A trip to the caves is worthwhile, not only do you see the historic caves of the people of Leklebi Agbesia, but also, an opportunity to see the mysterious palm, waterfalls and the mountains.
- Western region
Bia National Park (Western region of Ghana) - The park is bordered to the south with a 563 square kilometer Resource Reserve and is an International Biosphere Reserve Park.
Bui National Park - Renowned for its hippopotami, Bui National Park covers 1,821 sq. km of hilly woodlands and valleys within the catchment area of the Black Volta River where it turns left from the Ivorian border.
- Eastern region
Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary - Bobiri is an ecotourism center in Ghana and the only butterfly sanctuary in West Africa. It has about 400 species of butterflies. The Forest Reserve is enclosed by six communities: Krofrom, Kubease, Ndobom, Koforidua, Nkwankwaduam and Tsteteseakasum. Located about 30 km from Kumasi, it is a quiet research showcasing an arboretum, forest hiking trails and a butterfly sanctuary; lodging, guiding and interpretative materials are available.
- Brong regions
Boabeng-Fiema monkey sanctuary (Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana) - Boabeng-Fiema is a home for about 700 monkeys. The village is a community where, monkeys and human beings live together.
The inhabitants in the village always, leave food outside their homes for the animals. The monkeys see human beings as their own.
- Greater Accra
Shai Hills Resource Reserve - Shai Hills Resource Reserve is situated in Doryumu Shai Hills is about 40 km from Accra (Ghana`s capital), passing Tema, forward to Akosombo, Akosombo Port and Volta dam.
Reserve area about 52 qkm. There are serval hills (the highest is 290 m) 150 recorded birds; there are vevet monkeys, spot-noised monkeys.