About 70 kilometres west of Wa on the Black Volta River, the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary protects one of West Africa's most accessible hippo populations. The standard visit involves hiring a dugout canoe from the village and paddling upstream to where the hippos congregate — close enough that you can hear them snort and watch their ears twitch above the water. There is nothing between you and them except a wooden canoe and good behaviour on your part.
The sanctuary is genuinely community-run, which matters both ethically and practically. Your entrance fee and guide fee stay in the villages, and the guides know exactly where the animals are and how to approach without disturbing them. Some visitors also stay overnight in the basic guesthouses at Wechiau village, which allows an early-morning paddle when the hippos are most active. The forest along the riverbanks holds crocodiles and a range of birds, making the trip worthwhile even on a day when the hippos are being elusive.