Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary
In two villages of central Ghana, monkeys are sacred family — protected by taboo, mourned when they die. Here's how to visit Boabeng-Fiema, and what makes it special.
The short answer
- Boabeng-Fiema is a community-run monkey sanctuary near Nkoranza in central Ghana, protecting mona and black-and-white colobus monkeys.
- The monkeys are considered sacred and protected by traditional taboo — harming them is forbidden, and they live freely alongside the villages.
- There's even a monkey 'cemetery', where dead monkeys are given burial rites, reflecting the deep bond between people and animals here.
- A guided walk brings you close to the monkeys, especially the confident mona monkeys, in and around the twin villages of Boabeng and Fiema.
- It sits roughly between Kumasi and Tamale, making it an excellent, meaningful stop on a north–south journey.
- It's a model of community conservation, where local belief has protected wildlife for generations.
At a glance
| What it is | Community monkey sanctuary |
|---|---|
| Monkeys | Mona & black-and-white colobus |
| Protected by | Traditional taboo (sacred) |
| Unusual sight | A monkey cemetery |
| Where | Near Nkoranza, central Ghana |
| Great as | A Kumasi–Tamale stopover |
Where monkeys are sacred
In the twin villages of Boabeng and Fiema, near Nkoranza in central Ghana, monkeys aren't wildlife to be watched from a distance — they're sacred, protected family. The Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary is a community-run reserve where mona monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys live freely in the forest and around the villages, shielded for generations by traditional taboo that forbids harming them.
It's one of Ghana's most heartwarming and distinctive wildlife experiences, and a superb example of conservation rooted in local belief rather than fences. It complements the very different Tafi Atome sanctuary in the Volta Region and the wildlife of Mole National Park.
The taboo that protects them
What makes Boabeng-Fiema remarkable is why the monkeys thrive: they are held to be sacred, and killing or harming them is strictly forbidden by tradition. This belief has protected the monkeys for generations, allowing them to live unafraid alongside people — which is exactly why they come so close. It's a powerful demonstration that culture and conservation can be one and the same.
The bond runs so deep that dead monkeys are given burial rites in a dedicated 'monkey cemetery', mourned much as people are — a moving detail that captures the relationship between these communities and their animals. Your guide will explain the beliefs and the sanctuary's history.
Visiting the sanctuary
A visit centres on a guided walk through the forest and villages with a local guide, who knows where the troops gather and how to approach them. The mona monkeys are the confident, sociable ones that come closest (sometimes for a piece of fruit bought at the entrance), while the striking black-and-white colobus are shyer, glimpsed higher in the trees. Early morning is the best time to see them active.
Fees support the community and the conservation work, so visiting directly helps sustain the sanctuary. It's relaxed, family-friendly and genuinely uplifting — a gentle counterpoint to Ghana's bigger wildlife draws.
Getting there and combining it
Boabeng-Fiema lies near Nkoranza, roughly between Kumasi and Tamale in central Ghana, which makes it an ideal stop on a north–south journey — for instance breaking the long drive between the Ashanti region and the northern parks. It's a little off the main road, so a car makes it far easier; see our getting around Ghana guide.
Questions people ask
What is the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary?
It's a community-run monkey sanctuary in the twin villages of Boabeng and Fiema, near Nkoranza in central Ghana, protecting mona and black-and-white colobus monkeys. The monkeys are considered sacred and protected by traditional taboo, living freely alongside the villages — a model of conservation rooted in local belief.
Why are the monkeys at Boabeng-Fiema protected?
They are held to be sacred, and harming or killing them is strictly forbidden by tradition. This belief has protected the monkeys for generations, letting them live unafraid alongside people — which is why they come so close. Dead monkeys are even given burial rites in a dedicated monkey cemetery.
What monkeys can you see at Boabeng-Fiema?
Two main species: the confident, sociable mona monkeys that come closest to visitors, and the striking but shyer black-and-white colobus monkeys, usually seen higher in the trees. Early morning is the best time to see them active on a guided walk.
Where is Boabeng-Fiema and how do I get there?
It's near Nkoranza in central Ghana, roughly between Kumasi and Tamale, which makes it an ideal stop on a north–south journey. It's a little off the main road, so travelling by car (or a hired car with a driver) makes visiting much easier than by public transport.
Is there really a monkey cemetery at Boabeng-Fiema?
Yes — the bond between the communities and the monkeys runs so deep that dead monkeys are given burial rites in a dedicated cemetery, mourned much as people are. It's one of the sanctuary's most moving and distinctive features, reflecting the sacred status of the animals.
Is Boabeng-Fiema worth visiting?
Very — it's a heartwarming, family-friendly and genuinely uplifting experience, and a superb example of community conservation where local belief has protected wildlife for generations. As a meaningful break on the Kumasi–Tamale route, it adds a gentle, memorable stop to a longer Ghana trip.
What I know about Ghanaian travel comes from doing it: filing passport and visa applications, booking flights and hotels, collecting people from arrivals at two in the morning, and driving the Accra, Tema, Cape Coast and Kumasi runs week after week. Where this guide describes how something works, it is because we have done it.
Rules, fees and timetables in Ghana change. I have deliberately not quoted figures that go stale — where a number matters I name the office to confirm it with. If you spot something out of date, tell me and we will fix it.
Related guides.
Places & itinerariesTafi Atome monkey sanctuary
A sacred grove in a Volta farming village where mona monkeys take fruit from your hand, and the three-day trip that makes the drive from Accra worth making.
Places & itinerariesMole National Park
Ghana's largest wildlife park sits far north near Damongo, and its walking safaris put you closer to elephants on foot than most vehicle safaris ever manage.
Places & itinerariesKumasi and the Ashanti Region
Kumasi is not a scaled-down Accra but the working capital of a kingdom, and the things worth seeing are spread across the city and the villages around it.
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