Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Cultural Village

Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Cultural Village is a community-run ecotourism site in the village of Tafi Atome, in Ghana's Volta Region. It protects a tropical forest where Mona monkeys have been held sacred and protected for more than 200 years, regarded locally as messengers to the gods. In 1996 the village began broader efforts to protect its forest and monkeys and to offer tours. The monkey population has since grown to about 200, and the forest, with its many bird and butterfly species, has been preserved. The monkeys are wild, though they often come very close to visitors.

The sanctuary is a sacred grove covering about 49 hectares. Friends of the Earth-Ghana, with funding from the GEF Small Grants Programme, worked with the traditional authorities of Tafi Atome, Tafi Mador, Tafi Abuife and Vakpo-Fu to support ecotourism and reinforce protection of the monkeys and their habitat. The site was demarcated with concrete pillars and linked by traverse to a survey pillar in Kpando, and a land plan was produced and recognised by the then Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines. Buffer zones, agroforestry, a community-maintained firebreak, tree nurseries of about 17,000 seedlings and traditional bye-laws protecting the River Ahavor were established. Farming, fuelwood and medicinal plant collection, hunting and livestock grazing are forbidden in the core area.

A visitor centre arranges guided tours of roughly one to one and a half hours at easy difficulty, and sells village crafts. Other activities include a village tour, a pineapple farm visit, kente weaving at nearby Tafi Abuipe, and evening drumming, dancing or storytelling around a bonfire. The centre has a small craft shop and a rustic six-room guesthouse with flush toilets, showers and sheets provided, though no towels; home-stays are also available. A community cook serves meals at a circular open-air shelter, and liquid refreshments can be bought in the village. Ecotourism revenue comes from entrance fees, accommodation, craft sales and guide fees, and has brought electricity to the village along with improvements to the school and a community clinic. The Dayitsotsoke community celebration is held each year on 2 January.

The sanctuary is open daily from 6 am to 6 pm. Tafi Atome lies in the Volta Region, about 43 km south of Hohoe. From the main Ho–Hohoe road at Logba Alekpeti, turn at the Monkey Sanctuary sign and follow the dirt road for 5 km to the visitor centre. Trotros run from Accra, Ho or Hohoe to Logba Alekpeti, from where a local taxi or a 5 km walk completes the journey.