Things to do in Ghana 🇬🇭 - Insider Secrets

Ghana has long captivated travelers with its energetic culture, warm hospitality, and rich history. But beyond the well-trodden tourist paths lies a treasure trove of authentic experiences that few visitors discover. At SLL Journeys, we've spent years exploring every corner of this incredible country, and we're excited to share our insider secrets with you.

Whether you're an adventure seeker, culture enthusiast, or someone looking to connect deeply with local traditions, these hidden gems will transform your Ghanaian journey into something truly unforgettable.

Discover the Ancient Art of Brass Making in Kumasi

In the heart of Kumasi, the cultural capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, skilled artisans continue a centuries-old tradition of brass casting. Visit the brass makers' workshops where craftsmen use the lost-wax method to create intricate brass weights, sculptures, and ceremonial objects. Watch as molten brass transforms into stunning works of art, and learn about the symbolic meanings behind each piece. This isn't just a shopping opportunity, it doubles as living museum where you can witness techniques passed down through generations.

Pro tip: Visit in the morning when the workshops are most active, and don't be shy about asking questions. The artisans love sharing their craft with genuinely interested visitors.

African Brass Sculpture 

Walk Through Time in The Ewe Kente Weaving Villages

While many travelers know about Kente cloth, few venture to the Ewe Kente weaving villages in the Volta Region where this iconic fabric comes to life. In villages like Agbozume and Kpetoe, you'll hear the rhythmic clacking of wooden looms before you even arrive. Each weaver sits at their loom, their hands moving with practiced precision to create the geometric patterns that make Kente one of Africa's most recognizable textiles.

Unlike the Ashanti Kente from Bonwire, Ewe Kente features unique designs and color combinations, each with its own story and significance. Spend time with master weavers, learn about the meanings behind different patterns, and perhaps even try your hand at the loom.

Image credit: Agotime Kente Festival

Receive Your Ghanaian Name in A Rebirth Ceremony

One of the most profound and personal experiences Ghana offers is participating in a traditional re-naming ceremony. In Ghanaian culture, names carry deep significance, and through our Rebirth ceremony, visitors can receive a Ghanaian name and be symbolically welcomed into the community.

These ceremonies, particularly meaningful for members of the diaspora seeking to reconnect with their African heritage, involve traditional rituals, blessings from elders, and the pouring of libations. You'll learn about naming traditions, the meaning behind your new name, and the responsibilities it carries. This isn't tourism but a spiritual and cultural embrace that creates a lifelong connection to Ghana.

Adowa Dancer from the Ashanti Tribe

Ride the Waves in Busia: Ghana's Surf Paradise

Forget what you think you know about West African beaches. Busua, a laid-back fishing village in the Western Region, boasts consistent waves that attract surfers from around the world. The warm Atlantic waters, friendly local surf culture, and uncrowded breaks make it perfect for both beginners and experienced surfers.

Local surf schools like Sankofa Surf Club, Ahanta Wave, and Mr. Bright's Surfing Ghana offer lessons with patient instructors who know every break along the coast. After a session on the waves, relax on the golden sand, enjoy fresh grilled fish from beachside vendors, and watch fishermen bring in their daily catch using traditional methods unchanged for centuries.

Image credit: Mr. Bright's Surfing

Shape Clay the Traditional Way in Vume

In the village of Vume along the Volta River, women have been making pottery using traditional methods for centuries. Unlike the wheel-thrown pottery common elsewhere, Vume potters use the coiling technique, building up vessels ring by ring, then smoothing and shaping them entirely by hand.

Watch as skilled potters transform simple clay into cooking pots, water jars, and decorative pieces, firing them in open-air kilns fueled by palm kernel shells. The process connects you to pottery-making methods unchanged since ancient times. The riverside setting, the community atmosphere, and the chance to try creating your own pot make this an unforgettable cultural immersion.

Image credit: Vume Pottery Makers

Conquer Amedzofe Mountain & Canopy Walkway

Standing at 750 meters above sea level, Amedzofe Mountain in the Volta Region offers Ghana's highest accessible peak and arguably its most breathtaking views. The hike through lush vegetation rewards you with panoramic vistas stretching across the Volta Region and into neighboring Togo.

The mountain holds spiritual significance for the local community, and at the summit, you'll find a cross that has become a pilgrimage site. But the adventure doesn't end at the summit.

The Amedzofe Canopy Walkway, suspended high above the forest floor, offers a thrilling perspective few travelers experience. Walk among the treetops on this 300-meter suspension bridge, swaying gently as you take in bird's-eye views of the surrounding forest canopy. The walkway provides unique opportunities for birdwatching and photography, and the gentle thrill of being suspended 30 meters above the ground adds an element of adventure to the natural beauty.

The Mt. Gemi peak. Image credit: Amedzofe Eco-Tourism Center

Enjoy A West African Safari at Mole National Park

Ghana's largest wildlife reserve, Mole National Park, offers one of West Africa's best safari experiences. Spread across 4,840 square kilometers of pristine Guinea savannah, Mole is home to over 90 mammal species and 300 bird species. Elephants are the stars here, you can often spot them from the park's famous cliffside viewing deck at Zaina Lodge.

Join guided walking safaris at dawn or dusk when animals are most active. You might encounter antelope, warthogs, baboons, and if you're lucky, lions or leopards. The park offers an authentic West African safari experience without the crowds of East African reserves, making it feel like you have the wilderness to yourself.

Elephant spotted at Mole National Park

Paragliding Adventures above the Kwahu Plateau

Every Easter, the Kwahu Plateau transforms into Ghana's adventure sports capital, but savvy travelers visit year-round for some of West Africa's best paragliding. Launch from the plateau's edge and soar above the lush landscape, floating on thermal currents with views that stretch for miles.

Enjoy this experience from September to November with Peaks and Valleys Outdoors, a professional operator offering instruction and equipment, making this extreme sport accessible to adventurers of all levels. Whether you're an experienced paraglider or trying tandem flying for the first time. The sensation of flying over Ghana's lush hills is indescribable.

Paragliding over the Kwahu Plateau

Master Ghanaian Cuisine with Ghana Food Movement

True cultural connection happens through food, and there's no better way to understand Ghana than by learning to cook its dishes. The Ghana Food Movement in Accra offers culinary classes that go far beyond recipes. You'll visit local markets to source ingredients, learn about the cultural significance of different dishes, and discover traditional cooking techniques.

From pounding fufu to preparing groundnut soup, making kelewele, or crafting the perfect jollof rice, these hands-on classes reveal the soul of Ghanaian cuisine. You'll leave not just with recipes, but with stories, techniques, and a deeper appreciation for the role food plays in Ghanaian life.

Nima Spice Market

Feel the Power of Wli Waterfalls

Wli Falls (pronounced "vlee"), the highest waterfall in West Africa, cascades 80 meters down a sheer cliff face in the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary. The hike through the forest to reach the falls is an adventure itself, with butterflies, birds, and fruit bats accompanying your journey.

Swimming in the pool beneath the falls is an exhilarating experience—the force of the water pounding down creates a natural jacuzzi effect, and the cool mountain water refreshes body and spirit. Visit during the rainy season (April to October) when the falls are at their most spectacular, with water thundering down in full force. For the truly adventurous, a more challenging hike leads to the upper falls, where you'll find yourself practically alone with this natural wonder.

Wli Lower Falls, Agumatsa

Visit the Fugu Weavers of Northern Ghana

Fugu, the hand-woven cotton smock worn across Northern Ghana, is more than clothing—it's a symbol of identity, status, and cultural pride. In towns like Yendi and Tamale, traditional weavers create these distinctive garments using narrow strip looms, producing fabric strips that are then sewn together in intricate patterns.

Visit fugu-making workshops to observe the entire process, from spinning cotton thread to the final embroidered designs. Each pattern and style carries meaning, with variations indicating region, status, or occasion. Commission your own custom fugu and experience the pride of wearing an authentic Ghanaian garment created specifically for you.

Traditional Fugu Weaving

Connect with Sacred Monkeys in Tafi Atome

At Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, the relationship between humans and wildlife takes on a spiritual dimension. The local community has protected Mona monkeys for generations, believing them to be sacred. This genuine conservation success story allows visitors to walk among free-roaming monkeys in their natural forest habitat.

Unlike typical zoo encounters, here the monkeys are wild but habituated to human presence. Feed them bananas, observe their social behaviors, and learn about the traditional beliefs that have protected them for centuries. The sanctuary demonstrates how conservation and culture can work together, and your visit directly supports both the community and wildlife protection efforts.

Monkey at Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

Stand at Ghana's Closest Point to the Equator: Cape Three Points

Cape Three Points marks the southernmost tip of Ghana and the closest point in Ghana to the equator. This stunning peninsula, where the Atlantic's waves crash against rocky outcrops, remains blissfully undeveloped and rarely visited. The historic lighthouse, built in 1875, still guides ships along this crucial maritime route.

The journey to reach Cape Three Points is an adventure itself, passing through coconut groves and fishing villages. Once there, you'll find pristine beaches, dramatic coastal scenery, and the powerful sense of standing at the edge of a continent.

View of  Cape Three Points, Western Region, Ghana

Experience Life at Nzulezu Stilt Village

Nzulezu is one of Ghana's most remarkable settlements located in the Western Region, this UNESCO-listed village has existed on Lake Tadane for over 500 years. Every building, from homes to the church and school, stands on wooden stilts above the water.

One can access Nzulezu by a canoe journey through mangrove-lined channels, with your local guide sharing stories of how the village's ancestors were led to this location by a snail (nzule means "surface of water" in the local Nzema language). Once there, walk along wooden planks connecting the houses, meet residents who've adapted their entire lives to this aquatic environment, and learn how they fish, farm, and maintain their unique way of life.

Life at Nzulezu Stilt Village 

At SLL Journeys, we specialize in crafting personalized itineraries that go beyond the surface. We connect you with local artisans, traditional practitioners, and communities who welcome you not as tourists, but as guests and learners. Our deep knowledge of Ghana's hidden corners ensures you'll experience the country's true essence while supporting local economies and cultural preservation.

Ghana is calling you to discover its secrets. The question is: are you ready to answer?

Ready to explore the real Ghana? Click here to schedule a Discovery Chat with a Guest Experience Director to design your bespoke Ghanaian adventure. Let us share our insider knowledge and create a journey that connects you with the heart and soul of this remarkable country.