Culture & Heritage
Nzulezu, the village on stilts, is reached by a 45-minute canoe ride
Western Region
Nzulezu Stilt Village, Western Region
A living village built entirely on stilts over Lake Tadane, reached by dugout canoe through the Amansuri wetlands.
Nzulezu, which means "surface of water", is home to around five hundred people whose houses, school and chapel all stand on raised platforms above Lake Tadane. Oral history traces the settlement to migrants from Walata in the old Ghana Empire, led there, the story goes, by a snail.
Visitors reach the village by dugout canoe from Beyin, paddling forty-five minutes through the Amansuri wetland, one of the best preserved swamp forests in West Africa. Kingfishers, herons and monkeys are common along the channel.
A single central walkway runs the length of the village with houses on either side. Visits are arranged through the community tourism office at Beyin, and part of every fee goes to the village.
What to see
- The canoe crossing through the Amansuri swamp forest
- The central boardwalk and the stilt-built schoolhouse
- Community-run guesthouses for an overnight stay
- Birdlife along the channel, best in the early morning
Getting there
- From Takoradi drive west through Agona Nkwanta and Esiama to Beyin, about three hours.
- From Accra it is a long day; most visitors overnight in Busua or Axim first.
Get directions
Visitor tips
- Ask permission before photographing people in the village.
- Carry cash, there are no card facilities at Beyin or in the village.
