GBELLE RESOURCE RESERVE

Gbele in the Upper West region is the wildlife protected area of Ghana closest to Burkina Faso on a trans-boundary migratory route for elephants and other mammals to and from the Naziga Game Ranch. Gbele is 565 square kilometres and lies partly in the areas of Wa (regional capital), Nadolwli and Tumu and is 61km from Tumu and 89km from Wa. The vegetation of Gbele Resource Reserve is open savannah woodland and is mainly associated with roan antelope, hartebeest, bushbuck, waterbuck, savannah duikers and warthogs. Gbele is also home to baboon, patas, green monkey and more.

There is also a very rich birdlife with a total of 194 species. The avifauna has a rich Sudanian component, with 30 Sudanian biome species recorded (a large proportion of the total occurring in Ghana). Species of special interest include Willcocks's Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi, found in riparian thickets (a considerable extension of range to the north), the rare Gambaga Flycatcher Muscicapa gambagae, and Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus. Breeding evidence for the N. Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicus and the high density of Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis are also worth noting. Gbele is one of only three wildlife reserves where the rare Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus is recorded.

Main tourist activities are game viewing, bird watching and nature walk/hiking. Other interesting features include rock outcrops. While out of the park one may visit the slave defence wall at Gwollu (30km), fishing activities and Naziga Game Ranch in Burkina Faso (80km).  Interesting communities near Gbele that you must visit include Gwollu, where there are slave defence walls, the tomb of the Late President Hilla Limann, the Gwollu palace and libido-restoration clinic. There is also a traditional bone-setting clinic at Gwollu. You may also visit the slave market and museum.

Gbele has a tented camp for its visitors.