If you are fed up with crowded and polluted Accra city center, if you feel like breathing better and cooler not too far from the town, I really advise you to go to Aburi.
After you left Accra, you drive through the green hills for about 40 mn until you arrive in the centre of Aburi. The botanical garden in Aburi was started by the British and opened in March 1890.
The Botanical garden in ABURI
It is not expensive to enter with your car ( 2.5€ )and driving into it, there is a line of tall trees that makes you feel like you are in Beverly Hills :
Then you can have a nice walk through Aburi Botanical Garden. Due to the altitude of Aburi, the climate is a really cooler than neighbouring Accra.
However, if you wanted to have a long walk it is not for you since it is quite small…
As you can see , you will discover the ficus tree which is so big that you can enter in its trunk!
There are more than 350 different plants species which are growing in Aburi. There is a romantic lane, “Lovers Lane” where roses are growing, and an area with the “brown gold” of Ghana: cocoa.
There are many huge termite mound too ! Just have a look !
The botanical garden is a great place to relax and take “fresh” air, and watch to birds:
If you want to look to huge majestic trees one after the other, and take a nap under trees in a cool temperature, then you will enjoy the place.
Moreover, I advise you to plan a picnic with friends and children which can be perfect It will be a great place to let the kids run around without any fear : there is a “retired “helicopter which is perfect for them to play inside too.
There are small eating places within the gardens too but it doesn’t seem like good ones. You should come with your own food or go and eat in Hillbury, a greatplace that I love.
Hillbury Hotel
If you prefer going to the restaurant with your family or friends and rest to Hillbury resort, you will discover a majestic hotel in the spectacular Akwapim mountain range.
The views is amazing over the surrounding mountains and you an rest in the swimming pool in front of the evergreen valley of the majestic view.You will thenn feel better, escaping the crowded places, and most of all you will enjoy good food.
On the afternoon, you can also go to a farm not far from Aburi center where you can buy fruits and vegetable and see their pigs too!
Then after all this, I am sure that you will come back to Accra with good energy 🙂