Butre

Anyone who visits Butre will not forget the striking ruins of the 1656-constructed Fort Batenstein, situated on a hill, with its magnificent views of the surrounding village, coast, lagoon, rock formations, forest, fields and hills.

Butre is a small fishing village located on a sheltered bay by a forest, between the communities of Busua and Asemkaw, about 20 kilometres southwest of Takoradi. Now home to nearly 400 inhabitants, largely from the Ahanta ethnic group, Butre was among the early historical towns generated by 17th century inter-European and inter-African conflict.

The village has a Town Tourism Development Committee. In the village centre, there is a tourist information booth with able tour guides on hand to show visitors around and provide tourist information.

 

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  • What to Do
  • What to Eat and Where to Stay
  • Getting There
  • Fact File
  • Take a stroll through Butre village, observing the local culture, traditions and livelihood of the Ahanta people.
  • Hike up the hill to the ruins of Fort Batenstein, to enjoy amazing 360 degree views of the village, coast, lagoon, rock formations, forest, fields and hills. Caution: the climb to the fort is steep and not for the faint-hearted!
  • Paddle into the wild on a traditional duguout canoe, on Butre Lagoon and River. Look out for wildlife species such as crocodiles, kingfishers, mudskippers and crabs.
  • Take a hike through the surrounding woodland, to see the magnificent Kapok trees and visit local plantations and farms of corn, oil palm, sugarcane, cassava, pineapple, tomatoes and pepper.
  • Walk over the footbridge and along the beautiful sandy-white beach, to Tobolo, the rocky bed at the left edge of the cove. Hear the legend of Tobolokyew (Tobolo’s hat).
  • Enjoy sunbathing, relaxing and eating at one of the beach lodges. Any swimming, surfing or bodyboarding must be done with caution, as the waters can be dangerous. Don’t forget to take photos of the spectacular sunset!
  • With a tour guide, take a short 3 km hike to the beautiful rocky ‘coconut beach’ through farmlands with a variety of tropical plants, colourful butterflies, birds and squirrels. Your guide will point out some of the birds and medicinal plant species. With some luck, you might hear or even see some of the last remaining wild monkeys in the area.
  • If you have a bicycle, you can also cycle to Busua. Depending on how often you stop, it is about an hour’s ride through forest, farmlands, remote villages, and traditional livelihood sites. You will have the opportunity to interact with some village folk. If you wish, continue another 2 km to Dixcove, to tour Fort Metal Cross.
  • If you are feeling very adventurous, you can go on a fishing expedition with local fishermen. On any day apart from Tuesday, you can join the experienced fishermen in their colourful dugout canoes powered by outboard motors. Out at sea, you might see flying fish jumping out of the waves, and between September and December, you might even spot dolphins or small groups of whales. Feel free to help the crew draw in their nets, and end your day by eating a meal on the beach, made from the catch of the day.

* To book a place on any tour, please register with the Town Tourism Development Committee.

Eat at your home stay or beach lodge, or buy a local dish of delicious stew or soup served with fufu (large dumplings made from pounded cassava and plantain), banku (boiled balls of fermented cassava and corn), kenkey (steamed balls of fermented corn, wrapped in banana leaves), or gari (roasted cassava grits). You can also try a snack of freshly fried or smoked fish.
Some of Butre’s home stays and beach lodges are located on the other side of the estuary, connected to the village by a footbridge. You will find a peaceful atmosphere worth its name. Food and drinks are available. Close to the footbridge you will find ‘The Hide Out’. ‘Ghana Spirit’ is just north-east of ‘The Hide Out’. Also, check out ‘Fanta’s Folly’, a beach lodge in Asemkow village, thirty minutes’ walk from Butre.
The beach lodges are not accessible by road through Butre village: to drive directly to the resorts, you must follow the signs from Butre junction to the village.

 

Hotel/Lodge Abakah’s Home Stay, Tel: 0245 522 915
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast 5.00 – 6.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 7.00 - 10.00
Remark(s) Currently does not sell drinks; prepares only Ghanaian dishes. Food provided upon request
Room Range One finished room with shared toilet and bath.
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
7 – 10

Hotel/Lodge Fanta’s Folly, www.fantasfolly.com
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast  
Lunch/Dinner (Continental)        7.00 - 15.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 1.00 - 12.00
Drinks/Beverages 1.20 - 12.00
Remarks Breakfast part of accommodation package
Room Range Double bungalow, family lodge, twin lodge and apartment.
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
41 – 82

Hotel/Lodge The Hideout Lodge, www.hideoutlodge.com
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast 1.50 – 3.00
Lunch/Dinner (Continental)        2.00 – 8.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 4.00 – 8.00
Drinks/Beverages 1.00 – 25.00
Room Range Dormitory accommodation, tree houses, and self-contained bungalows.
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
6 – 35

 

Hotel/Lodge

Saighoe Home Stay, 024 524 0003

 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast 5.00 – 6.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 6.00 - 10.00
Remarks Operation similar to  Abakah’s
Room Range One finished room with shared toilet and bath  available upon request
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
7 – 10

 

By private vehicle:
From Takoradi, follow the signs to Elubo. About 25 minutes from Takoradi, you will get to Agona. At Agona roundabout, take the left turn. After 15 minutes, you’ll see a junction on the left, with a lot of signboards for hotels in Busua and Butre. Turn left again after 100 methres (you’ll see a lot of signboards for resorts in Butre). Drive straight, until you see a turn to the right. Go down that road, passing through several villages, till you get to Butre (the last stop!).

By public transport:
At Takoradi, go to West End (near Tarkwa station, by the STC bus terminal), or go the Goil petrol station at Kwame Nkrumah Roundabout (also known as ‘Agip’ roundabout). Take a minibus (‘called tro-tro’) to Agona. At Agona, there are regular tro-tros and taxis to Butre.

 

  1. Butre has Swedish ties: the Swedes settled in Butre from 1650 to 1652, as part of their attempt to establish themselves in the western Gold Coast.
  2. The Dutch name ‘Fort Batenstein’ literally means ‘the Profitable Fort’.
  3. Fort Batenstein mainly served as a service fort and a safe haven for Dutch ships needing repairs.
  4. The Dutch once operated a sawmill at Butre.
  5. The two main languages spoken in Butre are Ahanta (the language of the Ahanta Kingdom) and Fante (the language of immigrant fishermen living in Butre).
  6. The Chief of Butre has the prized position of being the linguist to the Paramount Chief of the Ahanta Kingdom.
  7. The main economic activities in present-day Butre are fishing and subsistence farming.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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