Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park covers 375 square kilometres of tropical forest in Ghana's Central Region and was gazetted as a national park in 1992, having previously existed as a forest reserve since 1931. What makes Kakum exceptional among African parks is that it was established at the initiative of the local community rather than by state wildlife authorities, making it a landmark case study in community-based conservation that has attracted attention from conservation organisations worldwide. The forest sits on a plateau between 150 and 250 metres above sea level, and the terrain varies from gentle slopes to steep-sided valleys cut by seasonal streams. From the forest floor the canopy appears as an unbroken green ceiling, but from above it reveals itself as a complex three-dimensional structure of interlocking tree crowns, lianas and epiphytes hosting an extraordinary density of life.

The 350-metre canopy walkway connects seven giant tropical trees at a height of roughly 40 metres and is Kakum's most famous feature. Constructed in 1989 with rope and timber platforms anchored to the trees by a system of cables and pulleys, the walkway allows visitors to move through the forest canopy without disturbing the understory. The experience is unlike anything else in West Africa: you are eye-level with the upper branches, surrounded by the calls of forest birds and the rustle of monkeys moving through the canopy. Nine species of hornbill have been recorded here, along with the endangered Diana monkey, forest elephants, giant bongo antelope and over 600 species of butterfly. The forest is also an Important Bird Area recognised by BirdLife International, with 266 confirmed bird species.

The park has been on UNESCO's Tentative List since 2000 under natural World Heritage criteria, though a full inscription has not yet been achieved. Access to the canopy walkway requires joining a guided tour, and visitors are not permitted to walk the walkway independently. Rangers lead groups of twelve to fifteen people at a time, and the entire walk takes approximately 30 minutes at a gentle pace. The best time to visit is during the dry season from November to March, when wildlife is more concentrated around water sources and the trails are easier to navigate. Kakum's combination of accessibility from Accra and Kumasi, its unique canopy experience and its rich biodiversity make it one of Ghana's essential visitor destinations. The park receives over 100,000 visitors annually, a volume that has prompted ongoing investment in trail maintenance and visitor facilities.

The 350-metre canopy walkway is one of only three such structures in Africa and offers a wholly unique perspective on tropical forest ecology.

The park is a globally significant biodiversity site, sheltering endangered species including the Diana monkey, forest elephant and giant bongo antelope.

Community-initiated conservation makes it a model project that visitors can engage with as part of the experience.