Skip to main content

Wildlife at Kakum National Park

  • Conservation Education & Awareness: With over 266 bird species (including eight of global concern) and endangered mammals like Diana monkeys and forest elephants, Kakum is a living classroom for biodiversity and climate resilience


  • Cultural re‑connection & Diaspora engagement: As part of Ghana’s initiatives like Year of Return and Beyond the Return, Kakum offers a bridge for people of African descent to connect meaningfully with ancestral lands and natural heritage,


  • Eco-tourism leadership: The park remains Ghana’s most visited natural attraction, guided by public-private partnerships between the Wildlife Department, Ghana Heritage Conservation Trust (GHCT), and international bodies—showcasing how sustainable tourism can thrive in partnership with local communities


  • Youth & Learning: Regular school field trips, environmental awareness programs, and educational multimedia exhibitions nurture the next generation’s respect for conservation and climate action

  • Dive into Kakum

  • Best Months: December (high season), school holiday peak; February is quieter but still beautiful.

  • Reserve Ahead: Especially for canopy walk access and overnight stays in the Tree House.

  • Guided Tours: Plan birdwatching, night hikes, and botanical hikes with trained guides.

  • Combine & Connect: Visit nearby attractions such as Cape Coast or Elmina castles for a fuller cultural journey.

  • First Slide

    From a humble forest reserve in 1931 to Ghana’s most-visited eco‑hub, Kakum National Park exemplifies the power of conservation, innovation, and cultural tourism. With stunning natural architecture, elevated walkways, interactive exhibitions, and record-breaking visitor numbers, it invites everyone—locals, students, diaspora, researchers, and global travelers—to experience Ghana’s rainforest legacy.

    Visiting Kakum isn't just sightseeing. It’s stepping into a story

    Second Slide

    Kakum National Park: A Story of Conservation, Culture & Climbing the Canopy

    Kakum National Park—Ghana’s first official protected area—is more than a rainforest: it’s an emblem of ecological stewardship, sustainable tourism, and cultural revival. With its world‑class visitor facilities, iconic canopy walkway, and steadily rising footfall, Kakum has emerged as one of Ghana’s premier eco‑destinations.

    Third Slide

    From parrots to the White-Breasted Guinea-fowl  - There are also forest elephants around.

    One of these species of concern is the white-breasted guineafowl. Nine species of hornbill and the African grey parrot have been recorded.

    It is very rich in butterflies as well, and a new species was discovered in 1993. As of 2012, the densest population of forest elephants in Ghana is located in Kakum.

    It is also an Important Bird Area recognized by the Bird Life International with the bird area fully overlapping the park area. The bird inventory confirmed 266 species in the park, including eight species of global conservation concern.


    As of 2012, the densest population of forest elephants in Ghana is located in Kakum.

    The Kakum forest turns more to a kind of of a jungle experience. The canopy walkway is up to 30 m above the forest floor and within sight of the tallest tree of the forest where elephants can sometimes be seen scrounging for fallen fruit.

    There are six Tree Top platforms that reach the height of 30 meters above the forest floor. From the tree tops, visitors experience 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.