Aburi Botanical Gardens
These century – old botanical gardens, about one hour’s drive from Accra offer a rich collection of tropical flora, which attracts scores of birds and butterflies. The tranquil paths are a popular excursion for our city dwellers.
The Gardens were originally created in 1890 as an agricultural research station and a habitat for plants from around the world. Over the years the Botanical Gardens have collected together a variety of tropical flora which attracts scores of birds and butterflies. Situated in the town of Aburi, which is well-known for its health climate, the Gardens also have pleasant indoor-outdoor restaurants and facilities for staying overnight.
Kakum National Park
A 357km² national park comprising undisturbed virgin rainforest. Excellent walking tours (and a canopy walkway) through the forest provide the opportunity to see much of Ghana’s indigenous plant life, as well as rare butterflies, birds and game (that could include the extraordinary Bongo and forest elephant). Highlights include:
1. Forest walks
2. Treetop canopy walkway
3. Bird watching
4. Medicinal plants
Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve
The Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve lies in the Ashanti Region of Ghana which falls in the forest zone. It boarders two traditional areas of the Region, the Kumawu and Kwamang traditional areas. The area stretches along the Afram Plains of Ghana, a wide expanse of flat arable land. The geographical location of the area places it in the transitional zone, separating the southern forest from the northern savanna regions.
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. Historically, the area constitutes the site where the two traditional areas, Kumawu and Kwamang, by treaty joined forces to fight invading enemies in one of their last victorious tribal wars. The area therefore is held as a sacred place for both traditional areas and each lays claim to it. Economically, the area is very fertile and constitutes a break on the northern savanna. Besides, being part of the Afram Plains, it constitutes a major bread basket of the country, and forms a gate way to the larger plains.
