Accra Safari at Shai Hills, Boat Cruise & Bead-Making

Track zebras and baboons through Shai Hills, then watch crushed glass become beads at a working factory

A full-day tour from Accra combines a safari at Shai Hills Resource Reserve with a boat cruise on Lake Volta and a stop at a traditional bead-making workshop. You'll spot ostriches, antelopes, green monkeys, zebras, and dozens of bird species on hiking and driving routes through the reserve, cruise Africa's largest man-made lake with lunch included, and learn how artisans transform shattered glass into fine beads using palm-kernel fire heated to 600°C.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat cruise, safari, and bead-making

• Enjoy boat cruise on Lake Volta
• Have lunch at lakefront or onboard
• Explore Shai Hills wildlife sanctuary
• See baboons, birds, antelopes, and zebras
• Visit bead factory and watch bead-making
• Return safely to Accra

The experience

Shai Hills Resource Reserve sits closest to Accra of any wildlife sanctuary in the region. The reserve offers both hiking trails and driving routes where you encounter baboons, ostriches, antelopes, monitor lizards, kobs, guinea fowls, and zebras, along with violet turacos, paradise flycatchers, green turacos, red-billed hornbills, and red-necked buzzards. Rock scrambling is an option, and from the hilltops you see across the Accra plains. The variety means you might spot something different depending on the time of day and which route the guide chooses.

After the reserve, you stop at Atimpoku for views of Lake Volta from the Bridge View Hotel before boarding a boat for a cruise across Africa's second-largest lake by surface area. Lunch happens either on the boat or at a scenic spot on the shore, depending on what suits the group. The lake stretches wide and calm, and swimming is an option if you want to enter the water. The route back to Accra follows the same road you came in on.

The bead factory visit shows how traditional methods produce what looks like fine jewelry from waste glass. You watch artisans crush glass into powder, pack it into clay molds, and fire it using crushed palm kernels. A technique that reaches around 600°C without modern equipment. The workshop sells finished beads, so you can take home what you see made.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• a live guide in English.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• lunch at the lakeside or on the boat.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• safety equipment for the boat cruise.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Infant (2 to 9 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Kwame Tours

Is this one for you?The tour runs seven to ten hours with walking and driving routes through Shai Hills, so you're on your feet part of the day but can choose the pace that suits you: hiking trails, driving routes, or rock scrambling are all available. If you prefer to stay mostly in the vehicle, that's an option too.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (2 to 9 years).

What animals might I see on the safari at Shai Hills?

Shai Hills is home to zebras, baboons, green monkeys, antelopes, ostriches, monitor lizards, kobs, guinea fowls, and duikers, plus dozens of bird species including violet turacos, paradise flycatchers, green turacos, red-billed hornbills, and red-necked buzzards. Bats roost in caves within the reserve, and butterflies are common along the trails.

How is lunch arranged on the Lake Volta cruise?

Lunch is included and served either aboard the boat or at a lakeside spot, depending on what works best for the group on the day. You can choose the timing that fits the rest of your itinerary.

What happens at the bead-making workshop?

The workshop demonstrates how shattered glass is crushed into fine powder, placed in clay molds, and fired using crushed palm kernels heated to around 600°C to create finished beads. You watch the process and can purchase beads as souvenirs.

Is swimming possible during the Lake Volta boat cruise?

Yes, swimming is an option if you want to enter the water during the cruise on Lake Volta. The choice is yours depending on your comfort and the conditions on the day.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes private transportation, hotel or residence pickup and drop-off, lunch, all entry fees and taxes, an air-conditioned vehicle, safety equipment for the boat cruise, bottled water, and WiFi on board. A live English-speaking guide leads the day.