Visiting Aburi Botanical Gardens should be one of the must-do’s on your Ghana travel itinerary.
With its mix of indigenous and exotic trees, the 19th-century Aburi Botanical Gardens is a popular day trip in Ghana. If you are planning a visit, use this travel guide to help you make the most of your time.
WoW Contents At A Glance
1. Where is Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi Botanical Gardens is situated in Aburi, a small town in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It is about an hour’s drive north of Accra, the capital of Ghana. Aburi’s location in the green Akuapem Hills has long been favoured as a serene escape from the capital. Thanks to an altitude of around 450m, Aburi enjoys a relatively cool and breezy climate. The botanical gardens remain its main attraction today. In clear weather, the bird’s eye views back to Accra can be awesome.
2. History of Aburi Botanical Gardens
The botanical gardens have a history going back to colonial times. The Akuapem Hills, favoured for its cool climate and scarcity of malaria in comparison to the coast, were one of the first parts of the Ghanaian hinterlands to be settled by Europeans. In the mid 19th century, Basel missions were founded in Aburi, Akropong, Abetifi and other hill towns nearby. Some years later, in 1875, colonisers established a sanatorium on the former site of a Basel mission in Aburi for officials based in Accra.
In 1890, the land around the sanatorium was cleared to make way for Aburi Botanical Gardens. The first curator was William Crowther, a student at Royal Botanic Gardens (now Kew Gardens) in Richmond, London. The botanical gardens played a pivotal role in encouraging the production of cocoa and rubber in 1890s Gold Coast. For reference to those who may not know, “Gold Coast” was Ghana’s name under British colonisation until independence in 1957.
WoW Tip: Aburi has risen in popularity in recent years among African American and Caribbean diasporas since Rita Marley traced her husband Bob Marley’s roots to Konkonoru, a district on the southern outskirts of town.
3. Why Visit Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi Botanical Gardens is one of only five botanic gardens in Ghana. If you like superlatives, you’ll enjoy the fact that it is the oldest and biggest botanic gardens in Ghana.
The other botanic gardens in Ghana are the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Botanic Garden in Kumasi, the University of Ghana Botanical Gardens in Accra, the University of Cape Coast Botanic Garden in Cape Coast and the Bunso Arboretum in Bunso.
4. How to get to Aburi Botanical Gardens
Aburi is easy to access by public transport. Regular trotros ply the Accra to Aburi route from Madina Station. You can also access Aburi via ride hailing apps like Uber and Bolt from Accra. Be sure to make prior arrangements for your return before setting off.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Region, there are regular trotros connecting towns like Mampong, Adukrom and Mamfe to Aburi. For the most comfortable way to arrive, opt for private transportation.
5. Entrance/gate fee for Aburi Botanical Gardens
The admission fee to visit Aburi Botanical Gardens is GH¢5 (Five Ghanaian Cedis) for a Ghanaian adult. The cost for a non-Ghanaian adult is GH¢10 (Ten Ghanaian Cedis).
6. Things to do in Aburi Botanical Gardens
6.1 Pack a picnic
Once you are inside Aburi Gardens, you have free rein to explore at leisure. There is plenty of space to pitch camp on the lawns, relax and enjoy a picnic. Alternatively, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the food spots onsite. The palm wine and assorted kebabs are popular in Aburi Gardens.
6.2 Visit the “tree of life” by Kofi Sale
6.3 Take fun photos
Aburi Gardens is one of Ghana’s most scenic attractions, and it is sure to bring out the photographer in you. From the avenue of tall palm trees lining the entrance to the abandoned helicopter, there’s a photo spot for everyone. Be sure to also check out the 150+ years old kapok tree on the main lawn. Walk around the gardens to discover several labelled trees and artfully planted bamboos that make the perfect backdrop for photos. Go on, strike a pose.
6.4 Book a guided tour
Want to know more about the various trees and plants and their properties? Make arrangements for a tour guide at the ticket office onsite. You’ll walk away with further insights on the history and evolution of botany in Ghana. Plus, you might spot some of the oldest trees in the Eastern Region!
WoW Tip: Aburi Gardens extends over 65 hectares. It has an altitudinal span up to 460m. Dress comfortably if you’re planning to do a lot of walking.
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[…] goes through the towns of Nsawam and Suhum to Koforidua. The atmospheric eastern route runs through Aburi and Koforidua and is typically preferred by those with private […]