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Kakum National Park Facts

Kakum National Park Facts
Kakum National Park is a 145 square mile park located in Ghana's central region, notable for having canopy walkways at tree top height that visitors can use to view the park from above. The area was declared a reserve in 1931 after the area was drained, but logging continued until 1989. In 1992 the reserve was re-designated as a national park under the Wildlife Department pushed for the change to help conserve the landscape and wildlife. Kakum National Park is named after Kakum River, which flows via tributaries to the villages and regions nearby.
Interesting Kakum National Park Facts:
Kakum National Park is mainly derived of untouched virgin rainforest. Some trees reach 65 meters in height.
The canopy walkway that Kakum National Park is most famous for is suspended 98 feet above the ground. It passes over seven bridges as it stretches almost 1100 feet through the tree tops.
Kakum National Park is home to at least 300 bird species, and at least 600 butterfly species. A new butterfly species was discovered in the park in 1993.
Some of the most notable bird species include the Senegal parrot, African grey parrot, horn bill species, and the Frazer eagle owl.
Birds that are of concern in terms of global endangerment include the white-breasted guineafowl, green-tailed bristlebill, red-fronted antpecker, yellow-bearded greenbul, yellow-casqued hornbill, brown-cheeked hornbill, copper-tailed glossy starling, and rufous-winged illadopis.
Forest elephants, which are endangered, can be found within Kakum National Park.
There are several endangered species living in Kakum National Park, including the giant bongo antelope, the African elephant, the Diana monkey, and the yellow-backed duiker.
Wildlife that can be found within Kakum National Park includes forest buffalo, forest elephants, cats, civets, pottos, leopards, red river hogs, Demidoff's galago, long-tailed pangolins, giant pangolins, forest squirrels, North African crested porcupines, serrated tortoises, Home's hinged tortoises, monitor lizards, dwark crocodiles, duikers, and a variety of primate species.
One of the features of Kakum National Park is the circular rock located near Aboabo, called the Komfo Boateng's Shrine. It is roughly 330 feet in diameter.
The idea for the canopy walkway was first introduced by Joseph Dudley, who had been hired in 1990 to do a five year management plan for the park.
Two engineers from Vancouver, British Columbia, built the canopy walkway, after designing it with wooden planks, aluminum ladders, safety nets, and wire rope.
Poaching is a threat to Kakum National Park, as evidence of such illegal activity has been found.
Farmers who grow crops in the area around the park build pepper fences in an effort to keep the elephants from stomping on their crops and destroying them.
Management efforts of Kakum National Park have been done well enough that its forest is considered to be the most protected in the country.
Tourism numbers have grown steadily since the park was created. In 1992 there were approximately 2000 visitors. By 2009 there were 135,870.
Kakum National Park is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. The suggestion was made in 2000 by Ghana's Museums and Monuments Board.


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