Kakum National Park

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Kakum National Park is in Central Ghana.

Kakum National Park is in the southern part of Ghana, it is the best preserved region of virgin rainforest in the country and provides the easiest access to the rainforest for tourists along with the famous canopy walkway.

[edit] Get in

The easiest starting point for a trip to Kakum is Cape Coast, the regional capital. Tro-tro's run regularly to Kakum and beyond, alternatively you can charter a taxi (as at August 2006, approx 150,000 cedis one way or 500,000 cedis for the day from Accra the captital). Either way the park is approximately a 1 hour journey from Cape Coast.

[edit] Get around

Walking is your only realistic option within the park, please note you must have a guide with you at all times.

[edit] See

Undisturbed rainforest from both the ground and 40m up in the canopy - a fantastic experience. Don't expect to see much wildlife except for birds and insects.

[edit] Do

• Canopy walk: the traditional 'tourist' thing, and absolutely essential. Try to go very early in the morning to avoid groups (which can spoil the atmosphere a bit).
• A guided walk through the forest at ground level, the guides are very knowledgeable about the plants and animal life you will see.
• If you have children with you there is a display giving information about rainforests which they may enjoy

[edit] Buy

Reasonable range of souvenirs (t-shirts etc) available from the visitor centre

[edit] Eat

Cafe on site with reasonably priced western style and local food, although as is fairly typical in Ghana what they actually have available is a very limited proportion of the menu.

[edit] Drink

Cafe on site serves the usual range of minerals and sometimes fruit juices

[edit] Sleep

You can either stay in Cape Coast itself where there is a wide range of accommodation from budget to tourist class, or at an atmospheric (but slightly expensive) hotel midway between Cape Coast and Kakum (see http://hansbotel.com for details).

The other alternative is to stay in the rainforest itself, for a small fee (40,000 cedis each as at March 2004) you can stay on a platform in the forest for a truly atmospheric experience. Do be aware though that you will certainly need a mosquito net and a good torch as any facilities are a distance away from the platforms, the noise levels in the forest are very high and the platforms offer no protection from local wildlife - not a good option for those scared of the dark!

• Animal Sanctuary, Zoo and Hotel in Frami, Ghana, near Kakum National Park. [1] In and around Monkey Forest Resort various local animals are to be seen, for example a rare white antelope, birds, grascutters, porcupines and of course monkeys and many more. The European owners also provide drinks and run a small restaurant.

[edit] Get out

• The Domana Rock Shrine is a little visited but worthwhile trip about 40 minutes drive from Kakum. Realistically you will need to charter a taxi for this trip as public transport in the area is very infrequent. Go to the village of Domana and someone will show you to the visitor centre (this is a community eco-tourism project), you will then have a knowledgeable guide who will take you to the shrine, you also have the option of a canoe trip on the river Pra which is definitely worth doing. The shrine is about a 45 min walk through forest and farmland, a lovely walk but a good idea to do this in the early morning/late afternoon when it isn't too hot. If you do the shrine and the canoe trip you need to allow about 3 hours for the whole thing.

• Monkey Forest Resort, : Kakum National Park Road (km 45 on the right), Frami, : (+233) 0244 11 83 13, Website: http://www.monkeyforestresort.com/index.html. If you want to see animals up close, you may also want to see Monkey Forest Resort. This little animal sactuary and zoo, is only 3 km from Kakum National Park. Various local animals can be seen, for example a rare white antilope, birds, African civets, grascutters, porcupines and of course monkies and more. The European owners also provide drinks and run a small restaurant which has a nice view over the area, called Daktari.

[edit] Video

• Ghana Travel Channel: Official Ghana Travel Video Documentary Featuring Kakum National Park