Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park

The Assin Manso Slave River Site in Ghana's Central Region is a profoundly historical and emotional landmark. It served as the final resting and bathing point for enslaved Africans before they were marched to the coastal castles and shipped overseas during the transatlantic slave trade. The Last Bath: Enslaved captives from the hinterlands and northern regions were rested, sorted, and allowed to recuperate here. Before being marched the remaining distance to the coastal dungeons (such as Cape Coast and Elmina), they were forced to wash in the river.

Cape Coast Castle

‘Cabo Corso,’ meaning ‘short cape’, is the name the Portuguese settled on for the local settlement within which its trade lodge was built in 1555. Its corruption to ‘Cape Coast’ is now the accepted name of the capital of the Central Region of Ghana. The Swedes, led by Krusenstjerna, however, were the initiators of the permanent structure presently known as Cape Coast Castle. They built a fort in 1653 and named it Carlousburg, after King Charles X of Sweden.

Kakum National Park

Kakum National Park. Tucked away in the Assin Attandanso Reserve is the Kakum National Park and Canopy Walkway, which offers visitors spectacular scenery and a fascinating wildlife experience, along with modern camping facilities. The park’s best-known feature is undoubtedly its 7 suspension bridges, which form a 333metre-long canopy walkway suspended up to 27 metres above the forest floor, supported by trees over 300 years old.The canopy walk is only one of Kakum’s many delights. There are a variety of trails and guided walks that allow visitors to experience the solitude of the rainforest. It’s also a premier site for birdwatchers, with over 300 species, including eight species of global conservation concern. Mammals include forest elephants, leopards, bongos, bushbucks, and many primates. Also, more than 600 butterfly species have been recorded. The forest has wildlife which can be seen at night, and professional guides are always available to take you on a guided night tour.

Elmina Castle was Built by the Portuguese in 1482 and originally named São Jorge da Mina, or St. George of the Mine, it stands today in what is now Elmina, Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast. The structure is also referred to as Mina or Feitoria da Mina. Elmina Castle is the oldest European building still standing south of the Sahara Desert, making it a key symbol of early European presence in West Africa. Initially established as a trading settlement, the castle quickly evolved into one of the most critical hubs in the transatlantic slave trade. Thousands of enslaved Africans were held within its walls before being shipped across the Atlantic. In 1637, the Dutch captured the fort from the Portuguese and expanded their control over the entire Portuguese Gold Coast by 1642. The Dutch continued to operate the slave trade from Elmina until 1814. Eventually, in 1872, the Dutch transferred control of the Gold Coast, including Elmina Castle, to the British Empire.