The hook
A rare surviving tract of West African rainforest where a series of rope-and-plank bridges are strung between the treetops, letting you walk high above the forest floor among the birds and the canopy.
01Why it's worth it
Much of West Africa's original rainforest has been cleared, which makes Kakum, a protected block of lush tropical forest a short drive inland from Ghana's historic coast, a valuable refuge. Its signature attraction is the canopy walkway, one of the first of its kind in Africa: a chain of narrow suspension bridges hung between tall emergent trees, up to around forty metres above the ground, that lets you stroll through the treetops for a thrilling bird's-eye view over the forest, at eye level with the canopy where much of the wildlife lives. It is an accessible, family-friendly adventure (with a wobble that tests those wary of heights), best done early in the morning when the forest is coolest and most active and the crowds thinnest, giving the best chance of birds, butterflies, and the calls of the forest. Ground trails add walks for those who want them, and the forest shelters shy monkeys, forest elephants, and abundant birdlife, though the larger animals are rarely seen. It makes an easy, refreshing natural counterpoint to the heavy history of the nearby slave-trade castles.
02How to experience it
Come early for the canopy walkway to beat the heat, crowds, and to catch the birds; the walk itself takes under an hour. Add a guided ground trail for a deeper forest experience. It pairs naturally with the Cape Coast and Elmina castles nearby for a full day on the coast.