What is it?

Kakum National Park protects 375 square kilometres of tropical rainforest in southern Ghana — one of the last surviving fragments of the upper Guinean forest that once blanketed West Africa. Its star attraction is a 350-metre canopy walkway strung between seven giant emergent trees, suspended up to 40 metres above the forest floor on aluminium ladders, rope and wooden planks barely wider than your feet. Built in 1995 by Canadian and Ghanaian engineers, it was the first of its kind in Africa and remains the continent's most celebrated treetop walk. Up there the world changes: the air is warm and heavy with the smell of wet leaves, cicadas drone in waves, and the ground disappears beneath a sea of green punctuated by butterflies drifting past your ankles. Below, the forest shelters shy elusive residents — forest elephants, bongo antelope, Diana and mona monkeys, giant forest hogs — along with over 250 bird species and some 600 species of butterfly, more than the whole of North America. Unlike a zoo or safari, Kakum asks you to slow down, listen, and accept that the rainforest reveals itself only in glimpses.

Where is it?

Kakum lies in Ghana's Central Region, roughly 30 km inland from Cape Coast and Elmina on the road towards Kumasi — an easy day trip from the coast and about three hours by road from Accra. Most visitors pair it with the haunting slave castles of Cape Coast and Elmina, making for one of Ghana's richest two-day itineraries. The best time to visit is the dry season from November to March, when trails are firm and skies clear; arrive at opening time (around 8am) to beat tour buses, catch the dawn mist in the canopy and give yourself the best chance of birdlife.

What makes it worth it?

There is a particular kind of exhilaration that comes from stepping onto a swaying plank with nothing but netting between you and a 40-metre drop — hearts race, laughter turns nervous, and then the fear melts into pure wonder. Visitors consistently describe the moment the forest opens out beneath them as 'like standing on the roof of the world,' and many admit they arrived terrified and left grinning. Beyond the adrenaline, Kakum offers something quieter and rarer: the chance to stand inside one of West Africa's last great rainforests, guided by local rangers whose knowledge of medicinal plants and animal calls turns a walk into a lesson in living heritage. Kakum is also a conservation success story, protected in partnership with the surrounding communities who once logged it, so every ticket helps keep the forest standing. Years later, what people remember is not just the height, but the sound — the endless layered hum of insects and birds that no recording ever quite captures.

How accessible is it?

This is one of Ghana's easiest bucket-list experiences: around 150,000–200,000 people visit each year, and no booking, permit or special fitness is required. From the visitor centre it's a steep but short 15–20 minute uphill walk on a stepped forest path to reach the walkway, then roughly 30–45 minutes to cross all seven bridges; the bridges are stable and staffed, though not suitable for those with severe vertigo, and children must be accompanied. Entry plus the canopy walk costs roughly GHS 150–250 (about US$10–20) for international visitors, with extra fees for guided nature walks, birdwatching hikes or overnight stays in the park's simple treehouse and campsite. Getting there is straightforward — organised day tours from Accra or Cape Coast run US$40–100, while taxis or tro-tros from Cape Coast cost a few dollars each way. Bring insect repellent, water, sturdy shoes with grip and a rain jacket, as downpours are common even outside the wet season. Most travellers to Ghana need a visa arranged in advance, and yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for entry.