Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary

The Owabi reservoir was built to supply Kumasi with water, and the forest protecting its catchment became a wildlife sanctuary, later designated a Ramsar wetland - the only inland Ramsar site in Ghana. It is the nearest patch of protected forest to Ghana's second city and the easiest birding site in the region, with a list of over one hundred and fifty species including herons, kingfishers, hornbills and forest species, along with mona monkeys and the more secretive bushbuck and bushpig. Trails run through the forest and along the reservoir edge, with a small visitor centre at the entrance. It is a half day from Kumasi and quiet on weekdays.

What you'll find

• The reservoir - the city's water-supply lake at the centre of the sanctuary.
• Waterbirds - herons, kingfishers and waders along the shore.
• Forest trails - the walking routes through the catchment woodland.
• Mona monkeys - the troops in the forest sections.

When to go

November to March in the dry season for easier trails and concentrated wildlife. Early morning is best for birds. The rains make trails muddy and the reservoir edge difficult.

What to expect

Management and facilities have been under-resourced and the visitor centre is minimal. Trails are poorly marked and a guide helps. Encroachment and pollution have affected parts of the catchment. Wildlife beyond birds is limited.

Nearby

Kumasi lies southeast; Bobiri forest is east of the city.

Key facts