Sport & Activities
Wildlife
Compared to other African countries, Ghana’s national parks and game reserves are small, and relatively few tourists visit them. The country’s newest national park is the Kakum Nature Reserve which, in addition to animal species such as monkeys, antelopes and water buffalo, has an aerial walkway built through the rainforest canopy offering treetop views. Guided tours leave twice daily. Safaris are available in all of Ghana’s game reserves, including the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bia National Park, the Bui National Park and the Mole Game Reserve, all of which are also good options for hiking and exploring the savannah and rainforest. For further information, see the Resorts & Excursions section.
Watersports
Although Ghana’s coast offers miles of sandy beaches, strong currents and tides can make bathing quite dangerous. Near Accra there are three swimming pools within yards of the surf. Ada, at the mouth of the River Volta, also offers safe swimming, although it is not advisable to swim upstream. Visitors should also make enquiries locally as there may be some risk of bilharzia. For those in search of sailing or water-skiing, there are numerous centres with good facilities, particularly on Lake Volta, which has a yacht club at Akosombo, and at Ada. Another exhilarating experience is to be taken out over the surf in a local fishing boat. Sport fishing for barracuda is popular. The best spots for surfing are at Fete, Dixcove (both west of Accra) and Kokrobite (16km/10 miles from Accra).
Other
Ghanaians are keen footballers, tennis players and boxers. Another popular sport is horse racing, which takes place at the Accra racecourse every Saturday. There are golf courses at Accra, Achimota, Kumasi and Tema.
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