Let us take cues from Mary Davis’ quote, “A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
In addition to being known for its lush forests, diverse animal life, and miles of sandy beaches along a picturesque coast, Ghana is also celebrated for the joy she brings to hikers when they visit the following places.
The first hiking place on this list is known for its savannah plains with beautiful hills. The reserve is home to about 175 bird species including stone partridges.
The Shai Hills Resource Reserve covers a total area of 51 sq km (20 sq miles). Mgmayem Festival, which happens around September/October, and Dipo (between March and May), are festive occasions worth seeing at Shai.
Volta’s Vaults
Aflabo Falls and Cave Trail in Hohoe, is known to be a great path for hikers. The ancestral caves of Likpe Todome and six other spectacularly mountainside caves are gracefully scattered around the area. Other marvelous sights on this route include the rainforests surrounding the Leklebi villages, and the Mona monkey sanctuary at Tafi Atome between Hohoe and Ho.
Mountain Afadja offers spectacular views of both Ghana and Togo from its summit, which is accessed through a dense forest and a four-hour climb, passing three levels of waterfalls along the way. Many visitors hike Afajato and Tagbo falls.
Ghana’s most geologically elevated settlement Amedzofe, peaks with rivers on its sides. The Oti Waterfalls flow right near the scenic Mount Gemi not far from the popular Wli. Hiking up to Wli upper falls (305m (1,000ft)) is every competent hiker’s dream. The Afadjato heights offer a stunning view of Volta Lake, Kpalime and Mount Kloto.
The 345m (1,132 foot) Mt. Krobo offers a hike distance of 4 km (2.5 miles); two hours on foot or a cycling distance of just over an hour. You can do an easy one-hour walk to the summit and rest, or take a break at the rocky plateau halfway up. Descend on the southern side of Mt. Krobo, where ruins of buildings and fortifications can be seen. You can also do a 14 km (8.7 mile) hike through the Accra plains to Stone Lodge.
Bunso is a protected forest reserve, spanning 16.5 hectares. A semi-deciduous forest covers half of this area, while the other half is made up of indigenous trees (fruits, nuts and timber species). Bunso Arboretum Trail has a 17.84 km (11 mile) forest canopy walkway. It is not far from the rest point Lindador Restaurant & Rest Stop on the Accra-Kumasi road. There are several artisanal mining pits and cash crop farms in the area as well.
SOURCE: THE CULTURE TRIP, GHANA
