Ghana
Accra,
Ghana
Thursday, May 21, 2009
6th - Stopped in Wa to change to local currency before heading to Mole National Park, passing through Sawla and Larabanga. A few people went for a game walk in the evening, while the others went to the pool. Martin and I managed to watch the Champions League semi final match of Chelsea vs. Barcelona at the bar, missing the football matches a bit whilst traveling. Our camp was raided by a family of warthogs and a baboon, Ian found out the wrong method to get a baboon to move away.
Dist cov. = 240 km
7th - I went for a morning game walk, ~2hrs, saw a lot of Savannah elephants swimming in a watering hole just down from the campsite (they are naturally black in colour). Also saw a waterbuck, green monkey, and other smaller animals. Around 10am we left Mole NP to continue our journey heading south. Went through Damongo, Fufulso and finally stopping at Kintampo Waterfalls for the group to go swimming. I went into town with Gary and Chris to the markets to buy the evening meal for the cook group with the help of a local. Was really good fun, the locals are friendly and seem willing to help. We ended up staying at the campsite at the waterfalls, insteading of heading further south.
Dist. cov. = 233 km
8th - Headed south to Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary for a 1hr guided tour. There are only 2 types of monkey within the reserve, mona and the black and white colobus. Our guide Issac bought peanuts and fed the friendlier mona monkeys, including one called Daniel a leader of one of the families...who promptly stole one of the bags for himself. Three of us wanted to go see the fetish shrine, but the priest wasn't available. It is an interesting place to visit, and it is good that there is a place like this that exists to keep these animals protected. It is said that if you kill one of these monkeys then you too will die.
Arrived in Kumasi via Techiman and stayed at a Presbyterian guest house on mission road, right in the city center, too late for a general explore due to a wrong turning.
Dist. cov. = 253 km
9th - Walked into the city center to use the internet before going to lunch. We went to the Sanbra Hotel restaurant, which according to the guide book was good, but unfortunately the service was rubbish...we won't be going there again any time soon. Briefly walked around the Kejetia Market, cited as the largest in West Africa, upon stepping into the market we just felt like dodgem cars...not a good place for someone suffering from a fear of small spaces. It was a good experience just attempting to walk around, but probably would've been better if we'd left our bags at camp (much easier to move within the market without one). Went to Vic Baboo's Cafe for a drink, they have a very big cocktail list and close to the campsite/hostel. We had another tropical rainstorm, which lasted a lot longer than the one in Banfora in Burkina Faso.
10th - Half day in Kumasi before driving to Dixcove passing via Abonu, Cape Coast, Elmina, Sekondi, Takoradi and finally Agona Junction. Staying at Green Turtle Lodge, an ecologically minded resort on a palm-lined beach with long sandy beaches and showers open to sun and stars (probably the best showers of the trip so far).
Dist cov. = 345 km
Total dist. cov. = 9084.7 km
11th & 12th - Long lazy days on the beach: reading, playing pool and cards etc. The place is full of people, all available rooms are taken and the campsite is full of tents (mostly us tho). Having 2 full days of Rest & Relaxation. Our truck managed to bog itself in the carpark whilst reversing out.
13th - Left Green Turtle Lodge and went into Dixcove knocking a power line down in the process. After sorting that out, me and a few others went into the picturesque Fort Metal Cross, which overlooks the port.
Headed to the town of Elmina and to St George's Castle, a Unesco World Heritage Monument. Went on a guided tour of the castle, definetly worth doing as the place is huge. The entrance fee is a bit pricy, but considering that it would be a huge shame to miss something of this historical importance. Unfortunately we didn't have time to go to Fort St. Jago up on the hill that overlooks the castle, another Unesco World Heritage Site.
Camping at a place 20km west of Elmina called Brenu Beach for 2 nights.
Dist cov. = 135 km
14th - Another R&R day at the beach.
15th - Headed to Cape Coast and into the largest slave-trading castle in West Africa, Cape Coast Castle. The tour was good, but in my opinion the tour of Elmina Castle was much better. In a grand gesture back in the late 19th century the British blocked the tunnel from the male slave dungeons to the point of no return.
Most people from the group went to do the canopy walkway in Kakum National Park. We're staying for the night at Hans Cottage Botel, where the bar/restaurant is over a lake filled with crocs.
Dist. cov. = 96 km
16th - We headed to stay at Big Milly's Backyard in the village of Kokrobite on the coast about 32km from Accra. The place has a laid-back Rasta vibe. Unfortunately the evening's live music, a reggae group, didn't turn up, so everyone could get a good nights sleep.
Dist. cov. = 143 km
17th - R&R day around the beach and the bar area.
18th - Went into Accra and into the Osu area. I was planning to walk down to the Nkrumah Memorial Park but found it very hot in the city to walk the necessary kms to see it. The traffic was very bad getting into the city, and we had hired a mini-van to take us in, but this still took 1.5hrs.
19th - Another R&R day. Have now obtained our Togo and Benin visas. This is also Sabrina's last day on the trip.
20th - Set off for the dam on Lake Volta at Akosombo, stopping at a mall in Accra for a bulk food buy for the truck. There is an option to take a cruise on the lake, but we were not there for the right day. We stayed at Aylo's Bay near the Volta Bridge.
Dist. cov. = 149 km
21st - Heading for the Togo and the border town of Klouto in Benin stopping at Wli (Agumatsa) Falls for half the day. The falls are 20km east of Hohoe, and we passed through Ho and Amedzofe.
