Good news: it`s time to write about a new excursion that we just took to Volta region (if I count it well, I think it`s about 200 km from Accra)! :) Well, it happened like that that we had a group of visitors from Kumashi (it`s around the middle of Ghana, and it`s a pretty big city, too) and they had an excursion to Volta that – as a last minute decision – we just joined to.
The day started pretty early: after we got up at 3 a.m. we left for the church around 4 o`clock where we still had a gathering before leaving. This time we took a big bus – it looked just like an ordinary bus in Europe except for the fact that it was as loaded as possible: at least four people were sitting at every seat that was meant to be for two and we even had people standing in the middle. For quite some time the road again was pretty nice, it was only at the end of the journey that we didn`t have any asphalt on the road and our big bus was pretty much struggling with the holes.
On the way we passed through Akosombo which is located by Lake Volta (the biggest lake in Ghana – it`s indeed pretty huge) and also has a bridge over the lake form which the view is amazing: just imagine a huge lake with small islands on it that are covered with deep green bushes and trees.
Altogether after about five and a half of ride we got to our first destination: to Mount Afadjato which is with it`s 880 m (2900 ft) the highest mountain in Ghana, and actually also in whole West Africa. (Well, I thought that Hungary was pretty flat with its highest peak of 1014 m, but now it seems that I should reconsider it :)) Since the village where we started climbing from was around 2-300 m above sea level, it was quite a hike to get to the top (it took us about 45 minutes), but we did it!! And it was worth it, too: from the top we could see the surrounding mountains covered by deep forest, and also our next destination: the Tagbo Waterfalls.
But still before that, coming down from the mountain was at least as big of an adventure (and fun, too!) as getting to the top. Since the way was pretty steep, we were coming down holding each other`s hands, branches, rocks and anything that seemed stable around.
But still before that, coming down from the mountain was at least as big of an adventure (and fun, too!) as getting to the top. Since the way was pretty steep, we were coming down holding each other`s hands, branches, rocks and anything that seemed stable around.
After about another 45 minutes of bus ride we arrived to a village by Tagbo Falls. Here we all had a great lunch of kenkey, which again looks like a ball of pasta, but it`s actually made of corn that they let to ferment before cooking and then they wrap in banana leaves after which they serve it with pepper sauce. It`s really good, too. From here it takes about half an hour of walking to get to the waterfall, but this time we took this distance jogging since we wanted to get there in time to still be able to take pictures and bath in the water – although it made the jogging a bit harder that we had a rich lunch of kenkey and that I also had my camera bag with me… But still, it was worth it: after passing through nine bridges on the way, we got to the waterfall which was pretty high and as a bonus you could even see a rainbow over the water. After quickly taking the pictures we went swimming in the pool of the water which was pretty much fun. Soon I found myself surrounded by like ten guys from our group, which is no wonder why: I just realized then that again I was the only women in the water. Well, but right then I didn`t care too much: it was really fun and a great experience as well! :)
We left the waterfalls around 6 o`clock, so on the way home it got dark pretty soon. But still just leaving the fall I could still see women and children walking around the road – some of them with buckets to get water from the river around the falls, some others probably walking home after selling all kinds of goods during the day. Some sheep and goats also passed the road – just as an extra challenge for the bus driver who was already trying to avoid the holes on the road.
By the time we got home by 11 p.m. and had supper by the church, too, for the first time since I`m in Ghana, I even admitted that I was tired. It was a really long day, but full of fun and really great experiences.
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