Sunday, March 18, 2012

Canopy Walk and Crocodiles


Saturday was our last day in Cape Coast. We spent our time at the Kakum National Park and Hans Cottage Botel. I’m still trying to figure out what Botel means. Kakum National Park is a forest preserve. Ghana has lost most of its forests to deforestation. This forest wasn’t considered a true rainforest since they do experience a dry season, but with the humidity it sure did feel like one. I guess the forest has elephants in it but it is extremely rare to see them. Also, many monkeys lived in the forest at one time, but most are now extinct or very endangered.

The main attraction to this forest is the canopy walk. We hiked about 30 minutes to reach the rope canopies. Then you walk through the treetop on 7 different rope paths. It was really neat. I’m not afraid of heights so even though the ropes swing you around at times it didn’t really bug me. They said 2 elephants could walk across it so I didn’t really have concerns about it breaking. Tiffanie and I had a great time laughing because Isaac and Steven were so funny when walking the canopy.

After the canopy we went to see crocodiles. I guess this place was once a farm, but the crocodiles were eating all of the chickens, so the owner decided to change it into a tourist attraction. He has managed to tame some of the crocodiles, as much as crocodiles can be tamed. They give the crocodile a piece of chicken and then the guide walks you up to the crocodile. You can then pet it. It’s mouth moved a little, but besides that it didn’t even flinch. It was scary, but since it was so still you forgot it was alive. I think Steve Irwin would have been proud of me! J

We had lunch at the crocodile place. It was pretty neat to sit around the pond and watch the crocodiles swim. They would get pretty close to the eating area. There was a wall so they couldn’t come up to you. I think it smelled my hamburger and French fries.

He wanted a bite too! I am not doing a very good job eating Ghanaian food right now! Unfortunately, most of the American food still has a Ghanaian flare to it so it doesn’t completely satisfy me. I keep fantasizing about opening the refrigerator at home and getting out a piece of cheese and eating a lot of salad! I know I only have a few more days, but I want it now!!! I think I did a decent job here trying to eat the local food considering how picky of an eater I can be, so I’m done trying. Haha!

After lunch Isaac decided he didn’t want to stay another night in Cape Coast. So we took a tro tro to Accra. That took 3 hours. Then we had to wait an hour and a half to load up the tro tro from Accra to Kpando. That tro tro was another 4 hours. We left at 3:45 pm and got home around 12:30 pm. We were exhausted. We didn’t even eat or bathe. We just collapsed into bed. I am so happy that my next tro tro ride will be my last! I’m trying to experience Ghana like they do, but I can’t say I will do this again on my next trip here! I think I will splurge on better transportation next time!

3 more days. My emotions are so mixed at this point.

Love, Kari

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