About

Aburi, a forty-five minutes drive from Accra, is located on the Akwapim-Togo Range of Ghana. The Aburi Botanical Gardens is located in this peaceful environment with its mountainous area serving as one of the finest destination to enjoy a cool breeze. Its total land area is about one hundred and sixty (160) acres with only three (3) acres developed. The rest of the land was used as a botanical reserve.

History

During the British Colonial era, the House of Commons in London in the year 1842 suggested that a garden should be established on the mountains of Aburi but the idea was discarded. In 1865, another attempt to establish the garden was unsuccessful because those in authority did not see the need to spend so much in creating a garden far away from home. In March 1890, the idea was accepted under the supervision of a German Basel Missionary and the governorship of His Excellency, Sir W. Brandford-Griffith. Some hectares of land were cleared for the start of the gardens. In that same year, Mr. William Crowther (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) was appointed the first curator of the garden. His grand ideas to transform the parcel of land into a famous garden resulted in the cultivation of 6.8 hectares of land by 1902. His application of botany, an area that he had specialized in as a student could clearly be seen with the demarcation of the land into three distinct plots for the cultivation of three groups of plants: economic plants, botanical specimen and decorative plants.

The early toils of the forbearers have not gone to waste since today at Aburi stands a beautiful botanical garden that is among the 1800 of such kinds in the world with the primary purpose of preserving and conserving what is left of the earth’s rare plants species.

What to do

• Tour around the gardens to know about the origin, age and medicinal properties of plants in the gardens.

• The main entrance welcoming with the palm walk comprising of an avenue of elegant palm (Roystonea regia) of about 274 meters long to the car park.

Some other attractions at the Aburi Botanical Gardens:

• The Bush House,
• The Rock Garden,
• The Pergola or Lovers lane,
• The Ficus tree,
• The retired helicopter
• School of horticulture.

Getting there

Aburi is about 30 Km away from Accra, and can be reached via a modern dual-carry way.

By public transport – Mini-Bus or TroTro can be boarded at Tema Station in Accra central or at Odawna station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle or at Madina.

Accommodation close by

Peduase Hills Villa

Awo Denkyira Guesthouse

Hillburi

Peduase Valley Resort

Nearby Attraction

Aburi ATV Quad Biking

Adom Falls

Tsenku Waterfalls

Opening Hours

Opens daily from 8:30am to 4:00pm

Entrance Fees

Ghanaians Currency in Ghana Cedi

Adults – 5.00

Tertiary – 3.00

Children Below 12yrs – 2.00

Students – 2.00

Non-Ghanaians

Adults – 10.00

Childrens Below 12yrs – 3.00

Both Ghanaians and Non-Ghanaians

Religious Group – 5.00