Ghana, a nation renowned for its copious quantities of gold, sits on the West African coast with its upper limits extending just shy of the Sahara desert. This unique location contributes to a rich biodiversity, making it a fascinating destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
The Accra Safari Experience offers a perfect blend of adventure and education, highlighting the beauty and diversity of Ghana’s wildlife.
Ghana is home to diverse ecosystems, which are inhabited by 221 amphibian and reptile species, 724 bird species, and 225 mammalian species.
Of the bird species found in Ghana, about 66% live in the country all the time while the others are seasonal visitors. At least 20 species of endemic or near-endemic species of butterflies live in the country.
While you can visit animals in zoos in Ghana, like the Accra Zoo and the Kumasi Zoo, you may also want to see them in their natural surroundings.
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Accra Zoo: A Closer Encounter
Accra Zoological Gardens is located in Ghana’s capital city, within the only remaining forest belt of the urban area, known as the Achimota Forest, proposed to be upgraded into an eco-park under ongoing plans. Here, the experience shifted from observing animals in their natural environment to engaging with them in a more controlled setting.
Walking through the zoo, I was drawn to the primate section, where a family of chimpanzees entertained visitors with their antics. The zoo also houses a variety of other species, each with its own story and significance.
In 2005, West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) constructed an Endangered Primate Breeding Centre (EPBC) on the zoo grounds.
Mr Addah and the entire Accra Zoo staff have been actively involved in the confiscation and rescue of orphaned monkeys, particularly the Endangered white-naped mangabey and the Critically Endangered Roloway monkey.
Since 2014, the EPBC has doubled in size, with new enclosures that are larger and taller.
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Kumasi Zoological Gardens is located in the heart of Kumasi, 250 km from Ghana’s capital, Accra, in the Ashanti Region.
Between the end of 2017 and early 2018, WAPCA constructed a 0.4-hectare forested enclosure within the walls of Kumasi Zoo. This enclosure allows the mangabeys to exhibit natural behaviours, with opportunities to forage on the forest floor and climb high into the canopy.
In 2018, a group of seven mangabeys was transferred from the Endangered Primate Breeding Centre (EPBC) in Accra to the new enclosure.
After a short period of habituation, the group entered their 0.4-hectare forested home.
Our main priority is maintaining high welfare standards for the primates at both sites.
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As a wildlife photographer, I appreciated the opportunity to capture these animals up close, documenting their unique features and behaviors.
Exploring Ghana's National Parks
If you want to see wildlife in Ghana, visit the country’s different ecosystems.
- Mole National Park - In Northern Ghana, Mole National Park is a great place to go hiking, where you may see many examples of native animals, including hippos, buffalo, elephants, lions, and leopards. Yes, there are elephants in Ghana. While they live in many different places, the best place to see elephants in Ghana is at Mole National Park.
- Bui National Park - The Black Volta River, which is home to a large herd of hippos, bisects this national park. You are also very likely to see other native animals, like antelope, leopards, and monkeys.
- Boin Tano Forest Reserve - The swampy area created by the Bisao and Tano rivers at this reserve is a great place to see endangered yellow-backed duiker and ursine colobus primates. This reserve’s bush-filled areas are also a fantastic place to see many of Ghana’s endangered birds, including white-breasted guinea fowls and the yellow-bearded greenbuls, along with other wildlife.
- Nini Suhien National Park and Ankasa Resources Reserve - Managed as one unit, this area in southern Ghana is a great place to see African elephants and endangered Diana monkeys. Look in the bush at this park and reserve to see how many of the 260 bird species known to have visited this park you can spot.
- Kakum National Park - The 1,150-foot-high Kakum Canopy Walkway is a fantastic place to spot Diana monkeys, yellow-backed duikers, red river hogs, and African elephants.
As the sun began its ascent over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, I found myself on the road to Shai Hills Resource Reserve, just an hour away from the bustling city of Accra.
Upon arrival, the reserve greeted me with a symphony of sounds - the rustling of leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the chatter of primates.
The reserve, though modest in size, is a sanctuary for a variety of wildlife. The highlight, however, was the ostrich, its feathers shimmering in the morning light as it strutted with an air of regal confidence.
Endangered Species and Conservation
There are many types of endangered animals in Ghana, and the number continues to grow as humans encroach on more native habitats regularly.
Other animals are poached, and their body parts are sold for use in traditional medicine.
The country is home to five endangered mammals, 11 vulnerable species and 14 near-threatened species.
While shrews and bats make up many of these endangered animals, there are also other threatened species.
Here are a few examples of endangered species in Ghana:
- African white-bellied pangolin: Also known as the tree pangolin (Phataginus tricuspid), this elusive mammal looks something like a sentient pineapple, with its pale three-pointed scales which seem to slightly extend outwards. Found in Western, Central, and Eastern Africa, it prefers humid heavily forested areas.
- Baer’s wood mouse: A tiny rodent with light brown fur, this wood mouse also has large dark eyes, and can be found in neighboring Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. Not much is known about the diminutive critter although scientists agree it is threatened by its shrinking habitat.
- Big-eyed forest treefrog: This medium-sized, arboreal amphibian is characterized by light brown skin, bulging brown eyes, and large dark pupils.
- Giant pangolin: The giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) is one of this west African nation’s rarest, and most elusive creatures. Found along the heavily forested regions close to the Atlantic coast, the largest of all pangolin species can also be found in Central and Eastern Africa. The insectivore which spends its spare time breaking open termite mounds and extracting proteinous goodness thanks to a sticky tongue, is capable of measuring 16 inches in length. Males of the species are capable of growing to 4.6 feet and weighing up to 72 lbs. Wildlife experts aren’t too sure just how many of these scaly mammals are left in the wild.
- African forest elephant: Ghana’s largest animal is the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) which can be found in its deciduous evergreen forests. Like their larger relatives, the African savannah elephant, they possess two protuberances at the end of their trunks. Like their southern cousins, they are also highly sociable and can form groups as large as 20 individuals comprising of mothers, calves, and youngsters, under the sage direction of the family matriarch. Unlike their cousins, their tusks are straight rather than curved and point downwards. Both male and female African elephants have tusks. In Asian elephants, only the males have tusks.
It was a reminder of the delicate balance of nature, a theme that resonates deeply with my passion for wildlife conservation.
This journey reinforced my belief in the importance of sustainable travel. By supporting initiatives like the Shai Hills Resource Reserve and the Accra Zoo, we contribute to the preservation of these vital ecosystems and the protection of endangered species.
Ghana's Most Fascinating Endangered Animals You May Not Be Aware Of (pt1)
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