Cape Three Points

Cape Three Points is at the southernmost tip of Ghana. On the map, you’ll see one tip, but when you climb the eighty-four year old lighthouse at the Cape, you’ll see something else!

The village of Cape Three Points is the southernmost community in Ghana, and its beach is one of the most beautiful along Ghana’s West Coast. Surrounded by Ghana’s only coastal rainforest reserve and many rolling hills, the village also has a few secondary attractions, such as relaxation, beach and sea activities, hiking, and exploration of its cultural present and colonial past.

The drive to Cape Three Points takes visitors through several rural communities, oil palm plantations and an extensive rubber plantation which was originally planted by Ghana’s first president, some fifty years ago. You will view at first hand how fresh rubber is collected from the rubber trees, before being part-processed in Ghana and shipped to Europe. Between the views of crop farms and rubber plantations, you might have a bit of luck and run into a group of monkeys. If not, you will still be able to see a wide variety of trees, birds and butterflies that inhabit this area. 

Cape Three Points has a Tourism Development Committee and several trained local tour guides.

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  • What to Do
  • What to Eat and Where to Stay
  • Getting There
  • Fact File
  • Climb the solar-powered 1925 lighthouse and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views, amid commentary supplied by the affable lighthouse caretaker. Afterwards, you can relax, sunbathe or have a picnic beside the lighthouse, while enjoying the sound of the waves lapping against the rocks. See the remains of the old 1875 lighthouse situated in the southern point of the peninsula. This old lighthouse is a fantastic place to admire the landscape, and even catch a glimpse of the whales (August-February), and dolphins (July-November) that use this sea route during their migration. You may also see a squirrel or two frolicking around. The lighthouse is open to the public, all days of the week: the caretaker will give you a tour.
  • With a trained local tour guide, you can tour Cape Three Points village (also known as ‘Atinkyin’) for an encounter with local community life. View the traditional livelihood activities of this fishing and farming community, and see the fascinating traditional architecture featuring mud, bamboo and palm. You may be fortunate to chance upon the week-long Kundum festival (held between September and October), a naming ceremony, funeral ceremony, or puberty rites.
  • Relax or sunbathe at the pristine coconut-fringed  golden sandy beaches further east and west of Cape Three Points. Any swimming must be done with caution, as the waters can be dangerous.
  • Hike into the lush green Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, trekking through the forest trails to explore the rich biodiversity of this tropical rainforest. Enjoy the identification of the flora, and learn about the various medicinal plant applications. Keep your eyes open for a glimpse of local wildlife, especially the monkeys: the best time to view them is in the mornings and late evenings.
  • Hike from Old Akwidaa, to see the foundation of a merchant’s attempt to build a fort.
  • Walk to the picturesque fishing village of Akwidaa. Be prepared: it’s a one-and-a-half hour walk to Akwidaa, either way. When the sun is scorching, this can be gruelling exercise. Do wear a hat, and take some water with you. If you still want to go to Akwidaa, but don’t want to hike, you can take a tro-tro to Akwidaa, or better still, ride on a bicycle (if you can).
  • If you want to go on a very long walk, you can walk to Princess Town, and tour the Brandenburg-built Fort Gross Friedrichsburg.
  • Join experienced fisher folk on a high sea fishing expedition in a wooden dugout canoe with outboard motor. The fishermen go to sea every day except Thursday (when tradition forbids them from doing so). End your day by eating a meal on the beach, made from the catch of the day.
  • View the nocturnal nesting of the endangered sea turtles. Their peak season is from October to December each year, although they may arrive any time between August and March. Help protect the turtles, by helping the turtle hatchlings get into the sea safely, keeping them from poachers and predators.

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

 

Eat locally made fufu (large dumplings made from pounded cassava and plantain), kenkey (steamed balls of fermented corn, wrapped in banana leaves), gari (roasted cassava grits), yaka yaka (flattened gari), boiled cassava, and boiled plantain. These starchy and grainy foods are mostly eaten with bare hands, and served with delicious stews and soups. While you’re at it, try the fresh and dry fish products of Cape Three Points.

Ask a trained local tour guide for details of home stays in the village. For commercially operated accommodation, you can stay at one of the beach lodges.

Hotel/Lodge Escape Three Points, www.escape3points.com,
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Lunch/Dinner (Continental)        7.00 – 15.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian)  
Drinks/Beverages  
Remarks Food provided upon request
Room Range Dormitory, Chalet (non self-contained – 2 people; self-contained – 2 people)
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
8 – 35

Hotel/Lodge Ezile Bay Village, www.ezilebay.com, 1 km after New Akwidaa
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast 2.50 – 7.00
Lunch/Dinner (Continental)        8.00 - 12.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 8.00 – 12.00
Drinks/Beverages 1.30 – 16.00
Remark(s) Breakfast part of residential guest package, but can be prepared for non-residential  guests
Room Range Low-cost bungalows
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
10 - 16

Hotel/Lodge Green Turtle Lodge, www.greenturtlelodge.com, Old Akwidaa, 10 km from Dixcove, and 2 km from Akwidaa village
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast 2.50 – 5.00
Lunch/Dinner (Continental)        4.00 - 6.50
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 4.00 – 6.50
Drinks/Beverages 1.0 – 16.00
Remarks Food provided upon request
Room Range Chalets with double rooms, double ensuite rooms, beachfront suite, and family villa
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
4 – 30

Hotel/Lodge Safari Beach, www.safaribeachlodge.com, Old Akwidaa, 8 km from Dixcove, and 3 km from Akwidaa village
 
Meals & Drinks Price Range (GH¢)*
Breakfast 3.0 - 6.50
Lunch/Dinner (Continental)        7. 00 – 25.00
Lunch/Dinner (Ghanaian) 7.00 – 25.00
Drinks/Beverages 1.50 – 60.00
Remark(s) Breakfast part of room package for residential guests
Room Range Chalets with ensuite rooms, non-ensuite rooms, dormitory, tents
Room Rates
(GH¢ per night)*
5 – 30

*Prices as at September 2009
Note: Akwidaa currently has no electricity or running water. Some accommodation facilities have tank water, and some have solar power and/or generators.
Note: Green Turtle Lodge and Safari Beach Lodge are on a different road from the one to Cape Three Points and Ezile Bay.

 

By private vehicle:
From Takoradi, follow the signs to Elubo. About 30 minutes after Takoradi, you will get to Agona. At Agona roundabout, take the left turn. After about 15 minutes (just 1 km after the junction to Busua) you’ll see a junction on the right, with a few signs. There’s a small sign to Cape Three Points/Ezile Beach. Turn right, and drive straight for 18 kilometres, on an untarred road. At a point, when you enter the rubber plantation, you’ll come to a fork in the road. Take the left turn. Keep going straight. When you get to New Akwidaa junction, veer right (don’t go into Akwidaa). Continue driving straight till you get to Cape Three Points.
Note: Cape Three Points is about an hour’s drive from Agona. Though the drive is frustrating in parts, it is totally worth it!
Tip: On the way back from Cape Three Points, do stop some of the beach lodges, to take some more breathtaking photos.
Caution: The road can be difficult to navigate after heavy rains, especially for saloon cars.

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 to Cape Three Points. Taxis are also available.

 

  1. ‘Atinkyin’, the local name of Cape Three Points village, means ‘the salt has been taken out’.
  2. The village of Cape Three Points has a population of 450 to 500 people. 
  3. The main crops produced in the area are vegetables, oil palm, cassava and maize. Fresh and dry fish are distributed to fishmongers in the urban areas.
  4. The lighthouse has been solar powered since 2005.
  5. The lighthouse is managed by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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