Shai Hills Resource Reserve
{{Short description|Protected area in Doryumu, Ghana}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Shai Hills Resource Reserve
| alt_name =
| iucn_category = VI
| photo = Shai Hills Resource Reserve.jpg
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = Sign post of the Shai Hills Resource Reserve
| photo_width =
| map = Ghana
| map_alt = The location of the Shai Hills Resource Reserve as shown within the map of Ghana
| map_caption = Location in Ghana
| map_width =
| relief =
| location = Doryumu, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
| nearest_city = Accra{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d2D0IQCQP9IC&q=Shai+Hills+Resources+Reserve&pg=PA239 | title=Ghana: The Bradt Travel Guide | publisher=Bradt Travel Guides | author=Braggs, Philip | year=2007 | pages=422 | isbn=978-1841622057}}
| coords = {{Coord|5.9094|0.0653|region:GH-WP_type:landmark_scale:50000|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{Convert|51|km2|ha sqmi|abbr=on}}
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body =
| url =
| child =
| embedded =
}}
File:Wiki loves earth shia hills nipah dennis 2019 003.jpg
File:Shai Hills Reserve (1).jpg
Shai Hills Resource Reserve is a resource reserve located in Doryumu in the Shai Osudoku District all in the Greater Accra Region of southern Ghana. It lies along the Tema-Akosombo Highway some 57 km from Accra.
History
The protected area was home to the Shai people before they were ejected by the British in 1892. Remains of Shai people's works can still be found in the reserve.
The reserve was established in 1962 with area of {{Convert|47|km2|abbr=on}} which was later extended to {{Convert|51|km2|abbr=on}} in 1973.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I3RefeeIYvMC&q=Shai+Hills+Resources+Reserve&pg=PA19 | title=Parks and reserves of Ghana : management effectiveness assessment of protected areas | publisher=IUCN | pages=55 | isbn=9782831712772}}{{Cite web|url=https://touringghana.com/greater-accra-region/|title=Greater Accra Region|last=Editor|date=2016-02-24|website=touringghana.com|access-date=2019-05-21}}{{Cite web|url=http://amedzofevillage.com/en/2016/04/14/shai-hills-resource-reserve/|title=Shai Hills Resource Reserve|access-date=2019-05-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://shai-hills-resource-reserve.business.site/|title=Shai Hills Resource Reserve|website=shai-hills-resource-reserve.business.site|access-date=2019-05-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsghana.com.gh/calm-shai-hills-resource-reserve/|title=Calm Shai Hills Resource Reserve - News Ghana|last=Ghana|first=Business Day|website=www.newsghana.com.gh/|access-date=2019-05-22}} It was made a Game Production Reserve in 1971.
Environment
The Shai Hills Resource Reserve is covered with grassland and low dry forest vegetation. There are nearly 400 plant species spread on the five separate hills at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve.
=Wildlife=
There are numerous animals. Bird species include violet turaco, paradise flycatcher, green turaco, red-billed hornbill, yellow-fronted tinkerbird, guineafowl and red-necked buzzard.The reserve has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of many bird species.{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/shai-hills-resource-reserve-iba-ghana|title= Shai Hills Resource Reserve|author= |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-11-23}}
Othe animals present include antelopes, bats, baboons, cats, duiker, kobs, green monkeys, monitor lizards, African python, royal python and zebras.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317081446|title=The socio-cultural impact of ecotourism on park-adjacent communities in Ghana|website=ResearchGate|language=en|access-date=2019-07-18}} Zebras are not native to Ghana, and the ones in the reserve are imports from South Africa. Guides employed at the reserve reported (in September 2024) that five zebras had been born to date in the park, and some of those now live in Ghanaian zoos.{{Cite journal|last=Acquah|first=Emmanuel|date=July 2019|title=The socio-cultural impact of ecotourism on park-adjacent communities in Ghana. African Journal of Hospitality|journal=Tourism and Leisure|volume=6|pages=14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322887579|title=Species distribution of kobs (Kobus kob) in the Shai Hills Resource Reserve: an exploratory analysis {{!}} Raymond Agyepong Antwi {{!}} Request PDF|website=ResearchGate|language=en|access-date=2019-07-18}}
= Access=
Visitors can visit the attractive region of hilly rocks and grassy plains in the reserve all year round. Touring the reserve during the early rainy season (May through July) could be difficult because of rough road conditions. Popular activities include game viewing, bird watching, nature walking, and rock-climbing.{{Cite web|url=https://visitghana.com/attractions/shai-hills-reserve/|title=Shai Hills Reserve|website=Visit Ghana|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.isanet.org/Conferences/ISA-Accra-2019/Travel|title=General Travel Information|website=www.isanet.org|access-date=2019-07-18}}
=Threats=
The reserve is bedeviled with a lot of threats such as danger from speeding vehicles because some of the baboons find their way to the highway. The reserve is also situated close to a stone quarry and this also affects the day-to-day activities of the park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/features/the-shai-hills-resource-reserve-an-untapped-national-gold-mine.html|title=The Shai Hills Resource Reserve... an untapped national 'gold mine'|website=www.graphic.com.gh|access-date=2019-05-22}}
Recreation
The area is of the best tourism hubs in Ghana. It has been a host to recreational activities such as Picnics, and in 2017 hosted the National Biking & Abseil Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/sports/2017/april-19th/world-class-adventure-tourism-hits-shai-hills-reserve.php|title=World-Class Adventure Tourism hits Shai Hills Reserve|date=2017-04-19|website=www.myjoyonline.com|access-date=2019-05-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/685797/shai-hills-reserve-to-be-developed-into-an-eco-tourism-site.html|title=Shai Hills Reserve To Be Developed Into An Eco-Tourism Site|date=2016-04-14|website=Modern Ghana|access-date=2019-05-22}}
= Events =
Events held at Shai Hills resource reserve has been home to these events:
| class="wikitable"
|+ !S/N !Name !Year !Ref |
| 1
|WildaLand Festival{{cite web |title=Wildaland Festival – Wildaland Festival |url=https://wildalandfestival.com/}} |2021, 2022 |
| 2
|The Inter Tourism Expo Accra |2021 |