Parks & Wildlife
Above the rainforest: the Kakum canopy walkway is still Ghana’s most thrilling half hour
Central Region
Kakum National Park, Central Region
Seven rope bridges strung between giant emergent trees, forty metres above the floor of a protected tropical rainforest.
Kakum protects 375 square kilometres of upland evergreen rainforest, one of the last significant tracts in West Africa. It is best known for the canopy walkway, a chain of seven suspension bridges built in 1995 and anchored to emergent trees around forty metres above the ground.
The walkway is reached by a steep twenty-minute climb from the visitor centre. Crossing all seven spans takes about half an hour at an unhurried pace, with viewing platforms between each bridge.
The forest holds forest elephants, bongo, colobus and Diana monkeys and more than 260 bird species, though mammals are rarely seen by day. Guided nature walks on the forest floor and overnight tree platform stays are arranged at the visitor centre.
What to see
- The seven-bridge canopy walkway and its viewing platforms
- Sunrise slots for birders and small groups
- Guided ground-level nature walks with a park ranger
- The visitor centre exhibition on rainforest conservation
Getting there
- From Cape Coast take the road north towards Abrafo Junction, about forty-five minutes by taxi.
- Day trips from Accra are long but possible; most visitors stay overnight in Cape Coast or Elmina.
Get directions
Visitor tips
- Wear closed shoes with grip, the climb is steep and often damp.
- The walkway sways, which is normal, and there is a lower loop for anyone who would rather stay on the ground.
