Must See

Accra

Accra hosts a celebration of Ghanaian art, with a large collection housed in the National Museum. The Centre for National Culture is an art centre and craft market, and visitors can see the creation of arts and crafts and buy the finished product. The Makola Market is another bustling market selling crafts and other goods, and is attended by traders from surrounding villages. Other attractions include the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum (a splendidly adorned monument to the first President), the National Theatre and Independence Square, which is dominated by the Independence Arch and the Memorial of the Unknown Soldier.

Aburi Botanical Gardens

These gardens were planted by British naturalists in colonial days and have a fine collection of sub-tropical plants, including the 'monkey pot' tree in which poor ancestors were said to be trapped.

Central Region

On the border with the Gulf of Guinea, this area is home to ancient castles and forts - holding areas, it is thought, for those caught in the ancient slave trade. Cape Coast Castle was built in the 16th century and remained the seat of the British administration in the Gold Coast until the late nineteenth century.

Kakum National Park

Conservation area for elephants, antelope, monkeys, 800 species of rare bird, butterflies, amphibians and reptiles. Visitors can walk in the canopy, 333 metres above ground and stay in a tree house.

Kumasi

The ancient capital of the Ashanti civilisation. The Manhyia Palace complex consists of the old palace, the new palace (1970), the King's courts, the Queen Mother's Palace, Secretariats and an Institute of Ashanti Studies. Other highlights include:

• Centre for National Culture
• The Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
• Kumasi Fort & Military Museum
• Kejetia Market
• Kumasi Zoo

Anokyekrom is a weekly cultural spectacle, which includes dancing, drumming, gospel, choral music, drama and poetry recitals, and takes place every Saturday afternoon to early evening. Visitors are expected to join in the dancing.

Mole National Park

170 km west of Tamale in the West Gonja District, is the Mole National Park, the largest of Ghana's National Parks and home to elephants, antelopes, hartebeests, waterbucks, buffalo, warthogs, lions, leopards, hyenas and various primates. Visitors can explore either on foot or 4-wheel drive vehicle, but must always be accompanied by a guide.