# Nzulezo

Nzulezo is a world heritage listed remote stilt village in Western Ghana. Nzulezo was built over water for protection and safety during attacks in times of war. The main activities of its inhabitants is agriculture, while fishery plays a secondary role.

## Understand

The lake is believed by the local population to protect against certain risks (e.g. a fire).
The name "Nzulezo" in the Nzema language means "water surface". The "Ewuture" maintained the waterways and transportation of goods and people. According to local legend, the village was built by a group of people from Oualata, a city in the ancient Ghana Empire and in present-day Mauritania, which came about from following a snail. The snail is therefore a totem and revered by the people of Nzulezo.

## Get in
### By boat

The village is located in the Amansuri wetland and accessible to the public by motorised canoe from the town of Beyin, on the coast about 40 kilometres east of the Ivorian border and 90 km west of Takoradi.
Tickets (50 cedis, as of Dec 2024) must be bought from the office. Life jackets are provided for both adults and children. At the beginning of the canoe journey, there is a modern, well-constructed cafe serving drinks, hot food, and European-style coffee. The canoe trip is 15 to 20 minutes in duration, and very scenic.

### By 4-wheel drive

Nzulezo is about 7 hours' drive from Accra. To get there is one easy way because the road is very motorable.

## Get around

The only way to access Nzulezo is by canoe.

## See

Numerous canoes, each big enough to carry five adults, carry visitors through swamp and mangrove forest and across the Amansuri lake to the village every day.

## Do

A local (probably your canoe captain) will take you on a tour of the village, enabling you to interact with the locals and observe them going about their day. After listening to the rich history of the village you will be asked for voluntary donations to support their school. The school's blackboards contain what look to be daily lessons, with the date written at the top of the blackboard.
Once at the village you are allowed to take photographs but not of the local people. If you want to do so please draw your tour guide's attention, who will then ask permission from the people. The locals are into craft making which they sell to the visitors as souvenirs. The people are very friendly so when you go there feel free to interact with them.

## Buy

Village residents make a couple of different souvenirs that are available for purchase, the most common one being hand-carved mini-canoes 15 cm long. They also sell coconut oil, pure honey and herbal medicine.

## Eat

Because they do not have a restaurant, eat at Georgia breeze restaurant or home boy spot in Beyin because their food is of higher quality than plenty of other basic places in Ghana. Unless you want something specific, there's no real need to bring your own food to Nzulezo.

## Drink

The village has a small "spot" bar, which has beer, spirits, and soft drinks. The village is connected to electricity so cold beer is available.

## Sleep

There are two guesthouses at Nzulezo, as of Dec 2024. And this guesthouses are in very good condition, so you can stay there to experience nightlife at Nzulezo. There are hotels and guest houses at the nearby town Beyin as well.

## Go next

Back onto the canoe! There are tro tros (shared taxi vans) available from Beyin to Takoradi.