Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary is a community-based ecotourism project and traditional sacred grove in the Volta Region of Ghana.
Located in the village of Tafi Atome (about 230 km northeast of Accra and 43 km south of Hohoe), it protects a remnant patch of
tropical forest home to Mona monkeys (and some Patas monkeys).
For over two centuries, local people have revered the monkeys as sacred messengers of the gods, protecting them through traditional
taboos. In 1993, with support from a Peace Corps volunteer and partners like the Nature Conservation Research Centre, the village
formalized the sanctuary as a conservation and tourism initiative. This effort has successfully increased the monkey population to
around 200, preserved the forest’s biodiversity (including birds and butterflies), and generated income for community development,
such as schools, a clinic, and infrastructure.
Visitors enjoy guided walks, feeding the habituated (but wild) monkeys bananas, and experiencing the harmonious coexistence of
humans and wildlife in this peaceful setting.
