OUR TOUR REGIONS
Welcome [Akwaaba]
See Ghana not just as a tourist, but as a traveller, as Ogonduro Heritage Tours welcomes you to Ghana the land of hospitality, gold and rich cultural heritage. Our good services ranging from a single tourist to a large groups including students, churches, business associations, professionals, and families, will offer you a wide range of package tours to make your journey in the gate of Africa a dream one.
We are local Ghanaians, who know our country and love our country, let us show you the real Ghana before it is spoilt.
Our tour attractions..?
ACCRA CITY SITE Accra is well noted as the breezy city of West Africa . You could almost hear the wind and waves off the Gulf of Guinea , which has infused the land and people alike, with tropical warmth. Palm fringed beaches, superb local shopping, historical monuments, nightlife and the warmth of the Ghanaian hospitality is just the perfect start to an exciting holiday.
In our tours we visit several of the highlights of Accra , such the National Musuem on Barnes road, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park, final resting place of the famous pan-african and the First President of Ghana. Black Star Square and the Independence Arch - Accra 's, the Du Bois Centre, and the Centre for National Culture where you can enjoy African arts & crafts.
Makola Market: (The Kojo Thompson Road ) is one of the continent’s most colorful. The most interesting and picturesque modern open market, where the visitor will admire the business acumen of the Ghanaian women traders.
Welcome [Akwaaba]
See Ghana not just as a tourist, but as a traveller, as Ogonduro Heritage Tours welcomes you to Ghana the land of hospitality, gold and rich cultural heritage. Our good services ranging from a single tourist to a large groups including students, churches, business associations, professionals, and families, will offer you a wide range of package tours to make your journey in the gate of Africa a dream one.
We are local Ghanaians, who know our country and love our country, let us show you the real Ghana before it is spoilt.
Our tour attractions..?
ACCRA CITY SITE Accra is well noted as the breezy city of West Africa . You could almost hear the wind and waves off the Gulf of Guinea , which has infused the land and people alike, with tropical warmth. Palm fringed beaches, superb local shopping, historical monuments, nightlife and the warmth of the Ghanaian hospitality is just the perfect start to an exciting holiday.
In our tours we visit several of the highlights of Accra , such the National Musuem on Barnes road, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park, final resting place of the famous pan-african and the First President of Ghana. Black Star Square and the Independence Arch - Accra 's, the Du Bois Centre, and the Centre for National Culture where you can enjoy African arts & crafts.
Makola Market: (The Kojo Thompson Road ) is one of the continent’s most colorful. The most interesting and picturesque modern open market, where the visitor will admire the business acumen of the Ghanaian women traders.
Many prefer to call it the gateway
to Africa with emphasis on the various attractions sights
it has.
Although
the country may look geographically small on the African map, it boasts of
many, many beautiful tourist sites ( some known and unknown).
A visit to some of these sites could be tricky
but enjoyable too. To avoid getting lost in the maze of attraction sites in
Ghana, one needs to know where exactly they are going.
Here are my personal Top 10 places to
visit in Ghana:
1. Accra, Ghana’s Capital
Accra is a sprawling city with about 2 million
residents and one of Africa’s safer capitals. Accra has a mixture of modern
buildings, shanty towns, occasional castle and lively markets. The central hub
is around the Makola Market; just south of the market is the Atlantic Ocean.
Accra’s main attractions
include
- The National Museum: This museum has wonderful displays about Ghana’s culture and history including the slave-trade, and Ashanti Kingdom.
- Makola Market is colorful, bustling, and you can buy absolutely everything. It is one place you can never miss in Accra.
- James
Fort: This
is situated in the suburb of Jamestown. It used to be one of the monuments
of the Europeans and slavery. Presently it houses a number of
prisoners in Accra.
- Christianborg
castle-it
is unique among the castles and forts in Ghana as it served as Government
House during various periods in the 19th centuries and continues to play
that role today.
- Beaches — there are some
nice beaches in and around Accra, with Labadi Beach, Coco
Beach and Bojo Beach being the most visited beaches in Accra.
- The
Arts Center is
a great place to shop for handicrafts but you must also be prepared for a
hard sell.
- Kwame
Nkrumah Mausoleum ( Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park(KNMP))– is the last
resting place of the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
It is dedicated to him for his outstanding campaign to liberate Ghana(by
then Gold Coast) from colonial rule on 6th March,1957.
It has a total surface
area of approximately 5.3 acres. The mausoleum provides a front for the statue
of Nkrumah whereas the museum is subterranean and does not compete with the
mausoleum for attention. Rhythm, contrast and harmony were the main principles
of design used in this building.
The Museum houses the
personal effects and publications of Ghana’s first president and pictures
showing his life history
- ome
of these pictures of Dr. Nkrumah with some of the most famous people of
his time are an eye opener.
Wander through the
photos, and you will be stunned at how many of the 20th century’s most iconic
people pictured shaking hands with the founder of modern Ghana.
He is pictured with
famous people like Jawarharlal Nehru, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Nikita
Khrushchev, John F Kennedy of U.S.A, Sir Alec Hume, Queen Elizabeth II of
England, Harold Macmillan, Pope Pius XII, President Nasser of Egypt, and
countless leaders of countries like Malaya, Sri Lanka, Niger not forgetting
Nigeria and many other more.
The body is buried under
a catafalque raised in the centre of the park. Symbols which reflect Ghana’s
culture and history were used to portray Dr. Nkrumah’s vision to promote the
African personality.
As you approach the main
way leading to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, you’ll see springs on either sides
of the walk way. Each spring has seven bare-chested, squatting statuettes of
flute blowers, who seem to welcome the arrival of world leaders and other
important personalities.
The design of the Kwame
Nkrumah Mausoleum, which represents swords turned upside down symbolizes peace.
It can also be viewed as an uprooted tree to signify the unfinished work of Dr.
Nkrumah to totally unite Africa.
This is a place you
wouldn’t want to miss during your stay in Ghana, since the transition of Gold
Coast to Ghana happened on this same location. Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum is what
some scholars call the “genesis” of the actual History of Ghana.
Some beaches outside
Accra you should visit:
- Kokrobite
Beach
Ghana has some lovely beaches but the most
popular for the last decade has been the beaches around Kokrobite including
Langma. Kokrobite is a quick 20 mile (30km) tro-tro ride away from the capital
Accra. One of the main attractions here is the excellent Academy of African
Music and Art (AAMA) founded by master drummer Mustapha Tettey Addy. The
Academy attracts drummers and dancers from all over the world.
You can get accommodation at the Music Academy
or head to Big Milly’s Backyard in the village (also on the beach). Big Milly’s
has a friendly bar and restaurant where backpackers, volunteers and Ghanaian
Rastafarians chill out.
- Busua
Beach
Busua is one of Ghana’s best beaches and
offers the visitor a chance to relax, paddle around in the Atlantic and enjoy
some lobster. There are several hotels along the beach front ranging from
luxurious to simple. Some of the notable hotels/inns found in this area are the
Busua Beach Resort , Busua Inn and the African Rainbow resort.
If Busua is too touristy for you, you also check out Princess Town a little further to the west along the coast.
If Busua is too touristy for you, you also check out Princess Town a little further to the west along the coast.
2. Cape Coast Castle
Ghana’s Atlantic Coast is lined with old forts
(castles) built by various European powers during the 17th Century. The Cape
Coast Castle was built for the slave-trade and is one of the most impressive of
Ghana’s old forts. It was originally built by the Dutch in 1637, later expanded
by the Swedes, finally the British took control of it in 1664 and turned it
into their colonial headquarters. It stayed that way for the next 200 years
until they moved the capital to Accra in 1877.
The Cape Coast Castle is now an excellent
museum with information about the history of Ghana, the slave-trade and local
culture. Tours are a “must” and will take you through the dungeons and the
“door of no return”.
Other interesting places in the Cape Coast environs or en route
to Cape Coast you should not miss are the Posuban Shrine and the West
African Historical Museum.
3. Elmina
and St George’s Castle
Elmina
is a picturesque fishing town along Ghana’s coast, not far from Cape Coast. It
is home to one of Ghana’s biggest attractions, St George’s Castle. Built by the
Portuguese in 1482, it was captured by the Dutch 150 years later and became the
headquarters of their West Indies Company for the following 250 years.
Gold
exports were soon replaced by slaves and the tours through the dungeons will
give you a good idea of how gruesome a trade it was. The Castle houses a small
museum and guided tours are available. The stark beauty of the white-washed
Castle walls contrast deeply with the dark history of this place.
Fort
St Jago lies across the lagoon from the castle, and is worth visiting for the
views it offers of the town and Castle.
Another
attraction which should not be missed when travelling on the Central- Western road
is Cape three point. It is a small peninsula in the Western Region of Akanland,
West Africa.
Forming
the southernmost tip of Akanland, it is located between the coastal towns of
Dixcove and Princess Town. Cape Three Points is known as the “land nearest
nowhere” because it is the land nearest a location in the sea which is at 0
latitude, 0 longitude and 0 altitude (the distance is about 570 km).
It
is best known for its lighthouses, the first of which was constructed in 1875
by the British as a navigational aid for trading vessels sailing through the
Gulf of Guinea.
The
original structure has since become a ruin, however, a larger and more improved
lighthouse was completed in 1921, and is still functioning today.
4. Kakum
National Park
Kakum
National Park is a dense tropical rain forest in southern Ghana. The forest is
home to over 40 species of larger mammals including forest elephants, forest
buffalo, Mona-meerkats and civets. The bird life is fantastic as well with over
250 species living in the forest.
The
highlight of any visit to Kakum is a stroll on the Canopy Walkway that is built
30 meters above ground, crosses several bridges and is over 1000 feet (350 m)
in length. The canopy walkway offers a unique viewing perspective of the
wildlife and unique plants of the forest. Trained guides are on hand to take
you on a tour and provide detailed insight into the medicinal uses of the
forest plants. There’s a basic campsite for those who want to stay overnight.
5. Lake
Volta (Volta Lake)
Lake
Volta (or Volta Lake) is the largest man-made lake in the world. A passenger
boat, the Yapei Queen runs the entire length of the lake between Akosombo in
the South to Yeji in the North.
The
trip takes about 24 hours one way and departs from Akosombo every Monday. You
can book your voyage through the Volta Lake Transport Company. You’ll be
sharing the boat with some livestock and lots of vegetables. The boat is
sometimes referred to as the “yam boat”. The sleeping is rough but certainly
rewarding for the adventurous traveler.
There are other maller ferry services on Lake Volta that will take you further
north and east. You can arrange transportation in Tamale.
Other
places in this region and around are Aburi Botanical Gardens, Shai Nature
Reserve, Xavi( birds) and many others.
6.
Kumasi
Kumasi
is the former capital of Ghana’s Ashanti Kingdom in southern-central Ghana.
Kumasi is Ghana’s second largest city with a population of around 1.5 million.
The Ashanti are famous artisans, their gold jewelry and trinkets are famous
throughout the world, as is their Kente cloth and wood-carved stools. You can
see examples at the National Culture Center as well as various craft villages
on the outskirts of Kumasi.
The
bustling Kejetia Market is worth visiting, the Kente cloth is good value here
if you can stomach the chaos. If you’re interested to see how the Ashanti Kings
used to live, you can visit the Manhyia Palace Museum. You can meet the current
Ashanti king here; he makes an appearance to greet the public every 42 days.
You
can never miss these sites in this region: Okomfo Anokye Sword Site, Lake
Bosomtwe, Kumasi Market and Fort. Miles outside Kumasi is also the Obuasi Gold
Mine and Bonwire( the Kente City)
7.
Kintampo Falls
The
Kintampo waterfalls located on the Kumasi-Kintampo highway provides a panoramic
scene and superbly display the beauty of nature.
It
is about 4km away from the Kintampo Township, on the Kumasi-Tamale road.
This is the point where the Pumpu River falls some seventy (70)
meters to continue its journey towards the Black Volta at Buipe . The
Kintampo falls is shaped in a beautiful staircase. This superb falls
mysteriously disappears and resurfaces 200 meters away from its original
location.
Its
great scenery makes it a favourite attraction for tourists who visit the
region( Brong Ahafo). One can never miss the Boambeng Fiema Monkey Santuary in
the Brong Ahafo region as well.
8. Nzulezu
Nzulezu
is a village built on stilts in the marshy Amansuri Lagoon. Similar in looks
and atmosphere to Genvie in Benin, this is a unique little fishing community,
far from the hustle and bustle of daily Ghanaian life.
You
can only reach it by renting a canoe, available from the village of Beyin
(about two hours drive from Axim). It takes about an hour to reach the village.
Simple accommodation is available in a stilt house. You can also find the
Ankasa National Park in this region.
9. Mole
National Park
Mole
National Park is Ghana’s largest wildlife park and is located in north western
Ghana. In Mole you can expect to see buffalo, roam antelope, elephants,
warthogs, hyenas and if you’re very lucky, leopard. Lions have recently been
re-introduced to the park as well. There are also more than 250 species of
birds to enjoy.
You
can opt for a walking safari or a traditional game drive accompanied by an
armed guard. There’s a motel just near the park headquarters. The best time to
spot wildlife is during the dry season from January to March as animals
congregate around the water sources. You can also visit the Larabanga
Mosque near the park, the oldest mosque in Ghana.
10. Paga
Crocodile Pond
Located
in the north-eastern border of Ghana, Paga is a sacred crocodile sanctuary.
Although
crocodiles are considered as wild creatures, the Paga crocodiles are friendly
and coexist with humans. The friendly relationship between the crocodiles and
humans continue to baffle the minds of many. This is in contrast to the
perception of crocodiles as dangerous.
It
is a customary offence to harm, kill or show any sign of disrespect to the
crocodiles of Paga. It is not uncommon to find children and or visitors sitting
at the back of or holding the tale of a crocodile without any harm, after a
sacrifice of fowl. This is normal for the people of Paga but a mystery to
visitors.
Other
tourist attractions in the area include the Paga-Nania slave camp, the mystery
dam of Kayoro called Kukula and the Nasaga Game Reserve, eight kilometers away
from Burkina-Faso and Paga.
Ghana
is indeed an incredible and diverse country and there are many great places to
visit. Hopefully my top ten will help you plan your trip.
And
if you live in Ghana and you have not visited any of these sites, maybe now is
the time to do so. Once you do so, you will realize the wonderful experience
you have missed out all your life.
We
hope you share the same views with us that these are some of the beautiful
sites to visit in Ghana. Comment to tell us about your experience visiting some
of these beautiful Ghanaian sites and which one is your favourite site to visit
and why it is your favourite? You can also tell us about a site we missed out
and those you would love to visit.