The Kakum Park was established in 1931 as a forest reserve, but it was later recognized as a National Park in 1992. It is located in the Central Region of Ghana and covers an area of 360 square kilometres. The park was named after the Kakum River, whose headwaters are located within its boundaries. The river, along with its tributaries, provides fresh water to Cape Coast and over a hundred other towns and villages in the region.

The famous canopy walk is a thrilling experience for all. This unique trail spans 350 meters and connects seven tree tops, sitting at 130 feet (40 m) in the air. The elevated path provides a bird's-eye view of the tropical forest and allows visitors to discover a variety of wildlife that is often hard to spot from the ground level.

Kakum is the first national park in Ghana created by a local initiative. Kenneth Akuffo Asare, who hails from Akyem Maase in the Eastern Region of Ghana, is credited with constructing the remarkable Kakum National Park. It comprises wire rope, aluminium ladders, wooden planks, and safety netting. To protect the trees, no nails or bolts pierce the bark. In March of 1995, the Park became home to the only canopy walkway on the African continent.

The Kakum National Park in Ghana is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including 266 species of birds and many forest elephants. Other animals in the park include buffalo, civets, Colobus monkeys, red river hogs, giant forest hogs, pangolins, dwarf crocodiles, and North African crested porcupines. The park is also a sanctuary for rare and endangered species such as the Diana monkey, African elephant, giant bongo antelope, and the yellow-backed duiker.

Kakum National Park offers various recreational and educational activities for tourists. Some visitors go hiking, while others research the medicinal properties of trees and observe the shelter provided for animals. Those seeking relaxation can enjoy the cool climate of the forest, while others can embark on elephant tracking within the park.

In March 1995, Kakum National Park became the first African national park to have a canopy walkway. It was later declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

REFERENCE

Information from  https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1396/, https://national-parks.org/ghana/kakum and https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/kakum-national-park.html was used in this story