Coastal Landscapes and Fort History

The Central Region can be read through its changing landscapes: coastal plains lie in the south, while gently rolling, forested hills stretch farther north. In Senya Beraku, Fort Good Hope stands on a promontory near a bay, overlooking a quiet beach lined with coconut palms. Here, the coastal landscape and the history of the fort come together in a shared view of the region.

The Dutch built Fort Good Hope in 1715 to take part in the trade in gold, ivory and enslaved people in the inland Kingdom of Akyem. The fort’s coastal location is thus linked to a history of trade that explicitly points inland. In Apam, Fort Patience is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions”; Fort William in Anomabu is also part of this property. The UNESCO property’s name includes not only the Central Region but also Volta, Greater Accra and the Western Regions, making the designation’s broader regional scope clear. Fort Good Hope is identified by its year of construction and its purpose in trade; Patience and William are also distinguished by their UNESCO status.

Rainforest in the Kakum Conservation Area

A different kind of landscape can be found in the Kakum Conservation Area. It consists mostly of rainforest and comprises Kakum National Park and the Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve. Together, the two form a national park and resource reserve area of about 350 km² in the moist evergreen forest zone, designated in 1991. Kakum National Park has various trails and guided walks through the rainforest.

An inventory of Kakum and the Assin Attandanso Reserve lists around 40 species of large mammals and about 200 bird species. Mammals include elephants, bongo antelopes and red river hogs; seven primate species and four squirrel species are also listed. Among the birds, the inventory names five hornbill species, Fraser’s eagle-owl, and grey and Senegal parrots.

The years also mark different chapters: 1715 represents the construction of Fort Good Hope, while 1991 marks the designation of the combined national park and resource reserve. The dates therefore refer to two different aspects of the region: the history of a fort and the protection of a forest area.

Festivals in Saltpond and Elmina

Festivals also give the Central Region a rhythm through the year. In Saltpond, Odambea is celebrated on the last Saturday in August and reflects the region’s historical migration patterns. Edina Buronya, a local Christmas-like festival in Elmina, takes place on the first Thursday of the new year. The two occasions differ both in timing—late summer and the beginning of the year—and in their cultural associations as described here.

For travel planning, the festival dates differ from the nature activities in Kakum National Park: Odambea and Edina Buronya are tied to specific calendar dates, while the various trails and guided walks offer an activity in the rainforest. If you are travelling specifically for a festival, check the relevant date in advance.

Discover more destinations: Abura Asebu Kwamankese, Oduponkpehe, Elmina, Biriwa, Mankessim, Saltpond, Ajumako, Agona Swedru, Assin Manso, Apam, Winneba, Moree, Buduburam.

For the broader travel overview: Ghana.