Bui National Park

Bui covers savanna woodland along the Black Volta where the river cuts through the Bui gorge, and it holds one of only two hippopotamus populations in Ghana along with roan antelope, baboons, warthog and a long bird list. The park changed substantially with the completion of the Bui hydroelectric dam in 2013, which flooded a portion of the park including part of the gorge and altered the river regime, a trade-off between power generation and habitat that is discussed openly by park staff. River trips run to look for hippos, best when water is low and animals are concentrated, and drives and walks cross the savanna sections. Facilities are basic and visitor numbers very low.

What you actually see

• Hippos on the river - the pods watched from boats in the dry season.
• The Black Volta - the river and the remaining gorge sections.
• Savanna wildlife - roan antelope, baboons and warthog on the plains.
• The reservoir - the water impounded behind the dam.

When to go

December to April when water is low and hippos concentrate in pools; the rains disperse them and make tracks difficult. Early morning and late afternoon are best for wildlife. Heat in March and April is severe.

Honest expectations

Part of the park and gorge is under the reservoir. Facilities are minimal with basic accommodation and no supplies nearby. Access roads are rough. Hippo sightings depend on water levels and are not guaranteed.

Nearby

Wenchi lies south; the Bono and Savannah regional boundary runs through the park.