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KAKUM NATIONAL PARK
Located just 30km north of Cape Coast, Kakum National
Park is one of Ghana's most famous parks. This 357km² national park consists of undisturbed coastal
forest and is home to Africa’s only rainforest canopy walkway.
This canopy walkway is one of only a dozen or so such walkways in
the world.
Walking tours through the park offer the opportunity to spot much of
Ghana’s indigenous plant life, as well as many types of birds and butterflies.
However, due to the number of visitors at the main entrance and the
canopy walkway, game sightings are rare and can only occur when well
into the park. This is certainly possible, and the park will allow
early and overnight guests for such visits, but realize that a
casual visit to Kakum National Park will result in a wildlife
experience consisting only of birds, butterflies, insects and
lizards.
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Highlights of this major destination
1. Forest walks
The vegetation type is moist evergreen rainforest with tall hardwood
trees up 65m in height.
2. Rainforest canopy walkway
40m high canopy walkway suspended between trees from which different
species of birds and butterflies can be observed.
3. Bird watching tours
The Sun Bird Trail has been developed to incorporate three
ecosystems: the rainforest, the secondary forest and a pond
environment for visitor to watch birds.
4. Medicinal plant tours
Park gamekeepers are specially trained in the medical and cultural
significance of the local foliage.
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The Main Attraction
The rain forest canopy walkway connects 6 enormous trees and is in
seven sections which total to a length of 330 m (1,080 ft). It reaches the height of
40 meters (130 ft) above the forest
floor and is secured by a series of nets and wires for safety
purposes.
This is definitely an exciting experience. From the treetops, you have a
unique and spectacular view of the rainforest ecosystem and have the
opportunity to see flora and fauna, which could never be viewed from
the ground.
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Details
The park opens at 8:00 AM and we strongly recommend visiting early in
the morning before the crowds arrive and queues form at the walkway.
Earlier ground excursions can be arranged into the forest for
birding.
The park welcome center contains a restaurant, a Rainforest Lodge, a
picnic area, a camping area, and a wildlife education center.
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Easy Track Ghana's co-founder Jessie Aboagye likes to joke
that Kakum is his second home. Check out these photos and tell us
what you think? (Watch the hair grow...)
Examine our Sample Tours for
a number of itineraries that visit Kakum National Park.