Ghana: Sekondi-Takoradi

 Thursday, March 23, 2023, Takoradi, Ghana

Our ship docked in Takoradi. With it’s twin city Sekondi, they have a population of almost half a million people. It’s supposed to be one of the most modern and cleanest cities in Ghana. We didn’t spend much time there. Instead, we took a long bus to Kakum National Park further inland. Our tour guide was personable, had a deep voice, and spoke very good English. His name was Elvis. 

On our way to the national park, we passed through many small towns and villages that were anything but modern and clean. They were mainly made up of shacks and market sheds with corrugated metal roofing. People generally kept their own property swept and organized, but there was a lot of trash along the sides of the road between towns. A lot of plastic bottles. There were many goats and chickens roaming freely.

One of the more organized markets. 

Once we arrived at Kakum National Park, we got a new young guide to take us through the forest. We immediately started seeing small lizards in the camp area. We heard more birds than we saw. The ferns reminded us of home. There were school children on a field trip on the trail. We let them pass us at one point. 

We hiked uphill for quite awhile through the impressively large trees. The gravel path had many steps that Canadians had helped build. 

We finally arrived at the first of six suspension bridges that made up the Akwaaba Canopy Walk. A wooden stairway provided access. It was very hot and humid and we were all sweating. A lot. Some of us were a little afraid of heights, like the man I followed who went very slowly. I tried to match my footstep to his, only opposite, to reduce the swaying of the bridges. We were looking down on many different types of trees. My favorites were the umbrella trees whose leaves looked like little umbrellas. It was so nice to be out in nature!

Once we had passed over all the suspension bridges, we had to retrace our steps back downhill to the bus. The school kids were heading down also. One school girl gave me a hand toward then end. She could probably tell I was tired. She was studying English in school, but a little shy using much of it.

We stopped for a buffet lunch at the Coconut Grove Beach Resort. There were drummers entertaining us, a bit too loudly for conversation. Dancers did acrobatics along with their dance moves. The food was excellent.

On our way back to the ship, we crossed one of the main bridges and saw a fishing village with so many boats it’s hard to describe. Here’s a photo Charlie took from the bus.