Bunso Eco Park

An ecotourism site and an ideal place for adventure, picnics and relaxation located in the Abuakwa South municipality of the Eastern region of Ghana. The site has over 600 species of trees used for various medicinal purposes.

About

Bunso, just two hours from Accra, offers visitors a combination of semi-deciduous native forest and species introduced to Ghana by the Plant Genetic Resources Centre of Bunso, which uses the facility for research. The site contains over 110 species of birds, 30 species of butterflies and a herb garden with over 40 species. Tour the arboretum with a guide to learn about the native and exotic plants, including their medicinal properties for traditional healing, or go on an indigenous foods tour to learn the many ways in which local people harvest food from local plants. Guests can also experience village life and cocoa farming on a tour of the nearby village.

What to See & Do

Beyond being an eco-park where you can embark on first adventure hike or visit the bamboo cathedral, the park has a

1. Tree-top canopy walkway

Experience the walk on ropes suspending high in this forest area and get a good view of the several tree species from up high. This is the second highest canopy walkway built after Kakum.

2. Children’s playground/walkway

This child-friendly park has a purpose-built canopy walkway to bring out the adventure in children. Do not leave the children out of your trip to this park.

3. Butterfly/Bird Sanctuary

With a wide variety of butterflies, a walk through the park’s forest offers one the opportunity to discover several species of butterflies and, at times, birds. (The best time to see butterflies is before 8 am.)

4. Horse-riding

One of the latest additions to the park is two horses that offer patrons the opportunity to ride through the park.

5. Zipline

Pump up some adrenaline by riding down the 50-metre-long, newly constructed zipline. The unique thing about the zipline is that entry to and from the zipline is via a suspended rope walkway.

Rates

Getting there (location)

Bunso Eco Park (Bunso Arboretum) is located at Bunso, Eastern Region. Just 4.1km from Bunso junction (Linda Dor) on the Accra-Kumasi Road.

Contact:

Call: 0507274677

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History

The 40-acre forest reserve that hosts the arboretum, which belonged to the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, was leased to a mining firm in the early twentieth century for surface mining but was later given to another company known as the African Products Department for rubber and cocoa plantations in 1917. 

After the company left, two British people bought the park, on which they built a guest house in 1935. The guesthouse is currently serving as the official residence for the vice chancellor of the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies, an institution established by the Okyehene, Amoatia Ofori Opanin II. 

In 1946, the facility was then acquired by the Plant Genetic Resource and Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which has been managing it ever since. 

The forest reserve has some of the rare tree species, including Garcinia kola, known locally as twepea, reputed for its health benefits. Garcinia kola is said to be used in many tropical countries to fight infectious diseases and is also known to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. 

Other tropical tree species found at the centre include Okure, mostly used for dugout canoes, as well as the Alpha and Omega trees used for the local sponge (sapowie).