Tourists at Kakum National Park Cape Coast
The Kakum National Park is a semi-deciduous rain forest that covers 360 sqr km, north of Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.
The park which is now a center of tourist attraction was formally managed by the Forestry Department for timber extraction.
Thanks to the Scientific Research Group, that carried wildlife research and the found the place quite satisfactorily for tourism. Hence, timber extraction came to an end.
Beautiful fauna likely to be seen are elephants, bongos, duikers, antelopes and a wide variety of birds. Natural scientists in the country counted close to four-hundred different species of butterfly, with the discovery of two, that can't be found in any part of the world.
Be part of those walking through the forest on the Kuntan trail. The trail leads one to the park of traditional medicines, trees, and plants. Some of the trees found are the Kuntan tree.
The skin of the tree is used to treat fractured bones. Its biological name is "Uapacca Guiniensis". Others are Kaku, the wood used for constructing railway lines and "Bediwunia"(incest) for pomade and fumigation.
The two-kilometer guided walk through the park is painstakingly explained by the guides, the significance of each tree as you walk through the trail. When tired and exhausted, please do not be worried about where to relax.
There are two rest points spaciously built and designed with some of the woods from the forest. One important factor is, no matter how beautiful one finds anything on the trail, it is forbidden to be taken out. Due to the explanation by the guides to the tourists, the trail walk usually takes about two hours.
At the administration block, the skull of the elephant, the horn of the bongo and various samples of species of butterfly are beautifully displayed. Available for tourists are restaurants and the African gift shop, which has indigenous artworks.
Going to the Kakum National Park is not a difficult drive. Straight ahead after Jukwa, a small rural place, the giant signboard reads "You are welcome to Kakum National Park."