Central and Western Region
The central region of Ghana borders the Gulf of Guinea and is home to ancient castles and forts that were often used during the slave trade as holding areas for human cargo. Cape Coast Castle, built in the 16th-century and later reconstructed and enlarged, served as the seat of British administration in the then Gold Coast until 1877 (when administration moved to Christiansborg Castle in Accra). Further west is the Castle of Elmina (‘the mine’). Elmina was the first Portuguese settlement in Ghana. This huge 15th-century fort, that largely remains intact, is the location of one of the first Catholic churches in sub-Saharan Africa. Fort St Jago was primarily used as a military base and stands on a hill commanding fabulous views of both Elmina and the Atlantic Ocean. Cultural shows are often performed at the castles and guided tours are available. Fort St Jago and Cape Coast Castle have both been declared World Heritage Monuments by UNESCO.
Located 20km from Cape Coast, the park is a protected conservation area, following governmental concerns to promote ecotourism. Wildlife that can be seen includes elephants, bongo antelopes, monkeys, over 800 species of rare birds, butterflies, amphibians and reptiles. Visitors can view wildlife at tree canopy level from the 333m tree-top walkway.
There are many popular beach resorts along the western coast. At Dixcove there is a fish market and a 17th-century British fort. Nearby Busua is a tropical beach with palms and spectacular Atlantic breakers. However, as with much of the Ghanaian coast, swimming is unsafe due to the treacherous undertow of the waves. In this area there are to be found small rocky inlets that are safe for swimming.
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