Baboons by the roadside, antelope on the plain, caves in the hills — and all of it barely an hour from the city. Shai Hills is Accra’s easiest taste of the wild, perfect by car.
You do not have to travel far from Accra to swap traffic for wildlife. Just about an hour east of the city, the Shai Hills Resource Reserve rises out of the plains — a cluster of rocky hills and open savanna where baboons lounge by the entrance road, antelope graze, and caves and viewpoints reward a short climb. It is the closest thing to a safari you can do as a half-day trip from the capital, and it makes a brilliant, low-effort outing for families, visitors or anyone needing a few hours in nature. A car makes it simple.
Shai Hills is a protected reserve of grassland and granite hills near Dodowa, on the road east out of Accra. It is home to troops of baboons (often seen right at the gate), several species of antelope, ostriches, and a wealth of birds, along with caves once used by the Shai people and rocky outcrops with fine views over the plains. The reserve is set up for visitors, with guides, short hikes and game drives on offer.
The reserve is roughly an hour’s drive east of Accra, on the main road toward Ada and the Volta, which makes it one of the most accessible outings from the city — genuinely a half-day if you want. Its location also means you can easily combine it with a trip further east; it sits on the way toward Ada, for instance.
Go in the morning for the best wildlife and the coolest walking. Take a guide at the gate — they know where the animals are and bring the caves and history to life. Keep a respectful distance from the baboons and don’t feed them (and keep car windows up around them). Wear decent shoes if you plan to climb to the caves, and bring water. It is an easy, safe and rewarding trip that suits all ages.
Tell us your date and group size. We’ll have the right car ready and quote one clear price for the half-day trip.
A saloon reaches the reserve comfortably; the game drives within the reserve are arranged there. A driver for the morning makes it effortless, or self-drive if you prefer your own pace. We quote it as a return trip from Accra — distance, fuel and driver in one figure. Send your date and group size and we’ll confirm the car and price; no payment on the website.
Distances and times are approximate and reviewed October 2026. Reserve activities and guided tours are arranged on site. Rates are guide figures, quoted as one confirmed return trip.