The cradle of the Akan
The Bono, also called the Brong or Abron, are an Akan people of central Ghana and north-eastern Côte d'Ivoire, and their oral traditions place the emergence of the earliest Akan states in this middle belt. According to Techiman-Bono tradition, the first ancestors emerged from a sacred cave called Amowi and, believing themselves the first to inhabit the land, called themselves Abono woo — 'pioneer' or 'firstborn of the land' — a name that shortened to Bono. Historians once described Bono as the cradle of the Akan, with other Akan groups tracing their origins here; modern scholarship is more careful, holding that Bono Manso and Begho were among several of the earliest centres of Akan development rather than the single source. What is not in doubt is the depth of settlement. Excavations at Bonoso, an early Wenchi site, uncovered pottery, iron slag, animal bones, palm kernels and grindstones dated to roughly AD 663–774, marking it as one of the earliest inland Akan settlements known. Wenchi's own traditions describe an origin from a hole in the ground, opened by a mythical burrowing creature called a wankyie — a story of autochthony, of belonging to the land from the beginning.
Begho: a medieval market at the forest's edge
Begho, also known historically as Nsoko or Insoco, lay just south of the present-day community of Hani. Founded in the 11th century and occupied into the early 19th, it grew into a cosmopolitan trading entrepôt linking merchants from across West and North Africa. Its position on the forest–savanna transition zone made it a natural hinge between the Akan goldfields and the Sahel: gold, kola nuts and ivory moved north, while salt, textiles, beads, copper alloys and brass came south. Muslim Mande-speaking merchants, the Wangara or Juula, settled in their own quarters outside the town. Excavations from 1970 identified at least five quarters — including the Nyarko quarter of the local Brong, the Kramo quarter of Mande Muslims, and the Dwinfuor quarter of metalworkers — and between 1,000 and 1,500 house mounds, suggesting a population of perhaps 7,000 to 10,000 at its height. Spindle whorls and dye pits point to a textile industry that Arabic sources noted, and may have laid early foundations for Akan kente weaving. Oral tradition holds that Begho was destroyed by the Asante Empire in the mid-18th century, dispersing its people; communities such as Kong and Bondoukou trace their origins to its refugees. The city persisted in reduced form into the early 1800s.
Trade, conquest and the shadow of slavery
Bono prosperity rested on gold. From the 12th century the Bono state controlled gold resources in the Twi and Prabom valleys within the Tain River basin, and gold dust became the principal medium of exchange, both locally and in long-distance trade with Djenné, Timbuktu and North Africa. That wealth drew the attention of the rising Asante Kingdom. In 1722/23 Asante forces under Opoku Ware I invaded and destroyed Bono Manso, ending its role as the political centre of the Bono people; the surviving population relocated to Techiman, carrying sacred stools and regalia with them. Wenchi, Dormaa and Techiman maintained shifting relationships with Asante in the decades that followed. This region also carries the weight of the slave trade. Bono Manso became involved in the early Atlantic slave trade before its destruction, and it is now a site of memory for African diaspora visitors. Visitors should know that the historical record is contested: while the site is promoted as a former slave market where captives from the north were graded and sorted, encyclopaedic sources state that no evidence exists that Bono-Manso served as a massive slave market for people destined for the Atlantic trade. Approach such sites with respect, and ask guides to distinguish documented history from local tradition.
Where forest gives way to savannah
The Bono Region sits in Ghana's middle belt, a transitional zone where the dense southern forest opens into woodland savannah. The region was created from the former Brong Ahafo Region and is bordered by the Savannah Region to the north, Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Bono East to the east and Ahafo to the south, with Sunyani as its capital. This ecology shapes everything: the forest–savanna mosaic that made Begho and Bono Manso such effective trading hinges, the gallery forests that line the rivers, and the wildlife that gathers along the Black Volta. Bui National Park, at 1,821 square kilometres the third-largest wildlife protected area in the country, is bisected by the Black Volta and harbours Ghana's largest population of hippos, alongside elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, baboons, patas and green monkeys, and more than 250 recorded bird species including the rare white-necked rockfowl. The park's caves shelter bat colonies, and a hydroelectric dam has altered its geography, creating new riverine areas and islands. Further south, the Nchiraa Waterfalls drop through forest between the mountains of the Nchiraa settlement, reached by a rocky, steep footpath about two kilometres in.
What to do
Things to do in Bono
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Attraction
1.Walk the ruins of Begho at Hani
The most historically significant stop in the region. Near the village of Hani, the Hani Archaeological Site preserves the remains of Begho, a medieval trading town occupied from the 11th to the early 19th century and once one of the largest towns in the interior of what is now Ghana. You will see house mounds, pottery scatter and the low earthworks of a city that traded gold, kola and ivory with Djenné and Timbuktu. The scale is subtle rather than monumental — Begho had no grand walls — so the site rewards a knowledgeable guide who can read the ground.
Tip: Arrange a local guide in advance through the Wenchi Municipal Assembly or a Sunyani tour operator; without interpretation the mounds are easy to miss.
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Attraction
2.Pay respects at the Dr. K.A. Busia Mausoleum
In Wenchi, the walled compound on a hill about 400 metres off the Wenchi-Akrobi road holds the tomb of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, Prime Minister of Ghana's Second Republic, born in the town in 1913 and buried here after his death in Oxford in 1978. A bust stands in his memory, and the tombstone carries his dates and a verse from Philippians. The two-storey buildings that once served as his residence and offices stand alongside, and a library block built by former President Kufuor holds his books and artefacts.
Tip: The site has suffered from neglect and overgrowth in recent years, so set expectations accordingly and treat it as a place of remembrance rather than a polished museum.
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Waterfall
3.Hike to Nchiraa Waterfalls
About 30 kilometres north of Wenchi, wedged between the mountains of the Nchiraa settlement, these falls are reached by a rocky, steep footpath roughly two kilometres into the forest. The walk is the experience as much as the water: you climb through changing vegetation, with the sound of the cascade growing as you approach. The falls were found in the early 2000s by a hunter, Kofi Asiama, who tracked his way to them and later led residents to see the site in 2004. The setting remains largely undeveloped, which is part of its appeal.
Tip: Wear shoes with grip and carry water; the path is genuinely rocky and steep, and the site has few facilities, so go with a local guide who knows the route.
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Attraction
4.Explore the Wurobo Ancestral Caves
Near Nchiraa, the Wurobo Ancestral Caves are described by official sources as the ancestral dwelling place of the people of Nchiraa — a cave and heritage site that ties the living community to the landscape its ancestors used. Pairing a visit here with the waterfall makes a natural half-day, since the two sit within the same area north of Wenchi. The caves are a place of origin and memory rather than a spectacle, so the value lies in the story your guide tells.
Tip: Combine with Nchiraa Waterfalls in one outing and ask your guide to explain the Nchiraa people's connection to the caves before you enter.
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5.See the Boonso Cave and Wenchi's origin story
Boonso Cave is associated with Wenchi's oral traditions of origin from a hole called 'BOON SO', the same deep-rooted account of emergence from the ground that shapes Wenchi's sense of itself. The site is listed but underdeveloped, so it is best approached as a heritage stop where the story matters more than the infrastructure. Standing at the cave, you are at the physical anchor of a narrative that Akan groups across the region share in different forms — of a people who came out of the earth and belong to it.
Tip: Ask locally for directions and a guide, as the site is not set up for independent visitors; go in the morning when the ground is firm.
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Attraction
6.Shop the Thursday market at Wenchi New Market
Wenchi New Market is the town's main marketplace, and its weekly Thursday market day is when it comes fully alive with traders, produce and the everyday commerce of the middle belt. It is a good place to feel the region's rhythm, buy local foodstuffs and cloth, and watch a market town do what market towns in this part of Ghana have done for centuries. A 24-Hour Economy Model Market is under construction, signalling the market's continuing importance to the municipality.
Tip: Time your visit for Thursday if you want the full market; go early, bring small notes, and ask before photographing traders.
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7.Look for hippos on the Black Volta at Bui National Park
Bui National Park, 1,821 square kilometres and bisected by the Black Volta, holds Ghana's largest population of hippos and is the region's great wildlife experience. Boat trips on the river offer the best chance of close views, while the wider park supports elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, baboons, patas and green monkeys, and over 250 bird species including the rare white-necked rockfowl. Caves shelter bat colonies, and the hydroelectric dam has reshaped the park, creating new islands and riverine habitat.
Tip: Wildlife viewing is best in the drier months when vegetation thins and animals gather at the river; arrange boat trips and a ranger through the Forestry Commission or a tour operator.
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8.Trace the slave-trade story at Bono Manso
Bono Manso, north of Techiman, was the capital of the Bono state from the 11th century until its destruction by Asante forces in 1723, and it became involved in the early Atlantic slave trade before that. It is now a site of memory for African diaspora visitors, with trees said to have been used to tether captives still standing. Visit with gravity and an open mind: the site is promoted as a former slave market, but encyclopaedic sources caution that no evidence exists that it served as a massive market for people bound for the Atlantic trade.
Tip: Ask your guide to separate documented history from local tradition, and allow quiet time at the site rather than treating it as a photo stop.
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9.See the Busia statue and Sunyani's civic heart
Sunyani, the regional capital, is known for its cleanliness and as a conference destination, and it makes a comfortable base for the region. At the Sunyani Jubilee Park stands a 12-foot statue of Kofi Abrefa Busia beneath a four-post arch representing the four attributes of the Second Republic's Prime Minister: scholar, politician, royal and statesman. It is a quick, worthwhile stop that connects the region's modern political history to the town where Busia was born.
Tip: Use Sunyani as your overnight base and visit the statue en route to or from Wenchi; the city is well connected by road to Techiman and to Sunyani Airport.
Plan your time
Suggested itinerary
Half a day: Wenchi heritage
Base yourself in Wenchi and spend a morning on the town's history. Start at the Dr. K.A. Busia Mausoleum on the hill off the Wenchi-Akrobi road, then continue to the Boonso Cave to hear the origin story of Wenchi's emergence from the ground. If your visit falls on a Thursday, finish at Wenchi New Market when it is at its busiest. This is a compact, walkable-in-parts half-day that needs a local guide for the cave.
Dr. K.A. Busia Mausoleum→Wenchi New Market
One day: Begho and the northern forest
Give a full day to the region's archaeology and landscape. Drive to Hani in the morning and walk the Hani Archaeological Site with a guide who can read the house mounds and pottery scatter of medieval Begho. After lunch, head north of Wenchi to the Wurobo Ancestral Caves and, if time and energy allow, the two-kilometre forest hike to Nchiraa Waterfalls. The day pairs deep history with a genuine walk, so start early and carry water.
Hani Archaeological Site (Begho)→Wurobo Ancestral Caves→Nchiraa Waterfalls
Two days: history, wildlife and memory
Day one: Begho at Hani in the morning, then Wenchi for the Busia Mausoleum, Boonso Cave and, on a Thursday, the New Market. Overnight in Sunyani. Day two: drive to Bui National Park for a boat trip on the Black Volta in search of hippos and birdlife, then, if your route allows, stop at Bono Manso to reflect on the slave-trade story with a guide who can distinguish evidence from tradition. This plan covers the region's archaeology, its living culture and its contested past.
Hani Archaeological Site (Begho)→Dr. K.A. Busia Mausoleum→Wenchi New Market
Seasons and festivals
When to go
Wenchi's climate data show a single pronounced wet season running from roughly March to October, with the heaviest rainfall in September and October, and a dry season from November to February when January is driest. For hiking to Nchiraa Waterfalls and the Wurobo caves, the drier months from November to February give firmer footing on the rocky paths. For wildlife at Bui National Park, the drier season is also when vegetation thins and animals concentrate near the Black Volta. The region's cultural calendar is lively: Wenchi celebrates the annual Apoo festival, a yam festival held in April or May whose climax is the durbar of the Omanhene through the town, and an annual yam festival in August marking the end of the first rainy season and the yam harvest. The wider region also hosts the Kwafie festival, celebrated by the Dormaa, Berekum and Nsoatre communities in November, December or January, which involves cleaning and feeding tribal stools and culminates in a large bonfire, and the Akwantukese festival, celebrated in March by the people of Suma.
- Apoo · April or May
- Wenchi's annual yam festival, whose climax is the durbar of the Omanhene (king) through the town.
- Wenchi yam festival · August
- Marks the end of the first rainy season and the harvesting of yam in Wenchi and Techiman.
- Kwafie · November, December or January
- Celebrated by the Dormaa, Berekum and Nsoatre communities; involves cleaning and feeding tribal stools and ends with a large bonfire, symbolising the legendary introduction of fire to Ghana by the Dormaa Ahenkro people.
- Akwantukese · March
- Celebrated by the people of Suma.
Access
Getting there and around
The Bono Region is reached overland, with Sunyani as its capital and main hub. Wenchi, the focus of most of the region's attractions, is connected by road to Techiman and to Sunyani and its airport, Sunyani Airport. Wenchi lies roughly 30 kilometres north of Techiman and about 50 kilometres east of the Côte d'Ivoire border, which makes it a natural stop for travellers moving between the middle belt and the north. The town is not served by a railway station, though a line has been proposed. Within the region, the practical way to reach the outlying sites — Begho at Hani, the Nchiraa Waterfalls, the Wurobo and Boonso caves, and Bui National Park — is by road with a vehicle and a local guide, since these are undeveloped sites without public transport links or visitor facilities. Sunyani is the most comfortable base for overnight stays, with Wenchi a good second option for the northern cluster of attractions.
Good to know
Before you go
Many of the Bono Region's most rewarding sites are undeveloped, so plan for basic conditions rather than visitor centres. Hire a local guide for Begho, the caves and the waterfall; without interpretation, the archaeology is hard to read and the paths are easy to lose. Wear sturdy shoes with grip for the rocky Nchiraa trail and carry water, sun protection and rain cover, since the wet season runs from March to October. At heritage and memory sites, especially those connected to the slave trade, move quietly and ask before photographing people or sacred places. Dress modestly in towns and markets, greet people before asking questions, and remember that oral traditions are living history, not folklore to be corrected. Carry cash, as card payment is uncommon outside the main towns, and confirm access arrangements in advance, since some sites have no fixed opening hours.
FAQ
Questions travellers ask about Bono
Where is the Bono Region in Ghana?
The Bono Region is in Ghana's middle belt, with Sunyani as its capital. It is bordered by the Savannah Region to the north, Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Bono East to the east and the Ahafo Region to the south, and was created from the former Brong Ahafo Region.
What is Begho and why should I visit?
Begho was a medieval trading town near present-day Hani, occupied from the 11th to the early 19th century and once one of the largest towns in the interior of what is now Ghana. It traded gold, kola and ivory with Djenné and Timbuktu, and its house mounds and pottery scatter make it the region's most important archaeological site.
How hard is the hike to Nchiraa Waterfalls?
It is a moderately challenging walk of about two kilometres into the forest along a rocky, steep footpath. Wear shoes with grip, carry water, and go with a local guide, as the site is undeveloped and the route is not signposted.
Can I see hippos in the Bono Region?
Yes. Bui National Park, bisected by the Black Volta, holds Ghana's largest population of hippos, and boat trips on the river offer the best chance of seeing them. The park also supports elephants, antelopes, monkeys and over 250 bird species.
Who was Kofi Abrefa Busia and where is he buried?
Kofi Abrefa Busia was Prime Minister of Ghana's Second Republic, born in Wenchi in 1913 and died in Oxford in 1978. He is buried at the Dr. K.A. Busia Mausoleum in Wenchi, a walled compound on a hill about 400 metres off the Wenchi-Akrobi road, marked by a bust and an inscribed tombstone.
When is the best time to visit the Bono Region?
The drier months from November to February give firmer footing for hiking and better wildlife viewing at Bui. The wet season runs from roughly March to October, with the heaviest rain in September and October. Cultural festivals such as Apoo in April or May and the August yam festival are highlights.
Was Bono Manso a slave market?
Bono Manso was the capital of the Bono state and became involved in the early Atlantic slave trade before its destruction in 1723, and it is now a site of memory for diaspora visitors. However, encyclopaedic sources state that no evidence exists that it served as a massive slave market for people bound for the Atlantic trade, so treat the site's marketing with care.
Sources for this guide (11)
- Bono Region – Visit Ghana
- Nchiraa Waterfalls – Visit Ghana
- Bono Manso Slave Market – Visit Ghana
- Begho – Wikipedia
- Bono Manso – Wikipedia
- Wenchi – Wikipedia
- Bono people – Wikiwand (from Wikipedia)
- Towards the creation of archaeological archives in Ghana: Reflections from Begho – Afriques
- Bui National Park – Forestry Commission Ghana
- Busia's Mausoleum cries for rehabilitation, recognition – Graphic Online
- Ghana Month: Wenchi residents call on government to rehabilitate Prof Busia's Mausoleum – Ghana News Agency
Written September 29, 2026 from these sources and reviewed by the VisitGhana.app team. Confirm practical details locally before travelling.