Lake Bosomtwe Crater Rim Trail

The Lake Bosomtwe Crater Rim Trail is a hiking route on the forested rim of Lake Bosomtwe, Ghana's only natural inland lake, in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, roughly 30 km south-east of Kumasi. The lake sits in a meteorite impact crater about 10.5 km across, formed around 1.07 million years ago, and the surrounding area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The steep crater walls rise 150–425 m above the water and are covered in secondary forest, with the lake surface about 70 m below the rim.

For a visitor, the appeal is the walking itself: trails along the rim give wide views over the circular lake basin and pass near fishing and farming villages. Abono, on the eastern shore, is the main tourist entry point and the usual place to begin. The lake is sacred to the Ashanti and is associated with the goddess Asase Ya; fishing is traditionally done from wooden planks, known as padua, rather than metal boats. Wildlife reported in the area includes monkeys and birds, and the lake holds endemic cichlids such as Hemichromis frempongi.

Expect a moderate route with steep sections, particularly on the western side. Reported circuit distances vary widely, from about 12 km to 25–30 km, and durations from 2–3 hours to 4–5 hours, so treat any single figure with caution. There is no signage on the trail, and it becomes muddy, slippery and flooded in the rainy season, generally May to September. Fitness and proper hiking shoes are described as necessary. A local guide is recommended, though not mandatory.

Access is by tarred road from Kumasi over the rim and down to Abono, the first village on the eastern shore. Tro-tros run from Kumasi's Atonsu and Ejisu terminals to Abono or Kuntanase, and private taxis are reported at GH₵150–250. The trail is not wheelchair accessible; no paved or step-free access is documented.