About The Region
The Ashanti Region is centrally located in the middle belt of Ghana. It lies between longitudes 0.15W and 2.25W, and latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N. The region shares boundaries with four of the ten political regions, Brong-Ahafo in the north, Eastern Region in the east, Central Region in the south and Western Region in the Southwest.
The Asante (Ashantis) constitute the largest of the various subgroups of the Akan, who trace their origins partly to Bono-Manso and Techiman, in the present-day Brong Ahafo Region. They constitute 14.8 per cent of all Ghanaians by birth and 30.1 per cent of the total Akan population of 8,562,748 in the country. Various oral traditions have it that the Ashantis migrated from various places through Bono-Manso/Takyiman (Techiman) to the present day Ashanti Region.
The population of the Region according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census stands at 4,780,380 with 2,316,052 male and 2,464,328 female.
Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary, a pleasant sightseeing
The Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary is 54 square kilometres of virgin semi-deciduous tropical rainforest offering natural delights and one of the nicest ecotourism visitor centres and guesthouses in Ghana. See Bobiri’s massive trees, a wide variety of birds, landscape butterfly garden (to showcase the sanctuary’s 400-plus butterfly species) and arboretum with plant labels. Each room of the guesthouse and visitor centre features a different mural painting created by a talented local artist.
Things to Do
Enjoy the visitor centre’s comfortable chairs and shaded porch as you plan your hike and meet your guide. The centre also offers Ghanaian board games for relaxation and local drums to try.
Take a guided nature walk which includes the sanctuary’s oldest tree (300-plus years) and its largest (it takes 24 people joining outstretched arms to encompass the tree). Time: 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the trail chosen. Difficulty: 2
Tour the arboretum near the visitor centre either with a guide or on your own. Time: 30 minutes. Difficulty: 1
When to Visit
The forest is enjoyable anytime, but butterflies are most abundant March through June, with May being the peak most visible and active between 11 am – 4 pm on warm, sunny days. Sturdy shoes are recommended for hiking, as well as rain gear during the rainy season.
Accommodations, Food and Refreshments
The guesthouse adjacent to the visitors centre offers 4 rooms with 2 double beds each and a self-contained bath with shower, as well as 2 single units with 1double bed each and shared bath flush toilets, sheets, towels and mosquito netting provided. Camping is also available. Meals are prepared by an onsite cook at the guesthouse and beverages are available. Hotels are available in Ejisu, and nearby communities of Kumasi 30 km away.
Hours: 6:00 am – 6:00 pm daily (hikes offered 6 am – 4 pm)
Getting there
Bobiri is just off the main Accra-Kumasi Road and directional for the turnoff at Kubease. Take the dirt road from the village 3.5 km to the visitor centre. By tro-tro from Accra, ask to be dropped off at Kubease and then hire a taxi or walk 3.5 km to the guesthouse. From Kumasi, take a tro-tro to Ejisu, then hire a taxi or take a second tro-tro to Kubease.
