Discover Axim

If you are considering Axim as a destination for a stay, its historical and regional connections can help you shape your travel interests. Nearby Fort St. Anthony speaks to the history of the Gold Coast; the wider destination of Nzema East adds a historic banking story, the Ankobra River, forest reserves, and the Kundum Festival.

Fort St. Anthony and the history of the Gold Coast

Near Axim is Fort St. Anthony, also known as Santo Antonio. It was the second Portuguese fort on the Gold Coast, after St. George’s Castle (Elmina Castle). This places the fort clearly within the history of Portuguese installations along the coast. The fort’s panelling dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and is one of its archaeological features. Two aspects therefore stand out: its historical status as the second Portuguese fort and a dated feature of its fittings. For travellers interested in history, the panelling offers a tangible connection to the site that goes beyond its general history as a fort.

The landscape is also part of the picture at Fort St. Anthony: in Axim, it stands on a rocky natural promontory that juts out into the sea. The fortress is shaped by both its history and its seaside location. In the 1950s, it was renovated for use as government and municipal offices. This later use adds another chapter to the fort’s history. Travellers who consider both historic sites and landscapes when choosing a destination will find two distinct points of interest here.

Further connections in the wider destination of Nzema East

Axim, the capital of Nzema East, is considered the place where the first bank in what was then the Gold Coast was founded. The building still stands, but is unoccupied. This banking story adds a different theme to the historical connection with the fort: while Fort St. Anthony is regarded as a Portuguese fort on the Gold Coast, the founding of the bank points to the financial history of the Gold Coast at the time. By including Axim and its wider destination in your travel plans, you can explore two different historical perspectives.

The Nzema East Municipal Assembly describes most of the municipality’s tourist attractions as still undeveloped. The Ankobra River is noted as navigable; it is also considered a tourist attraction, and boat trips are mentioned as an option for visitors. If a boat trip is an important part of your plans, check in advance whether one is available on your travel dates. The general description of the municipality and the specific boat-trip option offer different kinds of guidance: one concerns tourist attractions overall, while the other points to a particular activity on the river.

Nzema East is also home to extensive forest reserves. Lower Town Axim and the Nsein Traditional Area celebrate the Kundum Festival together. A report from 2026 describes it as an annual festival. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the specific festival dates before setting your travel dates.

For the wider travel overview: Nzema East.