Ghana Day Trip Planner: Kakum, Aburi, Shai Hills
Day trips in Ghana, sorted by travel time
How far you can go in a day depends on traffic as much as distance. Accra’s congestion can add hours, so the best day trips are those with a short first leg, and the longest ones deserve an overnight. Figures are in cedis (GH₵); the rate was about 11.7 per US$ on 1 October 2026 and shifts, so treat dollar equivalents as approximate.
Under 90 minutes from Accra
Aburi Botanical Gardens sit about 35 km north on the Akuapem ridge, roughly an hour away, where the air is cooler. Established in 1890, they have palm avenues and spice trees, and entry is about GH₵20. The Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm at Mampong, tied to the 1879 planting of Ghana’s first cocoa, is nearby with entry around GH₵30.
Shai Hills Resource Reserve lies about 50 km north-east, around 70 minutes by road. Expect olive baboons, kob antelope, granite hills and caves linked to the Shai people. Adults pay GH₵70 and a vehicle GH₵20. Information is available from the Wildlife Division at fcghana.org .
A long day: Kakum
The canopy walkway at Kakum, at 333 m with 7 bridges and a height of up to 27 m, takes about four hours to reach from Accra. A private car for the day is commonly quoted at about GH₵1,500 to GH₵2,200. By coach, Intercity STC reaches Cape Coast in 3.5 to 4.5 hours for about GH₵90 to GH₵130 (stc.gov.gh ). Leave at dawn, because guided groups run from 06:00 to 16:00 and the entry price is shown at the gate. Compare Kakum day tours on Viator .
From Kumasi: Lake Bosomtwe
A meteorite crater lake about 30 km south-east of Kumasi, Bosomtwe is sacred to the Ashanti and is reached in about an hour. Walk the crater rim or lunch at a lakeside lodge.
By air: Mole from Tamale
The route to Mole starts with a flight, never a drive from Accra: Accra to Tamale takes about an hour, then you drive about 2.5 hours. A day visit from Tamale is possible if you leave early; entry costs GH₵60 and each guided walk hour GH₵20 per person, with armed rangers. Larabanga Mosque is on the way. The US advises reconsidering travel to parts of northern Ghana, including areas of the Savannah Region; check travel.state.gov and the FCDO page for Ghana first. An overnight is more comfortable.
Safety and paperwork
Open-coast beaches face the Atlantic, where rip currents and powerful waves cause drownings every year; a hotel pool or sheltered lagoon is the safer choice for weaker swimmers. Get malaria advice from a doctor or travel clinic before departure; the risk covers the whole country, including the coast and Accra.
Paperwork comes first: UK and US passport holders must hold a visa, requested through the government’s e-visa site, evisa.immigration.gov.gh , which shows the current fee. Carry your yellow fever certificate, because it is required and otherwise you may be turned back or vaccinated at the airport. Cedis in cash cover most gates and street food, mobile money is common, and cards work at larger Accra hotels and restaurants.
Verdict: choose Aburi plus Shai Hills for an easy start, and treat Kakum as a separate early start. Compare with the multi-day trips page or the 2-day itinerary .