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Wonders of Ghana

Boti Falls
Boti Falls, Ghana. / Dhizaina1, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

WorldBlue  Highlights

The beauty of this country is known too little – undeservedly. Vigorous and diverse, Ghana offers a variety of amazing natural and man-made heritage values. The most amazing wonders of Ghana are:

  • Historical local architecture. In Ghana are located some of the most interesting Sudano-Sahelian mosques. The best known among them is Larabanga Mosque. Even more interesting are the traditional local shrines with living religious traditions.
  • Historical European architecture. In Ghana are located the oldest European buildings south of the Sahara. Elmina Castle was constructed in 1482, and several more fortresses – in the 16th century.
  • Waterfalls. Although there are not found such giant waterfalls as in Venezuela, Ghana offers a variety of picture-perfect, romantic waterfalls.

Map with the described wonders

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WorldViolet Top 25 wonders of Ghana

Geological wonders

Lake Bosumtwi

Ashanti

The most recent medium-sized impact crater, 10.5 km across, formed 1.07 million years ago. Filled with an 8 km wide lake – the largest natural lake in Ghana. Surrounded by dense rainforest.

Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana with the local wooden boat - padua
Lake Bosumtwi with the local wooden boat – padua / Stig Nygaard, / CC BY 2.0
Wulin Mushroom Rocks

Upper West

Unusual, mushroom-shaped rocks, several meters high.

Kintampo Falls

Brong-Ahafo

Beautiful waterfall with three steps, the tallest step is 25 m high, total height is 70 m.

Kintampo Falls
Kintampo Falls, Ghana. / MUDA7533, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Umbrella Rock at Boti Falls

Eastern (Ghana)

Enormous rock plate on top of another, narrower one. On the top of this formation can stand more than 10 people. A fine view of the surrounding forest.

Umbrella Rock near Boti Falls
Umbrella Rock near Boti Falls, Ghana. / US Peace Corps in Ghana, Wikimedia Commons / public domain
Wli Falls (Agumatsa Falls)

Volta

The tallest waterfall in Ghana. Several steps with a total height of 400 m, the tallest is approximately 70 m tall.

Wli Falls
Wli Falls, Ghana. / Stig Nygaard, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Boti Falls

Eastern (Ghana)

This beautiful waterfall consists of two parallel, vertical plunges that fall directly into a river.

Boti Falls
Boti Falls, Ghana. / Newfoundlandguy, Wikimedia Commons / public domain
Akaah Falls (Akaa Falls)

Eastern (Ghana)

An unusual waterfall with complex morphology, located in the rainforest.

Biological wonders

Oda Big Tree

Eastern (Ghana)

Enormous Cherry Mahogany (Tieghemella heckelii), 66.5 m tall and 3.22 m in diameter (12 m in circumference). Legendary tree.

Archaeological wonders

Mystic Stone in Larabanga

Northern (Ghana)

Ancient sacred place on trans-Sahara route, site of legends.

Larabanga stone, Ghana
Larabanga stone / Sathyan Velumani, / CC BY-SA 3.0

Architecture wonders

Elmina Castle (St. George of the Mine Castle)

Central (Ghana)

The oldest European building below the Sahara. This castle was constructed by the Portuguese in 1482 as the first trading post on the Gulf of Guinea.

Elmina Castle - the oldest European building south of Sahara, Ghana
Elmina Castle – the oldest European building south of Sahara / Francisco Anzola, / CC BY 2.0
Osu Castle (Fort Christiansborg)

Greater Accra

Historical castle, rebuilt several times since the 1660s. For much of its history used as the seat of the government of Ghana. The current building consists of numerous parts built at different times.

Cape Coast Castle

Central (Ghana)

Historical castle, used in the slave trade. The current building was constructed mainly by the British in the 18th century.

Cape Coast Castle
Cape Coast Castle. / David Stanley, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Larabanga Mosque

Northern (Ghana)

Adobe mosque built in 1421.

Larabanga Mosque, Ghana
Larabanga Mosque / aripeskoe2, / CC BY 2.0
Nzulezu (Nzelezu, Nzulezo)

Western (Ghana)

Approximately 400 years old settlement built on stilts in lake Tadane.

Nzulezu (Nzelezu)
Nzulezu (Nzelezu). / Mac-Jordan Degadjor, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Wa Naa Castle

Upper West

Residence of the king of Wala, fine example of mud-brick architecture. The current building was built in the 19th century.

Wa Naa Castle
Wa Naa Castle, Ghana. / Dnshitobu, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort Coenraadsburg (Fort St. Jago)

Central (Ghana)

This fort was constructed by the Dutch in 1652 to protect the trading post of Elmina.

Fort Coenraadsburg (Fort St. Jago)
Fort Coenraadsburg (Fort St. Jago), Ghana. / Edward Kamau, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Nakore Mosque

Upper West

Adobe mosque in traditional style, constructed in the 16th century.

Nakore Mosque
Nakore Mosque, Ghana. / Virtutepetens, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Fort San Sebastian

Western (Ghana)

A fort that was built by the Portuguese in 1523.

Tengzug shrine

Upper East

The best known of the Talensi ancestral shrines. The old rituals take place here up to this day. In the vicinities are located numerous other shrines, as well as unusual natural rock formations, caves. Visitors can enter the shrine only half naked. Some other local shrines have unique architecture.

Tengzug Shrine
Tengzug Shrine, Ghana. / Maarten van der Bent, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
Ussher Fort (Fort Crèvecœur)

Greater Accra

This historical fort was built by the Dutch in 1649, enlarged, and rebuilt in later times.

Banda Nkwanta Mosque

Northern (Ghana)

A spectacular mosque, built from adobe in the 18th century. Unusually tall towers.

Fort Santo Antonio

Western (Ghana)

Portuguese fort, constructed in 1515.

Bole Mosque

Northern (Ghana)

Typical adobe mosque, built in the 17th century. Tall parapets.

Bole Mosque
Bole Mosque, Ghana. / IMB is an organization, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Gwollu Wall

Upper West

Massive wall, built to protect local people from European slave traders in the 19th century.

Okomfo Anokye’s Shrine

Eastern (Ghana)

Shrine of a legendary fetish priest, who lived here in the 18th century. Site of legends, hand and foot imprints in the stone.

WorldYellow Recommended books

The Ghana Reader: History, Culture, Politics


Covering 500 years of Ghana’s history, The Ghana Reader provides a multitude of historical, political, and cultural perspectives on this iconic African nation. Whether discussing the Asante kingdom and the Gold Coast’s importance to European commerce and transatlantic slaving, Ghana’s brief period under British colonial rule, or the emergence of its modern democracy, the volume’s eighty selections emphasize Ghana’s enormous symbolic and pragmatic value to global relations.

Ghana (Bradt Travel Guide)


Bradt’s Ghana is the only dedicated guidebook on the market and the most comprehensive source of travel information on the country, written by Philip Briggs, the leading writer of guidebooks to Africa. Catering for all types of visitors, from bar-hoppers to birdwatchers, and covering everything from Ghana’s 550 km of Atlantic coastline to its remote and sparsely populated northern border, Bradt’s Ghana is the most detailed resource for those who want to explore the country’s wealth of tropical beaches, national parks, forest reserves, cultural sites, and scenic waterfalls.


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