The Lake That Changed a Nation
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake by surface area — a vast inland sea that stretches across much of eastern Ghana. This full-day expedition takes you to the engineering marvel that created it: the Akosombo Dam, commissioned by Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah in 1965 as the centerpiece of his vision for an industrialized Africa.
After a guided tour of the dam and its dramatic overlook views, you'll board a boat and cruise the calm, mirror-flat waters of Lake Volta. Watch fishermen cast their nets in the traditional style, drift past forested islands and lakeside villages that exist only because of the water, and take in a landscape unlike anywhere else in West Africa. Sundowners on the water are the perfect close to an extraordinary day.
Good to Know
- Lake Volta covers approximately 8,502 square kilometers — roughly the size of Lebanon — and was created when the Akosombo Dam flooded the Volta River basin beginning in 1964.
- The Akosombo Dam generates about 80% of Ghana's electricity. The hydroelectric project was so central to Nkrumah's development plan that he negotiated its financing directly with U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
- When the Volta River was dammed, it displaced approximately 78,000 people who had to be resettled from villages that now lie beneath the lake — one of the largest forced displacements in African history.
Included
- Professional guide
- Akosombo Dam guided tour
- Lake Volta boat cruise
- Lunch by the lake
- Transport from Akosombo
- Sunset drinks on the water
Not Included
- Transport from Accra to Akosombo
- Accommodation
- Additional alcoholic drinks
- Tips to guides
- Travel insurance
